JP2009145431A - Electronic keyboard musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic keyboard musical instrument that allows a player to play this musical instrument, even without having to depress the keys. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided with a plurality of keys 11, electrostatic capacity switches 13 provided per key 11 and operating, when player's fingers come into contact with and/or approach surfaces of the keys 11, and a musical sound generating device 20 for generating musical sound based on the results of detection by the electrostatic capacity switches 13. The electrostatic capacity switch 13 is constituted of at least a pair of electrostatic capacity switches 13a, 13b each of which operates, when player's fingers reach parts that are different from each other and are away from the surfaces of the keys by predetermined distance A and B. The musical sound generating device computes the velocity, based on the results of detection by the electrostatic capacity switches 13a, 13b and generates musical sound in accordance with the computed velocity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic keyboard instrument that can be played without depressing a key.

  As a conventional electronic keyboard instrument, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This electronic keyboard instrument includes a plurality of swingable keys and a plurality of key press depth sensors that continuously detect the key press depth when the keys are pressed and released. These key pressing depth sensors are arranged between the front end of each key and the heel. The key pressing depth sensor includes a pair of fixed electrodes disposed on a substrate, an insulating layer that insulates these fixed electrodes, a conical coil spring placed on the insulating layer, and the coil spring. A dome-shaped flexible coil case provided on the insulating layer so as to cover.

  When the key pressing depth sensor configured as described above is pressed from above with a key during key pressing, the coil case is crushed and the coil spring is compressed. Conversely, when the key is released when the key is released, the coil case and the coil spring are restored while the coil case is kept in contact with the lower surface of the key. As the coil spring expands and contracts due to such key pressing and key release, the dielectric constant of the space between the pair of fixed electrodes changes, and thereby the capacitance between the fixed electrodes changes continuously. Since this capacitance value corresponds to the amount of deformation of the coil spring, that is, the key depression depth, the key depression depth is continuously detected based on this capacitance. Then, a musical sound is generated by the musical sound generating device based on the detected key depression depth.

  In the conventional electronic keyboard instrument configured as described above, the key is depressed, the key depression depth sensor detects the key depression depth, and a musical tone is generated according to the detection result, so the key is not depressed. As long as you can not perform. For this reason, for example, a handicapped person cannot easily enjoy the performance. For the same reason, it is not easy to perform the glissando playing method which is a special playing method.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic keyboard instrument that can be played without pressing down a key.

JP 2003-295863 A

  In order to achieve this object, an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a plurality of keys and a plurality of keys, and when the performer's finger contacts and / or approaches the surface of the key. It is characterized by comprising an electrostatic capacitance switch that operates and a musical sound generation device that generates musical sounds based on the detection result of the electrostatic capacitance switch.

  According to this configuration, the capacitive switch is activated when the performer's finger approaches and / or contacts the surface of the key, and a musical tone is generated by the musical tone generator based on the detection result. As a result, it is possible to perform a performance by simply bringing a finger close to the surface of the key or touching the key without depressing the key. For this reason, a handicapped person can easily enjoy the performance and can easily perform the glissando performance.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic keyboard instrument according to the first aspect, the electrostatic capacity switch includes at least a pair of electrostatic capacity switches, and the pair of the electrostatic capacity switches has a finger of the performer on the surface of the key. The tone generator is configured to operate when a predetermined distance is reached from each other, and the tone generator generates a velocity based on the detection result of the pair of capacitance switches, and the tone is generated according to the calculated velocity. Is generated.

  According to this configuration, each key is provided with at least a pair of capacitance switches, and when the performer's finger reaches a predetermined distance different from the surface of the key, Each operates. Then, the velocity is calculated based on the detection results of these capacitance switches, and a musical sound is generated according to the calculated velocity. As a result, a musical sound corresponding to the approach speed when the performer's finger approaches the key is generated, and a more varied performance can be performed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an electronic piano 1 to which the present invention is applied. The electronic piano 1 includes a piano body 2 and a stand unit 3 that supports the piano body 2.

  The stand unit 3 is an assembly of a pedal base 4 and the like, and three pedals 5 are rotatably provided in the center of the pedal base 4. Each pedal 5 is provided with a pedal sensor 21 for detecting the operation state (see FIG. 7).

  The exterior of the piano body 2 is composed of left and right arms 6 and 6, horizontal shelf boards 7 and a top board 8 that extend between the lower ends and upper ends of the arms 6 and 6, respectively. The piano body 2 is provided with a keyboard device 9, an operation panel 10, a musical sound generation device 20, and the like.

  The keyboard device 9 includes a keyboard 12 composed of a plurality of (for example, 88) keys 11 (white key 11a and black key 11b) arranged side by side on the shelf board 7 and a static key provided for each key 11. A capacitance switch 13 and a key depression sensor 14 are provided.

  In the electronic piano 1, the performance mode is the normal key-pressing mode for generating a musical sound by pressing the key 11 and detecting the key-pressing information by the key-pressing sensor 14. By detecting the movement of the performer's finger close to the key 11 by the capacitance switch 13, it is switched to the non-key-pressing performance mode for generating a musical sound. The performance mode is switched by operating a mode switch 31 provided on the operation panel 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the key 11 is formed of a hollow synthetic resin molded product having an inverted U-shaped cross section, and swings in the vertical direction at a fulcrum (not shown) at the rear end. It is supported freely.

  The capacitance switch 13 includes first and second capacitance switches 13 a and 13 b, which are juxtaposed in the left-right direction on the back surface of the upper wall of the front end portion of the key 11. Although not shown, each capacitance switch 13 covers the substrate and a pair of fixed electrodes arranged on the substrate at a predetermined distance from each other so as to insulate the pair of fixed electrodes. And an insulating layer stacked on the substrate.

  In the thus configured electrostatic capacity switch 13, when the performer's finger approaches the surface of the key 11, the electrostatic capacity is shunted between the fixed electrodes. A circuit is formed between the finger and each fixed electrode. The capacitance value viewed from the fixed electrode at this time changes according to the distance between the player's finger and the key 11. The electrostatic capacity switch 13 is configured to operate (ON) when the electrostatic capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, the player's key 11 is detected by a detection signal of the electrostatic capacity switch 13. It is possible to detect the approaching action of the finger to the.

  Further, the predetermined threshold value described above is set to a different value between the first and second capacitance switches 13a and 13b. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the first capacitance switch 13a is activated when the player's finger reaches a predetermined distance A from the surface of the key 11, and the ON signal is used as the first detection signal SC1. Is output. The second capacitance switch 13b operates when the player's finger reaches a predetermined distance B smaller than the distance A from the surface of the key 11, and outputs an ON signal as the second detection signal SC2. . Therefore, the approach speed VC (velocity) of the finger to the key 11 can be calculated based on the difference between the distances A and B and the time difference between the respective operation timings.

  On the other hand, the key pressing sensor 14 includes a shutter 16, a substrate 17, and two optical sensors 18 and 19.

  The shutter 16 is formed in a plate shape, and is integrally provided at the front portion of the lower surface of each key so as to protrude downward at a right angle as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 16 is formed in an inverted L-shape from a rectangular left half 16L and a right half 16R extending rightward from the upper half of the left half 16L. The lower end of the half portion 16R is higher than the lower end of the left half portion 16L.

  The first and second optical sensors 18, 19 are disposed below the left half 16L and the right half 16R of the shutter 16, are provided in the U-shaped cases 18c, 19c, and face each other in the front-rear direction. It comprises a pair of light emitting diodes 18a and 19a and phototransistors 18b and 19b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the U-shaped cases 18 c and 19 c are attached to a substrate 17 provided on the shelf board 7 in an upright state. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the two optical sensors 18 and 19 are provided such that their light emitting side and light receiving side are reversed in the front-rear direction.

  In the key pressing sensor 14 configured as described above, when the optical path connecting the light emitting diodes 18a and 19a and the phototransistors 18b and 19b is blocked by the shutter 16 when the key is pressed, the first detection signal of the first optical sensor 18 is detected. S1 and the second detection signal S2 of the second optical sensor 19 are at the L level. Further, when the key is not depressed, these optical paths are opened, and the first detection signal S1 and the second detection signal S2 become H level. Therefore, the key pressing operation can be detected by the first and second detection signals S1 and S2. Further, since the timing at which the optical paths of the optical sensors 18 and 19 are blocked differs from the shape of the shutter 16 and the positions where the two optical sensors 18 and 19 are installed, the key pressing speed V ( (Velocity) can be detected.

  The operation panel 10 is disposed immediately behind the keyboard 12, and is used to display operation buttons and operation levers for setting the performance mode, tone, volume, and sound effect of the electronic piano 1, and the setting states thereof. An indicator and the like are provided.

  In the key-pressing performance mode, the musical sound generating device 20 responds to the key-pressing operation detected by the key-pressing sensor 14 and in the non-key-pressing performance mode, the finger approaches the key 11 detected by the capacitance switch 13. A musical tone is generated according to the operation. As shown in FIG. 7, the tone generator 20 includes a sensor scan circuit 22, a panel scan circuit 33, a CPU 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, a tone generator circuit 26, a waveform memory 27, a DSP 28, a D / A converter 29, a power amplifier 30, and The speaker 31 is configured.

  The sensor scan circuit 22 detects ON / OFF information and key number information of the key 11 based on the detection signal from the key pressing sensor 14, and the key pressing information together with the detection signal of the key pressing sensor 14 is sent to the CPU 23. Output to. The sensor scan circuit 22 detects approaching operation information and key number information to the key 11 based on the detection signal from the capacitance switch 13, and these information together with the detection signal of the capacitance switch 13. , Output to the CPU 23. In addition, the sensor scan circuit 22 detects the operation information of the pedal 5 and the pedal number information based on the detection signal from the pedal sensor 21, and sends the pedal operation information to the CPU 23 together with the detection signal of the pedal sensor 21. Output.

  The panel scan circuit 33 detects the operation state of the operation buttons and operation levers on the operation panel and outputs them to the CPU 23.

  The ROM 24 stores a control program executed by the CPU 23, fixed data used for calculation by the CPU 23, various tables, and the like.

  The RAM 25 temporarily stores status information representing the operating state of the electronic piano 1 and is used as a work area for the CPU 23.

  The CPU 23 controls each part of the electronic piano 1. The CPU 23 calculates the content of the musical sound to be generated according to the control program in accordance with information from the sensor scan circuit 22 and the panel scan circuit 33, and outputs the calculated result. The control signal based on this is output to the sound source circuit 26.

  The tone generator circuit 26 reads out waveform data from the waveform memory 27 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 23, multiplies it by an envelope, and generates and outputs a digital musical tone signal MS. This musical sound signal MS is subjected to addition of a sound effect such as reverberation or chorus or filtering processing by a DSP (digital signal processor) 28, and then converted to an analog signal by a D / A converter 29. After being amplified with a predetermined gain by the power amplifier 30, it is reproduced by the speaker 31 and sounded.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the sound generation control process in the key depression performance mode. This process is sequentially executed for all 88 keys 11. In this process, first, in step 1 (illustrated as “S1”, the same applies hereinafter), the key number n (n = 1 to 88) of the key 11 is initialized to a value of 1.

  Next, whether or not the first detection signal S1 of the first optical sensor 18 is at the L level and the second detection signal S2 of the second optical sensor 19 has changed from the H level to the L level between the previous time and the current time. Is discriminated (step 2). When the determination result is YES, that is, when the optical path of the first optical sensor 18 is blocked by the shutter 16 and at the timing immediately after the optical path of the second optical sensor 19 is blocked, the key 11 is pressed. In order to start sound generation, the sound generation start flag F_MSTR is set to “1” and the sound generation stop flag F_MSTP is set to “0” (step 3). Along with this, a sound generation operation is started by outputting a control signal for starting sound generation to the sound source circuit 26.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of step 2 is NO, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal S1 has changed from L level to H level (step 4). If the determination result is YES and the timing immediately after the optical path of the first optical sensor 18 is opened, the sound generation stop flag F_MSTP is set to “1” in order to stop sound generation, assuming that the key 11 is released. At the same time, the sound generation start flag F_MSTR is set to “0” (step 5). Along with this, a sounding stop operation is started by outputting a control signal for stopping sounding to the sound source circuit 26.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the step 4 is NO, or after the step 3 or the step 5 is executed, the key number n is incremented (step 6). Next, it is determined whether or not the incremented key number n is larger than the value 88 (step 7). When the determination result is NO and n ≦ 88, the above-described processing after step 2 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the determination result of step 7 is YES and n> 88, that is, when the above processing is completed for all 88 keys, this processing is terminated.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a velocity calculation process in the key depression performance mode. In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal S1 has changed from H level to L level (step 11). If the determination result is YES and immediately after the optical path of the first optical sensor 18 is blocked by the shutter 16, the counter value cnt at that time is set as the first counter value C1 (step 12), and the process proceeds to step 13.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of step 11 is NO, step 12 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 13. In step 13, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal S1 is at L level and the second detection signal S2 is at H level. If the determination result is YES and the optical path of the first optical sensor 18 is interrupted and then the optical path of the second optical sensor 19 is not yet interrupted, the counter value cnt is decremented (step 14), and then to step 15 move on.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of step 13 is NO, the process skips step 14 and proceeds to step 15 without decrementing the counter value cnt. In step 15, it is determined whether or not the second detection signal S2 has changed from H level to L level. When the determination result is NO, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 15 is YES and the optical path of the second optical sensor 19 is just after being interrupted, the counter value cnt at this time is set as the second counter value C2 (step 16).

  Next, a deviation Δcnt (C1−C2) between the first counter value C1 and the second counter value C2 is calculated (step 17). As apparent from the calculation methods described so far, this deviation Δcnt corresponds to the time from when the optical path of the first optical sensor 18 is interrupted until the optical path of the second optical sensor 19 is interrupted. 11 is inversely proportional to the key pressing speed V. Next, the rotation stroke ST (see FIG. 5) between the first and second optical sensors 18 and 19 is divided by the deviation Δcnt, and the divided value is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient K, whereby the key 11 is depressed. The speed V is calculated (step 18). This coefficient K is for converting the deviation Δcnt into time. Then, the velocity is calculated based on the calculated key pressing speed V (step 19), and this process is terminated. The velocity calculated as described above is used to generate a musical sound in the musical sound generating device 20.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sound generation control process in the non-key-press performance mode. This process is sequentially executed for all 88 keys 11. In this process, first, in step 21, the key number n of the key 11 is initialized to the value 1.

  Next, whether the first detection signal SC1 of the first capacitance switch 13a is ON and whether the second detection signal SC2 of the second capacitance switch 13b has changed from OFF to ON between the previous time and the current time. (Step 22). When the determination result is YES, that is, immediately after the second capacitance switch 13b is turned on in the state where the first capacitance switch 13a is turned on due to the approach of the player's finger to the key 11. At the timing, the sound generation start flag F_MCSTR is set to “1” and the sound generation stop flag F_MCSTP is set to “0” in order to start sound generation (step 23). Along with this, a sound generation operation is started by outputting a control signal for starting sound generation to the sound source circuit 26.

  On the other hand, when the determination result in Step 22 is NO, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal SC1 has changed from ON to OFF (Step 24). When the determination result is YES and the player's finger is separated from the surface of the key 11 by a predetermined distance A, the sound generation stop flag F_MCSTP is set to “1” and the sound generation stop flag is set to stop sound generation. F_MCSTR is set to “0” (step 25). Along with this, a sounding stop operation is started by outputting a control signal for stopping sounding to the sound source circuit 26.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of step 24 is NO or after step 23 or step 25 is executed, the key number n is incremented (step 26). Next, it is determined whether or not the incremented key number n is larger than the value 88 (step 27). When the determination result is NO, the above-described processing after step 22 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the determination result in the step 27 is YES and the above process is completed for all 88 keys, this process is terminated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a velocity calculation process in the non-key-press performance mode. In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal SC1 has changed from OFF to ON (step 31). If the determination result is YES and the first capacitance switch 13a is turned ON immediately after the player's finger approaches the key 11, the counter value cnt at that time is set as the first counter value CC1 (step S1). 32) Go to step 33.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the step 31 is NO, the step 32 is skipped and the process proceeds to a step 33. In step 33, it is determined whether or not the first detection signal SC1 is ON and the second detection signal SC2 is OFF. If the determination result is YES and the second capacitance switch 13b has not yet been turned on after the first capacitance switch 13a is turned on, the counter value cnt is decremented (step 34), and then step 35 Proceed to

  On the other hand, if the determination result in the step 33 is NO, the step 34 is skipped and the process proceeds to a step 35 without decrementing the counter value cnt. In this step 35, it is determined whether or not the second detection signal SC2 has changed from OFF to ON. When the determination result is NO, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 35 is YES and the second capacitance switch 13b is immediately after the ON operation, the counter value cnt at this time is set as the second counter value CC2 (step 36).

  Next, a deviation Δcnt (CC1−CC2) between the first counter value CC1 and the second counter value CC2 is calculated (step 37). As is apparent from the calculation methods described so far, this deviation Δcnt corresponds to the time from when the first capacitance switch 13a is turned on until the second capacitance switch 13b is turned on. 11 is inversely proportional to the finger approach speed VC. Next, the difference (A−B) in the working distance between the first and second capacitance switches 13a and 13b is divided by the deviation Δcnt, and the divided value is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient K, whereby A finger approach speed VC is calculated (step 38). Then, the velocity is calculated based on the calculated approach velocity VC of the finger to the key 11 (step 39), and this process is terminated. The velocity calculated as described above is used to generate a musical sound in the musical sound generating device 20.

  FIG. 12 shows an operation example in the non-performance key pressing mode obtained by the sound generation control process of FIG. First, when the performer's finger is away from the surface of the key 11 by a predetermined distance A, the first and second detection signals SC1 and SC2 of the first and second capacitance switches 13a and 13b are both OFF (before t1). Further, the sound generation start flag F_MCSTR is set to “0”, and the sound generation stop flag F_MCSTP is set to “1”.

  When the performer brings his finger close to the key 11 from this state, when the finger approaches a position at a predetermined distance A from the surface, the first capacitance switch 13a is activated and the first detection signal SC1 is turned on. (T1). Further, when the finger approaches the position of the predetermined distance B from the surface of the key 11, the second capacitance switch 13b is activated, and the second detection signal SC2 is turned on (t2). Accordingly, the sound generation start flag F_MCSTR is set to “1” and the sound generation stop flag F_MCSTP is set to “0”, so that the sound generation operation is started.

  Thereafter, when the performer moves his finger away from the key 11, the second detection signal SC2 is turned off when the finger is released to a position of a predetermined distance B from the surface of the key 11 (t3). Further, when the finger moves away from the surface of the key 11 to a position at a predetermined distance A, the first detection signal SC1 is turned off (t4). Accordingly, the sound generation stop flag F_MCSTP is set to “1” and the sound generation start flag F_MCSTR is set to “0”, thereby starting the sound generation stop operation.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the performer's finger approaches the surface of the key 11, the first and second capacitance switches 13a and 13b provided on each key 11 are activated, A musical sound is generated by the musical sound generator 20 based on the detection signal. Thereby, it is possible to perform a performance by simply bringing a finger close to the surface of the key 11 or touching the key 11 without depressing the key 11. For this reason, a handicapped person can easily enjoy the performance and can easily perform the glissando performance. Further, an inexpensive and simple electronic keyboard instrument can be realized without providing mechanical parts such as an action, the size and weight of the instrument body can be greatly reduced, and the degree of freedom in design of the appearance can be increased.

  The first and second capacitance switches 13a and 13b are activated when the performer's finger reaches predetermined distances A and B different from the surface of the key 11, and the detection signals SC1 and SC2 are generated. A musical tone is generated according to the velocity calculated based on the velocity. As a result, a musical sound corresponding to the approach speed VC of the finger to the key 11 is generated, and a performance with more variations can be performed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, in the embodiment, each key 11 is provided with a pair of capacitance switches 13a and 13b, but only one may be provided. As a result, although the velocity cannot be detected, it is possible to detect the approaching action of the player's finger to the key 11 and generate a musical sound, thereby simplifying the electronic keyboard instrument while suppressing the manufacturing cost. Can be configured.

  Or conversely, the number of capacitance switches provided for each key 11 may be further increased from the two in the embodiment. Thereby, the approaching motion and velocity of the finger can be detected more finely, and a more detailed performance expression can be performed.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an electronic piano having a swingable key is configured to perform by switching between a non-key-pressing performance mode and a key-pressing performance mode. It may be configured so that only the performance according to the detection result of the capacitance switch is performed.

  Further, the predetermined distances A and B at which the capacitance switch shown in the embodiment operates may be changed. For example, by setting the distance B = 0, a musical tone may be generated only when the finger touches the surface of the key 11, thereby obtaining a different performance sensation. In addition, the detailed configuration can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the electronic piano to which this invention is applied. It is a partial side view which shows the front part etc. of the key of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the length direction of the key of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the IV-IV line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of first and second photosensors in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the musical tone production | generation apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the sound generation control process in a keypress performance mode. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of the velocity in key pressing performance mode. It is a flowchart which shows the sound generation control process in non-keypress performance mode. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of the velocity in non-keypress performance mode. FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing an operation example obtained by the sound generation control process of FIG. 10. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Key 13 Capacitance switch 13a First capacitance switch 13b Second capacitance switch 20 Musical sound generator VC Finger approach speed (velocity)

Claims (2)

Multiple keys and
A capacitance switch that is provided for each of the plurality of keys and that operates when a player's finger touches and / or approaches the surface of the key;
A musical sound generating device for generating a musical sound based on the detection result of the capacitance switch;
An electronic keyboard instrument characterized by comprising: The electrostatic capacity switch is composed of at least a pair of electrostatic capacity switches, and the pair of electrostatic capacity switches are activated when the performer's fingers reach different predetermined distances from the surface of the key. Configured as
2. The electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein the musical sound generating device calculates a velocity based on a detection result of the pair of capacitance switches, and generates a musical sound according to the calculated velocity. .

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