JP2737382B2 - Controller for electronic musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument operator that controls generation of a musical tone signal by a pressing operation.

[Prior art]

A representative example of this type of operator is a key, which is instructed to be rotatable at the rear end and attached to the front end by a spring as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-16393. When the key is pressed from above, the lower surface of the front end of the key comes into contact with the lower limit stopper provided on the keyboard frame so that the downward displacement of the front end of the key is restricted.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, since the position of the lower limit stopper is fixed and the stroke of the key is always constant, the generation of a tone signal cannot be controlled by a key press and a key release stroke according to the player's preference. Particularly, in the case of an electronic musical instrument, not only the generation of a tone signal such as a stringed instrument tone or a wind instrument tone but also the generation of a tone signal of a percussion instrument tone may be controlled by pressing a key. With keystroke,
The musical tone signals generated in various timbres do not match the key press feeling, and the player may feel unnatural. For example, when controlling the generation of a tone signal having a long decay time such as a tone signal of a piano tone, a longer key release stroke is better, but a tone signal having a short decay time such as a tone signal of a wind instrument tone. When the occurrence of the key release is controlled, it is unnatural if the key release stroke is long. In addition, when controlling the generation of a tone signal imitating a rhythm instrument sound such as a percussion instrument sound, it is difficult to take a rhythm if the keystroke is long. The present invention has been made to address the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic musical instrument operation device capable of easily changing a stroke of an operation member at the time of pressing or releasing the pressing.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, a structural feature of the first invention (the invention according to claim 1) is that an operation member elastically supported on a base and displaced in response to a pressing operation, A stopper member provided on the table side for restricting displacement of the operating member by a predetermined amount or more by contact with a part of the operating member, and for controlling the generation of a tone signal in accordance with the displacement of the operating member. In the operating device, an electric device for assembling a stopper member on a base so as to change a distance between a part of the operating member and the stopper member, and driving the stopper member to change a distance between the part of the operating member and the stopper member. That is, an actuator is provided. The second invention (the invention according to the second aspect) is characterized in that, in the first invention, a tone color designated by tone color designation means for designating a tone color of a tone signal to be generated. There is provided drive control means for driving and controlling the electric actuator. Further, a configurational feature of the third invention (the invention according to the third aspect) is that, in the first invention, a plurality of data each representing a distance between a part of the operation member and the stopper member are stored. Means, reading means for instructing and reading any one of the plurality of data stored in the storage means, and a part of the operating member for controlling the drive of the electric actuator based on the read data. There is provided drive control means for setting and controlling the distance to the stopper member so as to correspond to the read data.

Actions and effects of the present invention

In the first invention configured as described above, the stopper member is assembled to the base so that the distance between a part of the operating member and the stopper member can be changed, and the electric actuator drives the stopper member to thereby control the distance. The distance between a part of the operation member and the stopper member is changed. Therefore,
The displaceable amount of the operation member is changed, and the stroke of the operation member when the operation member is pressed and when the operation member is released can be changed. Thus, according to the first aspect,
The player can control the generation of the musical tone signal by operating the operating member with the operational feeling according to his / her preference, and by setting the stroke in accordance with the type of the musical tone signal to be generated, the player can generate the musical tone signal. It is possible to control the generation of a tone signal by operating the operation member with an operation feeling corresponding to the tone. In addition, since the distance between a part of the operation member and the stopper member is changed by the electric actuator, the stroke of the operation member can be easily changed without human operation. Further, in the second invention configured as described above,
The drive control means drives and controls the electric actuator in accordance with the tone color designated by the tone color designation means for designating the tone position of the generated tone signal, so that the stroke of the operation member is automatically set in accordance with the tone color. Become so. Therefore, according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the player does not need to adjust the position of the stopper member according to the designation of the sound place, and the burden on the player is reduced. In the third invention configured as described above,
The drive control means drives and controls the electric actuator in accordance with one data read out by the reading means from the plurality of data stored in the storage means, so that the stroke of the operation member can be changed more easily. Therefore, according to the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the player can easily change the stroke of the operation member even during a certain interval during the performance.

【Example】

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a black key and a white key for an electronic musical instrument as performance operators. The black key and the white key are each integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and are arranged in a row in a predetermined arrangement order on a keyboard frame 11 as a base. Although the black key and the white key are slightly different in shape, they have almost the same configuration, and therefore the black key will be described in detail below. The black key includes a key body 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a long shape, and an engagement portion 13 protruding downward is formed at a rear end of the body 12. Engagement part 13 is keyboard frame 11
The key body 12 is fitted in the hole 11a provided in the key body 12 so that the recess of the engaging portion 13 and the front edge of the hole 11a are engaged.
It is rotatable up and down around the front edge of 11a. The rear end of the keyboard frame 11 is bent upward, and an elastic member 14 is interposed between the bent portion and the key body 12 so that the engaging portion 13 After the key body 12 is fitted into the key frame 11a, the key body 12 is not easily detached from the keyboard frame 11. A leaf spring is provided between the lower surface of the key body 12 and the keyboard frame 11.
15 are provided. The leaf spring 15 has a key body 12 at its front end.
1 and is locked at its rear end by a small hole 11b provided in the keyboard frame 11, and the front end of the key body 12 is raised upward in FIG. It is energizing. At the front end of the key body 12, an engaging portion 17 formed in a hook shape is provided. The engaging portion 17 is composed of a vertical piece 17a extending vertically from the side wall of the key body 12 and a horizontal piece 17b extending horizontally rearward from the lower end of the vertical piece 17a. It penetrates a hole 11c formed in the front step. An upper limit stopper 18 made of an elastic member such as felt is fixed to the lower surface of the keyboard frame 11 facing the horizontal piece 17b, and the key body is brought into contact with the upper surface of the horizontal piece 17b and the lower surface of the upper limit stopper 18. The upward displacement of the front end of 12 is regulated. Further, the light emitting element 21 is provided on the inner surface of the vertical piece 17a of the engaging portion 17.
Is fixed, and a light receiving element 22 is fixed at a position on the keyboard frame 11 facing the engaging portion 17. As a result, when the engaging portion 17 is lowered along with the lowering of the front end of the key body 12 in response to the key depression, the light from the light emitting element 21
Is detected, and the key depression is detected. A vertically protruding protrusion 23 is formed on the lower surface of the key body 12 in the front-rear direction, and a lower limit stopper mechanism 30 is assembled to the keyboard frame 11 below the protrusion 23. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower limit stopper mechanism 30 includes an elongated plate-shaped stopper member 31 and the same member 31.
And a pair of leg members 32 and 33 fixed to the lower surfaces of both ends of the pair. The leg striking members 32, 32 penetrate through holes 11d, 11d formed at two places at both ends in the key arrangement direction of the keyboard frame 11 through spacers 33, 33, and the stopper member 31 faces the projection 23 of each key, respectively. doing. An elastic member 34 such as a felt is attached to the upper surface of the stopper member 31, and the downward displacement of the front end of the key body 12 is regulated by the contact between each protrusion 23 and the elastic member 34. Has become. Rack teeth 32a, 32a are formed on the side surfaces of the leg members 32, 32, and both rack teeth 32a, 32a mesh with the wheels 35, 35 below the keyboard frame 11. These wheels 35, 35 are connected at their respective centers by a rotating shaft 36 so as to rotate integrally. Both ends of the rotating shaft 36 are a pair of brackets 37, 3 fixed to the lower surface of the keyboard frame 11.
It is rotatably supported by 7. A worm shaft 38 meshes with one wheel 35, and the coaxial 38 is driven to rotate by an electric motor 41.
The electric motor 41 is fixed to a box 42 containing the keyboard frame 11 and the like. Further, a light emitting element 43 is fixed to the side surface of one of the leg members 32, and a support 44 is provided on the box 42 so as to face the element 43.
Has been fixed. A plurality of light receiving element groups
The light emitting element 43 and the light emitting element group 45 detect the position of the stopper member 31. Next, an electric control device that drives and controls the electric motor 41 in the stopper mechanism 30 configured as described above to move the stopper member 31 up and down will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electric control device. The electric control device includes a height data setting device 51 and an RA for setting the stopper member 31 to a desired height.
Equipped with M52. The height data setting device 51 is operated by a player or the like, and outputs data representing the height of the stopper member 31 set by the operation. RAM52
Is for storing a plurality of the data, the writing of the same data is controlled by the write switch 53, and the write address and the read address of the data are designated by the plurality of preset switches 54a to 54c. I have. Outputs of the preset switches 54a to 54c are connected to respective set inputs S of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c. Outputs Q of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c are input to differentiating circuits 56a to 56c, respectively.
To 56c, each output signal from each of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c rises and differentiates and is output. Differentiator circuit
The outputs of 56a to 56c are OR-combined by an OR circuit 57, and the flip-flop circuits 58a to 5c are output via the OR circuits 58a to 58c.
8c are supplied to respective reset inputs R. Thus, when any of the preset switches 54a to 54c is operated, only one of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c corresponding to the operated preset switch 54a to 54c is set, and the other flip-flop circuits 55a are set.
~ 55c is reset. Each output Q of these flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c is connected to an address signal generator 61, and the generator 61 is operated by an operated preset switch.
An address signal representing 54a-54c is output to the RAM 52. In order to automatically set the height of the stopper member 31 in accordance with the tone color of the generated tone signal, the electric control device transmits a plurality of height data corresponding to a plurality of tone colors such as piano, guitar, and clarinet. A ROM 62 stored in advance is provided. A read address of the ROM 62 is specified by a plurality of tone color selection switches 63a, 63b,... 63n corresponding to the tone colors. 63n are connected to respective set inputs S of flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b... 64n. The outputs Q of the flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b... 64n are input to differentiating circuits 65a, 65b.
Each of the differentiating circuits 65a, 65b,.
Each output signal from 64b... 64n rises and differentiates and is output. Each output of the differentiating circuits 65a, 65b ... 65n is an OR circuit
ORed by 66, flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b
.. 64n are supplied to respective reset inputs R. As a result, the tone selection switches 63a, 63b ... 6
When any of 3n is operated, the operated switch 63
flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b ... 6 corresponding to a, 63b ... 63n
Only one of 4n is set and the other flip-flop circuit
64a, 64b ... 64n are reset. Each of the outputs Q of these flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b... 64n is an address signal generator.
The generator 67 outputs an address signal indicating the operated tone color selection switches 63a, 63b... 63n to the ROM 62. Each output data from the RAM 52 and the ROM 62 is supplied to a selector circuit 68.
The selector circuit 68 selects the output data of the RAM 52 when a high-level signal “1” is supplied to its selection control input SA, and performs the selection control. When the low level signal “0” is supplied to the input SA, the output data of the ROM 62 is selectively output. The selection control input SA of the selector circuit 68 is connected to flip-flop circuits 55a to 55a.
The output of an OR circuit 71 for inputting each output Q of 5c is connected, and the OR circuit 71 outputs a low level signal "0" only when all of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55b are in a reset state.
And outputs a high-level signal “1” otherwise. To reset all of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c by turning on one of the tone color selection switches 63a, 63b... 63n, OR circuits 58a to 58c are connected to the reset inputs R of the same circuits 55a to 55c. Through the tone selection switch
An OR circuit 72 that inputs each output of 63a, 63b,... 63n and performs OR synthesis, and a differentiation circuit 73 that outputs the output of the OR circuit 72 as a rising differential is connected. A D / A converter 74 is connected to the output of the selector circuit 68. The D / A converter 74 converts input digital data into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal. The converted output is connected to the positive input (+) of the servo amplifier 75. A height detector 76 for outputting an analog signal indicating the height of the stopper member 31 including the light emitting element 43 and the light receiving element group 45 shown in FIG. . The output of the servo amplifier 75 is connected to the drive motor 41. Further, the output of the address signal generator 67 of the electric control device configured as described above is also supplied to the tone signal generation circuit 81. The tone signal generating circuit 81 is also connected to a key switch circuit 82 including the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 shown in FIG. The tone signal corresponding to the address signal from the address signal generator 67 is supplied to the sound system 83 in response to the key press / release detection. The sound system 83 includes an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, and emits a tone corresponding to the tone signal. Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, a case where the player sets the stopper member 31 at a desired height will be described. In this case, the performer sets any data representing the height of the stopper member 31 using the data setting device 51 and operates any of the preset switches 54a to 54c. Thus, the data set by the player is supplied to the input of the RAM 52, and the address of the RAM 52 corresponding to the operated preset switches 54a to 54c and in which the data is to be stored is designated. Then, when the write switch 53 is operated, RAM5
2 is supplied with a write control signal, and the RAM 52 stores the setting data at addresses corresponding to the operated preset switches 54a to 54c. By operating the preset switches 54a to 54c different from those described above and performing the series of operations, three types of data can be stored in the RAM 52. In addition, while increasing the storage capacity of the RAM 52,
By increasing the number of the preset switches 54a to 54c, more data can be stored in the RAM 52. When any of the preset switches 54a to 54c is operated after the data is stored in the RAM 52, an address signal corresponding to the operated preset switches 54a to 54c is stored in the RAM 5.
2, and the data corresponding to the operated preset switches 54a to 54c are read from the RAM 52. In this case, since one of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c is set by the operation of the preset switches 54a to 54c, a high-level signal "1" is output from the OR circuit 71 to the selection control input SA of the selector circuit 68. The circuit 68 selectively outputs the data read from the RAM 52 to the D / A converter 74. This data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 74 and supplied to the positive input (+) of the servo amplifier 75.
The servo amplifier 75 is connected to the analog signal supplied to the positive input (+) and the stopper member supplied from the height detector 76.
The rotation of the electric motor 41 is feedback-controlled so that the height of the stopper member 31 is equal to the height represented by the data read from the RAM 52, based on the analog signal representing the height of 34. As a result of this control, when the electric motor 41 is driven to rotate,
The rotation is transmitted to one wheel 35 via the worm shaft 38. Since the pair of wheels 35, 35 are connected by the rotating shaft 36, both the wheels 35, 35 rotate according to the rotation of the electric motor 41, and move the pair of leg members 37, 37 up and down. Thereby, the stopper member 31 is set to the height represented by the data read from the RAM 52, and the data is set by the player using the height data setting device 51. Is set to an arbitrary height according to the player's preference. Moreover, in this case, the data indicating the height of the stopper member 31 is set by the height data setting unit 51, and a plurality of the set data are prepared in the RAM 52 in advance, and the data of the preset switches 54a to 54c are stored. Since one of the data can be easily read out by the operation and used for setting the height of the stopper member 31, the player can easily set the stopper member 31 to an arbitrary height even during a certain interval during the performance. Can be set. When the key body 12 is pressed from the upper surface with the height of the stopper member 31 arbitrarily set in this way, the upper surface of the horizontal piece 17a of the engaging portion 17 has an upper limit against the urging force of the leaf spring 15. The front end of the key body 12 is separated from the lower surface of the stopper 18 by an engagement
Displaces downward with 13 as a fulcrum. During this downward displacement,
When the protrusion 23 comes into contact with the elastic member 34 on the stopper member 31, the downward displacement stops. On the other hand, since the light receiving element 22 receives light from the light emitting element 21 due to the downward displacement, the key depression is detected by both the elements 21 and 22. This means that a key press detection signal is supplied from the key switch circuit 82 to the tone signal generation circuit 81, and the circuit 81 starts forming a tone signal in response to the key press, and The corresponding musical tone is generated via the sound system 83. The tone of the tone signal at this time is set by the tone selection switch 63.
63n is controlled by a signal supplied from the address signal generator 67 in accordance with the operation state of each of the a, 63b... 63n. After the key is pressed, when the pressing on the key body 12 is released, the front end of the body 12 is displaced upward,
The horizontal piece 17a stops in a state where the upper face of the horizontal piece 17a contacts the lower face of the upper limit stopper 18. On the other hand, at this time, since the light from the light emitting element 21 is no longer input to the light receiving element 22, the key release is detected by both the elements 21 and 22. This means that the key switch circuit 82
Means that a key release detection signal is supplied to the musical tone signal generation circuit 81 from the controller, the circuit 81 attenuates the tone signal in response to the key release, and then stops forming and outputting the same signal. The tone corresponding to the signal is not generated by the sound system 83. In this way, when controlling generation of a tone signal in accordance with the pressing and releasing operations on the key body 12, the key body 12
The downward and upward displacement strokes of the front end of the
The distance is determined by the distance between the lower end surface of the elastic member and the upper surface of the elastic member. On the other hand, since the heights of the elastic members 31 and 34 are arbitrarily set according to the player's preference as described above,
The player can control the generation of a tone signal by a keystroke release stroke according to his preference. In addition, when controlling the generation of a tone signal having a long decay time such as a tone signal of a piano tone, the key release stroke is lengthened to some extent, and a tone signal having a short decay time such as a tone signal of a wind instrument tone is controlled. When the generation is controlled, the keystroke release stroke can be shortened to match the keyboard playing feeling with the tone signal generation state. This allows the player to control the generation of the musical tone signal by operating the keyboard without feeling uncomfortable. Next, the stopper member 31 and the elastic member 34 are linked with the tone color selection of the tone signal by the tone color selection switches 63a, 63b.
The case in which the height of the image is automatically set will be described. In this case, the performer selects the tone color selection switch 63 in order to select the tone color of the tone signal formed and output by the tone signal generation circuit 81.
Operate one of a, 63b ... 63n. With this operation, any one of the flip-flop circuits 64a, 64b... 64n is set, and the address signal representing the operated tone color selection switch 63a, 63b.
From the ROM 62, the height data stored in advance corresponding to the selected tone color is read out, and the selector circuit 68
Is supplied to the input B. On the other hand, at this time, the operation of the tone color selection switches 63a, 63b... 63n causes the reset input R of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c to be supplied to the OR circuit 72, the differentiation circuit 73, and the OR circuit 58a to 58c. Is supplied, and all of the flip-flop circuits 55a to 55c are reset. Therefore, a low level signal “0” is supplied from the OR circuit 71 to the selection control input SA of the selector circuit 68. As a result, the selector circuit 68 selectively outputs the signal from the ROM 62, so that the stopper member 31 and the elastic member 34 are set to the height corresponding to the selection, as in the case described above. As described above, the generation of the tone signal is controlled by the pressing and releasing operations on the key body 12, and the tone color of the tone signal is controlled in accordance with the selected tone color. Then, as described above, the stopper member 31 and the elastic member 34
The height of the key, that is, the keystroke of the key is set in conjunction with the operation of selecting the sound place of the generated musical tone signal. As a result, it is necessary for the player to set the height using the height data setting unit 51. Is eliminated, which is convenient for the player. The above embodiment can be modified as follows. (1)
In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 are used for key press / release detection. However, a magnetic non-contact type position detector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. Various types of detectors shown in “Name of electronic musical instruments” can be used. Instead of a non-contact type position detector, a conventionally used contact type key switch may be used. (2) In the above embodiment, the light emitting element 43 and the light receiving element group 45 are used, and the displacement of the leg member 32 is detected to detect the height of the stopper member 31, but instead of this detector, A magnetic non-contact type position detector may be used, or a non-contact type position detector, for example, a variable resistor may be used. Also, the leg member 32
The height of the stopper member 31 may be detected by detecting the rotation angles of the wheels 35, 35, the rotating shaft 36, and the electric motor 41 without detecting the displacement of the stopper member 31. (3) In the above embodiment, the leg members 32, 32 are moved up and down by the driving force of the electric motor 41 to set the height of the stopper member 31, but instead of the electric motor 41, manual operation is performed. The stopper member 31 may be moved up and down. In this case, of course, the height of the stopper member 41 cannot be automatically set in conjunction with the tone selection, but the wheel 35 or the rotating shaft 36 is rotated by a tool such as a rotating lever, or the leg members 32, 32 are directly What is necessary is just to make it slide. (4) In the above embodiment, the stopper member 31 as the lower limit stopper of the key body 12 is moved up and down.
The upper limit position of the key body 12 may be changed by moving the upper limit stopper 18 up and down. Even if you do this, the key body
Twelve key press and key release strokes are changed, and an effect equivalent to that of the present invention can be expected. (5) In the above embodiment, the key has been described as an example of the performance operator. However, the present invention is not limited to only the key, and the present invention is not limited to controlling the generation of a tone signal. For example, the present invention is also applied to a pad operator, a push button operator, an operation lever, and the like. (6) In the above embodiment, the tone color selection switches 63a, 63
The tone colors of musical instruments having pitches such as piano, guitar, clarinet, etc. are selected by b ... 63n. These tone selection switches 63a, 63b ... 63n control the generation of percussion instrument sound signals such as cymbals, bass drums and the like. It may be something. In this case, the percussion instrument sound is mainly used for taking a rhythm.
It is preferable to set the stroke of the key body 12 to be small as the operation member at the time of pressing. (7) In the above embodiment, a device for detecting a key touch is not provided, but a touch sensor such as an initial and an after-touch may be provided on the stopper member 31 instead of the elastic member 34 or together with the elastic member 34. . In this case, the influence of the touch signal detected by the touch sensor on the tone signal may be changed according to the set height of the stopper member 31.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a key according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower limit stopper mechanism for the key body, and FIG. 3 is an electric control device for controlling the electric motor of FIGS. 1 and 2. EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS 11: Keyboard frame, 12: Key body, 15: Leaf spring, 23
... Projecting part, 30 ... Lower limit stopper mechanism, 31 ... Stopper member, 32 ... Leg member, 34 ... Elastic member, 35 ... Wheel, 36 ... Rotary shaft, 38 ... Worm shaft, 41 ... Electric motor, 51 ... Height data setting device, 52 ... RAM, 54a-54c ...
… Preset switch, 62… ROM, 63a, 63b… 63c ……
Tone selection switch, 76 ... height detector, 81 ... tone signal generation circuit.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An operating member which is elastically supported on a base and is displaced in response to a pressing operation; and a predetermined member provided on the base side and which is in contact with a part of the operating member. In the electronic musical instrument operating device for controlling the generation of a tone signal in accordance with the displacement of the operating member, the distance between a part of the operating member and the stopper member is changed. An operation for an electronic musical instrument, wherein the stopper member is attached to the base as much as possible, and an electric actuator for driving the stopper member to change a distance between a part of the operation member and the stopper member is provided. Child device. 2. The electronic musical instrument operating device according to claim 1, further comprising: drive control means for driving and controlling said electric actuator in accordance with a tone color designated by tone color designation means for designating a tone color of a tone signal to be generated. An operating device for an electronic musical instrument, wherein the operating device is provided. 3. The operation device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores a plurality of data each representing a distance between a part of said operation member and said stopper member. Reading means for instructing and reading any one of the plurality of data, and a distance between a part of the operating member and the stopper member by driving and controlling the electric actuator based on the read data. And a drive control means for performing setting control so as to correspond to the read data.