JP3496299B2 - Keyboard device for electronic keyboard instruments - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device used in electronic organs, portable electronic keyboard musical instruments, electronic pianos, and the like, and more particularly to a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard musical instrument which can emit a key of a keyboard during practice. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key press display device for an electronic organ or the like, one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-126015 is known. This device is provided with an indicator on the frame portion around the keyboard or on the key, and this indicator is displayed based on signals from various recording devices so that the performer (practitioner) can
By practicing the electronic keyboard instrument by pressing a key in accordance with the display on the display. Also,
There is also seen a device in which the entire key surface is made to emit light by an electroluminescence method as seen in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-31510.

[0003]

However, in the case of the former keyboard device, the visibility of the displayed keys is poor, and it is difficult to clearly grasp the key depression state, which increases the cost of the product. There was a problem. That is,
When the indicator is installed in the frame part around the keyboard, the indicator is installed behind or in front of the key.Therefore, the part to be pressed with a finger is far from the display part in the case of the back, and the finger or The display device is hidden by the hand, and it becomes difficult for the performer to visually recognize the key that emits light. Also, whether the display is provided on the frame part or on the key, since the display only displays a relatively small area, it is difficult to see it shiningly. Will be inferior.

Further, when the indicator is provided on the key, a hole for attaching the indicator is required for the key, so that a new die for key molding is required, which increases the cost of the product. Further, in the latter keyboard device, the visibility is improved, but the durability is such that the power supply wiring of the swinging key can endure hundreds of thousands of key depressions and the key frame of the key is The ease of assembly and maintenance as a structure that can be easily attached and detached is not considered.

Therefore, in order to satisfy the above-mentioned conditions, it is possible to provide a key press indicator below the keyboard, but if the indicator is simply provided below, light will only leak from the gap between the keys. Therefore, the visibility is extremely poor. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a light-transmitting material for the key, but this alone does not lead to commercialization. Because there are many parts under the key that are indispensable for various keys such as key switches and stoppers.
There was a problem such as what to do with the light source installation space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard musical instrument that can improve the visibility of a key that emits light and can reduce the cost of the product. To do.

In order to achieve such an object, claim 1
The invention described in (1) is a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument having a key frame and a key whose free end side is movable up and down with respect to the frame via a fulcrum part thereof. The surface is formed of at least a transparent or translucent translucent material, and one or more of the surfaces other than the surface is formed into a mirror surface, and the light emitting portion is located on the rear side surface of the key from the rear side to the front side of the key. Is provided with a light emitting means capable of causing a key to be depressed to emit light.
Temporary positioning means when assembling the key to the key frame
Is formed .

The invention according to claim 2 is the key frame.
And the free end side of the frame is vertically movable.
Electronic keyboard instrument having a key arranged via a fulcrum part of
The keyboard device of the
If it is made of at least transparent or translucent translucent material
And forming one or more surfaces other than the surface into a mirror surface,
The light emitting part is located on the rear side of the key from the rear to the front of the key.
A light emitting means that can emit a key to be pressed
The key has a flat surface.
On the back of the wide part of the
From the point where it starts to widen, gradually toward the side end surface
It is characterized by being formed thin . The invention according to claim 3 is the same as in claim 1 or 2,
For the key, at least both sides in the longitudinal direction of the key should be mirror-finished.
Characterize.

First, according to the invention of claim 1, FIG.
The light emitting means (LED 7) in the keyboard device configured as shown in FIG. 2 is turned on, for example, in red when a predetermined signal corresponding to the music is input from the control circuit. In the swinging key structure, the light emitting means is provided in the least moving part, and the key rear side surface (1a1, 1a2) near the key fulcrum part.
Since the light emitting portion 71 of the light emitting means such as an LED is faced toward, the light emitted from the light emitting means is mainly directed by the direct light a1 as shown by an arrow a1 in FIG. As it goes to the (free end), a part of it reaches the lower surface of the key in the middle as shown by an arrow a11 in FIG. 5, and is reflected there toward the key surface, and irradiates the irregular reflection portion 1e on the key surface. In addition, the direct light a1 is partially a12
As it reaches the free end, it is reflected by the inclined surface 51 to illuminate the key surface. Further, as shown by an arrow a2 in FIG. 4, the light that has proceeded to the side reaches the tip while being reflected once or more on the mirror-finished reflecting surface (side surface). At this time, light having an angle in the vertical direction even a little reaches the key surface while being reflected on the lower surface of the key as described above. In the invention described in claim 1, one or more of the above-mentioned reflections can occur. As a result, the visibility of the key depression instruction is improved, and the cost of the product can be reduced because the key mold does not have to be complicated. Further, since the light emitting means is structured to be loosely fitted in the concave portion 2aa in the vicinity of the key fulcrum, provisional positioning can be performed during the work of assembling the key to the key frame, and the screw 8 in that state.
Since the assembling of the key to the key frame 8 is completed in a etc.,
The work is easy.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the light emitting means (LED7) in the keyboard device configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 receives a predetermined signal corresponding to the music from the control circuit. As a result, for example, it lights in red. In the swinging key structure, the light emitting means is provided in the least moving part, and the key rear side surface (1a1, 1a) near the key fulcrum part is provided.
Since the light emitting portion 71 of the light emitting means such as an LED faces toward 2), the light emitted from the light emitting means is mainly the direct light a1 as shown by an arrow a1 in FIG.
As it advances to the tip (free end) of the key, a part of it reaches the lower surface of the key in the middle as shown by the arrow a11 in FIG. Irradiate. Further, the direct light a1 is
When it reaches 12 to the free end, it is reflected by the inclined surface 51 to illuminate the key surface. Further, as shown by an arrow a2 in FIG. 4, the light that has proceeded to the side reaches the tip while being reflected once or more on the mirror-finished reflecting surface (side surface). At this time, light having an angle in the vertical direction even a little reaches the key surface while being reflected on the lower surface of the key as described above. In the invention according to claim 2, one or more of the above-mentioned reflections may occur.
As a result, the visibility of the key depression instruction is improved, and the cost of the product can be reduced because the key mold does not have to be complicated. Further, since the light from the light emitting means 7 is better reflected by each reflecting surface, the illuminance of the key display portion is further increased and the visibility is further improved. Furthermore, the key is
The front surface is flat, and the back of the wide part in front of it is formed as a light reflecting surface. Since the light from the means 7 is better reflected, the illuminance of the key display portion is further increased and the visibility is further improved.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the features of claim 1 or 2, since the light from the light emitting means 7 is better reflected on both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the key, the illuminance of the key display portion is increased. Further, the visibility is further improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cross section of a part of a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention. Figure 2
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a portion where an LED 70 as a light emitting means is attached to the printed circuit board 9 in FIG. For convenience of explanation, the free end side of the key is referred to as the front (front end), and the fulcrum side of the key is referred to as the rear (rear end). In FIG. 1, the key 1 has its inside and its surface formed of at least a transparent or translucent translucent material, and has one or more surfaces (for example, both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the key) other than the surface formed into a mirror surface. . And the key 1 is the rear end 1
A has a fulcrum portion 2, and a free end portion 1b is disposed on the key frame 8 via the fulcrum portion 2 so as to be swingable in the direction of arrow a. The fulcrum portion 2 includes a vertically movable first hinge portion (horizontal hinge portion) 2a, a horizontally movable second hinge portion (vertical hinge portion) 2b, and a common base end portion (common fixed portion) 2c.
And a black key group (all keys are shown only for the common base end) not shown in the figure, the three blocks of the key group are superposed at the base end 2c and fixed to the key frame 8 with the screw 8a.

Further, in front of the key frame 8, the upper limit stopper 8 is provided so as to face the upper and lower end surfaces of the rear cutout recess of the guided portion 3.
b, a lower limit stopper 8c is provided. And the key 1
When the free end 1b side of the key is pressed, the hooked piece 3d faces downward in the through hole 8e while the guided portion 3 is guided by the key guide 8d formed by outsert resin molding on the cut and raised piece 8f. The key contact portion 1c is configured to move and abuts against the lower limit stopper (key stopper portion) 8c, thereby defining the lower limit of key depression. The upper limit is the hook-shaped piece 3 as shown in Fig. 1.
The upper end surface of d is brought into contact with the upper limit stopper 8b. An actuator 4 for pressing a key switch is integrally formed on the rear end 1a side of the center of the key.

Such a key 1 is formed by molding a synthetic resin in a mold (not shown) having a predetermined shape, and a recess 5 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed inside thereof. A part of the recess 5 forms the guided portion 3 for moving the key up and down. Further, the front concave portion corresponds to the free end lower surface 51, and this lower surface is formed so as to be inclined upward toward the tip, and further in the wide portion 1b1 (see FIG. 4a), toward the side end surface 1ba thereof. Further, it is configured to incline upward. With this configuration, the light reaching the front of the key from the rear of the key is reflected by these slopes and is not strengthened but rather strengthened, and when viewed from above the key, the key appears to emit light.

The synthetic resin used for the key 1 is thin and semi-transparent in the case of a white key and in the case of a black key. The light emitted from the rear side of the key is sufficiently visible from the front side. However, it is necessary to apply a textured (diffuse reflection part) 1e to the extent that the internal parts cannot be visually recognized, or to attach a textured thin resin sheet (diffuse reflection part) 1e to the key surface. Therefore, the translucency is maintained. Also,
The lower surface of the key 1 may or may not be a mirror surface, but is formed by a mold so that light is reflected to some extent or more. Further, the lower surface may be a diffuse reflection section.

A printed circuit board 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the key frame 8, and a fixed contact (not shown) having a U-shaped pattern printed on the printed circuit board 9 faces the fixed contact. Outer arm-shaped movable piece 9 having a movable contact on the lower surface
A key switch consisting of S and S is provided below the actuator 4 of the key 1.

The printed circuit board 9 has a resistor,
In addition to other keyboard circuit components (not shown) such as a diode, a light emitting diode LED 70 is automatically soldered rearward through a spacer 72. The spacer is integrally molded in units of, for example, 1 to 2 octaves, and is loosely fitted into the recess 2aa formed in the lower surface of the horizontal hinge portion 2a when the key is assembled. That is, the light emitting means 7 including the LED 70 and the spacer 72 serves as a temporary positioning means when the key is assembled to the key frame. If you elaborate on this further,
A three-unit key group consisting of a white key 2 and a black key 1 is placed on the key frame 8 in such a manner that they are substantially overlapped at the key common base end.
Alternatively, they are sequentially superimposed on the key frame in time series.
At this time, the LED 70 is fitted and inserted into the through hole 2a1 simply by placing the LED 70 at a substantially predetermined position, and then the concave portion 2aa is inserted into the spacer 7.
Play with 2. This provisionally positions the key with respect to the key frame. Thereafter, the front key group is fixed to the key frame 8 with screws 8a or the like.

The protrusion 1r is a stopper for preventing an excessive load from being applied to the horizontal hinge portion 2a even when the rear end portion 1a of the key is strongly pressed. This stopper is an upper surface of the spacer 72. It is also possible to make contact with the bottom surface of the recess 2aa. The LED 70 may be directly provided on the substrate 9 with the spacer omitted.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view mainly showing a rear side surface of the key, showing a light guide portion where light is guided from the light emitting means to the key surface. The rear side surface of the key in the previous embodiment corresponds to the rear end surface 1a1 of the key, whereas the rear side surface of the key in this embodiment corresponds to the front end surface 1a2 of the recess 1a3 provided in the rear end portion of the key. . The LED 70 is directly attached to the printed circuit board 9 as a light emitting means. Other points are the same as in the previous embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The key frame 8 which constitutes the present invention
Can be formed of either metal or resin. Furthermore, the color of the LED 7 and the shape of the key 1 in each of the above embodiments are examples, and for example, an LED 7 of another color such as green may be used as the LED 7, or an LED of a plurality of colors may be used.
7 may be used, and the shape of the key 1 may be a key 1 having an appropriate shape according to various electronic keyboard musical instruments, and may be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

[0021]

As described above in detail, in the keyboard device of the electronic keyboard musical instrument according to the first aspect of the present invention, the visibility of the key pressing instruction is improved, and the key die need not be complicated. Thus, the product cost can be reduced, and since the light emitting means constitutes the temporary positioning means in the assembling of the key to the key frame, the work of attaching the key to the key frame is simplified. In the keyboard device of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the second aspect of the present invention, the light output from the key free end surface, which is the main light output end, can be suppressed, and the efficiency of key surface light emission can be increased accordingly. According to the third aspect of the invention, since the light from the light emitting means is better reflected on both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the key, the illuminance of the key display portion is further increased and the visibility is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view in which a part of a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard musical instrument according to the present invention is shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the keyboard device according to the present invention as seen from diagonally above and behind the key in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main part of another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a keyboard device according to the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view of an essential part of one key, (b) is an operation explanatory view, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line bb in (a). Cross-section view,

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of only the key for explaining the operation of the present invention,

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... key, 1a1, 1a2 ... key rear side, 1b1
...... Wide part of key, 1ba ...... side end face 2 ...... key fulcrum part, 7 ...... light emitting means, 71 ...... light emitting part, 8 ...... key frame, s1, s2 ...... side surface in the key longitudinal direction

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, comprising: a key frame; and a key whose free end side is movable up and down with respect to the frame via a fulcrum part thereof. The surface is formed of at least a transparent or semi-transparent light-transmitting material, and one or more surfaces other than the surface is formed as a mirror surface, and the light emitting portion is located on the rear side surface of the key from the rear side to the front side of the key. A keyboard of an electronic keyboard instrument characterized in that a light emitting means for emitting a key to be pressed is provided, and the light emitting means forms a temporary positioning means when the key is assembled to the key frame. apparatus. 2. A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard musical instrument, comprising: a key frame; and a key whose free end side is vertically movable with respect to the frame via a fulcrum part thereof. The surface is formed of at least a transparent or semi-transparent light-transmitting material, and one or more surfaces other than the surface is formed as a mirror surface, and the light emitting portion is located on the rear side surface of the key from the rear side to the front side of the key. As described above, a light emitting means capable of emitting light from a key to be pressed is provided, and the front surface of the key is formed as a flat surface, and the back surface of the wide portion in front of the key is formed as a light reflection surface, and the area starts to widen. A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard musical instrument, which is characterized in that it is gradually thinned from the side end surface. 3. The keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least both side surfaces of the key in the longitudinal direction of the key are mirror surfaces.