JP3684741B2 - Electronic musical instrument keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ having an integrally formed key unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ having an integrally formed key unit has been known. The key unit structure in this apparatus is a two-layer structure in which a black key unit and a white key unit are separately molded and overlapped, or a white key unit is further divided into two and integrally molded. A three-layer structure is selected, and an appropriate structure is selected depending on the size of the electronic musical instrument body. In any structure, a plurality of keys in one key unit are normally supported by a key support member (common base end) common to the plurality of keys via a key fulcrum hinge, and the plurality of keys The key, the key fulcrum hinge portion, and the key support member are integrally formed to form one key unit. In addition, the electronic musical instrument main body is generally provided with various operators such as a tone color, volume, pad sound, and other effect switches in addition to turning on / off the power. These operators are considered to be arranged as close to the keys as possible on the control panel so that they can be easily operated during performance.
[0003]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a conventional keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument. FIG. 4A is a plan view of a range of one octave when the key unit and the operation element provided on the control panel are viewed from above in the apparatus main body, and FIG. It is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of cut | disconnecting by the "XX line" in the figure (a).
[0004]
The key unit in this apparatus has a two-layer structure in which an integrally formed white key unit 101 and a black key unit 102 are overlapped. The white key unit 101 includes a white key 101a, a white key fulcrum hinge 101b, and a white key support member 101c. The black key unit 102 includes a black key 102a, a black key fulcrum hinge 102b, and a black key support member 102c.
[0005]
In this conventional electronic musical instrument keyboard device, in order to bring the operation element 109 closer to the keys 101a and 102a, the operation element 109 is arranged as close as possible to the rear ends of the support members 101c and 102c on the control panel. The distance between the rear ends of 101a and 102a and the front end of the operation element 109 (hereinafter referred to as “operation element distance D”) is shortened as shown in FIG.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, the integrally formed key unit always requires a common base end portion as a support member. That is, in maintaining the horizontal state of the key, the width of the support member (the length L in the front-rear direction of the support members 101c and 102c shown in FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as “support member width L”) is the minimum. It is necessary to ensure the dimensions, and there is a certain limit in shortening the operation distance D. For example, when the keyboard apparatus main body is a small size having an octave key width of about 11 mm, the support member width L is required to be about 10 mm at the minimum, and therefore the operator distance D is about 14 to 15 mm.
[0007]
On the other hand, in order to place the operation element near the key, it is also possible to provide the operation element above the support member so as to overlap the support member. However, this increases the thickness of the electronic musical instrument main body and makes it compact. In addition to this requirement, the distance between the operation element and the circuit board is increased, which complicates the configuration.
[0008]
Conventional keyboard devices for electronic musical instruments have demands for cost reduction, configuration simplification, compactness, and the like. As a result of the limitation of the arrangement positions of the operating elements due to structural limitations as described above, these demands are met. While responding, there was a problem that there was little room to freely design and expand the possibilities of expression of performance by improving the operability of the controls.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to reduce the cost of the main body without increasing the size of the main body and the horizontal supportability of the key. Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument that can expand the degree of freedom of design and the possibility of performance expression.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured such that a plurality of keys are supported by a key support member common to the plurality of keys via a key fulcrum hinge portion, And a key unit in which the plurality of keys, the key fulcrum hinge portion, and the key support member are integrally formed with each other, and a vertical through hole is provided in the key support member, and an operating element is inserted into the through hole. It was set up.
[0011]
According to the keyboard device of the electronic musical instrument of the first aspect, the main body is enlarged with a low cost and a simple configuration by providing the operator through the through hole provided in the vertical direction in the key support member. In addition, the distance between the key and the operator can be remarkably shortened without impairing the horizontal support of the key. Therefore, not only can the degree of freedom of design be expanded by relaxing structural constraints, but it also facilitates simultaneous operation of keys and controls with one hand, etc. Can expand the possibilities.
[0012]
Specifically, the present invention may be configured as follows.
[0013]
The key unit can be a one-layer structure in which all of the white key and the black key are integrally formed, a two-layer structure in which the white key unit and the black key unit are overlaid, or the white key unit is divided into two parts to form the first white key. A three-layer structure including a key unit, a second white key unit, and a black key unit may be used. Alternatively, the key unit may be formed by dividing each of the white key and the black key into a plurality of pieces (for example, every octave).
[0014]
There are no restrictions on the type of operator, but in addition to timbre, volume, key transposition, etc., operators for effect performance such as rhythm, pseudo-percussion instrument sound (pad sound), vibrato, and portamento are suitable. Further, the type is not limited to the pressing type, but may be a sliding type or a wheel type. A pressing type such as a rhythm operator may be configured to be a push start / push stop.
[0015]
There are no particular restrictions on the number, size, shape, and arrangement position of the operating elements inserted into one through hole, and it is preferable to set them according to the usage frequency, function, etc. of the operating elements.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. The size of the keyboard device of this electronic musical instrument is a small one having an octave key width of about 11 mm. This device has a volume on the control panel 7 in addition to the white key unit 1, the black key unit 2, and the speaker 6. Various operators 9 such as an operator 9A are provided. In addition to turning the power on / off, there are a plurality of types of controls such as tone color, volume, pad sound, and other effect switches. In the present apparatus, as will be described later, these operators are arranged at positions very close to the keys on the control panel.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a range of one octave when the operating elements provided on the key units 1 and 2 and the control panel 7 are viewed from the upper surface in the apparatus main body, and FIG. It is the vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of cut | disconnecting the same apparatus main body by the "XX line" shown to the same figure (a). In FIG. 2B, the direction (performer side) in which the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are disposed is “front” of the keyboard device body of the electronic musical instrument.
[0019]
The housing of the present apparatus is composed of an upper case 3 and a lower case 4 as shown in FIG. The upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are joined to each other by screwing screws (both not shown) into the screw holes of the boss portions provided at the four corners of each of the upper case 3 and the lower case 4. Is in contact with the upper end of the peripheral side wall of the lower case 4. A part of the upper wall of the upper case 3 forms a control panel 7 and is appropriately provided with a hole 10 for exposing a control panel switch 9 as an operator.
[0020]
On the bottom surface of the lower case 4, ribs 4a and ribs 4b are projected, and the circuit board 5 is fixed on the ribs 4a and 4b. A key switch 8 is attached to the upper surface of the circuit board 5. This key switch 8 is a normally open switch and is provided corresponding to each of the white key 1a and the black key 2a, and is turned on when the white key 1a and the black key 2a are pressed to generate sound from the speaker. Let
[0021]
In this apparatus, the key unit has a two-layer structure in which a white key unit 1 and a black key unit 2 are overlapped. Each of the plurality of white key units 1 includes a white key 1a, a white key fulcrum hinge 1b, and a white key support member 1c. Each of the plurality of black key units 2 includes a black key 2a, a black key fulcrum hinge 2b, and a black key support member. 2c.
[0022]
Each white key unit 1 is configured such that the white key 1a is supported by the white key support member 1c via the white key fulcrum hinge 1b. The plurality of white key fulcrum hinges 1b are provided corresponding to the white keys 1a, respectively. The white key support member 1c is a single member and is a so-called common base end common to all the white keys 1a in the present apparatus. The plurality of white keys 1a, the corresponding plurality of white key fulcrum hinges 1b, and the single white key support member 1c are integrally formed with each other. The black key unit 2 is similarly configured, and a plurality of black keys 2a, a plurality of black key fulcrum hinges 2b corresponding thereto, and a single black key support member 2c are integrally formed with each other.
[0023]
The white key support member 1c and the black key support member 2c are each provided with a through hole 11 as shown in FIG. The through holes 11 of the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are provided so that their positions coincide with each other when the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are stacked.
[0024]
A control panel switch 9 as an operator is inserted in each through hole 11. The control panel switch 9 is mounted on the upper surface of the circuit board 5, and the upper surface projects slightly above the upper surface of the control panel 7 and performs a predetermined function when pressed. In addition, a part of the control panel switch 9 constitutes a single operator unit composed of a plurality of switches 9a to improve manufacturing and assembly efficiency.
[0025]
The white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are fitted to each other when the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are joined together in a stacked state. When the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are stacked, the upper surface of the white key fulcrum hinge 1b contacts the lower surface of the black key fulcrum hinge 2b, and the upper surfaces of the front and rear end portions of the white key support member 1c are black key support members 2c. Respectively in contact with the lower surfaces of the front and rear end portions.
[0026]
The upper surfaces of the front and rear end portions of the white key support member 1c are each formed in a step shape, and similarly, the lower surfaces of the front and rear end portions of the black key support member 2c are also formed in a step shape corresponding thereto. Thereby, when the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are stacked, the positional relationship in the front-rear direction between the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 is restricted. The positional relationship between the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 in the key arrangement direction (left and right width direction) of the main keyboard apparatus body is restricted by a positioning pin (not shown) or the like.
[0027]
When the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are joined, the upper surface of the black key support member 2 c contacts the lower surface of the upper case 3, and the lower surface of the white key support member 1 c contacts the upper surface of the circuit board 5. Thereby, the vertical position of the key units 1 and 2 and the horizontal state of the keys 1a and 2a are restricted. When the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are joined, the lower end of the rib 3a abuts on the upper surface of the circuit board 5, and serves as a reinforcement against external force from the upper surface direction of the casing of the apparatus.
[0028]
When the keys 1a and 2a are depressed in the non-depressed state shown in FIG. 2B, that is, the key units 1 and 2 are horizontal, the key fulcrum hinges 1b and 2b are curved downward, Is released, the key units 1 and 2 return to the original horizontal state by the elasticity of the key fulcrum hinges 1b and 2b.
[0029]
In the conventional electronic musical instrument keyboard device, the common base end portion (the white key support member 101c and the black key support member 102c in FIG. 3) is not provided with the through hole 11, and is usually in the front-rear direction of the common base end portion. The white key unit 101 and the black key unit 102 are fitted to each other, for example, by screwing with a screw hole provided in the vicinity of the central portion. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the length in the front-rear direction of the key support members 1c and 2c that are the common base end portions, that is, the support member width L is smaller than that of the keyboard device of the conventional electronic musical instrument. As shown in 2 (b), it can be secured sufficiently large. Therefore, the fitting state of the key units 1 and 2 can be stably maintained and the horizontal support of the keys 1a and 2a can be prevented from being lost, so that screwing can be eliminated, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing process can be reduced. It also contributes to simplification.
[0030]
The control panel switch 9 inserted in the through hole 11 includes not only timbre, volume, key transpose, etc. but also rhythm, pseudo-percussion instrument sound (pad sound), vibrato, portamento, etc. Is appropriate. Further, the type is not limited to the pressing type, but may be a sliding type or a wheel type. A push type such as a rhythm operator may be configured to be a push start / push stop. There is no particular limitation on the number, size, shape, and arrangement position of the operating elements inserted into one through hole 11, and the operating elements may be set freely according to the usage frequency, function, etc. of the operating elements. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), one through hole 11 may be formed in a square and a plurality of square operation elements may be arranged, or a plurality of square operation elements and rectangular operation elements may be arranged as one. You may make it mix in the through-hole 11. FIG. It is preferable that an operator that needs to be operated instantaneously during performance is particularly large, or has a shape such as horizontally long or vertically long.
[0031]
By providing the operation panel such as the control panel switch 9 through the through hole 11, the distance D from the front end of the control panel switch 9 to the rear end of the keys 1a and 2a is extremely reduced as shown in FIG. (For example, about 6 to 7 mm). As a result, since the finger of one hand can reach both the keys 1a and 2a and the operation element at the same time, the operability of the operation element during performance is remarkably improved.
[0032]
For example, if a pad sound controller (9A in FIG. 1) such as cymbals and drums is provided, it is possible to easily play the pad sound with the left finger of the left hand while holding down the chord component sound (eg, 3 keys) with the left hand. it can. Alternatively, if a slide-type horizontally long volume controller is provided, an effect performance like tremolo can be performed with one hand by operating the volume controller with the remaining fingers of the hand playing the keyboard. Become. In addition, playing with the right hand on the keyboard and the left hand with the wheel, etc. was generally performed, but if the wheel is placed within the reach of the right hand, it is possible to play with the right hand only. It becomes. Further, since the operation elements are arranged closer to the keys 1a and 2a, the operation of the operation elements becomes easier even when the operation elements are operated with the hands not playing the keyboard as usual. .
[0033]
As described above, it is possible not only to perform an effect performance with one hand, which has been indispensable in the past with one hand, but also to facilitate an effect performance with the same operation as before.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the through-holes 11 are formed in a square shape, but the number and shape of the through-holes 11 are not particularly limited, and can be freely set simultaneously with the setting of the number and shape of the operation elements to be inserted. Just design.
[0035]
According to the present embodiment, since the operation elements such as the control panel switch 9 are provided through the through hole 11, the thickness of the apparatus main body is increased by overlapping the operation elements over the key support members 1c and 2c. In addition, the front end of the operator can be remarkably brought close to the keys 1a and 2a without impairing the horizontal support of the key units 1 and 2 by the key support members 1c and 2c.
[0036]
Accordingly, the operability of the operation element during performance is improved, so that an effect performance or the like that has been impossible or difficult in the past is possible or easy, and the possibility of performance expression can be expanded.
[0037]
In addition, the design of the device has been uniform due to structural constraints in the past, but in this embodiment, the freedom of design is greatly increased, so the degree of freedom in design can be dramatically expanded. Can do.
[0038]
In addition, this can be achieved without increasing the number of parts, increasing the manufacturing cost, complicating the configuration, and increasing the size of the main body.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the structure of the key unit is a two-layer structure in which the white key unit 1 and the black key unit 2 are overlapped. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An integral one-layer structure or a three-layer structure including a first white key unit, a second white key unit, and a black key unit by dividing the white key unit into two parts.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the white key unit 1 is integrally formed. However, the white key unit 1 may be divided into a plurality of pieces (for example, every octave) according to the size of the apparatus main body. The same applies to the black key unit 2.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 of the present invention, the key support member is provided with the through hole in the vertical direction, and the operation element is inserted into the through hole. With a simple configuration, the distance between the key and the operator can be significantly shortened without increasing the size of the main body and without impairing the horizontal support of the key. Therefore, not only can the degree of freedom of design be expanded by relaxing structural constraints, but it also facilitates simultaneous operation of keys and controls with one hand, etc. Can expand the possibilities.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view (a) showing a range of one octave when a key unit and an operator are viewed from above, and a structure of the main body of the device along the line XX, regarding the configuration of the keyboard device of the electronic musical instrument according to the embodiment; It is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view (b).
FIG. 3 is a plan view (a) showing a range of one octave when a key unit and an operator are viewed from above, and a vertical longitudinal section of the main body along the line XX, for a configuration of a conventional electronic musical instrument keyboard device; It is a surface view (b).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 White key unit (white key 1a, white key fulcrum hinge 1b, white key support member 1c)
1a White key 1b White key fulcrum hinge 1c White key support member 2 Black key unit (black key 2a, black key fulcrum hinge 2b, black key support member 2c)
2a Black key 2b Black key fulcrum hinge 2c Black key support member 9 Control panel switch (operator)
10 hole 11 through hole

Claims (1)

A plurality of keys are configured to be supported by a key support portion common to the plurality of keys via a key fulcrum hinge portion, and the plurality of keys, the key fulcrum hinge portion, and the key support portion are integrated with each other. It has a key unit that is molded,
A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument, wherein a vertical through hole is provided in the key support portion, and an operator is inserted into the through hole.

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