JP5018248B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device used for a keyboard instrument such as an electronic organ or an electronic piano.

Conventionally, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a plurality of keys are supported on a key frame at their rear end portions so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and a reaction force against the key depression of the key. There is known a keyboard device in which a plurality of oscillating levers including a mass body for imparting a key are supported by a key frame so as to be displaced in conjunction with the key oscillating. In this keyboard device, the mass (moment of inertia) of the mass body is made different for each key or key range in order to simulate the touch of a piano, which is a natural instrument, so that the lower the key, the larger the key. I have to.
JP-A-11-212572

  In the conventional keyboard device as described above, it is possible to simulate the piano key touch that changes according to the key range, but it is necessary to prepare many types of mass bodies having different masses, and the manufacture and management thereof are troublesome. there were.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a keyboard device that can simulate a piano key touch that changes according to a key range (sound range) even if the number of types of mass bodies is reduced.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of keys and a plurality of keys are arranged below the plurality of keys, and the front portions of the plurality of keys swing vertically. A key frame that supports each of the rear ends and a plurality of keys are provided corresponding to each of the keys and supported by the key frame, and are displaced in conjunction with the swinging of the plurality of keys to generate a reaction force against the key press. In a keyboard device comprising a plurality of mass bodies to be provided, and a plurality of switches provided corresponding to a plurality of keys and fixed to a key frame, and operated by pressing a plurality of keys. The mass of the mass body is different for each key range, the reaction force of the plurality of switches for pressing the keys of the plurality of keys is different for each key range , and the mass of the mass body is different , and a plurality of key ranges Key ranges that vary the reaction force of the switch The city was able to shift to.

In this case, the difference in the reaction force of the plurality of switches with respect to the key depression is given by making the elastic forces (hardness) of the plurality of switches different. The plurality of switches are made of an elastic member such as rubber or silicon, and different elastic forces can be obtained by changing the materials and materials constituting the switch or making the mold shape different for each switch, that is, depending on the mold. This is realized by changing the thickness, shape, etc. of the formed switch. Regard the mass difference of the mass, the volume of the mass, material, Ru is achieved by varying the like material.

In the present invention configured as described above, the reaction force against the key depression is made different for each key range by combining the mass body of different mass and the switch of different reaction force. Many different reaction forces against the key press can be realized without preparing a mass body. As a result, an appropriate change of the key touch feeling according to the key range can be realized, and a keyboard device capable of obtaining a good key touch feeling can be configured relatively easily. In addition, since the key range for changing the mass of the mass body and the key range for changing the reaction force of the switch are shifted, the combination of the mass and the reaction force can be used effectively.

  Another feature of the present invention is that in the keyboard device, the plurality of switches are divided into a plurality of parts, and the plurality of divided parts are formed on a plurality of different switch members. It is in making it visually different. In this case, in order to make the switch members visually different, all or some of the colors of the switch members are made different among the plurality of switch members, or different marks, numerical values, characters, etc. are printed on the plurality of switch members. It is good to do. According to this, it is possible to easily prevent erroneous assembly when a plurality of switch members are assembled to the keyboard device.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the electronic musical instrument according to the embodiment. This electronic musical instrument includes a plurality of panel switches PSW for selecting an operation mode of the electronic musical instrument at the rear part of the upper surface. A keyboard device comprising a plurality of white keys 10 and black keys 10 arranged in the horizontal direction is provided at the front of the upper surface.

  FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the keyboard device. The plurality of keys 10 are assembled to a key frame 20 that is integrally formed of synthetic resin. The key frame 20 is fixed on a support base 30, and a plurality of swing levers 40 corresponding to the plurality of keys 10 are assembled to the key frame 20 below the plurality of keys 10.

  The key 10 is opened at the lower side, and a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is integrally formed of a synthetic resin in a U shape, and a rear end portion 11 is provided at a rear end portion 21 of the key frame 20 and opened forward. Thus, the front end 12 is supported by the key frame 20 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with the side surface of the rear end 11 as a fulcrum. A key guide 22 erected on the front end horizontal portion of the key frame 20 enters the front end portion 12 of the key 10 from below, and the front end portion 12 of the key 10 is vertically guided by the key guide 22 when the key is depressed. It is displaced to. Further, a long key stopper 23 with felt or the like superimposed on the front end horizontal portion is also extended and fixed in the lateral direction of the keyboard, and the key stopper 23 restricts the downward displacement of the front end portion 12 of the key 10. However, the key stopper 23 does not restrict the downward displacement of the key 10 when the key is pressed normally during performance, and the front end lower end surface of the key 10 is separated from the upper surface of the key stopper 23 when the key is pressed normally. It is in. On the other hand, when a very large downward force is applied to the key 10, such as when a heavy object is placed on the key 10, the key stopper 23 regulates the downward displacement of the key 10. Thus, destruction due to abnormal deformation of the key 10 is prevented.

  On the lower surface of the front portion in the vicinity of the front end portion 12 of the key 10, a drive portion 13 is integrally formed so as to extend substantially vertically downward from the lower surface. The drive unit 13 is formed in a horizontal U-shape with the rear open, and the lower end is closed by a lower end wall 13a. An elastic member (not shown) is assembled to the lower surface of the lower end wall 13a.

  The swing lever 40 includes a lever base 41 made of synthetic resin and a mass body 42 made of metal. The lever base 41 is formed in a long and flat plate shape, and is disposed below the front portion of the key 10 with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction and the plate surface being vertical. The lever base 41 has a recess 41a whose axis is the lateral direction of the keyboard cut out at the center of the lower surface, and the recess 41a is formed thick in the axial direction. The recessed portion 41a is opened obliquely downward at the front and is assembled to the rotation support portion 25 provided at the upper end of the inclined plate 24 extending obliquely upward from the front lower end position of the key frame 20. The rotation support part 25 is extended in the keyboard lateral direction. Thereby, the swing lever 40 is supported by the key frame 20 so as to be swingable up and down.

  The swing lever 40 is biased forward (leftward in the figure) by a leaf spring 51. The leaf spring 51 engages with the concave portion 41 b of the lever base 41 at the front end, and enters the key 10 from the lower surface of the key 10 through the opening 26 provided in the intermediate portion of the key frame 20. The rear end portion of the leaf spring 51 is in contact with the inner surface of the rear end portion 11 of the key 10. At the front end of the lever base 41, a pair of legs 41c and 41d are formed that are divided into two forks in a vertical direction with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the upper leg 41c is shorter than the lower leg 41d. Is set. The lower end wall 13a of the drive unit 13 of the key 10 enters between the leg portions 41c and 41d and engages with the leg portions 41c and 41d. Thus, when the key 10 is released, the front end of the key 10 is displaced upward due to the displacement of the front end of the swing lever 40 due to its own weight. On the other hand, when the key 10 is depressed, the lower end surface of the lower end wall 13a of the drive unit 13 presses the upper surface of the leg portion 41d, and the front end portion of the swing lever 40 is displaced downward.

  On the lower surface of the lever base 41, a switch driving portion 41e protruding downward is formed between the concave portion 41a and the leg portion 41d. The switch drive unit 41 e faces the switch 61 assembled on the printed circuit board 60 through the through window 24 a provided on the inclined plate 24. The printed circuit board 60 is assembled to the lower surface of the inclined plate 24 substantially in parallel with the same plate 24, and the switch 61 is provided for each key 10 and arranged in the lateral direction of the keyboard.

  Here, the switch 61 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Each switch 61 includes first and second switches 61 a and 61 b positioned in the front-rear direction. Each of the first and second switches 61a and 61b is formed in a hemispherical shape (a so-called “bowl type”) having a hollow inside, and a columnar portion protrudes vertically in the center. Electrical contacts are provided on the lower surfaces of the columnar portions of the first and second switches 61 a and 61 b, respectively, and both contacts are respectively opposed to two electrical contacts provided on the printed circuit board 60. Then, when the switch drive unit 41e moves downward when the key 10 is depressed, the electrical contacts of the first and second switches 61a and 61b and the electrical contacts on the printed circuit board 60 are brought into contact (ON). It has become. Further, the columnar portion of the first switch 61a is formed longer than the columnar portion of the second switch 61b. When the key 10 is depressed, the contact of the first switch 61a is the contact on the printed circuit board 60. Before the contact of the second switch 61b contacts the contact on the printed circuit board 60. The key touch strength (key pressing speed) at the time of key pressing is detected by the time difference of contact between the first switch 61a and the second switch 61b.

  A plurality of switches 61 each including the first switch 61a and the second switch 61b are integrally formed in a lateral direction on long switch members 61A, 61B, 61C made of an elastic member such as rubber or silicon. Yes. The plurality of switch members 61A, 61B, 61C respectively correspond to a plurality of different key ranges (sound ranges), and the elastic force (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 (first and second switches 61a, 61b) The same applies to the members 61A, 61B, and 61C. However, the elastic force (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 on the switch member 61B is smaller than the elastic force (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 on the switch member 61A. The elastic force (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 on the switch member 61C is smaller than the elastic force (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 on the switch member 61B.

  The difference in elastic force of the switch 61 for each of the switch members 61A, 61B, and 61C is realized by making the materials and materials constituting the switch member 61A including the plurality of first and second switches 61a and 61b different. . Further, by changing the mold shape for each switch, that is, by changing the thickness, shape, etc. of the first and second switches 61a, 61b formed by the mold, the switch members 61A, 61B, 61C may be different from each other. You may make it implement | achieve the difference of an elastic force. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the thickness of the deformed portion of the first and second switches 61a and 61b is gradually reduced in the order of the switch members 61A, 61B, and 61C. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the deformed portions of the first and second switches 61a and 61b are shaped so as to be easily deformed in the order of the switch members 61A, 61B, and 61C. Furthermore, the elastic force of the first and second switches 61a, 61b may be made different for each switch member 61A, 61B, 61C by a combination of material, material, thickness, and shape.

  Further, in order to visually differentiate the switch members 61A, 61B, 61C including the switches 61 having such different elastic forces, the switch members 61A, 61B, 61C are provided for each type of the switch members 61A, 61B, 61C. All or some of the colors are made different, or different marks, numerical values, characters, etc. are printed on the switch members 61A, 61B, 61C.

  The mass body 42 of the swing lever 40 is formed in a rod shape, and is integrally assembled with the lever base 41 by outsert-molding the lever base 41 on the front outer periphery thereof. The rear part of the mass body 42 is folded and overlapped, and the weight of the mass body 42 is varied by changing the lengths of the bent portions 42a. Specifically, in both the white key 10 and the black key 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the bent portion 42a is increased in the order of the key ranges 1, 2, 3, 4 from the low sound side to the high sound side. The weight is gradually shortened, and the weight of the mass body 42 is increased, that is, the rotational moment is increased as the key is in the lower sound range. However, with respect to the white key 10 and the black key 10 in the same key range, the length of the bent portion 42a of the black key 10 is set to the bent length of the white key 10 in order to avoid a difference in reaction force against the key pressing due to a difference in key pressing position. It is shorter than the length of the part 42a. In FIG. 4, the mass body 42 corresponding to the black key 10 is marked with “black” to distinguish it from the mass body 42 corresponding to the white key 10.

  A long lower limit stopper member 52 made of a shock absorber such as felt is fixed to the upper surface of the support base 30 located at the rear end of the key frame 20 so as to extend in the lateral direction of the keyboard. . The lower limit stopper member 52 restricts the upward displacement of the front end portion of the key 10 when the key 10 is released by restricting the downward displacement of the rear end portion of the swing lever 40. Further, on the lower surface of the upper surface plate 27 located at the rear end portion of the key frame 20, a long upper limit stopper member 53 made of an impact absorbing material such as felt is separated from the lower limit stopper member 52 by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. It is fixed by extending downward in the horizontal direction of the keyboard. The upper limit stopper member 53 restricts the downward displacement of the key 10 when the key 10 is depressed by restricting the upward displacement of the rear end portion of the swing lever 40.

  Next, the operation of the keyboard device configured as described above will be described. When the key 10 is not depressed, the rear end portion of the mass body 42 of the swing lever 40 is in contact with the lower limit stopper member 52 by its own weight. When the key 10 is pressed in this state, the key 10 starts to swing counterclockwise in FIG. 2 with the rear end portion 11 as a fulcrum against the weight of the mass body 42 of the swing lever 40. When the key 10 is depressed to a predetermined depth, the rear end portion of the mass body 42 comes into contact with the upper limit stopper member 53 and the downward displacement of the front end portion of the key 10 is restricted. At this time, with the swing of the swing lever 40, the switch drive unit 41e presses the switch 61, and the first and second switches 61a and 61b are turned on in this order. When the key 10 is released, the rocking lever 40 is rotated by the weight of the mass body 42 until the rear end of the mass body 42 comes into contact with the lower limit stopper member 52. Swings in the direction and returns to the home position.

  In the operation as described above, the player receives a reaction force depending on the mass (moment of inertia) of the mass body with respect to the key pressing operation, and deforms the first and second switches 61a and 61b. It receives a reaction force proportional to the elastic force. According to this embodiment, the mass (moment of inertia) of the mass body 42 and the elastic force of the switch 61 are made different for each key range, and the reaction force against the key press is locked by combining the mass and the elastic force. Since different regions are used, many different reaction forces against key pressing can be realized without preparing many types of mass bodies 42 having different masses. As a result, an appropriate change of the key touch feeling according to the key range can be realized, and a keyboard device capable of obtaining a good key touch feeling can be configured relatively easily.

  In particular, since the key range for changing the mass of the mass body 42 and the key range for changing the elastic force of the switch 61 are shifted from each other, the combination of the mass and the elastic force can be used effectively. In addition, since the switch member 61A including the switch 61 having a different elastic force is visually different, it is possible to easily prevent erroneous assembly when the switch member 61A is assembled to the keyboard device.

  Furthermore, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mass body 42 is divided into four key ranges 1 to 4, and the mass body 42 having a different mass (moment of inertia) is used for each divided key range. The switch members 61A, 61B, and 61C including the switch 61 are divided into three key ranges, and switches 61 having different elastic forces are arranged for the divided key ranges. However, within one key range, the masses (moment of inertia) of the plurality of mass bodies 42 and the elastic forces (hardness) of the plurality of switches 61 are the same.

  However, instead of this, the mass body 42 may be divided into a plurality of key ranges other than four. The switch members 61A, 61B, and 61C may also be divided into a plurality of key ranges other than three. As for the number of key ranges to be divided, the number of key ranges using the mass bodies 42 having different masses (moments of inertia) is set to be smaller than the number of key ranges using the switches 61 having different elastic forces (hardness). Good.

  Further, a plurality of switches 61 having different elastic forces may be used in one switch key range. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the key range of the mass body 42 and the key range of the switch 61 are made the same. That is, in each of the mass body key areas 1, 2, 3, the lengths of the bent portions 42a of the plurality of mass bodies 42 are made the same, and the mass body key areas 1, 2, 3 of the mass body key areas 1, 2, 3 going from the low frequency range to the high frequency range. In order, the length of the bent portion 42a of the mass body 42 is gradually shortened. However, as described above, the length of the bent portion 42a is different for the white key 10 and the black key 20 in each of the mass key areas 1, 2, and 3.

  On the other hand, one switch member 61D is provided in each of the switch key areas 1, 2, 3 corresponding to the mass body key areas 1, 2, 3, respectively. The plurality of switch members 61D, 61D, 61D corresponding to these switch key ranges 1, 2, 3 are the same. The switches 61 (first and second switches 61a and 61b) included in each switch member 61D are configured to be different depending on the difference in material, material, thickness, shape, or a combination thereof as described above. . The reaction force of the plurality of switches 61 in the switch member 61D is set to be gradually reduced (see the uppermost stage in FIG. 7). The reaction force of the switch 61 corresponding to the black key 10 is set to be slightly smaller than the reaction force of the switch 61 corresponding to the white key 10.

  The combination of the switch member 61D and the mass body 42 sequentially reduces the reaction force against the key depression from the bass key to the treble key, as shown in the lowermost stage of FIG. Therefore, according to this, a good key touch feeling can be obtained over the entire key range. In this modification, the reaction forces of the plurality of switches 61 (first and second switches 61a and 61b) belonging to one switch member 61D are made different from each other. However, instead of this, in each switch key range 1, 2, 3, the reaction force of the switch 61 is gradually reduced from a low tone to a high tone for each of a plurality of keys, such as every two keys. You may make it do.

  Contrary to the modified example, the reaction forces of the plurality of switches 61 (first and second switches 61a and 61b) in each of the switch key ranges 1, 2, and 3 are made the same, and the switch key ranges 1, The reaction force of the plurality of switches 61 is successively reduced from the low range to the high range every second and third. The bent portions 42a of the mass bodies 42 in the mass body areas 1, 2, 3 corresponding to the switch key areas 1, 2, 3 may be gradually shortened from low to high. Also by this, as shown in the lowermost stage of FIG. 7, the reaction force against the key depression can be sequentially reduced from the bass key to the treble key. Also in this case, instead of this, in each mass body region 1, 2, 3, the mass body 42 is bent from a bass to a treble for each of a plurality of keys, such as two keys and three keys. The portion 42a may be gradually shortened.

It is a top view which shows the external appearance of the electronic musical instrument which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view of a keyboard apparatus. FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the switch of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the combination of a switch member and a mass body. (A)-(C) are partial sectional views showing an example in which the thickness of the switch is gradually reduced to facilitate deformation. (A)-(C) are the fragmentary sectional views which show the example which changed the shape of the switch gradually and made it easy to deform | transform. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the combination of a switch member and a mass body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Key, 20 ... Key frame, 30 ... Support stand, 40 ... Swing lever, 41 ... Lever base, 41e ... Switch drive part, 42 ... Mass body, 60 ... Printed circuit board, 61 ... Switch, 61a ... First switch 61b ... second switch

Claims (2)

Multiple keys,
A key frame that is disposed below the plurality of keys and supports the rear ends of the plurality of keys such that the front portions of the plurality of keys swing vertically.
A plurality of mass bodies that are respectively provided corresponding to the plurality of keys and supported by the key frame, are displaced in conjunction with the swing of the plurality of keys, and provide a reaction force against the key press;
In the keyboard device provided with a plurality of switches provided corresponding to the plurality of keys and fixed to the key frame, and operated by being depressed by pressing of the plurality of keys,
The mass of the plurality of mass bodies is made different for each key range, the reaction force of the plurality of switches with respect to pressing of the plurality of keys is made different for each key range , and the mass of the plurality of mass bodies is made different. A keyboard device characterized in that a key range and a key range that varies the reaction force of the plurality of switches are shifted from each other . The plurality of switches are divided into a plurality of pieces, and are formed on a plurality of different switch members by the plurality of divided pieces,
The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different switch members are visually different.

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