JPH01243094A - Device for luminous keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To view clearly a key where keying is indicated by providing the keys for a musical instrument which are made of a material where light can be transmitted and a driving circuit for driving light sources which generate light to be made incident on the keys and making the keys luminous in synchronism with key depression and release. CONSTITUTION:This device consists of the keys 1-1, 1-2... for the musical instrument which are made of the material where light can be transmitted, light sources 2-1, 2-2... for the light to be made incident on those keys, the driving circuit 3 which drives the light sources, and a control circuit 4 which controls the light emission timing of the keys in synchonism with the key depression and release in musical instrument play. The driving circuit 3 which is controlled by the control circuit 4 drives the light sources 2-1, 2-2... to illuminate and their light beams are entered into and transmitted through the corresponding keys 1-1, 1-2.... Consequently, the keyboard is seen luminous on the whole, so an indicated key to be depressed is confirmed clearly by the illumination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a light emitting device that causes keys to emit light in synchronization with key presses and key releases during musical instrument performance.

[Prior Art] Research has been conducted on automatic performance or performance practice devices for electronic musical instruments that have a function of emitting light to indicate which key to press next. At that time, the LE corresponding to the key is attached to the part of the instrument body near the key.
D <light emitting diodes) are arranged, and the LEDs are emitted at the same time as the automatic player performs. Alternatively, when using an automatic musical instrument as a performance practice device, an LED corresponding to a predetermined key is illuminated before the musical sound is generated from the sound source,
I try to have my child practice key pressing and key release.

[Question B that the invention seeks to solve] With the electronic musical instrument described above, there is no particular problem when playing while sitting directly in front of the instrument, but when looking at the keyboard from an angle, the main body with LEDs arranged Since the surface is not on the same plane as the keyboard, it is difficult to determine which key is being indicated by the light emitted by the LED.

Furthermore, since the LED light source is small, when looking at an electronic musical instrument from a distance, it is difficult to immediately determine which LED is emitting light, that is, which key corresponds to the LED. For this reason, it was impossible to imagine how the keyboard would actually be played by looking at the performance pattern created by flashing LEDs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard light-emitting device that improves the above-mentioned drawbacks and makes the keys themselves emit light in synchronization with key presses and key releases, thereby making it possible to clearly see which key is being pressed. It's about doing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1-LL-2- is a key made of a material through which light can pass, and the small diagonal line indicates a key that emits light. 2
-2.2-2- is a light source provided corresponding to the key and generates light incident on the key, 3 is a drive circuit, and 4 is a control circuit.

The configuration of the present invention is as follows. That is, musical instrument keys 1-1, 1-2, etc. made of a material through which light can pass, a light source 2-12-2, for light incident on the key, and a drive circuit 3 for driving the light source. and a control circuit 4 that controls the timing of light emission of the keys in synchronization with key presses and key releases during musical instrument performance.

[Function] The drive circuit 3 controlled by the control circuit 4 causes the light source 2 to
-L2-2-・ emits light, and the light is the corresponding key 1-LL
-2- and passes through the company. As a result, the entire keyboard appears to be glowing, making it clear that the keyboard has been instructed to emit light when a key is pressed.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a top view showing one key and a light source as an embodiment of the present invention. The key 1-1 body is made of a material that allows light to pass through, such as glass or synthetic resin.

The light source 2-1 is a filament lamp, for example, and is inserted into the keyboard at a position at the back when viewed from the player. The left and right sides 5-1, 5-2 of the key 1-1 are made of a light-impermeable material, or are pasted with such a material. This is to prevent misunderstandings due to light leaking from adjacent keys that emit light when keys that transmit light are adjacent to each other. In addition, it is preferable that the surface of the light-transmitting key that touches the finger be given a matte finish. This is because if the light transmittance is too good, the light source and its mechanical parts will be transparent. Furthermore, by diffusely reflecting the light, it is possible to distribute the light over the entire key. Since fingers sweat when playing, it is easier to play with a slightly rough surface than with a smooth surface without causing fingers to slip.

Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control circuit 4 and the light source drive circuit 3. In FIG. 3, the control circuit 4 uses a central processing unit CPU, and the light source drive circuit 3 uses a lamp driver 3.
-1, drive resistor 3-2, and power inverter 3-
It is formed by 3. In FIG. 3, the light source lamps 2-1, 2-2- constitute a matrix of 11 rows and 8 columns. A circle mark indicates one light source lamp, and its connection is made by diagonally connecting the intersections of vertical and horizontal wiring as shown horizontally.

A lamp matrix of 11 rows and 8 columns can drive 88 lamps and therefore electronic musical instruments with up to 88 keys.
can correspond to AO to AIO of the central processing unit CPU are BO-8 ports that output lamp blinking data in positive logic.
7 indicates a boat for selecting a column of the matrix. BO-
87 ports are optional, select any one column,
An "H" level is output to that column. Now, if the BO column is selected, BO outputs H" level, and 81 to B7 output "L" level. Power inverter 3-
3 outputs the "L" level, and the 11 lamps in the leftmost column of the matrix are ready to be lit. AO~
The lamp lighting information output from 110 reaches the lamp via the lamp driver 3-1 and drive resistor 3-2, and lights only that lamp.

Now, when performing automatic performance, the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is used. In FIG. 4, a storage device 6 is connected to the central processing unit CPU, and the storage device 6 stores data for automatic performance, ie, data such as key depression positions and strengths. The central processing unit cpu of the control unit reads out the storage device 6, processes the content data, and performs sound generation/silencing operations, and at the same time, each port AO~
Select AIO, BO to B7, and light up the lamp in conjunction with the pronunciation. At this time, if the data is for unattended performance,
While performing unattended, the keyboard lights up and then goes off, making it look like a professional player is playing. The performance sound data is processed in the central processing unit cpu, and the sound source 7
to drive. The output of the sound source 7 is amplified by an amplifier 8 and emitted from a speaker 9.

When a player plays a musical instrument, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is used. In FIG. 5, a known key press sensor 10 for detecting key presses and key releases is attached to the keyboard, and the sensor 1
0 is scanned by the central processing unit CPU. The scan data is further processed by the central processing unit and output to each of the ports AO to AIO to select a matrix. In this case, after a key is pressed, there is a slight time delay before the corresponding key lights up, but it is not at a level that humans can perceive. For a listener who is a little distance away from the performer, changes in the light emitted from the keyboard are accompanied by the performance, which greatly enhances the performance effect.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the light emission timing of the keys is controlled in synchronization with key presses and key releases during performance. You can immediately determine which key is present. When playing automatically or when playing by a master, you can fully understand so-called keyboard handling by looking at the way the keys light up. Also, because it is an electronic musical instrument, it is possible to add functions not found in acoustic instruments, increasing expressiveness and making it possible to give impressive performances, especially during live performances.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view showing a key and a light source as an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a control circuit 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the light source drive circuit 3; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection configuration when performing automatic performance; FIG.
The figure shows the configuration when a player performs. 1-1.1-2-Key 2-1.2-2-Light source 3-Drive circuit 4...Control circuit Patent applicant Kawai Musical Instruments Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Lead End Eisuke June 29, 1988

Claims (1)

[Claims] I. A musical instrument key made of a material through which light can pass, a light source that generates light incident on the key, a drive circuit that drives the light source, and a key press and release key for playing a musical instrument. A keyboard light emitting device comprising: a control circuit that controls the light emission timing of the key in synchronization with the key. II. The keyboard light emitting device according to claim I, wherein automatic performance data is input to the control circuit. III. The keyboard light emitting device according to claim I, comprising a device for detecting key presses and key releases, and the control circuit scans the detecting device to emit light corresponding to the key presses. Keyboard light emitting device.