JPH02183297A - Sensor for keyboard musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust loudness, timbre, and various effect sounds by operation on a keyboard by arranging pressure sensing conductive materials below pressed surfaces and also arranging a couple of counter electrodes on one surface side of the pressure sensing conductive materials without contacting. CONSTITUTION:A conductor pattern 2 is added lengthwise on the right sided on the reverse surface of an upper substrate 1 and a pressure conductive pattern 3 whose coefficient of the resistance value negative is added lengthwise on the right side of the reverse surface in parallel to the conductor pattern 2. Further, inter-digital electrode parts 6 are added on the right side of the top surface of a lower substrate 5 at an interval by combining a couple of inter-digital electrodes 6a and 6b without contacting and the counter electrode part 7 consisting of the couple of noncontacting counter electrodes 7a and 7b is added in parallel to the interedigital electrode part 6. Therefore, when a key of the keyboard is pressed, on-off switches corresponding to the keys operate and the resistance value between the counter electrodes 7 varies according to the displacement of the pressure sensitive conductive pattern 7 corresponding to the pressing force. Consequently, an acoustic wave corresponding to the keyboard operation is selected and the loudness, timbre, and various effect sounds can be adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a sensor useful for keyboard instruments such as electronic organs and electronic pianos.

(Prior Art) FIG. 2 shows a side view of this type of keyboard instrument. In the figure, 21 is a frame of the keyboard instrument, and 22 is the frame 2.
1 is a plurality of keys supported at one end and arranged so as to be tiltable and returnable; 23 is a pressing rod protruding from the bottom surface of each keyboard 22; 3o is a rod for pressing a pressed surface below the pressing rod 23; It is a long sensor placed opposite to the lower surface of 23.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), this sensor 30 includes an upper substrate 31 having an insulating and flexible long strip shape, and is arranged at a predetermined interval on the lower surface side of the upper substrate 31 via a spacer 32. and a long strip-shaped lower substrate 33 having insulating properties. A conductive pattern 3 is provided on the lower surface of the upper substrate 31.
1a is attached over substantially the entire area in the longitudinal direction, and a cushion material 31b made of felt is similarly attached to its upper surface, which is the surface to be pressed. In addition, the lower substrate 3
As shown in FIG. 3(b), the upper surface of each keyboard 2 is
A plurality of comb-teeth electrode portions 33a are provided at intervals corresponding to the two pressing rods 23, respectively.

Therefore, according to this sensor 3o for a keyboard instrument, the conductor pattern 31a and each comb-teeth electrode part 33a constitute a plurality of normally open on/off switches corresponding to each keyboard 22, so that when the keyboard 22 is pressed, The upper substrate 31 is partially bent downward by the pressure of the pressing rod 23 based on the pressure, and the conductive pattern 31a is brought into contact with a predetermined comb-teeth electrode part 33a, so that the conductive pattern 31a is pressed down based on the conduction of the comb-teeth electrode part 33a. The position of the keyboard 22 can be detected.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, in order to diversify the performance of this type of keyboard instrument, in addition to adjusting the volume, various sound effects such as timbre, vibrato, and overtone addition have been added. Some are provided with adjustable auxiliary functions. Normally, the part that operates the auxiliary functions is located at a location away from the keyboard of the main body, and therefore, in order to perform the operations during performance, it is necessary to interrupt the performance or perform with one hand. Also,
Even if it is operated with one hand, it requires a high degree of skill, so it has the disadvantage that it is difficult for beginners to handle it.

Therefore, in order to eliminate these drawbacks, it is desirable to be able to perform the above-mentioned operations without taking your hands off the keyboard during performance, that is, it is desirable to be able to perform the above-mentioned operations by pressing down on the keyboard during performance. It can be said. However, since the conventional keyboard instrument sensor 30 described above only has a simple on/off function, the keyboard 2
This method cannot be used for anything other than position detection as described above, and there is a problem in that it cannot follow the diversification of performances in keyboard instruments mentioned above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor for a keyboard instrument that is extremely suitable for selecting the pitch, as well as adjusting the volume, timbre, and various sound effects by pressing the keyboard. purpose.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard musical instrument equipped with a plurality of on/off switches arranged at intervals corresponding to the respective keys on the lower side of a long pressed surface. In the sensor, a pressure-sensitive conductive material is disposed below the pressed surface along the pressed surface, and a pair of opposing electrodes are placed on one side of the pressure-sensitive conductive material in a non-contact state to connect the pressed surface. It is characterized by its placement along the

(Function) According to the present invention, since the on/off switch corresponding to the keyboard is activated by pressing the keyboard, it is possible to select the pitch corresponding to the keyboard based on the activation. In addition, the resistance value between the opposing electrodes changes based on the displacement of the pressure-sensitive conductive material in response to the pressure when the keyboard is pressed, so the volume, tone, and various sound effects are adjusted using the change in resistance value. becomes possible.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 1(a) to 1(C) show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1(a) is a sectional view of a sensor for a keyboard instrument, and FIG. ) is a top view of the lower substrate, and FIG. 1(C) is a bottom view of the upper substrate.

In the figure, 1 is a long strip-shaped upper substrate 1 made of an insulating and flexible plastic film or the like;
A conductor pattern 2 made of metal foil and having a predetermined width is provided along the longitudinal direction of the upper substrate 1 on the right side of the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 . Further, on the left side of the lower surface of the upper substrate 1, a pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 of a predetermined width made of pressure-sensitive conductive ink having a negative coefficient of resistance is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the upper substrate 1 and along the conductor pattern. It is attached parallel to 2. Furthermore, a cushion material 4 made of felt is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 over substantially the entire length thereof.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a long strip-shaped lower substrate 1 having insulating properties, and on the upper right side of the lower substrate 1, a plurality of comb-teeth electrode portions 6 made of metal foil are attached at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. has been done.

This comb-teeth electrode part 6 has a pair of U-shaped comb-teeth electrodes 6a and 6b.
are combined in a non-contact state, and the comb-teeth electrode 6a
, 6b, the output lines of the right comb-teeth electrode 6b are connected for each predetermined number of blocks, and the entire output lines are arranged in a matrix. Further, on the left side of the upper surface of the lower substrate 5, a counter electrode section 7 made of metal foil is attached along the longitudinal direction of the lower substrate 5 in parallel to the arrangement of the comb-teeth electrode sections 6. This counter electrode section 7 consists of a pair of parallel counter electrodes 7a and 7b with a predetermined interval, and in the illustrated example, each counter electrode 7a
, 7b have a large number of comb-shaped conductive techniques 7a on each of the opposing sides.
1 and 7b1 are arranged side by side, and the conductive branches 7al and 7bl are combined in a non-contact state.

The upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 5 have a conductor pattern 2
and the comb-teeth electrode part 6, and the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 and the counter electrode part 7 are connected to both sides of the opposing surfaces with insulating spacers 8 interposed therebetween, so that each pattern and the electrode part A gap of approximately several tens of microns is formed between them in a non-pressurized state. In addition, as a result, the conductor pattern 3 and each comb-teeth electrode part 6 can be used to create a plurality of normally open on/off channels corresponding to each of the keys 22.
An off switch is configured.

Next, the operation of the keyboard instrument sensor will be explained in Fig. 1 (a).
) and FIG. 4.

The keyboard instrument sensor uses the upper surface of the cushion material 4 as a pressed surface, and the pressed surface faces the lower surface of the pressing rod 23 of the keyboard 22, and each comb-teeth electrode part 6 corresponds to the pressing rod 23, respectively. It is arranged like this.

The upper substrate 1 is partially bent downward via the cushion material 4 due to the pressure of the pressure rod 23 based on the depression of the keyboard 22,
The conductor pattern 2 comes into contact with a predetermined comb-teeth electrode portion 6, and the comb-teeth electrode 6 becomes electrically conductive as shown by characteristic line K in FIG. 4, resulting in an on state. At the same time, the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 comes into contact with the opposing electrodes 7a and 7b, and after the contact, the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 changes as shown by the characteristic line T in FIG. 4 based on the displacement of the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 as the pressing force F increases. The resistance value R between the opposing electrodes 7a and 7b gradually decreases.

Furthermore, when the key M22 is gradually released from the suppressed state, the upper substrate 1 is restored as the pressing force F decreases, the resistance value R between the opposing electrodes 7a and 7b gradually increases, and the conductor pattern 2 separates from the comb-teeth electrode portion 6, the comb-teeth electrode 6 is disconnected from the conduction and becomes in an OFF state.

That is, according to the first embodiment, since the position of the pressed keyboard 22 can be detected by the conduction of the comb-teeth electrode portion 6, the pitch corresponding to the keyboard 22 can be selected based on the conduction. can. Further, while maintaining the conductivity of the comb-teeth electrode portion 6, the resistance value between the opposing electrodes 7a and 7b can be changed based on the displacement of the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 3 in response to the pressing force of the keyboard 22. This change in resistance value can be used to adjust the volume, tone, and various sound effects.

Therefore, if the sensor is used in a keyboard instrument such as an electronic organ or an electronic piano that can adjust the volume, tone, and various sound effects, it goes without saying that when a key 22 is pressed, a pitch corresponding to the key 22 can be output. The adjustment operation can be easily performed by changing the amount of pressure on the keyboard 22 during performance, and the operability can be significantly improved.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a sensor for a keyboard instrument showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a long strip-shaped upper substrate made of an insulating and flexible plastic film, etc. On the lower surface of the upper substrate 11, a conductor pattern 12 of a predetermined width made of metal foil is arranged on the upper substrate 1. It is attached along the longitudinal direction. Further, a cushion material 13 made of felt is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 11 over substantially the entire length thereof.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a long strip-shaped intermediate substrate bonded to the lower side of the upper substrate 11 via insulating spacers 15 on both sides, and the intermediate substrate 14 is made of an insulating and flexible plastic film or the like. Become.

On the upper surface of this intermediate substrate 14, a plurality of comb-teeth electrode portions 16 made of metal foil similar to those in the first embodiment are attached at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. A gap of approximately several tens of μm is formed between the comb-teeth electrode portion 16 and the conductor pattern 12 in a non-pressurized state, and the conductor pattern 12 and each comb-teeth electrode portion 16 form a gap between the keyboard 22. A corresponding on/off switch is configured. Further, on the lower surface of the intermediate substrate 14, a pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 17 of a predetermined width made of pressure-sensitive conductive ink having a negative coefficient of resistance is attached along the longitudinal direction of the upper substrate 11.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an insulating long strip-shaped lower substrate bonded to the lower side of the intermediate substrate 14 with insulating spacers 15 interposed on both sides thereof. On the upper surface of this lower substrate 18, a counter electrode part 19 made of metal foil similar to that of the first embodiment is disposed on the lower substrate 18.
It is attached along the long plane direction. This counter electrode part 1
6 and the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 17, a gap of approximately several tens of microns is formed in a non-pressure state.

In this sensor for a keyboard instrument, the upper substrate 11 is partially bent downward via the cushion material 13 due to the depression of the press rod 23 based on the depression of the keyboard 22, and the conductor pattern 12 comes into contact with a predetermined comb-teeth electrode portion 16. The comb-teeth electrode 16 becomes conductive and turns on. Then, the intermediate substrate 14 partially bends downward due to this suppression of the comb-teeth electrode part 16, and the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 17 comes into contact with the counter electrode part 19, and after contact, the pressure-sensitive conductive pattern 17 increases as the pressing force increases. The resistance value between the opposing electrodes gradually decreases based on the displacement of .

Furthermore, if the depression of the keyboard 22 is gradually released from the suppressed state, the upper substrate 11 and the intermediate substrate 14 are restored as the pressing force decreases, and the resistance value between the opposing electrodes gradually increases, and the conductor pattern 12 At the same time as the comb-shaped electrode 16 separates from the comb-shaped electrode portion 16, the comb-shaped electrode 16 is disconnected from the comb-shaped electrode 16 and becomes in an OFF state.

Therefore, this second embodiment can also exhibit the same effects as the first embodiment.

In addition, the above-mentioned No. 1. In the second embodiment, one set each of a conductor pattern and a comb-teeth electrode part, and a pressure-sensitive conductive pattern and a counter electrode part are used, but the number of these sets may be increased as necessary. Further, as a method for increasing the number of cells, the parallel method shown in the first embodiment and the cascade method shown in the second embodiment may be combined. Further, the on/off switch shown by the combination of the conductor pattern and the comb-teeth electrode portion may be replaced with another on/off switch such as a microswitch.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the position of the pressed keyboard can be detected by the operation of the on/off switch, so the pitch corresponding to the keyboard can be selected based on the operation. It is also possible to change the resistance value between opposing electrodes based on the displacement of the pressure-sensitive conductive material in response to the pressing force of the keyboard, so this change in resistance value can be used to adjust the volume, tone, and various other effects. You can adjust the sound.

Therefore, if the sensor of the present invention is used in a keyboard instrument such as an electronic organ or an electronic piano that can adjust the volume, tone, and various sound effects, it goes without saying that when a key is pressed, a pitch corresponding to the key can be output. The adjustment operation can be easily performed by changing the amount of pressure on the keyboard during performance, and the operability can be significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(a) to 1(c) show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1(a) is a sectional view of a sensor for a keyboard instrument, and FIG. 1(b) is a lower side. Figure 1 (C) is a top view of the board; Figure 2 is a side view of the keyboard instrument; Figure 1 (C) is a bottom view of the upper board;
a>, (b) shows a conventional sensor for keyboard instruments, tJJB (a) is a cross-sectional view of the sensor, and Fig. 3 (b)
4 is a top view of the lower substrate, FIG. 4 is a pressure characteristic diagram of each electrode in the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a sensor for a keyboard instrument showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 1. pole part, electrode, 11... upper substrate, 2.12... conductor pattern, 7
...Pressure-sensitive conductive pattern, 6,16...Comb tooth type 7.1
9... Opposing electrode part, 7a, 7b... Opposing 22...
Keyboard, 23...pressure rod. patent

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim] A sensor for a keyboard instrument comprising a plurality of on/off switches arranged at intervals corresponding to the respective keys on the underside of a long pressed surface, comprising: a pressure-sensitive sensor on the underside of the pressed surface; A sensor for a keyboard instrument, characterized in that a conductive material is arranged along the pressed surface, and a pair of opposing electrodes are arranged on one side of the pressure-sensitive conductive material along the pressed surface in a non-contact state. .