JPH04303892A - Checking method for electronic keyboard musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately check the operations of plural switches closed by shifting a timing according to a key depressing operation in a narrow evaluation range in spite of the strength of key depression. CONSTITUTION:A key 10 is depressed with a key depressing member 21 capable of judging the data of key depression depth, and the normal/defective condition of the operations of the key 10 and first and second switches 13, 14 can be checked by the data (position data) of key depression depth from a key depression device 20 when a signal or data is outputted from an output generation circuit 18 for check first from a speaker 17 by closing the first switch 13, and when a different signal or data is outputted by closing the second switch 14 at every key depression.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a method for checking electronic keyboard instruments, and more particularly to electronic keyboards equipped with a plurality of switches for each key that close at different times in accordance with the key presses, such as touch response switches. Concerning checking the operation of keys and their switches in musical instruments.

0002

[Prior Art] In an electronic keyboard instrument, a large number of keys (white keys and black keys) are arranged on a key support member such as a keyboard frame so that each key can rotate within a predetermined range, and each key is pressed (key pressed). The actuator section has a key switch that is pressed to close when the key is pressed, and upon detecting the closing of each key switch, a musical tone signal generation circuit generates a musical tone signal of a pitch corresponding to the pressed key. The sound is produced by a speaker.

Furthermore, in order to perform so-called touchless response control, which controls the volume of musical tones generated depending on the strength or speed of the key press, the timing is shifted for each key press. Equipped with multiple switches that close the
The difference in closing time between the first switch that closes first and the second switch that closes later is used as initial touch data.
Controlling the rise volume waveform of the musical tone generated when the second switch is closed is also performed.

[0004] Conventionally, in order to check the operation of the keys and each switch when a key is pressed on such an electronic keyboard instrument, the initial touch data generated when each key is pressed is transmitted as a MIDI signal or the like. This was done by extracting the data and evaluating its value.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional electronic keyboard instrument and its checking method, when a key is pressed, the electronic keyboard instrument detects an initial touch corresponding to the difference in closing time between the first switch and the second switch. data is MI
It can only be extracted as a signal or data such as DI,
Since the quality of the movement is evaluated based on this, if there is variation in the strength with which the keys are struck, the value of the initial touch data will also vary, so the range of evaluation has to be widened, and there is a problem that accurate checks cannot be performed. .

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above points, and when checking the operation, regardless of the strength with which the key is struck,
To enable accurate operation checking within a narrow evaluation range by checking the relationship between key depression depth and closing operation of each switch.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic keyboard instrument having a plurality of switches that are closed at different timings for each key as described above. A checking output generating means is provided for outputting different signals or data when each of the plurality of switches is closed.

[0008] For this electronic keyboard instrument, each key is pressed in sequence using a key-pressing member that determines the key-pressing depth data, and each key is pressed at the time when a signal or data is output for the first time and after that. To provide a method for checking an electronic keyboard instrument, which checks the operation quality of the keys and each switch based on data of each key depression depth when different signals or data are output.

[0009]

[Operation] According to the checking method for an electronic keyboard instrument of the present invention, each key is pressed with a key pressing member that can determine the key pressing depth data, and the pressed key is determined when the first signal or data is generated. Based on the depth data and the key depression depth data when the second signal or data is generated thereafter, it is possible to determine whether each switch of each key is operating accurately at a predetermined key depression depth. It can be checked reliably regardless of the strength of the key press.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the configurations of an electronic keyboard instrument side and a check device side together.

First, the structure of the electronic keyboard instrument 1 will be explained. Numeral keys 10 make up the keyboard (only one is shown here). The rear end portion is supported so as to be rotatable within a predetermined range, and a return force is applied by a key return spring in the direction of raising the tip portion, so that the tip portion is normally maintained in a substantially horizontal state.

Two actuator parts 10a and 10b are formed on the lower surface of this key 10 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and the rear actuator part 10a protrudes more downwardly than the front actuator part 10b. The quantity is large.

On the other hand, an elastic sheet 12 is attached to a printed circuit board 11 attached to a keyboard frame (not shown) and arranged below each key 10, at a position facing the actuator parts 10a, 10b of the key 10. A dome-shaped movable portion 12a, 12b is formed respectively, and a movable contact 13a, 14a made of conductive rubber or the like is provided on the inner upper surface of the movable portion 12a, 12b, and a pair of fixed contacts 13b, 14a are provided on the printed circuit board 11 facing the movable portion 12a, 12b, respectively. 13c, 14b, and 14c are provided at a small interval, and the first switch 13 and the second switch 14
It consists of

When the key 10 is pressed, the actuator section 10a first contacts the movable section 12a of the elastic sheet 12 and pushes it down, causing the movable contact 13a of the first switch 13 to contact the fixed contacts 13b and 13c. so that
This first switch 13 is closed (this is also called "1st make").

Thereafter, when the key 10 is pressed down further, the actuator section 10b comes into contact with the movable section 12b and pushes it down, bringing the movable contact 14a of the second switch 14 into contact with the fixed contacts 14b and 14c. This second switch 14 is closed (this is also referred to as "2nd make").

[0016] The scan circuit 15 scans the first and second switches 13 and 14 corresponding to each key 10 at high speed, and outputs respective ON signals when detecting their closing (1st make, 2nd make). do.

The check sound generation circuit 16 is turned on when an ON signal is input from the scan circuit 15 when the first switch 13 is closed, and when the second switch 14 is closed.
Generates a signal with a different sound (for example, a sound with a different pitch and timbre corresponding to the pressed key) depending on when the signal is input,
The sound is generated from the speaker 17.

The check output generating circuit 18 also receives an ON signal when the first switch 13 is closed from the scan circuit 15 and an ON signal when the second switch 14 is closed. It outputs different signals or data, for example, MIDI signals, depending on when it is input.

Note that the check sound generation circuit 16 may be provided separately from the normal performance musical sound generation circuit (not shown), but it is used only when performing an operation check by also serving as the normal performance musical sound generation circuit. Some of the circuits may be switched to operate as a check sounding circuit using a changeover switch or the like.

Further, the first switch and the second switch are formed concentrically within one dome-shaped movable part of the elastic sheet, and the movable part is pressed by one actuator part provided in the key 10. In this way, they may be closed sequentially.

On the other hand, the checking device 2 side includes a key pressing device 20 that drives a key pressing member 21 that presses the key 10 and outputs data on the depth of the key pressing, and a checking computer 22.

The checking computer 22 is a key press device 2
0, a command signal to drive the key pressing member 21 is inputted from the key pressing device 20, and position data of the key pressing member 21 indicating the key pressing depth is input from the checking output generation circuit 18 of the electronic keyboard instrument 1 side. , different MIDI signals are input when the first switch 13 is closed and when the second switch 14 is closed, and the operation quality of each key 10 and its respective switches 13 and 14 is determined.

The operation of this checking computer 22 will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. When a check process for a certain key starts, first in step 1, the position data of the key pressing member 21 from the key pressing device 20 is read and the position data is stored in the first memory '1st'.

[0024] Then, in step 2, it is determined whether the stored value of '1st' is within the allowable range or not, and if no, the process proceeds to step 5, outputs a signal of '1st make error', and ends the process. do. If Yes (of course it should be within the allowable range initially), proceed to step 3 and judge whether or not the 1st make signal has been received from the check output generation circuit 18, and if No, press the key. A key press command is issued to the device 20 to further lower the key press member 21 and press the key 10.

The processing of steps 1 to 4 is repeated until the 1st make signal is received, but if the stored value in the first memory ``1st'' exceeds the allowable range before the 1st make signal is received,
A "1st make error" signal is output and the process ends. When the 1st make signal is received, the process proceeds to step 6, where the position data of the key press member 21 from the key press device 20 is read and the position data is stored in the second memory '2nd'.

Then, in step 7, it is determined whether the ``2nd'' stored value is within the permissible range as relative position data to the ``1st'' stored value, and if No, step 1 is performed.
The process proceeds to 0, outputs a "2nd make error" signal, and ends the process. If Yes, proceed to step 8 and judge whether or not a 2nd make signal has been received from the check output generation circuit 18. If No, issue a key press command to the key press device 20 to activate the key press member 21. Lower it further and press the key 10.

The processing of steps 6 to 9 is repeated until the 2nd make signal is received, but if the stored value in the second memory ``2nd'' exceeds the permissible range before the 2nd make signal is received,
A "2nd make error" signal is output and the process ends.

When the 2nd make signal is received, the process proceeds to step 11, where the stored value of the second memory '2nd' and the first
The difference between the stored value of memory '1st' and '2nd-1st'
It is determined whether or not the value is within the allowable range, and if YES, the process proceeds to step 12, where an "OK" signal is output and the process ends. If No, proceed to step 13 and select "Error"
Outputs the signal and ends the process.

The results of checking each key by this computer 22 are ``OK'', ``1st make error'', and ``2nd make error''.
The outputs ``nd make error'' and ``error'' can be displayed on a display or stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk or a hard disk. By performing such processing for each key, it is possible to check the operation of all keys on the keyboard.

Next, a method for checking the operation without using the check output generating circuit 18 and the check computer 22 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Manually operate the key press device 20 in FIG.
The key pressing member 21 is lowered and the key 10 is pressed, and then the key is further pressed until the sound for the 2nd make (different from the sound for the 1st make) is produced.

[0031] Then, by looking at the position data (corresponding to the key depression depth) of the key depression member 21 displayed on the key depression device 20, it is possible to determine whether a predetermined sound is not produced at a depth within a predetermined allowable range. If the 2nd make sound is heard without the 1st make sound, the key is malfunctioning (N
G).

When checking these operations, the key pressing member 2
It is not necessary to keep the strength or speed of key depression constant in step 1, and it is sufficient to pay attention only to the depth direction. Furthermore, since each switch makes a different sound or outputs a signal or data when the switch is closed, the depth can be checked accurately by suppressing variations due to the feedback effect, and the range of evaluation can be narrowed down. .

[0033]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the electronic keyboard instrument and checking method thereof according to the present invention, it is possible to check the relationship between the key depression depth and the closing operation of each switch, regardless of the force with which the key is struck. , it is possible to accurately check, within a narrow evaluation range, the operation quality of a plurality of switches that close at different timings in response to key press operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configurations of an electronic keyboard instrument and a checking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a check process performed by the computer 22 in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Electronic keyboard instrument, 2...Check device, 10...Key, 11
...Printed circuit board, 12...Elastic sheet, 13...First switch, 14...Second switch, 15...Scan circuit, 1
6... Sound generation circuit for checking, 17... Speaker, 18... Output generating circuit for checking, 20... Key pressing device, 21... Key pressing member, 22... Computer for checking

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A device comprising a plurality of keys and a plurality of switches that close at different timings according to the key press operation for each key, and each of the plurality of switches has a different timing when closed. For an electronic keyboard instrument equipped with a check output generation means that outputs a signal or data, each key is pressed in sequence using a key-pressing member that can determine the key-press depth data, and a signal is first output for each key press. Or, a method for checking an electronic keyboard instrument, characterized in that the operation quality of the keys and each switch is checked based on the data of each key depression depth when data is output and when different signals or data are output thereafter. .