JPH0573667U - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to a keyboard device applied to an electronic musical instrument, and provides a keyboard device capable of obtaining a display mode in which the state of performance data and changes thereof can be easily grasped. The purpose is to [Structure] A large number of semi-transparent keys are arranged, and a plurality of light emitters arranged on the back surface of each key in the extending direction of each key.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a keyboard device applied to an electronic musical instrument.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, a keyboard device having a keyboard arranged in the same manner as an acoustic piano keyboard has been used as one of performance data input means in an electronic musical instrument. As a result, the performer can enjoy playing the electronic musical instrument with the same feeling as playing an acoustic piano or the like.

In an electronic musical instrument equipped with this keyboard device, not only is a musical sound generated based on performance data input from the keyboard, but LEDs of multiple colors are arranged on, for example, a panel or the like, and the strength with which keys are pressed, etc. It is also known to display the performance state of the performer by selectively turning on the LED or changing the brightness of the lighting according to the above (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-169394).

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the display method as described above, only the light emission color or the brightness of the LEDs arranged on the panel is switched based on the performance data. It was difficult to feel the change of state, and it was not enough as a visual effect on the performance.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device capable of obtaining a display mode in which the state of performance data and its change can be easily grasped.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The keyboard device of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with a plurality of translucent keys arranged and a plurality of light emitters arranged on the back surface of each key in the extending direction of each key. And are characterized by.

[0007]

[Action]

 Since the keyboard device of the present invention has a plurality of light emitters arranged on the back surface of each key, for example, the light emitter of the key corresponding to the pitch indicated by the performance data is generated or the strength of the key depression is handled. It is possible to emit as many light emitters as necessary, and it is possible to easily visually grasp the state of performance data and its changes.

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one key in the keyboard device of one embodiment of the present invention, with its longitudinal section. The rear end 1b of the key 1 is engaged with the chassis 2, and the front end 1a of the key 1 is urged upward by the spring 3 so that the contact portion 1c of the key 1 is fixed to the chassis 2. It is in contact with the cushion member 4. This key 1 is made of translucent plastic. When the front end portion 1a of the key 1 is pushed, the key 1 is guided and pushed down by the guide member 8 fixed to the chassis 2, and when the hand is released, it is also guided by the guide member 8 and returns to the illustrated state. .. Circuit boards 5, 6, and 7 are fixed to the chassis 2. A switch 9 having a rubber surface is provided on the circuit board 5. The switch 9 is pressed by the switch pressing portion 1d of the key 1 when the key is pressed, and the switch 9 detects the timing of key pressing and key releasing.

Normally, the keyboard device is configured to detect not only the timing of key depression and key release, but also the velocity (velocity) of key depression and the pressure (aftertouch) after key depression. These are well known techniques, and their illustrations have been omitted to avoid clutter. In this embodiment, eight LEDs 10a to 10h are arranged on the substrates 5 and 7 in the longitudinal direction of the key 1, and when any one of the LEDs 10a to 10h is turned on, the surface of the key 1 is turned on. For example, the vicinity of the turned-on LED on the side glows red.

Although the white key has been described as a model here, the black key has the same configuration. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a keyboard device having a large number of keys shown in FIG. From the keyboard 11 configured by arranging a large number of keys having the structure shown in FIG. 1, initial touch information indicating key depression / release state of each key and velocity at key depression is transmitted to the CPU 20. An after-touch sensor 12 that detects the pressing force after the key is pressed is arranged under each key, and the after-touch information corresponding to the pressure is transmitted from the after-touch sensor 12 to the CPU 20. Further, the keyboard device is provided with a vendor 13, and the vendor 13 transmits vendor information indicating the operation amount of the vendor 13 to the CPU 20. It should be noted that the mechanisms for generating the initial touch information, the after-touch information, and the vendor information are already widely known techniques, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

The RAM 14 is provided with a key map (see FIG. 2) described later, an LED map (see FIG. 3), and various other flags and registers. Further, the ROM 15 stores programs executed by the CPU 20, various parameters, and the like. Further, this keyboard device is provided with a MIDI interface 16 so that a MIDI signal input via the MIDI interface 16 is also input to the CPU 20. Performance information based on the keyboard performance is also output as a MIDI signal to the outside via the MIDI interface 16 as necessary.

Values of 0 to 7 are cyclically output from the CPU 20 and input to the decoder 17. The decoder 17 has eight output terminals connected to the LED driver 18, and outputs a signal to each output terminal corresponding to each value of 0 to 7 input from the CPU 20. The LED driver 18 supplies electric power to the LED 10 connected to the output terminal corresponding to the input terminal to which the signal from the decoder 17 is input, and the output terminals 18a, 18b, ... The LEDs 10a, 10b, ... 18h (see FIG. 1) of each key are connected over a number of arranged keys.

The LEDs 10 arranged on each key are connected to a latch circuit 19 via a resistor. Here, the latch circuit 19 has a number of output terminals corresponding to the number of keys, and has a function of grounding any one of these output terminals based on a signal input from the CPU 20. Therefore, of the many LEDs 10, which key is designated by the signal input to the latch circuit 19, and any of the eight LEDs arranged on the designated key is designated by the signal input to the decoder 17. The designated LED is turned on.

3 and 4 are diagrams showing a key map and an LED map in the RAM 14, respectively. The key map corresponds to each bit for each key, and the LED map corresponds to each key in the row direction and each LED provided in the key in the column direction. Here, each line of this LED map is called a line.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a routine for dynamically lighting the LED. This routine is a timer interrupt routine activated by a timer interrupt that occurs every 1 msec here. The flags and registers used in the routine shown in FIG. 5 and routines shown in later-described figures are initialized in, for example, an initial routine that is started when the power is turned on. Does not mention this initialization in particular. Further, in the routine shown in FIG. 5 and each routine described later, for the sake of simplicity, the name given to the register and the value recorded in the register are not particularly distinguished, and the same symbol is used. ..

First, the value of the line number register LINE corresponding to each row (horizontal one column) of the LED map shown in FIG. 4 is incremented by 1 (step S1), and it is determined whether or not the value of this LINE becomes 8 or more. If the LINE value is 7 or less, the process directly proceeds to step S4. If the LINE value is 8 or more, the LINE value is set to 0 and the line time register LINE is set. The value of TIME is incremented by 1. Here, the time (that is, 8 msec in this case) during which one turn of the eight LEDs provided for each key is turned on is called line time, and this line time is used as a reference for time calculation as described later. .. In this way, in steps S1 to S3, the value of LINE cyclically changes from 0 to 7 every 1 msec. In step S4, the LINE value (line number) is set in the decoder 17 (see FIG. 2), and in step S5, the bit data of the line (see FIG. 4) with the line number is latched by the latch circuit 19 (see FIG. 4). (See FIG. 2). Therefore, according to the routine shown in FIG. 5, the LED of each line is turned on every 1 msec based on the bit information set in the LED map, which causes humans to follow the LED pattern in the pattern set in the LED map. Is visually recognized as if it is constantly lit.

FIG. 6 is a routine executed when a key-on (key depression) of any key is detected, or when performance data indicating the key-on is input via the MIDI interface 16 (see FIG. 2). Is a flowchart showing the above, and the key map (see FIG. 3) is created by executing this routine. Steps S11 and S12 are steps for handling the performance data input via the MIDI interface 16. That is, the keyboard device of this embodiment is provided with a key corresponding to the pitch of C ₂ to a key corresponding to the pitch of C ₅ , and each of these keys has 8 LEDs. However, the performance data input via the MIDI interface 16 is not limited to the performance data corresponding to the pitches within the range of C _{2 to} C ₅ , but the pitches lower and higher than that. The one corresponding to high may also be included, in which case the LED cannot be illuminated. The note number represented by the performance data is the note number register NOTE. Input to NUM, this NOTE The value of NUM is compared with the note numbers L and H of the keys corresponding to the lowest note and the highest note of the physically provided keys (steps S11 and S12) NOTE. When NUM <L, or NOTE If NUM> H, the process ends. L ≦ NOTE When NUM ≦ H, the process proceeds to step S13, and this N OTE A register BEND in which a predetermined pitch shift amount calculated corresponding to the operation amount of the vendor 13 (see FIG. 2) is stored in the NUM. The value of DATA is added to obtain the address AD. In step S13, the pitch shift amount corresponding to the input vendor information and sensitivity is NOTE The value of NUM is changed. Next, in step S14, "1" is written in the flag corresponding to the address AD in the key map shown in FIG. 3, and this flag is turned on.

At the key-off timing, a routine similar to the routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed, and the flag corresponding to the address AD of the key map is set to "0" at the step corresponding to step S14 of the routine shown in FIG. 'Is written. As a result, a key map corresponding to the key depression and key release of each key is created. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a routine executed in response to a vendor operation.

A routine (not shown) is started by a timer interrupt every 8 msec, and the stored operation amount of the previous vendor and the stored operation amount of this time are compared to detect whether or not they are different. The routine shown in FIG. 7 is started when the operation amount of the vendor is different from the previous operation amount and when the vendor information corresponding to the operation of the vendor is input via the MIDI interface 16.

When the vendor 13 is operated or the vendor information is input, the sensitivity recorded in the RAM 14 or the ROM 15 is referred to, the input vendor information is converted into a pitch shift amount, and the register BEND is registered. Input to SFT (step S21). Next, in step S22, BEND DATA (see step S13 in FIG. 6) and BEND It is determined whether or not SFT is equal. If they are equal, the process ends without doing anything, but BEND DATA and BEND If the SFTs are different, the difference is obtained, and the key map (see FIG. 3) is shifted by the difference (step S23). BEND with new SFT value BEND as the value of DATA It is set to DATA (step S24). Here, the keymap shift means, for example, moving each flag of the keymap to the position of the next key to the right when the vendor is operated to raise the semitone pitch higher than the previous time. .. The routine shown in FIG. 7 addresses the case where the vendor is operated after the key is pressed.

Next, the LED lighting mode will be described. Here, the cyclic lighting mode (see FIG. 8) and the level mode (see FIG. 10) will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a routine for executing the cyclic lighting mode in which the LED provided in the key corresponding to the flag in the key map (see FIG. 3) being turned on ('1') is cyclically lit. The vendor has not been operated, so when the flag corresponding to the pressed key in the key map is turned on, the eight LEDs provided for the pressed key are lit cyclically. Also, when the vendor is operated, and therefore the flag pressed in the key map is shifted by the shift amount according to the operation amount of the vendor, the key corresponding to the flag that is turned on is provided. Eight LEDs illuminate cyclically.

First, when a key is pressed, the aftertouch information of the pressed key is read. The RAM 14 or ROM 15 stores the aftertouch information value, that is, the LED lighting cycle time for the pressure value after the key is pressed, and the read aftertouch information is the cycle time (here, the next LED lighting). To the register CY CLE. It is recorded in TIME. In addition, this CYCLE The value recorded in TIME may be determined by calculation. Also, CYCLE The value recorded in TIME may be a smaller value (shorter cycle) or a larger value (long cycle) as the value of aftertouch increases. Further, when the mode is changed to the mode in which the routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed, the LED map (see FIG. 4) is all cleared.

The routine shown in FIG. 8 is started every predetermined timer interrupt period, for example, every 1 ms ec. When the execution of this routine starts, CYCLE TIME E and LINE TIME (see step S3 in FIG. 5) is compared (step S31), and LINE TIME <CYCLE In the case of TIME, it ends without doing anything. On the other hand, LINE Since TIME is a value that is incremented every 8 msec as described above, for example, CYCLE When 10 is recorded in TIME, the following processing is executed at predetermined time intervals such as every 80 msec.

LINE TIME ≧ CYCLE In the case of TIME, the process proceeds to step S32 and LINE TIME is set to "0", whereby the routine shown in FIG. 5 initializes for time measurement again. Next, the register NOW in which the line number of the LED map (see FIG. 4) is recorded The bit information for one line of the LED map corresponding to LINE is cleared (step S33). Next is NOW LINE is incremented (step S34), NOW NOW when LINE exceeds 7 "0" is input to LINE (steps S35 and S36), and this NOW of the LED map is input. The bit pattern of the key map KEY-MAP (see FIG. 3) is input to the line of the line number indicated by LINE (step 37). KEY here As described above, the MAP records information that is obtained by adding the shift amount by the vendor operation to the pressed key. By recording this information in the LED map, the LED of the pressed key lights up. Will be done. Also next is CYC LE When only the time indicated by TIME has elapsed, in step S33, the LED that has been lit up until then is extinguished, and in step S37, the next LED lights up, and the key pressed in this way is provided with 8 One LED is CYCL E It will be lit cyclically for each TIME.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, when the vendor is not operated, the plurality of LEDs corresponding to the pressed key are circulatedly lit every predetermined time. The cycle of this cycle changes depending on the strength of aftertouch. Further, when the vendor is operated, for example, if the vendor instructs the pitch to be higher, the LED on the higher tone side than the actually pressed key is turned on.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a velocity correspondence table in the RAM 14 used in the following modes. When the note-on (press) of each key is received, "1" is written in the corresponding flag in the key map shown in Fig. 3, and the velocity sent at the same time as this note-on signal is shown in Fig. 9. Will be written to the register. However, when the key-off is sent, the corresponding flag on the key map shown in FIG. 3 is turned off, but the velocity key recorded in the register shown in FIG. 9 is not erased by the key-off signal. Further, when the vendor is operated, the key map is shifted and the velocity correspondence table shown in FIG. 9 is also shifted. However, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that the vendor is not operated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a routine executed in the level mode in which the number of LEDs that are lit by the pressed key is changed according to the value of the initial touch (note on velocity). This mode is for a decaying tone whose volume when pressing a key is determined according to the initial touch such as a piano, and this volume gradually decreases.Here, the initial value depends on the note-on velocity value. The number of lit LEDs is determined, and the number of lit LEDs decreases as the volume decreases with the lapse of time after key depression.

The routine shown in FIG. 10 is started every predetermined timer interrupt period, for example, every 1 msec in the level mode. When the execution of this routine starts, first in step S41, LINE It is determined whether or not TIME ≧ 10, and if this condition is satisfied, the following steps are executed, and LINE If TIME <10, the process ends without doing anything. That is, LINE TIME is counted up every 8 msec by the routine shown in FIG. 5, so that the routine shown in FIG. 10 is executed substantially every 8 msec × 10 = 80 msec.

In step S42, LINE TIME is set to "0", whereby the time measurement is restarted by the routine shown in FIG. After that, the following routine is executed for each key. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the velocity (see FIG. 9) corresponding to the key is 0. If it is 0, the process proceeds to the next key. If it is not 0, the process proceeds to step S44 and the key map ( The flag corresponding to the key above (see FIG. 3) is referred to, and it is determined whether the key is in the depressed state or the released state. When the corresponding flag is "1", that is, when the key is in the depressed state, the corresponding velocity value is decremented by 1 (step S45). On the other hand, when the corresponding flag is "0", that is, when the key is in the released state, the corresponding velocity value is decremented by 2 (step S46). That is, the sound volume is reduced more quickly when the key is released than when the key is pressed.

After the velocity value of the corresponding key is decremented in this way, the higher the velocity value is, the more the LED provided for the key is lit based on the velocity value after decrementing. The data of the corresponding key in the LED map (see FIG. 4) is updated so that the LEDs are sequentially turned off as the number of them increases and the velocity value decreases (step S47). Here, for example, when the velocity value is large, all the LEDs of the key are turned on, and as the velocity value becomes smaller, the LEDs 10g to 10a are sequentially turned off. This is performed for each key (step S48). As a result, when a key is pressed, among the 8 LEDs equipped on that key, the number of LEDs that correspond to the velocity of the key being pressed will light up, then the number of lights will gradually decrease, and will decrease more quickly when the key is released. The LED display mode is displayed.

Although only two types of lighting modes, that is, the cyclic lighting mode and the level mode, are described here, modes other than the above-described modes may be provided. Also, for example, the manufacturer name and model name may be displayed by using the LEDs provided on a large number of keys before the performance is started after the power is turned on, and the song is displayed before the automatic performance. Alternatively, a mode for turning on / off the LED independently of the tone generation may be provided. In this case, the contents of the LED map may be set so as to correspond to the pattern to be displayed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is described that each key is provided with eight LEDs without distinguishing between the white key and the black key, but the number of LEDs provided for the white key and the black key is changed. Alternatively, the LED may be provided only on the central key of the keyboard, and thus the present invention can take various modes.

[0033]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, the keyboard device of the present invention is provided with a large number of translucent keys arranged, and a plurality of light emitters arranged on the back surface of each key in the extending direction of each key. With, for example, it is possible to generate the light emitters of the key corresponding to the pitch indicated by the performance data, or to emit the light emitters of the number corresponding to the strength of the key depression. Can be easily grasped visually.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one key in a keyboard device of one embodiment of the present invention in a longitudinal section thereof.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a keyboard device including a large number of keys shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a key map in a RAM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an LED map in a RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a routine for dynamically lighting an LED.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a key map creation routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a routine executed when a vendor is operated.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a routine for executing a cyclic lighting mode in which LEDs provided in one key are cyclically lit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a velocity correspondence table in a RAM.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a routine executed in a level mode in which the number of LEDs to be turned on is changed according to note-on velocity.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 key 2 chassis 5, 6, 7 substrate 10a, 10b, ... 10h LED 11 keyboard 12 aftertouch sensor 13 vendor 14 RAM 15 ROM 16 MIDI interface 17 decoder 18 LED driver 19 latch circuit 20 CPU

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A keyboard device comprising: a plurality of arranged semitransparent keys; and a plurality of light emitters arranged on the back surface of each key in the extending direction of each key.