JPH0715034Y2 - Electronic keyboard instrument - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an electronic keyboard musical instrument such as an electronic piano or a keyboard synthesizer, and more particularly to improving its expressive power.

(B) Background of the Invention Music playing does not have to be performed simply by generating the musical tone at the pitch as instructed by the musical score, and not only the tone of each tone but also the delicate level (volume) and pitch (pitch). ) Fluctuations and the processing of decaying tones of disappearing musical sounds, etc., and a beautiful performance is possible only after paying attention to the details of the musical sounds. Therefore, the musical instrument must be capable of accepting such an intention of the performer and generating a musical sound reflecting it.

(C) Conventional Technology At present, electronic keyboard musical instruments represented by electronic pianos and keyboard-type synthesizers are widely used. The keyboard of this kind of electronic keyboard musical instrument is generally provided with a switch for detecting ON / OFF of each key and a sensor for detecting a keying strength (initial strength). By detecting the key that is turned on, the pitch is determined, and by detecting the initial intensity, the tone generation level, the level displacement characteristic (envelope), etc. are determined. Also, some electronic keyboard musical instruments detect the pressing strength (aftertouch) during key-on to control the effects such as level and vibrato (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-187393). ). Further, there is one in which a sensor for detecting a contact area or a contact position of a finger is provided on the surface of a key and the characteristic of a musical tone signal is controlled according to the contact area or the contact position detected by the sensor.

(D) Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, in the conventional keyboard, it is possible to detect the on / off of the key, the initial strength at the time of key-on, and the after-touch during key-on and reflect them in the musical sound. It was not possible to detect the contact state between the finger and the keyboard immediately after key off or.

Also, in an actual piano (acoustic piano), the timbre when a key is struck is not determined solely by the keystroke strength or keystroke speed, but changes slightly depending on how the key is struck and how the finger is released from the key. . For example, the tone color (especially the thickness of the tone) is different between the state where a finger is placed on the key and the case where the finger is dropped from above the key, even with the same keying strength. In addition, the afterglow of turning off the key that was on differs from turning off so that it flips up. This has not been fully clarified acoustically, but facts have been empirically proven by actual performance. However, conventional electronic keyboard instruments could not reproduce such characteristics of acoustic pianos.

In consideration of such conventional problems, the present invention detects when a finger touches a key (when the key is touched) or when the finger is released from the key (when the key is released) to detect a musical sound when a musical tone rises or reverberates. It is to provide an electronic keyboard instrument that enables delicate expression.

(E) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention is directed to a base key in which each key of a keyboard is supported by a fulcrum portion, and a subkey provided on the upper surface of the base key so as to be displaceable with respect to the base key when a performance is pressed. And an on / off detecting means for detecting on / off of the key by swinging the base key, a musical sound generating means for generating a musical sound according to a detection result of the on / off detecting means, and the base key. And an operation detecting unit provided between the sub key and the sub key for detecting an operation of the sub key, and a musical sound control unit controlling the characteristic of the musical sound according to a detection result of the operation detecting unit,
Is provided.

(F) Operation In the electronic keyboard instrument of the present invention, when the player turns on the key, the subkey on the upper surface of the key is pressed with a finger. As a result, the base key swings to turn on the key (the on / off detection means detects the on state), the sub-key is displaced with respect to the base key, and the operation detection means detects the operation of the sub-key. A musical tone is generated when the key is turned on, and the characteristic of this musical tone is controlled according to the detection result of the operation detecting means.

(G) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic keyboard instrument which is an embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 1 has a tone range of about 4 to 5 octaves, and the sound source 15 is provided with eight channels capable of producing sounds independently. In addition to the keyboard 1, a switch group 2 including a tone color selection switch and a sound system 4 such as a speaker are provided on the outer surface of the musical instrument. The operation of the musical instrument is controlled by the CPU 10, and the memory and each operating unit are controlled by the CP via the bus 11.
It is connected to U10. Touch intensity detection circuit 1 on bus 11
2, key-on detection circuit 13, switch interface 14, sound source circuit 15, key touch detection circuit 16, ROM17, RAM18, timer 19
Are connected. The touch strength detection circuit 12 and the key-on detection circuit 13 detect ON / OFF of each key (key) of the keyboard 1 and touch strength (initial strength, after-touch strength). Further, the key touch detection circuit 16 detects whether or not a contact portion provided between the base key and the sub key is in contact, as described later. The switch interface 14 detects ON / OFF of each switch of the switch group 2. The sound source circuit 15 is provided with an independent 8-channel sound source, and can generate up to 8 sounds simultaneously based on the waveform signal received from the CPU 10.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one key and the key touch detection circuit 16 which constitute the keyboard 1. The base key 30 is supported at a fulcrum 30a so as to be swingable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the base key 30 is covered with a sub key 31 around the periphery thereof except the bottom surface. The sub-key 31 is supported by a fulcrum 31a provided at a position close to the fulcrum 30a so as to be swingable in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The base key is located below the center of the base key 30.
A known switch unit 32 is arranged to detect the initial touch strength and the key-on state when 30 is pressed. In addition, a contact portion 33 made of a conductive thin film or the like is formed on the front portion of the key so as to face the upper surface of the base key 30 and the inner surface of the subkey 31, and when the player's finger is not touching the subkey surface. The contact portion 33 is in a non-contact state, and when the player's finger touches the surface of the subkey, the contact portion 33 comes into contact. The power supply V _B is connected to one electrode of the contact portion 33, and the other electrode is connected to the key touch detection circuit 16.

With the above configuration, when the player's finger is not touching the surface of the sub key 31, the output of the key touch detection circuit 16 is "H" (OFF state) because the contact portion 33 is in the non-contact state. That is, the key touch state is not detected. When the player's finger touches the surface of the subkey, the subkey 31 becomes a fulcrum.
It swings slightly downward at the center of 31a. Then, the contact portion 33 comes into contact, and the output of the key touch detection circuit 16 is "L".
(ON state). When the player's finger further presses the key, the switch unit 32 operates in the same manner as a normal key, and the initial touch strength and the key-on state are detected. That is, when the player presses a key, the key touch is first detected, and then the initial touch strength and the key-on state are detected. On the other hand, when the player's finger is released from the key, the key touch detection circuit 16 is normally turned off after the switch unit 32 is turned off. In this case, when the performer is performing a staccato performance, the switch unit 32 is turned off first, and then the key touch detection circuit 16 is turned off within a very short time. During a tenuto performance or a legato performance, the time from when the switch unit 32 is turned off until the key touch detection circuit 16 is turned off is relatively long. By utilizing this, it is determined whether or not the staccato playing style is being performed.

A memory area shown in FIG. 3 is set in the ROM 17 and the RAM 18. First, the system program (M
1), tone color data (M2) is stored, and tone color data register M3, key code register M4, initial intensity register M5, key on flag M6, key touch flag M7 is stored in RAM18.
And the storage area of the key-off timer M8 is set. The timbre data register M3 stores the selected timbre data in RO
This is a memory area for reading from M17 (M2) and ready for immediate transmission to the tone generator circuit 15. The key-on flag 6 is a flag for storing whether or not the key is turned on. The key code register M4 and the initial strength register M5 are registers for storing the key code and initial strength detected at the time of key-on. The contents of this register are transmitted to the tone generator circuit 15 together with the tone color data. The key touch flag M7 is a flag for storing whether or not a key is touched. Key-off timer M8 is a fixed time (about 50 ms) from key-off (key-on flag reset)
It is a timer that operates. If the key is released during this time, it can be determined that the staccato playing style is being used.
Of the above registers, M4 to M8 are set for the number of keys that are key-on and key-touched.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the CPU 10. In the figure, (A) is a main routine, and (B) to (G) are subroutines.

First, in FIG. 9A, when the power of this electronic keyboard instrument is turned on, initial processing such as resetting each register is executed (n1). By this processing, it becomes possible to play, and the tone color switch processing operation (n2) and the key processing operation (n
3) The key touch sensor processing operation (n4) is repeatedly executed. In each operation (subroutine), a corresponding operation is performed when an on / off event of a key or a switch is detected.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing the tone color switch processing operation. When the tone color switch is pressed, this operation starts, and the tone color data corresponding to the pressed tone color switch is read from the tone color data storage area M2 of ROM17 (n
5) Set in the tone color data register M3 (n6). After this operation, it returns.

FIG. 7C is a key-on event processing routine. This operation is executed when there is a key-on event. First,
The key code of the key turned on in n7 and its initial strength are detected and stored in the key code register M4 and the initial strength register M5. These data are transmitted to the tone generator circuit 15 together with the tone color data (n8). Set the key-on flag M6 (n9) and return.

FIG. 6D shows a key-off event processing routine. When a key-off event is detected, the key-on flag M6 is first reset (n10), and the key-off data is transmitted to the tone generator circuit 15 (n11). After this, the key-off timer M8 is started (n12) and the process returns.

FIG. 6E shows a key touch event processing routine.
When a key touch event occurs, the key touch flag M7
Set (n13) and return.

FIG. 6F is a key release event processing routine. When a key release event occurs, the key-off timer M8 is referenced at n14, and if the timer is operating, it is determined that the staccato playing style is used and the data to change the release rate (attenuation rate of reverberation after key-off) is sent to the tone generator circuit 15. Yes (n15 → n16). Since the staccato playing method requires sharp muffling and a subtle reverberation, the waveform usually attenuates with a waveform as shown in FIG. 5 (A), while the staccato playing method has a waveform as shown in FIG. 5 (B). Switch to waveform.
After this, the key touch flag M7 is reset (n17) and the process returns. If the key-off timer has already stopped when the key release event occurs, the key touch flag M7 is reset (n17) because it is a normal (legato) playing style.
Do only and return.

FIG. 7G shows the timer interrupt operation. This operation is executed every predetermined count of the timer 19. First, it is determined in n18 whether or not there is a timer in operation, and if not, the process directly returns. When there is a timer in operation, that timer is incremented. When the time is up as a result of counting up, the timer is cleared and the operation is stopped (n20 → n21). Then return.

By combining the base key and the subkey as in the above operation, it is possible to detect the movement of the finger immediately after the key is turned off, and thereby it is possible to correctly determine the staccato playing style and the normal playing style.

In the above embodiment, the contact portion is simply a contact, but if a piezoelectric element is used for the electrode of this contact portion to form a pressure contact portion, the contact state of the finger at the time of key touch or key release can be detected. This information (contact pressure information of the finger and its differential value, etc.)
By using, it is possible to perform more delicate control of the tone control parameters. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a key using the pressure contact portion 40 and a key touch detection circuit. In this example, the key touch detection circuit 16 includes an amplifier 41 that amplifies the detection voltage of the pressure contact portion 40 to an appropriate level and an A / D converter 42.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the pressure contact parts 40 are provided at a total of three positions, that is, the left and right positions of the front part of the key and the rear position of the key. The outputs of the pressure contact parts 40a-40c are A / D converted independently and taken into the CPU. By doing this, the pressure portion 40a-40b at the time of key touch
Between 40b-40c, 40b-40c, and 40a-40c, you can know the key pressing position and the contact pressure of your finger based on the output difference. It becomes possible to control various tone control parameters such as the envelope. It is also possible to know the delicate touch state of the finger by differentiating the rise time of the output of each pressure contact portion and detecting the acceleration.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, pressure contact portions 40a, 40b are provided on the left and right side walls of the front portion of the base key 30. Further, a fulcrum 30b for supporting the sub key 31 is provided at the center position of the upper surface of the base key 30. With such a configuration, the sub key 31 can rotate left and right around the fulcrum 30b as shown by an arrow in the figure. When the player's finger touches the right side of the key, the subkey
Since 31 rotates in the clockwise direction, the pressure contact portion 40b is turned on, and the pressure contact portion 40a is brought into contact with the left side of the key. Therefore, it is possible to know which area on the left and right of the key surface has been pressed by the player by detecting which pressure contact portion has contacted, and also to detect the contact state of the finger by detecting the contact pressure. You can know. Also in this case, musical tone control parameters such as volume, tone color and pitch can be controlled as in the case of FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the staccato playing style or the legato playing style is determined by the time from the key-off to the key-release. However, the time from the key touch to the key-on is measured, and the staccato playing style is used at this time. It is also possible to judge whether it is a legato playing method.

(H) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the invention, the operation detecting means detects the operation state of the player's finger immediately before the key is turned on, the contact timing, the operation state of the finger of the player immediately after the key is turned off, and the release timing. By detecting the characteristic of the musical sound in accordance with this, it is possible to delicately express the rising of the musical sound and the afterglow in a musical manner. Further, according to this invention, since the operation detecting means can be provided inside the sub-key, the player's finger is not touched, so that stable and reliable operation can be expected.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a side sectional view and a front sectional view of a key of an electronic keyboard musical instrument which is an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the electronic keyboard instrument, FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram of a memory, FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (G) are flowcharts showing the operation of the CPU, and FIG. 5 (A). Is a diagram showing an attenuation waveform of a general musical tone, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an attenuation waveform of a musical tone during a staccato playing method. 6 to 8 are views showing another embodiment of the present invention. 30 …… base key, 31 …… sub key, 33 …… contact part, 40 …… pressure contact part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. Each key of a keyboard comprises a base key supported by a fulcrum portion, and a subkey provided on the upper surface of the base key so as to be displaceable with respect to the base key when a performance is pressed, Between the on / off detecting means for detecting on / off of the key by swinging the base key, the tone generating means for generating a musical tone according to the detection result of the on / off detecting means, and between the base key and the subkey. An electronic keyboard musical instrument, comprising: an operation detecting means for detecting an operation of the sub-key; and a musical sound controlling means for controlling a characteristic of the musical sound according to a detection result of the operation detecting means.