JPH0799475B2 - Electronic musical instrument keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ and an electronic piano.

[Outline of Invention]

According to the present invention, in a keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument in which a plurality of keys are rotatably arranged in rows on a key supporting member via fulcrums, a braking means composed of a magnetic field generating member and a conductor, one of which is key supporting. By arranging the other member so as to be relatively displaceable relative to each other so as to face the key or a key interlocking member that displaces in conjunction with the key, it is possible to easily create various touch feeling with a wide dynamic range when pressing a key. In addition, the touch feeling of the piano and any touch feeling other than the piano can be set.

[Conventional technology]

A keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument has a plurality of keys rotatably arranged in rows on a key support member such as a keyboard frame via fulcrums, and each key generally gives a restoring force by a spring. When a key is pressed, the key is pressed against its restoring force to be displaced.

Therefore, the feeling of operation, that is, the feeling of touch of the key is determined by the spring force for a key having a small mass.

Therefore, various techniques have been developed in order to change the key touch feeling in such a keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument.

For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-164393, it is possible to adjust the strength of a spring that gives a return force to a key, or the vicinity of a rotation fulcrum of a key provided with a return habit and an adjustment lever. A spring is installed between the two, and a mechanism for adjusting the return force of the key by turning the adjustment lever by an external operation is provided. There are things that I tried to change.

Alternatively, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-147691, a keyboard device is provided with an action mechanism in which an arm having a weight is interlocked with a key to obtain a key touch feeling close to a piano. In some of the above, the initial position of the arm can be changed by a manual operation or an electric operation so that the key touch feeling can be changed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Generally, the touch feeling of a key can be understood from the following two viewpoints.

One is what is called a static touch feeling (static touch feeling), and it is what kind of reaction force the finger receives at each position when the key is pressed relatively softly.

The other is a dynamic touch feeling (dynamic touch feeling).
That is, what is the reaction force received by the finger at each point when the key is pressed relatively quickly.

Generally, according to the second law of motion, the formula F = mα (1) holds. When comparing this with the movement of the key and the finger and the force relationship between them, F ... Reaction force received by the finger when the key is pressed m ...... Mass of moving body (key and hammer) α ...... When moving body It becomes acceleration.

According to the equation (1), when the mass m of the moving body is small like a hollow plastic key (for example, as seen in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-164393), the reaction force F received by the finger is obtained. In terms of feeling, the sense of dynamic touch is not much different from that of static touch.

This is because the acceleration α changes slightly between when the key is pressed quickly (strongly pressed) and when the key is pressed slowly (weakly pressed), but the acceleration α does not increase above a certain value. Since there is a limit), when the mass m is small, the range of change in the value of the reaction force F between the hard key depression and the weak key depression is small.

In the case of a key in which lead or the like is fixed to the moving body or a hammer arm is added to increase the mass m, the change width is large. Therefore, when discussing the touch feeling of a key with a sense of mass, the dynamic touch feeling and the static touch feeling are greatly different, and therefore both aspects must be considered.

Therefore, in the one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-164393 described above, in the static touch feeling, the relationship of the touch pressure (reaction force received by the finger) with respect to the key pressing stroke is substantially linear,
Even if the return force of the key by the spring is changed, only the inclination of the straight line changes, and there is almost no change in the sense of the dynamic touch, so that the touch may change depending on the method of touch. It was a long time ago.

Considering the touch feeling of a keyboard having an action mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-147691, the moving distance χ of an object is generally expressed by the following equation (2).

However, υ ₀ ... initial speed, t ... time spent for movement The key speed is zero when the key is pressed, so from (2) Becomes When the above equation (1) is substituted into this equation (3) and arranged, the following is obtained.

The following can be said from this equation (4).

Since the reaction force F received by the finger is directly proportional to the mass m and an object having the mass m (the movable distance χ of the key or / and the action member), the mass of the moving body including the key and the action member is relatively small. However, if the distance over which the moving body can move can be set large, as a result, a touchy feeling with a sense of mass can be obtained.

In this sense, in the keyboard device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-147691, the touching feeling (particularly the dynamic touching feeling) can be obtained by allowing the moving distance of the hammer arm to be large and appropriately limiting the moving distance. I changed it.

By the way, in this conventional technique, the reaction force applied to the finger does not go out of the range of the above formula (4) even when the dynamic touch feeling is felt, the mass of the moving body is limited, and the moving distance of the moving body is limited. Since there is a limit, the keyboard device that gives a touch feeling with a wide dynamic range like a piano has never been developed.

That is, an electronic musical instrument using a conventional keyboard device has a light touch when a weak key is pressed and a heavy touch (when a strong reaction force is applied) when a hard key is pressed, like a natural musical instrument piano (especially a grant piano). There was a problem in that it was not possible to obtain a crisp touch.

Alternatively, the dynamic range was extremely narrow even if the touching feeling was slightly changed depending on the touching method.

In addition, the touch of a piano, which is a natural musical instrument, is pushed by sliding the chevron protrusion while driving the hammer when moving the hammer action mechanism with a key. It became lighter and the click feeling almost disappeared when the key was slightly pressed, but it was impossible to obtain such a touch feeling.

Further, in the keyboard device having the above-mentioned conventional action mechanism, since the arm (hammer) interlocking with the key has a large mass, the return of the key at the time of releasing the key is delayed, and the key switch is operated by the entire stroke. Since it has to be turned on and off, there is also the problem that it is extremely difficult to play quickly and weakly like a fast trill performance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in the keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument, the touch feeling varies depending on the strength of the key depression and the like, which changes in a wide dynamic range, and responds like a natural musical instrument piano. The first purpose is to obtain a certain touch feeling.

In addition, a finger feels a click in the middle of a key press, and when it gets over it, it becomes lighter, and the click feel is very similar to that when a weak key is pressed. The second purpose is to do so.

Furthermore, when releasing the key, make sure that the key returns quickly,
The third purpose is to make it easy to play even when playing quickly and weakly.

Furthermore, for any keystroke, you can set a touch curve with any characteristics of static touch feeling and / or dynamic touch feeling, and you can easily change the touch curve according to the tone color. The fourth purpose is to do so.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument in which a plurality of keys are rotatably arranged in rows on a key supporting member via fulcrums, and a magnetic field generating member (a permanent magnet or an electromagnet) and a conductive member are provided. A braking means composed of a body is arranged such that one of the braking means is opposed to a key supporting member and the other is opposed to a key or a key interlocking member which is displaced in conjunction with the key so as to be relatively displaceable in a direction along the facing surface. It was set up.

Further, it is preferable to provide a braking force varying means for varying the braking force of the braking means.

Further, the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor may be such that the facing areas thereof partially change or become zero between the beginning and the end of the key depression stroke.

Further, it is preferable that either one of the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor is attached so as not to follow the relative displacement in the other key-pressing direction and to follow the relative displacement in the key-returning direction.

Alternatively, the braking means composed of an electromagnet and a conductor is attached to the key support member and the other to a key or a key interlocking member that is displaced in conjunction with the key, and the magnetic pole of the electromagnet and the conductor are opposed to each other. There is also provided an exciting current control circuit which is arranged so as to be relatively displaceable in the direction along the facing surface and which changes the exciting current of the electromagnet.

Further, a key position detecting means for detecting the position information of the key within the key pressing stroke is provided, and the exciting current control means controls the feedback current of the exciting current of the electromagnet in accordance with the position information detected by the means. Good to do.

Further, the exciting current control means has a memory for storing the touch curve data in which the correspondence between the position of the key and the braking force to be generated is preset, and is detected by the key position detecting means in accordance with the data in this memory. The feed back amount may be changed according to the positional information.

Further, it is preferable to provide means for storing different touch curve data in the memory corresponding to the selection of the tone color.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the exciting current control means reduces or eliminates the exciting current of the electromagnet when the key is returned.

[Work]

In the keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention, the braking means composed of the magnetic field generating member and the conductor is provided between the key supporting member and the key or the key interlocking member which is displaced in conjunction with the key. Due to the relative displacement of the magnetic field generating member and the conductor, an eddy current is generated on the opposing surfaces, and a braking force (a reaction force with respect to the key pressing direction) is generated.

Therefore, the higher the relative displacement speed of the magnetic field generating member and the conductor is, the larger the braking force is generated, and the slower the relative displacement speed of the two is, the smaller the braking force is generated and the wider the dynamic range is.

Therefore, the touch is light when the key is lightly pressed, and the touch pressure becomes large when the key is strongly pressed, and the touch feels like a natural musical instrument.

Further, by providing the braking force varying means for varying the braking force of the braking means, the dynamic range can be further expanded.

Further, if the facing area between the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor is partially changed or becomes zero during the key depression stroke, for example, the braking force may be partially reduced at the beginning or end of the key depression. The touch is lightened by weakening or not producing the key, and a strong braking force is generated in the middle part of the key depression stroke so that a touch feeling similar to the click feeling by the hammer action mechanism of the piano is obtained. You can also In addition, since the braking force due to the eddy current is hardly generated when the key is weakly pressed, the click feeling is eliminated.

Also, if one of the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor is attached so that it cannot follow the relative displacement in the other key-pressing direction and can follow the relative displacement in the key-returning direction, only when pressing the key. Since the braking force works effectively and the braking force does not work effectively when the key is released, the key can be returned quickly and a fast trill performance can be performed easily.

Furthermore, if the magnetic field generating member of the braking means is an electromagnet and the exciting current of the electromagnet is changed, the touch pressure (key return force + braking force) during the key depression stroke can be changed in an arbitrary curve. It will be possible.

Then, if the position information of the key within the key depression stroke is detected and the excitation current of the electromagnet is feedback-controlled according to the position information, the touch pressure according to the position of the key can be accurately controlled.

Furthermore, if the touch curve data in which the correspondence between the position of the key and the braking force to be generated is set in advance is stored in the memory, and the amount of feedback back according to the key position information is changed according to the data in that memory, It is possible to obtain a touch feeling by a preset touch curve.

If different touch curve data is stored in the memory according to the selection of the tone color, a touch feeling suitable for the tone color can be obtained.

In addition, by reducing or setting the exciting current of the electromagnet to zero when returning the key, it is possible to speed up the return of the key when releasing the key, making it easier to play weakly and quickly. The power supply to the electromagnet due to the vibration of the keyboard can be minimized, so that power saving can be achieved.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view of the white key portion taken along the longitudinal direction of the key. FIG. 3B is a partial plan view of the leaf spring, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of an electronic musical instrument equipped with this keyboard device.

In the keyboard apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a large number of white key assemblies WK and black key assemblies BK are mounted on a keyboard frame so as to be rotatable by predetermined key depression strokes. There is.

The mounting structure of each key assembly and the structure of the braking means for obtaining the key touch feeling according to the present invention are mainly described in the first section.
A description will be given with reference to a cross-sectional view of the white key portion of FIG. (A). The white key 1 and the black key 1'have different key shapes, key colors, and hammer tip shapes (black keys are better than white keys). Although it is small, the other structure is the same except that the later-described braking aluminum plate 20 is substantially the same), and therefore, in the following description, the key is simply referred to as the key 1 and the hammer is simply the hammer 5.

The key 1 is rotatably fitted to a cylindrical shaft member 3 fixed at the rear end of the slit 2a of the keyboard frame 2 which is a key support member. It is the fulcrum of rotation 1.

Further, a cylindrical shaft supporting member 4 is fixedly provided also at a front end portion of the slit 2a of the keyboard frame 2, and a mass body (hereinafter, referred to as "hammer") formed in a crank shape by iron or the like on the shaft member 4. "
A base portion 5a of the hammer 5 is rotatably fitted, and the shaft member 4 serves as a pivot fulcrum of the hammer 5.

The other end of a leaf spring 6 whose base end is rotatably locked to the key return spring holding portion 1e of the key is rotatably attached to the rear end step 5b of the hammer 5. 1 is urged in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the key 1 is urged in the clockwise direction by the shoulder portion 6a (see FIG. 1 (b)) at the base end of the leaf spring 6 to return to the respective directions. Giving power.

In addition, the leaf spring 6 in FIG. 1 (a) is shown in FIG. 1 (b).
The cross section which follows the II line in FIG.

The base 5a of the hammer 5 is provided with an actuator 7 having a pair of legs at its lower portion, and engaging pressing portions 5c for engaging with the recesses 1b provided at the lower portions of both side surfaces of the key 1 are provided at both sides. When the key is turned, the engaging pressing portion 5c is pushed down by the depression 1b of the key 1 when it is turned downward, and the hammer 5 also turns in the same direction against the biasing force of the leaf spring 6.

At this time, the distance from the engagement pressing portion 5c between the key 1 and the hammer 5 to the shaft members 3 and 4, which are the fulcrums, is much shorter in the hammer 5 than in the key 1, so that the By the turning stroke, the turning stroke of the hammer 5 can be expanded several times, and even if the hammer 5 is provided, a touch feeling like a piano can be obtained to some extent (see the formula ()).

A printed circuit board 8 is fixed in parallel to the lower portion of the frame 2, and a fixed contact pattern 9 is formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 8.
And a movable member made of conductive rubber that forms a pair of movable contacts facing each other with a small gap (there is a switch structure that operates even if there is no gap) in each fixed contact.
A key switch 11 is provided by disposing the key switch 10 and also serving as a key pressing speed sensor which is sequentially pressed and closed by a pair of leg portions of the actuator 7 when a key is pressed.

The mass portion 5d connected to the base end portion 5a of the hammer 5 extends toward the front end portion of the key 1 through the slits 2b and 2c formed in the keyboard frame 2 and has an aluminum plate 20 as a conductor at its tip. Is fixed.

This aluminum plate 20 is used for the shaft member 4 which is the pivot of the hammer 5.
It is formed in an arc shape centered on.

Reference numeral 12 is a key guide fixed to the keyboard frame 2, which guides the vertical movement by restricting the horizontal movement of the front end of the key 1 and the twisting of the front end of the key 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key guide 12 also supports an upper limit stopper 13 and a lower limit stopper 14 made of a felt material common to each key, and the lower limit stopper 14 lowers the front end lower edge of the key 1 at the time of key depression. And the upper stroke stopper 13 contacts the stopper piece 1c of the key 1 when the key is returned, and regulates the upper position thereof.

The keyboard frame 2 is also made of felt material, and is provided with an upper limit stopper 15 and a lower limit stopper 16 for the hammer, which are common to the hammers 5, and a lower limit stopper 17 for the black key 1 '.

Further, a touch-sensitive dynamic range expanding mechanism support member provided with magnets (permanent magnets) 21 which are a large number of magnetic field generating members facing each other so as to sandwich the aluminum plate 20 attached to each hammer 5 from each side is provided. A changeable touch feeling member 22 is fixedly provided on a shaft 23 which is rotatably supported at both end portions of the keyboard frame 2 and an intermediate portion thereof.

A base end portion of an operation lever 24 having a knob 24a at the tip is fixed to one end of the shaft 23.
By operating from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 7A, the touch-feeling varying member 22 also rotates in the arrow P direction from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the imaginary line about the shaft 23. Displace.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper portion of the operating lever 24 is a beat bar between the case side plate 30 of the electronic musical instrument body and the key 1 on the highest tone side.
It protrudes from 31 to the outside, so that you can easily operate it with your right hand even while playing.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 32 is an operation panel, 33 is a lid that is pulled out to cover the operation panel and the keyboard portion when not in use, 34 is a lid guide utilizing the upper surface of the mountain plate, and 35 is a mouth stick.

In this embodiment, the aluminum plate 20 attached to each hammer 5
The touch feeling varying member 22 and the like to which the magnet 21 is attached constitute the braking means and the braking force varying means for obtaining the touch feeling according to the present invention.

These details will be further described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

The hammer 5 shown in FIG. 4 shows a hammer which is interlocked with, for example, two keys of the highest pitch (two keys at the right end shown in FIG. 3) when the consecutive keys are both white keys. is there.

The touch feeling variable member 22 is an aluminum plate attached to the hammer 5.
A large number of magnet support pieces 22b are formed in parallel with each other at regular intervals from a common piece 22a extending in the arrangement direction of the magnets 20.
(Refer to the drawing), and the magnets 21 are fitted and attached.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the magnet 21 has a disk shape, and the S pole side is made slightly larger than the N pole side to facilitate mounting. It should be noted that the magnet 21 may have a straight cylindrical shape. And each hammer 5
The aluminum plate 20 fixed to the above is attached so that the S pole side faces one surface and the N pole side faces the other surface.

The spacing between the magnet support pieces 22b of the touch-feeling varying member 22 is kept constant by the spacing forming member 25 fixed by the screw 26 so that the magnetic flux density in each spacing becomes uniform.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a partially cut circular shaft hole 22d is formed near the base of each magnet support piece 22b, and a partially chamfered round bar-shaped shaft 23 is formed therein as shown in FIG. It penetrates so that it cannot rotate relatively, and is fixed by a pin 23a and a double nut 27.

Then, both ends of the shaft 23 are rotatably supported by a pair of or more support pieces 2d, 2d formed at both end portions of the keyboard frame 2 and the like, and the base end portion of the operation lever 24 is provided at one end portion thereof. It is fixed by the pin 23b, the washer 28 and the double nut 29.

According to the first embodiment thus constructed, the key 1 is pushed from the return position shown by the solid line while the operation lever 24 is at the position P ₅ shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 (a). When the hammer 5 is pushed down to the lower limit position where it abuts the lower limit stopper 14 as shown by the phantom line, the hammer 5 is interlocked with it and pivotally displaced from the upper limit position shown by the solid line to the lower limit position shown by the phantom line.

Due to the displacement of the tip of the hammer 5, the aluminum plate 20 also moves from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the phantom line, and relative displacement is made with respect to the magnet 21 held by the touch-feel varying member 22 in the direction along the facing surface thereof. Then, the aluminum plate 20 as a conductor is displaced in the magnetic field generated by the magnet 21 over the entire stroke.

Therefore, an eddy current due to electromagnetic induction is generated in the aluminum plate 20, and a magnetic field generated by the eddy current acts on the hammer 21 to prevent relative displacement, that is, a braking force on the hammer 5.

Therefore, a resistance feeling to the key depression, that is, a touch feeling is obtained, but the braking force due to the eddy current is proportional to the speed at which the conductor cuts the magnetic field. A touchy feeling is obtained.

In addition, since the moving speed of the tip of the hammer 5 is considerably increased as compared with the pressing speed of the key 1, its braking action is also increased, and a strong touch feeling with a firm resilience can be obtained when a strong key is pressed. However, when a weak key is pressed, an eddy current is not generated so much, so that the braking force is weak and the touch feeling is light.

Therefore, a touch feeling with a wide dynamic range corresponding to the key pressing strength (speed) can be obtained.

Further, as the operation lever 24 is moved to the P ₄ , P ₃ , P ₂ positions in FIG. 1A, the touch-feeling varying member 22 rotates in the arrow P direction, and the magnet 21 moves. Since the area facing the aluminum plate 20 is reduced, the braking action by the eddy current at the time of key depression is reduced, and the dynamic touch feeling particularly at the time of hard key depression is weakened.

When the operating lever 24 is set to the P ₁ position, the touch feel variable member 22
The magnet 21 does not face the aluminum plate 20 at all, and the braking force due to the eddy current does not act when the key is pressed.

Therefore, in this case, only the reaction force based on the law of motion due to the mass of the key 1 and the hammer 5 and its acceleration and the reaction force against the restoring force by the leaf spring 6 are involved, and thus the touch with the narrowest dynamic range is used. The touch feeling is obtained, and the lightest touch feeling is obtained even with a hard key press.

In this way, the touch feeling can be arbitrarily changed by the operation lever 24, so that the dynamic range can be further expanded.

It is also possible to change the touch feeling by rotating the touch feeling varying member 22 by an electric mechanism using a motor or the like by a signal from the touch feeling select switch or the like instead of the operation lever 24. .

In this case, the touch feeling select switch is shared by the timbre switches (including the preset switch), and when a certain specific timbre is selected, the dynamism range of the touch sensation can be selected as most suitable for the timbre.

As described above, when the present invention is applied to the keyboard device provided with the hammer, the braking force by the eddy current acts according to the key pressing speed. Power) is obtained.

Therefore, since the hammer can be lightened, the strength of the supporting member can be reduced, and the keyboard device as a whole can be made lightweight and can be manufactured at low cost.

Also, since the key returns quickly, it becomes easy to play weakly and quickly.

Second to Fourth Embodiments FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 (a) showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, only the aluminum plate 20A attached to the tip of the hammer 5 is different from the first embodiment, and the description of other parts will be omitted.

This aluminum plate 20A is the aluminum plate 20 in FIG. 1 (a).
Approximately one-third of the lower part of the key is removed, and when the key is not pressed and the key is pressed as shown by the solid line, the touch feeling varying member 22 should not face the magnet 21 even when it is at the position shown by the solid line. It is arranged.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, since the braking force due to the eddy current does not act at the initial stage of key depression, the feeling of touch is light and the braking force due to the eddy current corresponding to the key depression speed is generated from the middle portion of the key depression stroke. As a result, the faster the key pressing speed, the heavier the touch is.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 (a) showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

Also in the third embodiment, only the aluminum plate 20B attached to the tip of the hammer 5 is different from the first embodiment, and the description of the other parts will be omitted.

This aluminum plate 20B is the aluminum plate 20 in FIG. 1 (a).
This is equivalent to the upper one-third removed from the above, and at the end of the key depression shown by the phantom line, it is arranged so that even if the touch feel variable member 22 is at the position shown by the solid line, it does not face the magnet 21. ing.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, since the braking force due to the eddy current acts according to the key pressing speed from the initial stage to the middle period of the key depression, the touch feeling is heavy, but at the end of the key depression, the eddy current control is applied. Since the power does not work, the touch feeling suddenly becomes light.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 (a) showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Also in the fourth embodiment, only the aluminum plate 20C attached to the tip of the hammer 5 is different from the first embodiment, and the description of other parts will be omitted.

This aluminum plate 20C is the aluminum plate 20 in FIG. 1 (a).
It is equivalent to removing about 1/3 of the upper part and the lower part of the lower part and leaving only about 1/3 of the middle part. It is arranged so that it does not face the magnet 21 even at the position shown by the solid line, and does not face the magnet 21 even at the end of key depression shown by the phantom line.

Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, since the braking force due to the eddy current does not act at the initial stage of key depression, the feeling of touch is light, and the braking force due to the eddy current corresponding to the key depression speed is provided in the middle part of the key depression stroke. However, since the touch feeling becomes heavy due to the action of, the braking force due to the eddy current does not act again at the end of the key depression, so that the touch feeling suddenly becomes light.

According to each of these embodiments, it is possible to obtain a touch feeling similar to the click feeling (particularly the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9) due to the hammer-action mechanism of the piano, and various click feelings and touch feelings rich in variations. .

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 (a) showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and the portions corresponding to those in FIG. is there.

This keyboard device is not provided with a hammer, and each key 1 is provided with a key return spring 36 which is a leaf spring whose end is rotatably attached between its base end 1a and the keyboard frame 2. , The returning force to the illustrated rising position is given.

Further, the key 1 is integrally formed with an actuator portion 1d for operating the key switch 11.

Further, an elongated aluminum plate 40 is fixed in the vertical direction adjacent to the stopper piece 1c near the front end of the key 1, and the aluminum plate 40 is inserted into the gap between the magnets 21 attached to the touch-feeling varying member 22. It is arranged so that it can be displaced relative to it.

Therefore, according to this embodiment as well, since the aluminum plate 40 directly attached to the key 1 moves in the magnetic field generated by the magnet 21 when the key is pressed, an eddy current corresponding to the moving speed is generated. Then, a braking force that hinders the movement is generated. As a result, a touch feeling having a weight corresponding to the key pressing strength is obtained.

In the fifth embodiment, the relationship between the position of the operating lever 24 and the weight of the touch feeling is opposite to that in each of the above-described embodiments.

That is, when the operating lever 24 is set to the position P ₅ closest to the player as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, the touch-feeling varying member 22 is also in the position shown by the solid line, and the touch feeling is the heaviest. Become.

Then, when the operation lever 24 is set to the deepest position P ₁ as seen from the player as shown by the phantom line, the touch feeling variable member
22 is also in the position shown by the phantom line, and the braking effect due to eddy current is completely eliminated, and the touch feeling is the least.

By changing only the aluminum plate 40 of the fifth embodiment, as in the second to fourth embodiments described above, either one of the key-depressing initial period or the key-depressing period excluding the middle portion of the key-depressing stroke is performed. Alternatively, both of them may not face the magnet 21, so that a complex touch feeling with a click feeling can be obtained especially when a hard key is pressed.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 (a) showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Also in this embodiment, there are the white key 41 and the black key 41 ',
The part of the white key (hereinafter, simply referred to as a key) 41 will be described as a representative.

Each key 41 has its base end 41a at the slit 4 of the keyboard frame 42.
2a is engaged with the rear end portion, and this is used as the pivot fulcrum of the key 41.

Further, a shaft member 44 is fixedly provided at an intermediate portion of the keyboard frame 42, and a base portion 45a of a hammer 45, which is a crank-shaped mass body made of iron or the like, is rotatably fitted to the shaft member 44. This shaft member 44 is used as the pivot of the hammer 45.

An actuator part 45b is integrally extended to the base part 45a of the hammer 45, and an engaging pressing part 45c protruding upward is provided on the upper part thereof, and a spring locking part of the base part 45a and a base end part 41a of the key 41 are provided. By the biasing of the leaf spring 46 engaged with the spring locking portion, the engagement pressing portion 45c is always maintained in the engaged state with the upper inner surface of the key 41, and the mass of the hammer 45 is increased. The key 1 is pushed up and returned to the illustrated state by the return force of the portion 45d due to its own weight. The restoring force may be applied by the biasing force of the leaf spring 46.

Also in this embodiment, when the key is depressed, the front end of the key 1 is pushed down against the restoring force, but at this time, the key 41 and the hammer 45 are pushed.
Since the distance from the engaging portion of and to each rotation fulcrum of the hammer 45 is much shorter than that of the key 41, a slight rotation stroke of the key 41 makes the rotation stroke of the hammer 45 several times. Can be expanded.

Further, a board 49 is provided below the frame 42 via a spacer 47 and a board receiver 48, and a key switch 51 covered with rubber is arranged on the board 49 so that the actuator unit 45b of the hammer 45 is pressed when a key is pressed. The contact point inside is closed by being pressed by. 50 is a bending prevention metal fitting.

The mass portion 45d of the hammer 45 extends to the lower side of the keyboard frame 42 through the slit 42a, and further extends toward the rear end portion of the key 41.

Then, an aluminum plate 60, which is a conductor, is fixedly attached to the tip thereof. The aluminum plate 60 is a shaft member that is a pivot of the hammer 45.
It is formed in an arc shape centered at 44.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a key guide fixed to the keyboard frame 42, which guides the vertical movement by restricting the horizontal movement of the front end of the key 41 and the twisting of the front end of the key 41.

The keyboard frame 42 is also provided with an upper limit stopper 53 and a lower limit stopper 54 made of a felt material common to each key, and the lower limit stopper 54 is brought into contact with the lower edge of the front end portion of the key 41 at the time of key depression, and its lowering stroke. When the key is returned, the upper limit stopper 53 comes into contact with the stopper piece 41c of the key 41 and regulates its rising position.

The keyboard frame 2 is also made of felt material, and is also provided with an upper limit stopper 55a and a lower limit stopper 55b for the hammer which are common to the hammers 45.

Further, an aluminum plate 60 attached to each hammer 45 is supported on both ends by a pair of brackets 57 attached to the bottom plate 56 of the musical instrument main body, and a touch feel variable member 62 attached with a large number of magnets 61 facing each other so as to sandwich it. A fixed shaft 63 is provided so as to be rotatable.

A link bar 58 is provided above one end of the touch-feeling varying member 62.
One end is pivotally attached, and the other end is a knob on the tip.
It is pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of an operation lever 64 having 64a.

The operation lever 64 is pivotally attached to a bracket 59, whose base end is attached to the bottom plate 56 of the musical instrument body, via a shaft 59a so as to be rotatable, and the operation lever 64 is shown in phantom from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. By operating to the position shown, the touch-feeling varying member 62 also moves through the link bar 58 from the position indicated by the solid line (the touch feel becomes the heaviest) to the position indicated by the imaginary line (the touch feel is the strongest). Rotate and displace until it gets lighter.

The aluminum plate 60 in this embodiment does not face the magnet 61 in the initial and final stages of key depression, as in the case of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 9) described above, and the magnet 61 is only at the intermediate position of the key depression stroke. It seems to move while facing.

According to the sixth embodiment thus configured, when the key 41 is depressed to the lower limit position where it abuts the lower limit stopper 54 with the operation lever 64 in the position shown by the solid line, it interlocks with it. The hammer 45 also rotates leftward from the illustrated lowered position, the mass part 45d rises, and the aluminum plate 60 attached to the tip of the mass part 45d also rises with an enlarged stroke.

As in the above-described fourth embodiment, since the braking force due to the eddy current does not act at the initial stage of key depression, the feeling of touch is light, and the braking force due to the eddy current according to the key depression speed acts at the middle portion of the key depression stroke. Then, the touch feeling becomes heavy, but at the end of the key depression, the braking force due to the eddy current does not act again, so the touch feeling suddenly becomes light.

Therefore, according to this embodiment as well, a touch feeling similar to a touch feeling with a click feeling due to the hammer action mechanism of the piano can be obtained.

Further, the touch feeling can be changed arbitrarily by operating the operation lever 64.

Furthermore, also in the keyboard device of the sixth embodiment, the braking mechanism based on the eddy current caused by the touch is used in the second embodiment (seventh embodiment).
(Fig.), The third embodiment (Fig. 8), and the fourth embodiment (Fig. 9), partial dead zones (aluminum plate removing portions) may be provided at various positions during the key stroke. It goes without saying that the dead zone may not be provided as in the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

In addition, in the second to fourth embodiments and the sixth embodiment, the example in which the upper 1/3 or the lower 1/3 of the aluminum plate as the braking plate is removed is shown, but the invention is not limited to this. Without, top 1/4
Alternatively, it is sufficient to provide a removing portion where the braking force does not work on the upper side, the lower side, or both, such as the lower 2/5, the upper 1/2 or the lower 1/4.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the removing portion is provided above or below, but as shown by a portion surrounded by a broken line circle in FIG. 12, a braking plate (aluminum plate) 66 attached to the hammer or the key 65 is provided. It may be formed so as to be partially thin or thick in the displacement direction.

By doing so, the braking action is softly displaced during the transition from OFF to ON (or vice versa).

Also in the fifth embodiment, the removing portion may be optionally provided so that the braking force does not work partially.

Further, the removing portion is provided on the upper or lower lower portion of the braking plate, but as shown in FIG.
68 may be provided.

In this way, it is possible to reproduce the feeling of rubbing the felt and the touch of a touch similar to the feeling of crossing the chevron protrusion in the piano action mechanism that transmits the driving force from the key to the hammer like a piano.

Different Examples of Braking Means Next, different examples of the braking means composed of an aluminum plate and a touch feeling varying member, especially on the touch feeling varying member side, will be shown.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are a rear view showing an example thereof and a partial perspective view of a magnet assembly mounting member to which the magnet assembly is attached.

As shown in FIG. 14, the touch-feeling varying member 72 can
A common piece 72a having a shape substantially similar to that of the touch-feeling varying member 22 shown in FIGS. 6 and 6, and a large number of support pieces 72b extending from the touch-feeling variable member 22 in parallel to each other at equal intervals from the common piece 72a.
A magnetic assembly 74 attached to a resin-made magnetic assembly mounting member 73 is disposed between them.

As shown in FIG. 15, the magnet assembly 74 is a yoke formed in a U shape by a ferromagnetic material such as iron (Fe).
To one inner surface of two parallel pieces of 75, a square magnet 71 is fixed by closely adhering one pole surface (N pole surface in this example) to generate a magnetic field in the gap with the other piece. I'm running.

This magnet assembly 74 is fitted and held between a pair of holding pieces 73a, 73b of the magnet assembly mounting member 73, and aluminum (Al) (not shown) attached to a key or a hammer in the gap in which the magnetic field is generated. Insert the board.

In this case, the space forming member is unnecessary. Further, the magnet assembly 74 may be directly attached to the touch-feeling varying member 72.

Next, an example of the braking means in which the braking force due to the eddy current acts only when the key is pressed and hardly acts when the key is pressed (when the key is returned) is shown in FIGS. 16 to 21. explain.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example thereof, FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the relationship between the magnet assembly and the aluminum plate, and FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b) show a state when a key is pressed and a key is released. It is a side view shown, and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to FIG. 14 and FIG.

A magnet assembly 74 is attached to each of the support pieces 72b of the touch-feeling varying member 72 by a shaft 76 so as to be directly rotatable within a predetermined range.

In addition, a stopper portion 72c, which is bent in an inverted L shape from an intermediate portion of each support piece 72b and has a cushioning material 72f made of rubber, felt, or the like at the tip thereof, is attached to the yoke 7 of the magnet assembly 74.
A protruding portion is provided so as to abut the lower surface of 5, and a compression spring 77 is attached between the stopper portion 72c and the magnet assembly 74.

Then, the static weight of the magnetic assembly 74 at rest is balanced with the pushing force of the compression spring 77, so that the virtual weight of the magnetic assembly 74 becomes almost zero.

At this time, the pressure of the stopper portion 72c is slightly positive, and the state shown in FIG. 18 (a) is maintained. Reference numeral 72d denotes a shaft hole for relatively non-rotatably penetrating an axis similar to the axis 23 shown in FIG. 6 for varying the touch feeling by rotating the touch feeling varying member 72 as a whole. Is.

In the gap between the S pole surface of the magnet 71 of the magnet assembly 74 and the surface (N pole surface) of the yoke 75 facing the S pole surface,
An aluminum (Al) plate 70 attached to the tip of the hammer 5 or the free end of each key interlocking with each key of the keyboard device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 is inserted.

Therefore, when the key is pressed, the rotation of the hammer 5 causes the aluminum plate 70 to move downward across the magnetic field in the gap of the magnet assembly 74, which causes an eddy current in the aluminum plate 70. Generated, and as the aluminum plate 70 descends, a force to pull down the magnet assembly 74 also acts,
Since the magnet assembly 74 is in contact with the stopper portion 72c, it cannot rotate and maintains the state shown in FIG. 18 (a).

Therefore, a braking force acts on the rotation of the hammer 5, and an appropriate resistance feeling (touch feeling) as when pressing the key of the piano is obtained on the finger pressing the key according to the strength of the touch.

However, when the key and the hammer 5 are returned at the time of releasing the key, the aluminum plate 70 moves upward in the gap of the magnet assembly 74 to generate an eddy current, and tries to lift the magnet assembly 74. When a force acts, the magnet assembly 74 is in a state in which the gravity is almost zero, so that it follows the rising of the aluminum plate 70 and easily turns left as shown in FIG. 18 (b). The braking action on the hammer 5 hardly works.

Therefore, the keys can be returned quickly, and quick trill performances can be performed easily.

FIG. 19 shows an example in which this is changed slightly.

In this example, also at the upper end of each supporting piece 72b of the touch-feeling varying member 72, a spring receiving portion 72e having a cushioning material 72g added so as to face the upper surface of the yoke 75 of the magnet assembly 74 at a distance is provided. A weak compression spring is also provided between the spring receiving portion 72e and the magnet assembly 74 so that the magnet assembly 74 is lightly held from above.

By doing this, the magnet assembly
It is possible to prevent the 74 from dancing and causing mechanical noise.

FIG. 20 shows another modification of the braking means, and since the shape is similar to that shown in FIG. 19, the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

This example differs from the example shown in FIG. 19 in that the magnet assembly 74 for restricting the movement of the hammer or the key is used.
Is attached to the fixed portion by the springs 77 and 78 so as to be swingable even when a key is pressed.

In this way, since the braking force is weak at the time of lightly pressing and releasing the key, the magnet assembly 74 is hardly driven to follow, and at the time of moderate pressing and releasing, the magnet assembly 74 has spring 7.
It follows and drives according to the swing of the brake plate against 7,78.

In other words, a medium touch gives a softer touch than that shown in FIG.

When the key is pressed hard, the magnetic assembly 74 abuts on the cushioning material 72f, so that the touch feeling becomes non-linear, and the touch feeling is responsive.

Since the springs 77 and 78 are positively used in this way,
It is better to use a slightly stronger spring than the one shown.
Further, it is preferable that the magnet is stronger than that shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 shows an example of the touch-feeling varying member in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, in which the braking force due to the eddy current hardly acts when the key is released, as in the above-mentioned example.

In this touch-feeling varying member 82, the magnet assembly 74 is attached to the upper portion of each support piece 82b so as to be rotatable within a predetermined range by a shaft 86, and a spring receiving portion 82e having a cushioning material 72f is added to an intermediate portion. Projection, Magnet assembly 7
A compression spring 87 is attached between the bottom surface of the yoke 4 and the support piece 82b.
The upper surface of the yoke of the magnet assembly 74 is lightly brought into contact with the stopper portion 82c protruding from the upper end of the.

Therefore, if the magnet assembly 74, the touch feeling varying member 82, etc. are used instead of the magnet 61, touch feeling varying member 62, etc. in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. The aluminum plate 60 together with 45 rises in the magnetic field gap in the magnet assembly 74 to generate an eddy current, but the magnet assembly 74 is a stopper part.
Since it is in contact with 82c, it cannot rotate upward, and the aluminum plate 6
The braking force acts on the rise of 0.

Therefore, an appropriate resistance feeling (touch feeling) can be obtained on the finger pressing the key 41 according to the strength of the touch.

However, when the key 41 and the hammer 45 return when releasing the key,
As the aluminum plate 60 descends, the magnet assembly 74 is moved to the aluminum plate 60 by the action of the eddy current generated at that time.
Since the compression spring 87 is rotated downward while following the above, the braking action with respect to the lowering of the aluminum plate 60 hardly acts.

Therefore, the key can be returned quickly, and a fast trill performance can be performed easily.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 16 to 21, the fixed part such as the key frame is adapted to be able to follow the operation of the movable part such as the key or the hammer. Is fixed as shown in FIG. 1 (a) (first embodiment) or FIG. 10 (fifth embodiment), and the brake plate (aluminum plate) of the movable part is pressed and pressed. You may make it rockable with respect to the fixed part which is relatively displaced at the time of return.

Embodiments using electromagnets The magnet 21 or 61 or the magnet assembly 74 in each of the above-described embodiments may be replaced with an electromagnet so that the touch feeling can be electrically controlled.

An example of the electromagnet in that case is shown in FIG.

The electromagnet 94 includes a yoke 95 made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron and a coil 96 wound around the yoke 95. The electromagnet 94 is fitted and held between a pair of holding pieces 93a and 93b of a resin-made electromagnet mounting member 93, and between the magnetic poles thereof. The aluminum plate attached to the key or the hammer in each of the above-described embodiments is fixed in the gap 94a so that it can be relatively displaced.

As shown in FIG. 23, the yoke 95 has a U-shaped main body 95a.
The coil winding portion 95b having a T-shape protruding from one of the inner surfaces parallel to each other and the coil 96 is wound in multiple layers on the coil winding portion 95b via insulating paper (not shown).

By using such an electromagnet 94 and controlling the exciting current flowing through the coil 96 by an exciting current control circuit (not shown), the touch feeling at the time of key depression can be arbitrarily changed.

Therefore, in this case, the touch feeling varying member for mechanically changing the position of the electromagnet is not necessary.

Further, it is possible to detect the position information of the key within the key-depression stroke and to control the excitation current of the electromagnet 94 in the feed back according to the position information.

24 and 25 show different examples of the yoke in which the sensor of the key position information detecting means for that purpose is embedded.

The yoke 95 'shown in FIG. 24 has one reflection type photo sensor 97 embedded in the center of the magnetic pole surface of the coil winding portion 95b'.

An electromagnet in which a coil 96 is wound around 95 'is used for this yoke, and the surface of the aluminum plate 90, which is attached to a key or a hammer and is inserted into the gap 94a, on the side facing the reflective photo sensor 97 is shown in FIG. If a striped pattern 90p having a constant pitch is formed in the displacement direction as shown in the figure, the braking means and the key position information detecting means can serve as both.

That is, when the aluminum plate 90 descends or rises in the gap 94a due to the displacement of the key or hammer during key depression and key release, the photo sensor 97 outputs a pulse signal every time the striped pattern 90p moves by one pitch. Is output, it is possible to control the braking force due to the eddy current, that is, the touch feeling, by feedback feedback using the position information as the key position information.

An example of the control will be described later.

In the example shown in FIG. 25, the coil winding portion 95 in the yoke 95 ′ is
A pair of reflection type photosensors 97A and 97B are embedded in the magnetic pole surface b'at intervals in the width direction of the aluminum plate 90.

Using an electromagnet with a coil 96 wound around this yoke 95 ',
As shown in FIG. 27, two sets of striped patterns 90a, 90b are formed on the surface of the aluminum plate 90 opposite to the reflection type photo sensors 97A, 97B by shifting the phases by 1/2 pitch in the displacement direction. If so, the braking means, the key position information detecting means, and the key moving direction detection can be combined.

An example of its use will be described later.

Exciting current control means Next, using the aluminum plate 90 on which the striped pattern of the electromagnet 94 having the photo sensor as described above is formed, the exciting current control means for controlling the touch feeling according to the key stroke. Will be described.

First, referring to FIGS. 28 to 30, the electromagnet in which one photo sensor 97 is embedded in the yoke 95 'shown in FIG.
An example of using the aluminum plate 90 shown in the figure will be described.

The excitation current control means shown in FIG. 28 is a counter 100 that inputs and counts the pulse signal output from the photo sensor 97 by the displacement of the aluminum plate 90, the count value (corresponding to the key position) and the touch response. Universal keypress mode control means 101 (details will be described later) which is controlled by a differential key-on signal for controlling a tone signal by a switch output and resets the counter 100 so as not to contradict any keypress mode. And a memory (ROM) 102 that stores a data table for setting the exciting current according to the count value of the counter 100, and the data read from the memory 102 is D / A converted and output as an analog exciting signal. It is configured by a D / A converter 103 and an amplifier 104 that amplifies the excitation signal and supplies an excitation current to the coil of the electromagnet 94.

As shown in FIG. 29, the universal key-pressing mode control means 101 has a DQ flip-flop DQ which is a one-bit delay circuit controlled by a high-speed pulse φ with the output of the counter 100 as one input and the count output as an input. Is used as the other input, and a comparison circuit EQ for detecting changes in both inputs, and a non-coincidence signal A ≠ that is output when both inputs do not match.
Retriggerable monostable multivibrator RMM with B as input, falling differential circuit DIF that generates a differential signal when the output of this RMM falls, and the key-on signal KON or similar set by the output of this DIF It is composed of an RS flip-flop circuit RSFF reset by a signal.

With this configuration, the counter 100 is stepped up as the key is pushed, and every time the counter is stepped up, the change is detected from the comparison circuit EQ as A ≠ B, and once A ≠ B.
If the time interval from the detection of a to the detection of the next A ≠ B is short, a retriggerable monostable
The multivibrator RMM is retriggered and does not detect its falling signal by the differentiating circuit DIF.

However, when the key hits the lower limit stop or when the key is stopped halfway, the time interval becomes long or becomes infinite (while the key is pressed).
A differentiating circuit DIF generates a falling signal, which causes RS
Reset the counter 100 via the flip-flop circuit RSFF.

Since the RS flip-flop circuit RSFF remains reset during key pressing, the output of the differential circuit DIF is used when the key is released from the lower limit stopper or when the key is released after half-pressing when playing a fast passage quickly. RS flip-flop circuit RSFF
Is set and the counter 100 remains reset, so no braking force is applied.

Then, at the next key-on, the RS flip-flop circuit RS
The FF is reset and the counter 100 is released from the reset, so that the count up is performed again according to the subsequent key depression.

According to this embodiment, the aluminum plate 90 attached to the key or hammer descends in accordance with the key depression operation, and the photo sensor 97 of FIG. 28 detects the striped pattern 90p and detects the number of stripes corresponding to the displacement amount. A pulse signal is generated and input to the counter 100.

The counter 100 counts the pulse signal, inputs the count output to the address terminal of the memory 102, sequentially reads the exciting current setting data corresponding to the count value, and the D / A converter 103 converts the data into analog signals. It is converted into an excitation signal and output to the amplifier 104.

The amplifier 104 amplifies the excitation signal, applies a magnetic current to the coil of the electromagnet 94, magnetizes the yoke 95 '(Fig. 24), and the strength corresponding to the excitation signal is generated in the gap where the aluminum plate 90 is displaced. Generate a magnetic field.

As a result, an eddy current is generated in the aluminum plate 90 according to the strength of the magnetization and the displacement speed, and a braking force that prevents the displacement acts.

This braking force sequentially changes as the count of pulse signals from the photo sensor 97 by the counter 100 progresses in the process of key depression.

In this way, the feedback feedback control of the touch feeling according to the key position within the key depression stroke is performed.

In this case, the relationship between the amount of displacement of the key 1 and the generated braking force (reaction force against key depression) can be made proportional as shown in FIG. 30 (a) or as shown in FIG. 30 (b). As described above, it is possible to obtain a characteristic close to that of a piano touch that increases in the initial stage of key depression and decreases in the middle period, or set any other touch curve characteristic.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, some dead zones s ₁ and s ₂ are provided at the beginning and the end of the key depression stroke, and data of almost “0” is put in the address of that position of the memory 102. Then, if the player does not press the key due to his will, but is touched lightly, or if there is a derivative vibration to a large number of keys that are not pressed when the key is pressed hard, the exciting current will flow to the electromagnet. In addition to eliminating such a situation, the exciting current does not flow even when the key is pressed all the way down, so that power saving can be achieved.

Such various types of touch curve data may be stored in the memory 102 as a data table. If the memories storing the various data tables are used by switching or by exchanging the memories, various types of musical instruments can be stored. It is possible to selectively obtain an operation feeling similar to the key operation feeling.

Also, by making the memory 102 into RAM instead of ROM,
It is also possible to rewrite the curve of the data table at any time, and thereby it is possible to obtain the touch feeling desired by the user.

Furthermore, in the universal key depression mode control means 101 of this embodiment, when the key depression is stopped during the key depression, that is, when the lower limit stopper is hit or the key is half depressed and the key depression is stopped in the middle, the key is depressed again. Considering that the braking force does not work unless the key is locked and the key is released quickly.

However, as a reset input of the RS flip-flop circuit RSFF, a signal that outputs "1" is taken in when the key is below the slightly depressed position (zero output when it exceeds this), and the KON signal is output at the depressed position. If it occurs, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-
No. 36882, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-217090, and Japanese Patent Application No. 1-333340), when playing a fast passage or playing a trill, etc. Since you can play without braking (only the first key press will be applied), you can play faster.

Next, an example in which an electromagnet having a pair of photosensors embedded in the yoke 95 'shown in FIG. 25 and the aluminum plate 90 shown in FIG. 27 is used will be described.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an example of the exciting current control means.

This exciting current control means includes an up / down counter 110 for counting the pulse signal A output from one photo sensor 97A shown in FIG.
The pulse signal B output from the photo sensor 97B to the terminal
Is input to the φ terminal, and a direction discrimination signal U / D is output from the / Q (which means inversion of Q) terminal, a D-flip flip (hereinafter referred to as “D-FF”) 111, and an up / down counter 110. Memory (RAM) 112 whose count output is input to an address terminal, a D / A converter 113 for converting data read from a data table stored in the memory into an analog excitation signal, and a memory 112. And a writing circuit 114 for writing table data from various memory cards 115.

The excitation signal from the D / A converter 113 is amplified and the electromagnet 94
An amplifier that sends an exciting current to (the same as the amplifier 104 in Fig. 28)
Are not shown.

According to the excitation current control means configured in this manner, when the aluminum plate 90 is lowered or raised along with the movement of the key or the hammer during key depression and key release, from the photo sensors 97A and 97B shown in FIG. 25, When the waveform is shaped, as shown in FIG. 32, rectangular wave pulse signals A and B having phases shifted from each other by 90 ° (1/4 cycle) are obtained.

In addition, when the key is pressed, the pulse train A is 90 times faster than the pulse train B.
Striped patterns 90a and 90b are formed on the aluminum plate 90 shown in FIG. 27 so as to be in the advanced phase.

Therefore, the D-FF 113, which has the function of discriminating the direction, is D at the rising edge of the pulse signal B input to the φ terminal when the key is pressed.
Since the pulse signal A input to the terminal is "1",
Set the direction discrimination signal U / D output from the / Q terminal to "0", and when releasing the key (when returning the key), the pulse signal A input to the D terminal at the rising time of the pulse signal B input to the φ terminal "0"
The direction discrimination signal U / output from the / Q terminal
Set D to “1”.

The direction discrimination signal U / D is input to the up / down switching terminal U / D of the up / down counter 110, and when the direction discrimination signal U / D is "0", the pulse signal A input to the clock terminal CK is up-counted. However, when it is “1”, it counts down.

When the key is pressed, the direction discrimination signal U / D from the D-FF111 becomes "0", so the up / down counter 110 outputs the pulse signal A.
Is counted up and the count value is sequentially stored in the memory 112.
Input to the address terminal of, read out the excitation table data stored there, and use that data for D / A converter 1
It is converted into an analog excitation signal by 13 and output.

This exciting signal is amplified by an amplifier as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 28, and an exciting current is passed through the coil of the electromagnet 94.

After that, when the finger is released from the key, the moving directions of the key and the hammer are reversed and the aluminum plate 90 also starts moving in the returning direction.
The direction determination signal U / D from the FF 111 becomes "1", and the up / down counter 110 down-counts the pulse signal A.

Then, when the key is completely restored, a key-off signal is input, and the up / down counter 110 is reset.

Here, the reset signal to the up / down counter 110 is unnecessary as long as the entire apparatus of this embodiment operates in an ideal state, but some mechanical or electrical abnormal operation, For example, the value of the up / down counter 110 may not become zero when the key is returned due to the pulse signals from the photo sensors 97A and 97B dropping when the key is pressed or released, or when a voltage drop occurs. However, the up / down counter 110 will operate normally from the next keypress.
Is designed so that the input will work.

Then, in accordance with the count value of the up / down counter 110, data can be sequentially read from the memory 112 so that the characteristic at the time of key depression can be reversed even when the key is restored, and the exciting current of the electromagnet 94 can be changed. .

Therefore, during the return of the key 10, the braking action by the eddy current works similarly to the case where the key is pressed.

Further, when the data is read from an area different from the address used when the key is pressed when releasing the key, a touch feeling (resistive feeling) can be provided with hysteresis between the key pressing and the key releasing like a piano. it can.

When the key is released, the exciting current can be reduced to weaken the braking action due to the eddy current, and the key can be returned quickly.

Further, according to this embodiment, as the memory card 115 (which may be a ROM pack or a RAM pack), for example, a piano,
If you prepare table data of braking force for key displacement (or position) that imitates the touch feeling of various keyboard instruments such as electronic piano, organ, pipe organ, electronic organ, chienbaro, etc., you can select them. Then, by writing the table data in the memory 112, which is a RAM, by the writing circuit 114, it is possible to perform with a key touch feeling similar to that of an arbitrary keyboard instrument.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the exciting current control means is partially modified so that the braking force due to the eddy current does not act when the key is released.

The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 31 is that D
-Direction determination signal U / D output from FF111 is input to up / down counter 110 via OR circuit 116 together with key-off signal.
It is the only point that input is made to the reset terminal of.

By doing so, the direction discrimination signal U / D continues to be "1" at the time of releasing the key (returning the key), so that the up / down counter 110 is maintained in the reset state and its count output, that is, the address designation of the memory 112 is performed. Remains at "0", the excitation signal is not output and the excitation current cannot flow to the electromagnet.

Therefore, when the key is released, the braking force due to the eddy current does not act, and the key returns quickly, which facilitates quick trill performance.

Incidentally, instead of resetting the up / down counter 110 when the direction discriminating signal U / D becomes "1", the memory 112 may be set to the reading prohibited state.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 33, for example, the data in the memory 112 may be any of the data shown in FIGS. 30 (a) to 30 (c). Considering the case where the depressed position of the key is displaced from P ₀ to P ₂ and then returned to P ₁ and pressed again to P ₂ and this repeated operation is performed, the braking force is F ₀ → F ₂ → (F ₀ ) → F ₁ ′ → F ₀ → F ₁ ′…
… Will be. Here, the meaning of (F ₀ ) is to return from P ₂
Indicates that it becomes F ₀ .

PE is the most pressed position of the key. U / D counter 110
Is down to the bottom of zero and not shifted to the top.

As can be seen from this description, when using only a part of the full stroke of the key when playing a fast passage such as a trill performance, the braking force becomes lighter than in the case of full stroke key depression,
Has the effect of being easy to play.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing only the essential parts of the embodiment in which the touch feeling of the key is changed according to the selection of the tone color.

In this embodiment, the touch feeling of each keyboard instrument is associated with various timbres which can be selected in advance by the timbre selection switch 117, for example, timbres of piano, electronic piano, organ, pipe organ, electronic organ, chienbaro, etc. The touch curve data simulating the above is stored in the RAM 118.

Then, when a specific tone color is selected by the tone color selection switch 117, the touch curve data corresponding to the selected tone color of the RAM 118 is designated and read by the select data, and at the same time, the OR circuit 119 The same memory 112 as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 33 is made writable.

Accordingly, the touch curve data in the memory 112 is stored in the RAM.
Rewrite to the data read from 118.

By doing so, it is possible to always obtain a key touch feeling that matches the selected tone color.

Further, in addition to the selection of the touch curve data according to the selection of the tone color, the position of the electromagnet conductor (aluminum plate or the like) with respect to the displacement path is moved by an electric mechanism as in the case of the embodiment using the permanent magnet. It may be controlled.

Although the braking plate is made of an aluminum plate in all of the above-described embodiments, the braking plate is not limited to this and may be any conductor such as metal.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, in the keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument, it is possible to obtain a touch feeling with a wide dynamic range according to the key pressing speed.

Therefore, when the key is lightly pressed, the touch is light, and when the key is strongly pressed, the touch pressure is large, and the touch is as responsive as a piano, which is a natural musical instrument.

Further, it is possible to arbitrarily change the touch pressure for the key depression stroke.

In addition, the touch is light at the beginning and / or end of the key depression, and the braking force is generated in the middle part of the key depression stole, so that a touch feeling similar to the click feeling by the hammer action mechanism of the piano can be obtained. You can do it, and when you press the key weakly, the click feeling disappears.

It is also possible to prevent the braking force from effectively acting when the key is released, and as a result, the return of the key becomes faster, which facilitates quick trill performance and the like.

Also, by detecting the position information of the key within the key depression stroke,
If the excitation current of the electromagnet is feedback-controlled according to the position information, the touch pressure according to the position of the key can be accurately controlled.

Further, it is possible to select and obtain a touch feeling of a touch curve set in advance or a touch curve suitable for a timbre.

Furthermore, it is possible to speed up the return of the keys when releasing the keys, which makes it easier to play quickly. In some cases, it is possible to play weakly and quickly.

If the present invention is applied to a keyboard device having a hammer (mass body) interlocking with each key, a sufficient touch feeling can be obtained even if the mass of the hammer is reduced, so that the hammer can be lightened. In addition, the strength of the supporting member can be reduced, and the keyboard device as a whole can be made lighter and inexpensive.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (a) is a sectional view of the white key portion of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 2 taken along the longitudinal direction of the key, FIG. 1 (b) is a partial plan view of the key return leaf spring, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument according to a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of an electronic musical instrument equipped with the keyboard device, and FIG. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are perspective views and side views of the magnet in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a rear view of the braking force varying means of the first embodiment, and FIG. FIGS. 11 to 11 are sectional views taken along the longitudinal direction of the key similar to FIG. 1 of the second to sixth embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 12 and 13 show other differences of the braking plate (aluminum plate). FIG. 14 shows a mounting example, FIG. 14 is a rear view showing a different example of the braking means, particularly on the touch-feeling varying member side, and FIG. 15 is its magnet assembly. FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of a magnet assembly mounting member having a rim mounted thereon. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing still another example of the braking means, and FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the relationship between the magnet assembly and an aluminum plate. FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b) are side views showing the states when the keys are pressed and released, FIGS. 19 to 21 are side views showing other different modifications of the braking means, and FIG. A perspective view similar to FIG. 15 showing an example in which an electromagnet is used as a magnetic field generating member, FIGS. 23 to 25 are sectional views showing different examples of the same yoke, and FIGS. Fig. 25 is a side view of an aluminum plate used in combination with an electromagnet using a yoke having a photo sensor shown in Fig. 25, Fig. 28 is a block diagram showing an example of excitation current control means, and Fig. 29 is its universal key press. Block diagrams showing details of the mode control means 101, FIGS. 30 (a), (b) ( c) is a diagram showing different characteristic examples of the touch curve data stored in the memory 102 in FIG. 28, FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing another example of the excitation current control means, and FIG. 32 is FIG. 25. FIG. 33 is a waveform diagram showing the pulse signals output from the photo sensors 97A and 97B by comparing their phases, FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing an example in which the excitation current control means of FIG. 31 is partially modified, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows only the principal part of the further another example of a current control means. 1,41 …… White key (key), 1 ′, 41 ′ …… Black key 2,42 …… Keyboard frame 5,45 …… Hammer (mass body) 6,46 …… Leaf spring, 11,51 …… Key switch 20,20A, 20B, 20C, 40,60,70,90 …… Aluminum plate (conductor) 21,61,71 …… Magnet (magnetic field generating member) 22,62,72,82 …… Adjustable touch feeling Member 23 …… Axis, 24,64 …… Operating lever 25 …… Spacing member, 66,67 …… Brake plate 73 …… Magnet assembly mounting member 74 …… Magnet assembly 75,95,95 ′… … Yoke 77,78,87 …… Compression spring 93 …… Electromagnet mounting member, 94 …… Electromagnet 97,97A, 97B …… Reflective photo sensor 96 …… Coil, 100 …… Counter 101 …… Universal key press mode control means 102,112 …… Memory (RAM) 103,113 …… D / A converter, 104 …… Amplifier 110 …… Up / down counter 111 …… D-flip flop (direction discrimination circuit) 114 …… Writing circuit, 115 …… Memory card 117 …… Sound selection Switch 118 ...... data Tutsi curve data for RAM

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic field generating member, comprising: a key supporting member; a key rotatably arranged on the key supporting member via a fulcrum portion; and a braking means including a magnetic field generating member and a conductor. One of the member and the conductor is attached to the key support member, and the other is attached to the key or a key interlocking member that is displaced in conjunction with the key, and the magnetic field generating member and the conductor are opposed to each other on their opposing surfaces. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, wherein the keyboard device is arranged so as to be relatively displaceable along the direction. 2. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising braking force varying means for varying a braking force of the braking means. 3. The keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposing areas of the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor partially change from the beginning to the end of the key depression stroke. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, characterized in that it is arranged so as to be zero or zero. 4. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one of the magnetic field generating member of the braking means and the conductor is used for relative displacement in the other key pressing direction. A keyboard device for electronic musical instruments, which is mounted so that it cannot follow and can follow relative displacement in the key return direction. 5. A key supporting member, a key rotatably arranged on the key supporting member via a fulcrum, and a braking means including an electromagnet and a conductor, the electromagnet and the conductor. One of the above to the key support member,
The other is attached to the key or a key interlocking member that is displaced in conjunction with the key, and the magnetic pole of the electromagnet and the conductor are disposed so as to be relatively displaceable in the direction along the opposing surface, and the electromagnet A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, comprising an exciting current control means for changing an exciting current. 6. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a key position detecting means for detecting position information of a key within a key depression stroke, the position information being detected by the means. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, characterized in that the exciting current control means controls the exciting current of the electromagnet by feedback control. 7. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the exciting current control means has a memory for storing touch curve data in which a correspondence relationship between a key position and a braking force to be generated is preset. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, characterized in that the amount of feedback back is changed according to the position information detected by the key position detecting means in accordance with the data in the memory. 8. A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 7, further comprising means for storing different touch curve data in the memory corresponding to selection of a tone color. 9. The keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the exciting current control means reduces or eliminates the exciting current of the electromagnet when the key is returned. Electronic musical instrument keyboard device.