KR20090010080A - Foldable electronic piano with means to make the keyboard stiff - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable folding electronic piano comprising several modules (10, 12, 14, 16) consisting of a set of keys that can reproduce the musical notes of a piano with the aid of an associated electronic system. The invention also comprises stiffening means for rendering same rigid, which can occupy two positions after the modules have been unfolded to form a keyboard, namely a first position in which the keyboard can be folded and a second position in which the keyboard is rigid.

Description

Foldable electronic piano with means to make the keyboard stiff}

The present invention relates to an electronic piano, and more particularly to a folding electronic piano having a means for imparting rigidity to the keyboard.

Pianos, unlike most instruments, such as string instruments, which can be easily transported by a player in a conventional case, are instruments that are difficult or impossible for a pianist to carry.

Conventional electronic keyboards are easier to carry than pianos, but are not foldable, so they have a fairly large volume when the electronic keyboard exceeds five octaves.

A keyboard of a foldable piano that can be easily carried is disclosed in EP 0858649. The keyboard consists of several modules connected to each other by a flexible membrane, each module replacing a set of keys of the piano with a set of keys formed to be slightly raised. The keyboard, which can contain up to seven octaves, is the size of a book when folded and the size of a real piano when opened. However, the keyboard disclosed in EP 0858649 makes no reference to the means for making the keyboard rigid.

In fact, the keyboard mentioned above needs to be placed on a rigid surface, such as a table, to give the player the stiffness to play in the same way as a real piano. That is, the keyboard does not include a means for making the modules rigid when deployed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic piano that is foldable, easily transportable, and has a means to impart rigidity when deployed. U. S. Patent No. 6174097 mainly discloses an electronic piano which does not impart stiffness but mainly has means for locking various modules of the keyboard.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an electronic piano composed of a plurality of modules consisting of a set of keys that are collapsible, portable, and capable of reproducing the sound of a real piano by a connected electronic device. Connected to each other through flexible membranes that can withstand working, the electronic piano is folded and unfolded, and the folded modules have the volume of a book and, when unfolded, make up the keyboard of a real piano. In addition, the electronic piano has stiffening means (means for giving stiffness), which is in two positions when the modules are folded to form a keyboard, the first position being able to fold the keyboard. And the second position makes the keyboard rigid.

The objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a folding piano according to the invention when folded,

FIG. 2 shows the piano of FIG. 1 with the piano of FIG. 1 fully deployed, ready to be used by a pianist, FIG.

3 is a cross sectional view of a keyboard showing support of a key suitable for including rigid means in accordance with the present invention;

4A and 4B show a female dovetail portion of a key support and a male dovetail portion suitable for slide insertion into a female dovetail portion, respectively;

5A and 5B show a state in which the keyboard of the folding piano having the arm dovetail portion of FIG. 4B is in a foldable position and a state in which the keyboard is provided with rigidity, respectively.

6A and 6B show schematic views of two adjacent modules, each in a folded position and in a deployed position where a hook coupled to one module is inserted and unfolded into a hole in another module.

EP 0858649 discloses a folding piano, in which the main features of the invention, for example rigid means, can be disclosed. Such a piano consists mainly of a keyboard.

As shown in Figure 1, the piano is composed of four modules (10, 12, 14, 16). However, the piano may consist of four or more modules with shorter modules. It should be noted that the modules 12 and 16 have one more black key and are thus longer than the modules 10 and 14.

The modules are connected to each other via a flexible membrane, such as a rubber or latex membrane, capable of withstanding material working. When the keyboard is deployed and reinforced by the stiffness means described later, it looks like that shown in FIG. It should be noted that because of the rigid means, the user does not need to place the keyboard on a rigid surface, but can place the keyboard on any support for this purpose.

The contactor used to sense the contact of the key may be an ink type (printed), condenser, resistive or piezoelectric contact member. Pressing a key on the keyboard with one finger will not produce sound, only when the key is hit, it can produce a sound. It should be noted that by means of piezoelectric connecting members, the variable mechanical energy induces a correlated current which can produce various nuances.

Each key strike generates a signal that is passed to a wired logic circuit controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) located in one of the modules. The electronic circuit is powered via a power plug by a battery or a transformer. In this way, the sounds to be reproduced are desilized sounds from actual piano sounds recorded on the memory chip. It should be noted that the sounds may be reproduced by a synthesizer that may reproduce multiple sounds by other instruments.

Referring to FIG. 3, the entire key set consisting of the white key 18 and the black key 20 is disposed on a rigid plastic support 22. One latex layer 24 is located between the keys 18 and 20 and the support 22 to cushion the touch of the keys.

The keyboard support 22 includes a hollow dovetail member 26 shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in Fig. 4A, the supports 22 actually correspond to modules 11, 12, 14, 16, respectively, and have four independent supports 22-1, 22-2, 22 having the same length as the module. -3, 22-4). The male dovetail member 28 is coupled to the female dovetail member 26, as shown in FIG. 4B. The male dovetail member 28, which is made of a rigid plastic material such as polycarbonate, is precisely slidably inserted into the female dovetail member 26 to be engaged. In the same way with respect to the support 22, the male dovetail member 28 has four independent male dovetail portions 28-1, 28-2, 28-3, 28-4, each corresponding to four keyboard modules, respectively. It consists of. Two adjacent dovetail portions are connected to each other by a flexible line that allows for easy folding without disturbing the connection between the dovetail portions. These lines are elastic so that adjacent dovetail portions connect directly when the keyboard is unfolded for use.

Referring to FIG. 5A, which shows an unfolded keyboard, the four male dovetail portions of the male dovetail member used for rigidity do not have the same length. The male dovetail portions of 28-1, 28-2 and 28-3 have the same length as the modules of 10, 12, 14 and 16, respectively, but the male dovetail portions of 28-4 have a shorter length than the 16 modules. By doing so, in the keyboard shown in Fig. 5, the male dovetail portions of 28-1, 28-2, and 28-3 are completely superimposed on the modules 10, 12, 14. The links (not shown) between the male dovetail portions of 28-1 and 28-2 are arranged to face the flexible membrane 30 connecting the modules of 10 and 12, and the male dovetail portions of 28-2 and 28-3. The links between are arranged to face the flexible membrane 32 connecting the modules 12 and 14, and the link between the male dovetail portions of 28-3 and 28-4 connects the flexible membrane connecting the modules 14 and 16. 34) are arranged to face. Therefore, by the above configuration, the keyboard can be folded for easy transport.

The easily gripped string 36 is bound to the end of the 28-1 male dovetail portion of the rigid structure, and the string 38 is bound to the end of the 28-4 male dovetail portion of the rigid structure. By doing so, a user who wants to fold the keyboard is likely to hold the string 36 to position the rigid structure in the position shown in FIG. 5A.

When the keyboard is unfolded, the user holds the keyboard in the rigid position by pulling the string 38 to place the male stiffening structure in the position shown in FIG. 5B. This means that the ends of the male dovetail portions of 8-4 are positioned to overlap the outer edge of the module of 16. By doing so, the links between the male dovetail portions of 28-1 and 28-2, and between the 28-2 and 28-3 male dovetail portions do not overlap with any of the flexible membranes 30, 32, 34, respectively, As a result, the keyboard is prevented from being folded.

Since the length of the male dovetail portion at the right end is shorter than the length of the corresponding module 16, the male structure 28 has either end of the keyboard in the first position where the keyboard can be folded or in the second position where the keyboard exerts rigidity. It is not caught on the tip.

If the keyboard has a different number of modules than four, for example n modules, then the number of parts of adjacent male dovetail members having the same length as that of the corresponding module is n-1, only nth Only the male dovetail member is shorter than the module.

By using a flexible membrane connecting two adjacent modules, the modules are not aligned and, as a result, there can be a gap between the keys of the two modules, which is somewhat disturbing to the user, and also a male stiffening structure. ) May not be moved, as described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. To prevent this from happening, a module with a mechanism as depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B can be installed. A module located on the left side, such as module 10, includes one or two hooks, such as hook 40, located on either side of the arm rigid structure. When the keyboard is unfolded, the end of module 10 is in direct contact with the end of adjacent module 12. During this process, the hook 40 is inserted into the hole 42 of the module 12 provided for complete adjustment of both modules. This hook-hole combination is present in modules 12 and 14, and also in modules 14 and 16.

According to another feature of the invention, the folding piano according to the invention may comprise a pair of pedals which can be connected when the user wishes to use the piano. When playing, the right pedal provides the function that is common to all pianos, such as keeping the sound of a key or the sound of a group of keys longer. When playing, the left pedal has a function of reproducing a special function including buffering a played note or amplifying an acoustic signal of the played keys. Such a piano is useful when using a no dynamic keyboard. Both of these connected pedals include a piezoelectric stress gauge sensor, meaning that the pressure applied to the sensor causes a geometrical deformation that changes the resistance characteristics.

The change in resistance of the sensor of the stress gauge produced by the above mentioned stepping pressure is correlated and sends the measured analog signal to an amplifier connected to the electronic circuitry of the keyboard. As a result, the operation of the left pedal causes a change in the volume played so that the nuances of the performance are inspired. The higher pressure you put on the pedal, the louder the volume will play. This function can be reversed, maximizing the initial value of Fortissimo and gradually decreasing as the pressure applied to the pedals is applied.

Although not shown, the pedal mechanism using the stress gauge sensor can be assembled in a small volume having a rectangular shape so that the keyboard can be inserted into one side of the hole of the support 22 when the keyboard is folded.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the above-described pedal mechanism is electrically connected to the keyboard by a short range wireless connection.

Claims (8)

Foldable portable electronic piano consisting of a plurality of modules (10, 12, 14, 16) consisting of a set of keys capable of reproducing the sound of a real piano through an associated electronic device, which supports material processing and contacts the electronic piano. In the folding electronic piano, which is connected to each other through flexible membranes 30, 32, and 34, which are opened and unfolded, the folded modules have the volume of a book and, when unfolded, form a keyboard of a real piano. The modules further comprise rigid means that may have two positions after the modules are deployed to make a keyboard, a first of the two positions causing the keyboard to be folded and a second position to impart rigidity of the keyboard. Folding electronic piano, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, And a keyboard support 22 positioned below the module 10, 12, 14, 16, wherein the rigid means is an arm dovetail member 26 and the arm dovetail member 26 formed as part of the keyboard support. A plurality of rigid portions 28-1 and 28-2 having a male dovetail member 28 which is slid into the interior of the module and is connected to each other by a flexible line equal to the number of modules. , 28-3, 28-4, wherein the links between the rigid portions in the first position exactly coincide with the membranes 30, 32, 34 between the modules, and wherein the rigid portions have moved And wherein in a second position the link between the rigid portions does not coincide with the membrane to impart rigidity to the keyboard. The method of claim 2, n modules (10, 12, 14, 16), each male dovetail member 28 of the module is composed of n-1 adjacent portions (28-1, 28-2, 28-3) The length of these parts is equal to the length of the corresponding modules 10, 12, 14, and the other part 28-4 is shorter than the length of the corresponding module 16 located at the end of the male dovetail member. And having a length so that the male dovetail member is not caught at each end of the keyboard in the first and second positions. The method of claim 3, Each portion 28-1, 28-4 located at the tip of the male dovetail member includes easily grasping strings 36, 38, the string being pulled by the user by pulling one or the other side of the string. And the male dovetail member is moved from the first position to the second position or vice versa. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And a pedal mechanism coupled to the piezoelectric stress gauge sensor, wherein the stress gauge sensor transmits a corresponding correlated analog signal to an amplifier connected to the associated electronics of the keyboard to reproduce the effect of the pedal by the stepping pressure. Folding electronic piano characterized in that. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A piezoelectric stress gauge sensor coupled to the pedal, wherein the sensor connects a corresponding correlated analog signal to the associated electronics of the keyboard to amplify the acoustic signal of the played key, which is dependent on the pressure of the pedal under stepping pressure. Folding electronic piano, characterized in that the transmission to the amplifier. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A foldable electronic piano further comprising a pedal mechanism using a stress gauge sensor connected to an associated electronics of the keyboard by a near field wireless connection. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The pedal mechanism is a folding electronic piano, characterized in that the keyboard is integrated in a small volume in a rectangular shape so that the slide can be inserted into the hole of one side of the support 22 when folded.

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