Keyboard device

Abstract

To produce sound in a keyboard device by a method different from a traditional method.SOLUTION: A keyboard device 1 according to an embodiment includes: a support body 50; a plurality of rod-like sounding bodies 30 which is swingably suspended from the support body 50 via string-shaped members 40 and includes at least a first sounding body and a second sounding body whose natural frequency differs from the first sounding body; a plurality of swingable keys 10 including a first key and a second key; and a plurality of striking parts 20 including a first striking part for striking the first sounding body by rotating in response to operation of the first key and a second striking part for striking the second striking body by rotating in response to operation of the second key.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a keyboard device. [Background technology]

[0002] Musical instruments using keyboard devices have various sound producing bodies depending on the type of instrument. The sound producing body is struck, for example, by a hammer linked to a key. Such sound producing bodies are, for example, strings, sound bars, or sound tubes. Sound producing bodies are generally structured such that both ends are supported. Small keyboard instruments such as toy pianos generally employ sound producing bodies that are supported at both ends (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-169705 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One of the objects of the present invention is to produce sound in a keyboard device in a manner different from the conventional method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In one embodiment, the keyboard device includes a support body, a plurality of rod-shaped sound producing bodies suspended swingably from the support body via a thread-like member, the plurality of sound producing bodies including at least a first sound producing body and a second sound producing body having a different natural frequency from the first sound producing body, a plurality of keys that are swingable, the plurality of keys including a first key and a second key, and a plurality of striking sections, the plurality of keys including a first striking section that rotates in response to the operation of the first key to strike the first sound producing body, and a second striking section that rotates in response to the operation of the second key to strike the second sound producing body. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to generate sound in a keyboard device in a manner different from that of the conventional method. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a keyboard device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a keyboard device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a sound generating body in one embodiment. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a key and a striking part in one embodiment. [Diagram 5] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a key and a striking part in one embodiment. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the keyboard device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the keyboard device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a sound generating body in a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A keyboard device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely examples, and the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referred to in this embodiment, identical parts or parts having similar functions are given the same or similar symbols (symbols consisting of only a number followed by A, B, etc.), and repeated explanations may be omitted. Also, for convenience of explanation, the dimensional ratios in the drawings may differ from the actual ratios, and some components may be omitted from the drawings.

[0009] <Embodiment> The keyboard device in one embodiment includes a sounding body that is struck by a striking section when a key is pressed. In this example, the sounding body is a metal tube that is suspended from a support. Therefore, when the sounding body is struck, it swings and produces sound. The keyboard device will be described in detail below. In the following description, expressions such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" indicate the positional relationship as seen by the player of the keyboard device.

[0010] [1. Configuration of keyboard device 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a keyboard device in one embodiment. The keyboard device 1 includes a plurality of keys 10, a plurality of striking sections 20, a plurality of sound producing bodies 30, and a support body 50. In this example, the keyboard device 1 includes 20 keys 10, including 12 white keys and 8 black keys.

[0011] The keys 10 are arranged on a frame 80 so as to be able to swing. The striking sections 20 are arranged corresponding to each of the keys 10. The sounding bodies 30 are arranged corresponding to each of the striking sections 20. The sounding bodies 30 are suspended from a support 50 so as to be able to swing via thread-like members 40. In this example, the sounding bodies 30 are metal members and rod-shaped sound tubes. The support 50 is fixed to the frame 80. An upper stopper 61 connected to the support 50 will be described later.

[0012] The keyboard device 1 may include a case 90 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) that covers the striking section 20 and the sound generating body 30. The case 90 may include an opening to facilitate the release of sound from the sound generating body 30 to the outside. In this case, the opening may be larger than the portion it covers.

[0013] When referring to a specific key 10, for example the highest key 10, it is referred to as key 10-1. The same applies to the striking portion 20 and sound producing body 30. The striking portion 20 and sound producing body 30 arranged corresponding to key 10-1 are referred to as striking portion 20-1 and sound producing body 30-1, respectively. Figure 1 shows the positional relationship at the time when striking portion 20-1 rotates when key 10-1 is pressed, and strikes sound producing body 30-1.

[0014] Direction D1 is the direction in which the keys 10 are lined up, and corresponds to the direction from the bass side (left side) to the treble side (right side). Direction D2 is the direction in which the keys 10 extend, and corresponds to the direction from the front end (nearby side) to the rear end (deep side) of the keys 10. Direction D3 corresponds to a vertical downward direction. Directions D1 to D3 have the same meaning in all figures.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a keyboard device in one embodiment. FIG. 2 corresponds to an example when the keyboard device 1 is viewed in the direction D3. The multiple sounding bodies 30 are lined up along the direction D1. The multiple keys 10 are lined up in the direction D1 as described above. Therefore, the distance from the front end position WF of a white key (e.g., key 10-1) among the keys 10 to the position EP of the sounding body 30 (e.g., sounding body 30-1) corresponding to that key 10 is the same for the other white keys. In other words, the distance from the front end of the key 10-1 to the sounding body 30-1 is the same as the distance from the front end of the key 10-3 to the sounding body 30-3 and the distance from the front end of the key 10-4 to the sounding body 30-4. The distance from the front end position BF of a black key among the keys 10 to the position EP of the sounding body 30 corresponding to that key 10 is the same for the other black keys.

[0016] [2. Structure of sound generating unit 30] Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the sounding body in one embodiment. Fig. 3 corresponds to an example when the sounding body 30 is viewed in the direction D2. As described above, the sounding body 30 is suspended from the support 50 via the thread-like member 40. As described above, the sounding body 30 is a rod-shaped, cylindrical sound tube, and extends in the vertical direction. The sounding body 30 is connected to the thread-like member 40 and suspended from the support 50. The thread-like member 40 is connected through an opening formed at the upper end of the sounding body 30.

[0017] The lengths of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 are different from one another, and become shorter toward the higher pitch side (direction D1). For example, sound producing body 30-1 is the shortest, and sound producing body 30-4 is the longest. In other words, the multiple sound producing bodies 30 have different natural frequencies from one another, and have higher fundamental frequencies as they move in direction D1. The shape of the sound producing bodies 30 is determined so that they have a fundamental frequency of a pitch according to the corresponding key 10.

[0018] The upper ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 are located higher toward the lower pitch side. For example, the upper end of sound producing body 30-4 is located higher than the upper end UE of sound producing body 30-1. The lower ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 are located lower toward the lower pitch side. For example, the lower end of sound producing body 30-4 is located lower than the lower end LE of sound producing body 30-1.

[0019] Position HP is the position in direction D3 where the sounding body 30 is struck by the striking section 20. In this example, position HP is at the same height for all sounding bodies 30, and is below the center between the upper and lower ends of the sounding bodies 30. Distance RP, which is the length between the central axes of two adjacent sounding bodies 30, is the sum of the widths of 12 consecutive keys 10 (one octave of keys 10) divided by 13. Distance RP is the sum of distance RS, which is the distance between two adjacent sounding bodies 30, and diameter RW of the sounding body 30. Here, distance RP and distance RS are the lengths when the sounding bodies 30 are viewed in direction D2.

[0020] [3. Configuration of the key 10 and the striking part 20] Next, the configuration of the key 10 and the striking part 20 will be described.

[0021] 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the key and the striking part in one embodiment. FIG. 4 corresponds to an example of the key 10 as viewed in the direction D3. In FIG. 4, only a part of the striking part 20 is indicated by a dashed line. FIG. 5 corresponds to an example of the key 10 (white key) and the striking part 20 as viewed in the opposite direction to the direction D1. In FIG. 5, the configuration other than the key 10 and the striking part 20 is also shown. In FIG. 5, the damper 70 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Meanwhile, the damper 70 is a configuration that does not exist in this embodiment. Therefore, the description of the damper 70 is omitted in this embodiment, and will be described in a modified example described later.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the rear ends KE of the multiple keys 10 are aligned with each other. The length in direction D1 at the rear end KE of each key 10, i.e., the width KW, is the same for all keys 10. The key 10 has an opening 15 extending in direction D2 at its rear end. The key 10 is supported so as to be able to swing by a fulcrum 65 arranged on a frame 80. The directions in which the key 10 can swing are limited by a guide portion 67 arranged on the front end side of the fulcrum 65 and a guide portion 69 arranged on the rear end side of the fulcrum 65.

[0023] The striking portion 20 includes a head portion 21, a shank portion 23, a pivot shaft 25, and a main body portion 27. The head portion 21 includes a portion of the striking portion 20 that contacts the sounding body 30, and is disposed at the tip of the shank portion 23. The portion of the head portion 21 that strikes the sounding body 30 (at least the portion that contacts the sounding body 30) may be formed of a resin material or a fibrous material such as felt. The width HW of the head portion 21 is longer than the width TW of the opening 15, and in this example, shorter than the diameter RW of the sounding body 30. The width HW of the head portion 21 may be longer than the diameter RW of the sounding body 30, but is configured to be shorter than the distance RP so that multiple sounding bodies 30 are not struck simultaneously. The center of the head portion 21 and the center of the sounding body 30 in the direction D1 are set at the same position. As a result, the struck sounding body 30 swings parallel to the direction D2.

[0024] The shank portion 23 and the body portion 27 are made of wood. A portion of the shank portion 23 and a portion of the body portion 27 are disposed in the opening 15 of the key 10. The pivot shaft 25 is disposed between the shank portion 23 and the body portion 27, and is connected to the key 10 from the inside side of the opening 15. The striking portion 20 pivots about the pivot shaft 25.

[0025] The upper stopper 61 is disposed at a position where it comes into contact with the body portion 27 when the key 10 is in the rest position. If the head portion 21 is in contact with the top surface of the key 10, the upper stopper 61 and the body portion 27 do not need to be in contact. The lower stopper 63 comes into contact with the body portion 27 when the striking portion 20 rotates to a predetermined position. This contact defines the limit position to which the striking portion 20 can rotate.

[0026] [4. Operation of keyboard device 1] Next, the movement of the striking portion 20 when the key 10 is pressed and the striking body 30 is struck will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0027] 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation of a keyboard device in one embodiment. The above-mentioned FIG. 5 shows a state in which the key 10 is not pressed, i.e., the key 10 is in the rest position. FIG. 6 shows a state at the moment when the key 10 is pressed and the striking section 20 strikes the sounding body 30. At this time, the state in which the key 10 is completely pressed, i.e., the key 10 is in the end position, is shown. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the key 10 is maintained in the end position after the sounding body 30 is struck by the striking section 20.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, when the key 10 is pressed, the rear end side of the key 10 moves upward. At this time, since the pivot 25 is located rearward of the fulcrum 65, the pivot 25 also moves upward. At this time, the upper stopper 61 restricts the upward movement of the main body 27, and the striking part 20 rotates about the pivot 25. As a result, the main body 27 moves downward with respect to the pivot 25 and the head part 21 moves upward, whereby the sounding body 30 is struck by the head part 21. When struck by the head part 21, the sounding body 30 generates a sound according to its natural frequency and oscillates along direction D2.

[0029] At the moment when the head portion 21 strikes the sounding body 30, the main body portion 27 and the upper stopper 61 are separated, as shown in Fig. 6. Even if the main body portion 27 separates from the upper stopper 61 after the striking portion 20 rotates, the striking portion 20 continues to rotate due to inertia, and the head portion 21 reaches the sounding body 30.

[0030] When the head portion 21 strikes the sounding body 30, the rotation direction of the striking portion 20 is reversed. Or, even if the striking portion 20 continues to rotate after the head portion 21 strikes the sounding body 30 due to inertia, the main body portion 27 collides with the lower stopper 63, and the rotation direction of the striking portion 20 is reversed. When the rotation is reversed, the position of the striking portion 20 returns to a state in which the main body portion 27 is in contact with the upper stopper 61, as shown in FIG. 7. At this time, the head portion 21 is in a position separated from the sounding body 30 before it oscillates. The head portion 21 may be in a position separated from the sounding body 30 to such an extent that it is also separated from the oscillating sounding body 30, or may be in a position in contact with the sounding body 30 oscillating with a predetermined amplitude or more.

[0031] According to the above-mentioned keyboard device 1, pressing a key 10 can make the sound body 30 suspended from the support 50 produce a sound. Since the above-mentioned position HP is located below the sound body 30, there is an area above the sound body 30 that the performer can easily touch with his / her fingers. Therefore, if there is no case 90, or if there is a case 90 but the opening is large enough that the performer can touch the sound body 30 with his / her fingers, the performer can make the sound body 30 produce a sound like a wind chime by swinging the sound body 30. In other words, by swinging the sound body 30 along the direction D1 (or the opposite direction), a performance like a glissando can be performed without touching the key 10. In this way, by using the keyboard device 1, the performer can obtain a new performance experience.

[0032] <Modification> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment can be modified in various forms as described below. The above-described embodiment and the modifications described below can also be applied in combination with each other. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment with other configurations.

[0033] (1) In Figures 5 to 7 described in the above embodiment, the damper 70 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Although the damper 70 is not present in the above embodiment, it may be added as a component for controlling the oscillation of the sounding body 30 in conjunction with the movement of the key 10. For example, as shown in Figure 5, when the key 10 is in the rest position, the damper 70 comes into contact with the sounding body 30, thereby preventing the sounding body 30 from oscillating. On the other hand, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the key 10 is pressed, the damper 70 moves away from the sounding body 30.

[0034] 5 shows an example in which the damper 70 comes into contact with the rear side of the sounding body 30 in order to suppress the oscillation of the sounding body 30. The damper 70 may come into contact with the front side of the sounding body 30, or may come into contact with the sounding body 30 so as to sandwich it from both sides.

[0035] (2) The multiple sound producing bodies 30 are arranged side by side on a straight line parallel to direction D1 (arranged at position EP shown in FIG. 2), but may be arranged side by side in another manner. For example, the multiple sound producing bodies 30 may be arranged side by side on a curved line. An example of multiple sound producing bodies 30 arranged side by side on a curved line will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the sounding body in the modified example. The sounding bodies 30A shown in FIG. 8 are arranged side by side on a curve. The curve here is a circular arc EPA. The sounding bodies 30A are struck from the center side of the circular arc EPA (below the sounding bodies 30A in FIG. 8). In this case, the striking parts 20A corresponding to the sounding bodies 30A may be arranged radially HD from the center side of the circular arc EPA toward the outside. In FIG. 8, the striking part 20A striking the sounding body 30A-1 is shown as an example. Conversely, the sounding body 30A may be struck from the outside of the circular arc EPA toward the center side. In this way, the relationship between the distance between adjacent sounding bodies 30A and the distance between adjacent keys 10 can be adjusted. For example, the distance between the sounding body 30A-1 and the sounding body 30A-2 can be made wider than the distance between the key 10-1 and the key 10-2.

[0037] The multiple sounding bodies 30 may be arranged in two straight lines parallel to the direction D1 by being shifted alternately in the direction D2. In this case, when the sounding body 30-1 swings by pressing the key 10-1, the sounding body 30-1 may come into contact with the sounding body 30-2 corresponding to the key 10-2 adjacent to the key 10-1, so that the sounding body 30-2 may also swing. In this way, the adjacent sounding bodies 30 may swing in sequence. This can also be said to be a state in which the diameter RW is smaller than the distance RP. It can also be said that the diameter RW of the sounding body 30-2 is larger than the distance between the sounding body 30-1 and the sounding body 30-3.

[0038] (3) It is not necessary that all of the sound producing bodies 30 are disposed in correspondence with the striking section 20 . Some of the sound producing bodies 30 may be disposed in positions that are not struck by the striking section 20 .

[0039] (4) The center of the head portion 21 and the center of the sound producing body 30 in the direction D1 do not have to be set at the same position. By shifting their centers from each other, the sound producing body 30 may have a component in the direction D1 when it oscillates after being struck. In this way, when the sound producing body 30 oscillates after being struck, it can collide with an adjacent sound producing body 30 and produce sound. When such a configuration is adopted, it is preferable to make the distance RS between two adjacent sound producing bodies 30 smaller.

[0040] (5) The upper ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 do not necessarily have to be located higher on the lower note side. For example, the upper ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 may be located higher on the higher note side, or may be located at the same position.

[0041] (6) The lower ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 do not necessarily have to be located further downwards on the lower note side. For example, the lower ends of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 may be located further downwards on the higher note side, or may be located in the same position.

[0042] (7) The position HP does not necessarily have to be the same for all sound producing bodies 30. The position HP may be a higher position on the higher pitch side, or a higher position on the lower pitch side. The position HP is below the center between the upper and lower ends of the sound producing body 30, but it may be above, or may differ depending on the sound producing body.

[0043] (8) The distance from the front end position WF of a white key (e.g., key 10-1) among the keys 10 to the position EP of the sounding body 30 (e.g., sounding body 30-1) corresponding to that key 10 may be different from the distance corresponding to the other white keys. The distance corresponding to the other white keys is, for example, the distance from the front end position WF of key 10-3 to the position EP of sounding body 30-3. The same applies to the relationship between the black keys.

[0044] (9) The pivot shaft 25 of the striking unit 20 is connected to the key 10, but it may be connected to a structure other than the key 10. Any structure may be used as long as the striking unit 20 can rotate and strike the sound generating body 30 when the key 10 is pressed. For example, the sound generating body 30, which is located at the position of the strings of an upright piano, may be struck by the striking unit 20, which corresponds to a hammer, using a structure similar to the action mechanism of an upright piano.

[0045] (10) The sounding body 30 may be a member made of a material other than metal, such as a resin or ceramic, or may be a member made of a combination of a plurality of materials.

[0046] (11) The sounding body 30 may have a shape other than a tone tube. For example, the sounding body 30 may be plate-shaped, may not be rod-shaped or cylindrical, and may have different shapes at the upper and lower ends.

[0047] (12) The difference in natural frequency of the sound generating body 30 is not limited to being realized by applying different lengths of the sound generating body 30. For example, the difference in natural frequency may be realized by adopting different shapes or different materials for the sound generating body 30.

[0048] (13) The multiple sound producing bodies 30 do not necessarily have to have different fundamental frequencies. As long as the natural frequencies of the multiple sound producing bodies 30 are different from one another, the fundamental frequencies may be the same. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1: keyboard device, 10: key, 15: opening, 20, 20A: striking part, 21, 21A: head part, 23, 23A: shank part, 25: pivot, 27: main body, 30, 30A: sound generating body, 40: string-like member, 50: support, 61: upper stopper, 63: lower stopper, 65: fulcrum, 67: guide part, 69: guide part, 70: damper, 80: frame, 90: case

Claims

1. A support; a plurality of rod-shaped sound producing bodies suspended swingably from the support body via a string-shaped member, the plurality of sound producing bodies including at least a first sound producing body and a second sound producing body having a natural frequency different from that of the first sound producing body; A plurality of swivelable keys including a first key and a second key; a plurality of striking sections including a first striking section that strikes the first sounding body by rotating in response to the operation of the first key and a second striking section that strikes the second sounding body by rotating in response to the operation of the second key; A keyboard device comprising:

2. The first sound producing body is shorter than the second sound producing body, The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the first sounding body is located higher than an upper end of the second sounding body.

3. The first sound producing body is shorter than the second sound producing body, 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the first sound producing body is located lower than a lower end of the second sound producing body.

4. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first sound producing body that is struck by the first striking portion and a portion of the second sound producing body that is struck by the second striking portion are made of metal members.

5. 5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first striking portion that strikes the first sound producing body and a portion of the second striking portion that strikes the second sound producing body are made of a resin material or a fibrous material.

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