Keyboard device and detection method of key depression information

Abstract

To provide a keyboard device capable of precisely detecting key depression information while a displacement member is miniaturized and to provide a detection method of key depression information.SOLUTION: Since a curvature of a plane part 82b is smaller than that of a curved face part 82a of a detected part 82, a distance between a coil 100 and the detected part 82 (plane part 82b) can be brought closer in a performance area of after-touch compared to a case in which the detected part 82 is a single arc shape with a rotation axis 90 as a center. Thus, a dynamic range can be enlarged (a sensor output value is largely reduced in the performance area of after-touch) without enlarging the displacement member 8 (coil 100). Thus, after-touch can precisely be detected while the displacement member 8 is miniaturized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a keyboard device and a method for detecting key pressing information, and more particularly to a keyboard device and a method for detecting key pressing information that can accurately detect key pressing information while miniaturizing a displacement member.

Background Art

[0002] Techniques for detecting key pressing depth, speed, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "key pressing information") using a non-contact sensor are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which a coil 57 (sensor) that generates a magnetic field is formed on a substrate 56, while a metal plate 55 (detected portion) facing the coil 57 is fixed to a key 41. According to this technique, since the current (magnetic field) flowing through the coil 57 changes due to the relative displacement of the metal plate 55 with respect to the coil 57 during key pressing, key pressing information can be detected based on the change in the current.

[0003] In this type of keyboard device, the applicant of the present application has filed a patent application for the invention shown in FIG. 12 (Patent Document 2 that was not published at the time of filing of the present application). FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional keyboard device 301.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 12, a conventional keyboard device 301 of the prior art interlocks a displacement member 207 (detected component) rotatably supported by a holder 10 with the swinging of a key 202. A detected portion 208 made of a non-magnetic metal is provided on the lower surface of the displacement member 207, and the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 208 into the region facing the coil 90 changes as the key 202 swings during key pressing or key release. Key pressing information is detected based on the increase or decrease in the sensor output value accompanying this change in the intrusion amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] In order to accurately detect key press information based on sensor output values as in the above-described conventional technology, it is preferable that the difference between the sensor output value before key press and the sensor output value after key press is large. However, if the displacement member 207 (coil 90) is enlarged to increase such a difference in output values, there is a problem that the keyboard device becomes larger and the cost increases.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a keyboard device and a method for detecting key press information that can accurately detect key press information while reducing the size of the displacement member.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0008] To achieve this object, the keyboard device of the present invention includes a plurality of keys arranged in a scale direction, a displacement member that rotates in conjunction with the swing of the keys, a detected portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member and having conductivity, and a coil that faces the detected portion and generates a magnetic field. The detected portion is at least composed of a curved first detected portion located on the front side in the rotation direction of the displacement member and a second detected portion that is continuous with the rear side of the first detected portion in the rotation direction and has a smaller curvature than the first detected portion.

[0009] The method for detecting key pressing information of the present invention is a method for detecting key pressing information of a key in a keyboard device including a plurality of keys arranged in a scale direction, a displacement member that rotates in conjunction with the swing of the key, a detected portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member and having conductivity, and a coil that faces the detected portion and generates a magnetic field. The method includes relatively displacing the detected portion, which is at least composed of a curved first detected portion located on the front side in the rotation direction of the displacement member and a second detected portion that is continuous with the rear side of the first detected portion in the rotation direction and has a smaller curvature than the first detected portion, with respect to the coil, thereby detecting the key pressing information of the key.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of the keyboard device 1 of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 in the first embodiment. Note that the arrow U-D direction, F-B direction, and L-R direction in FIG. 1 indicate the up-down direction, front-back direction, and left-right direction (the arrangement direction of the plurality of keys 2. Hereinafter referred to as the "scale direction") of the keyboard device 1, respectively, and the same applies to FIGS. 2 and subsequent figures. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 cut along a plane orthogonal to the scale direction.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard device 1 includes a plurality (88 in this embodiment) of keys 2 and is a device that constitutes a keyboard instrument (synthesizer). The keys 2 are composed of a plurality (52 in this embodiment) of white keys 2a for playing fundamental tones and a plurality (36 in this embodiment) of black keys 2b for playing derived tones, and the plurality of white keys 2a and black keys 2b are arranged in the scale direction (arrow L-R direction).

[0013] The keyboard device 1 includes a bottom plate 3 for supporting the keys 2. The bottom plate 3 is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the scale direction using synthetic resin, steel plate, etc., and a chassis 4 is supported on the upper surface of the bottom plate 3.

[0014] At the front end portion (the end on the arrow F side) of the chassis 4, front legs 40 are provided, and these front legs 40 are fixed to the bottom plate 3. The front legs 40 extend upward from the bottom plate 3, and from the upper ends of the front legs 40, a support portion 41 for supporting the key 2 extends rearward (the arrow B side). These front legs 40 and support portion 41 are integrally formed by bending a metal plate.

[0015] The rear end of the support portion 41 is fixed (screwed or welded) to a metal rear leg 42 that extends vertically, and the chassis 4 composed of these respective portions 40 to 42 is formed in a U-shaped (C-shaped) form having a space between the support portion 41 and the bottom plate 3 in the scale direction view.

[0016] Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration for rotating the white key 2a and the details of the configuration for interlocking the displacement member 8 with the rotation of the white key 2a will be described. Such a configuration is substantially the same also for the black key 2b. Therefore, the actions and effects due to the configuration of the white key 2a described below are similarly achieved also for the black key 2b. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard device 1 showing a state where the white key 2a and the displacement member 8 are removed.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the white key 2a includes an upper plate 20 configured with an upper surface (the surface on the arrow U side) as a key-pressing surface to be pressed by a performer, and a pair of side plates 21 extending downward from both left and right (arrow L-R direction) end portions of the upper plate 20. These plate-shaped upper plate 20 and side plates 21 are integrally formed using a resin material, and the white key 2a is formed in a box shape having an opening downward.

[0018] From the rear end (the end on the arrow B side) of the white key 2a, plate-shaped protruding portions 22 protrude rearward. The protruding portions 22 are provided in a pair at intervals in the scale direction (arrow L-R direction) (see FIG. 2), and this pair of protruding portions 22 is pivotally supported by the key shaft member 5.

[0019] The key shaft member 5 includes a mounted portion 50 that is attached to the upper surface of the chassis 4 (support portion 41). The mounted portion 50 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape extending in the scale direction, and from the rear end side of the mounted portion 50, an insertion portion 51 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 2) rises upward.

[0020] A plurality of insertion portions 51 are arranged in the scale direction, and a substantially cylindrical shaft portion 52 is formed on the upper end side of the insertion portion 51. Each of the portions 50 to 52 of these key shaft members 5 is integrally formed using a resin material (synthetic resin).

[0021] The shaft portion 52 protrudes from the insertion portion 51 to both sides in the scale direction, and a circular insertion hole 23 into which the shaft portion 52 can be inserted is formed in each of the pair of protruding portions 22 of the white key 2a. When inserting the shaft portion 52 into the insertion hole 23, the insertion is guided by an inclined surface 53 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 2) formed on the shaft portion 52.

[0022] Since the inclined surface 53 rises and inclines so as to obliquely notch (approach the insertion portion 51) the upper end of the tip surface of the shaft portion 52, by pushing the pair of protruding portions 22 of the white key 2a from the upper side toward the insertion portion 51 (inserting the insertion portion 51 between the pair of protruding portions 22), the protruding portions 22 slide along the inclined surface 53 of the shaft portion 52. Due to this sliding, the pair of protruding portions 22 elastically deform so as to expand the distance between them, so that the shaft portion 52 can be easily inserted into the insertion hole 23 of the white key 2a. When each of the pair of shaft portions 52 is inserted into the insertion hole 23, the white key 2a is pivotally supported by the key shaft member 5.

[0023] On the upper surface of the front end side (the end on the arrow F side) of the mounted portion 50, a cylindrical holding wall 54 for holding the coil spring 6 (see FIG. 1) is formed, and a plurality of holding walls 54 are arranged in the scale direction. A conical convex portion 55 protruding upward is formed at the central portion on the inner peripheral side of each holding wall 54.

[0024] On the white key 2a, a holding wall 24 (see FIG. 1) is formed at a position facing the holding wall 54 vertically. The holding wall 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending downward from the upper plate 20 of the white key 2a. On the inner peripheral side of the holding wall 24, a conical convex portion 25 protruding downward is formed. The coil spring 6 is sandwiched vertically between the convex portion 55 of the key shaft member 5 and the convex portion 25 of the white key 2a, so that the coil spring 6 is held on the inner peripheral sides of the holding walls 24 and 54. When the white key 2a is pressed, a key-pressing feel is imparted by the elastic force of the coil spring 6. On the other hand, when the key is released, the white key 2a returns to its initial position by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 6.

[0025] At a substantially central portion of the white key 2a in the front-rear direction (arrow F-B direction), a plate-shaped partition plate 26 (see FIG. 1) extending downward from the upper plate 20 is formed. The partition plates 26 are provided in a pair at intervals in the front-rear direction. The partition plate 26 is integrally formed with the upper plate 20 and the side plates 21 so as to connect the pair of side plates 21 in the scale direction. An interlocking member 7 is attached to the recess 27 surrounded by these plates 20, 21, and 26.

[0026] The interlocking member 7 is a member for interlocking the displacement member 8 with the swing of the white key 2a when the key is pressed and released. The interlocking member 7 includes a columnar inserted portion 70 extending vertically, a plate-shaped protruding portion 71 protruding forward and backward from the lower end of the inserted portion 70, and a plate-shaped protruding portion 72 (see the enlarged portion of FIG. 1) protruding downward from the front end portion of the protruding portion 71. These portions 70 to 72 are integrally formed using a resin material.

[0027] The inserted portion 70 is formed in a shape corresponding to the recess 27 of the white key 2a. The interlocking member 7 is attached to the white key 2a by adhering the inserted portion 70 inserted into the recess 27 to the white key 2a. At the lower end of the protruding portion 72, a columnar guide pin 73 protruding in the scale direction (arrow R side) is integrally formed. This guide pin 73 is hooked on a groove 80 formed in the displacement member 8.

[0028] The groove 80 penetrates both side surfaces of the displacement member 8 facing the scale direction and extends in a direction orthogonal to the scale direction (in the initial position before the white key 2a is pressed, it slopes upward to the front upper side). In the initial position (the state shown in FIG. 1) before the white key 2a is pressed, the groove 80 extends so as to intersect the displacement locus of the guide pin 73 around the shaft portion 52. By the sliding of the guide pin 73 along this groove 80, the displacement member 8 interlocks with the rotation of the white key 2a. In the following description, among the grooves 80 of the displacement member 8, the upper and lower surfaces where the guide pin 73 slides when the white key 2a is pressed (released) are described as the upper slide surface 80a and the lower slide surface 80b.

[0029] A shaft hole 81 penetrating the displacement member 8 in the scale direction is formed in the displacement member 8, and a rotation shaft 90 (see FIG. 1) formed in the holder 9 is inserted into this shaft hole 81. Thereby, the displacement member 8 is rotatably supported by the holder 9. In the following description, in the state where the displacement member 8 is supported by the rotation shaft 90, the outer surface of the displacement member 8 facing the direction orthogonal to the axial direction (scale direction) of the rotation shaft 90 is described as the "outer peripheral surface".

[0030] A detected portion 82 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 1) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member 8 by adhering a metal plate or applying plating. A substrate 10 is provided at a position facing this detected portion 82 (below the displacement member 8), and a coil 100 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 1) that generates a magnetic field is formed on the substrate 10.

[0031] The coil 100 is formed by the conductive pattern of the substrate 10, but in FIG. 1, the coil 100 (the thickness of the coil 100) on the substrate 10 is schematically illustrated. Although details will be described later, the key press information of the white key 2a is detected by the displacement of the detected portion 82 of the displacement member 8 toward the region facing the coil 100 (hereinafter referred to as the "detection region").

[0032] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the detailed configuration of the holder 9 will be described, while also referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 as appropriate. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder 9. Note that in FIG. 3, the holder 9 is illustrated from the same angle as in FIG. 2.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the holder 9 includes a plate-shaped wall portion 91 in which a rotation shaft 90 (refer to the enlarged portion of FIG. 3) is integrally formed, and the space between a pair of wall portions 91 facing each other in the scale direction is connected by the rotation shaft 90. The rotation shaft 90 is formed in an elliptical shape extending vertically, and a notch 83 for inserting the rotation shaft 90 into the shaft hole 81 is formed in the displacement member 8. The notch 83 is a groove (a hole penetrating the displacement member 8 in the scale direction) that linearly connects the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member 8 and the shaft hole 81, and extends in a direction opposite to the groove 80 with the shaft hole 81 interposed therebetween. The groove width of the notch 83 is set to be substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the elliptical rotation shaft 90 in the front-rear direction (the width dimension of the rotation shaft 90 in the direction of arrow F-B).

[0034] Therefore, as shown by arrow A in FIG. 3, with the notch 83 of the displacement member 8 facing downward, the displacement member 8 is inserted between the pair of wall portions 91 by inserting the rotation shaft 90 into the notch 83, so that the rotation shaft 90 is inserted into the shaft hole 81. The diameter of the shaft hole 81 is substantially the same as the vertical dimension of the rotation shaft 90 (the longitudinal dimension of the rotation shaft 90 in the direction of arrow U-D). After inserting the rotation shaft 90 from the notch 83 into the shaft hole 81, the displacement member 8 is rotated so that the notch 83 faces the rear side (arrow B side), whereby the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 90.

[0035] The holder 9 includes a substantially flat plate-shaped attached portion 92 that extends in the scale direction, and this attached portion 92 is attached to the support portion 41 (see FIG. 1) of the chassis 4. From the attached portion 92, a plurality of wall portions 91 arranged in the scale direction rise upward. If a pair of wall portions 91 sandwiching the displacement member 8 is taken as a set, a plurality of sets of wall portions 91 are arranged in the scale direction. In this embodiment, 12 displacement members 8 for one octave are pivotally supported by one holder 9. The attached portion 92 is fixed (screwed) to the lower surface of the support portion 41 (see FIG. 1) of the chassis 4, and the wall portion 91 is inserted downward into a through hole 43 (see FIG. 2) formed in the support portion 41.

[0036] A through hole 93 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 3) penetrating the attached portion 92 vertically is formed between the pair of wall portions 91, and a part of the displacement member 8 is inserted into this through hole 93. That is, in a state where the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported by the holder 9, the lower end side portion of the displacement member 8 is located below the attached portion 92 (the support portion 41 of the chassis 4) (see FIG. 1), and the displacement of the displacement member 8 in such a position is allowed by the through hole 93.

[0037] From the attached portion 92 of the holder 9, a flat plate-shaped hanging portion 94 slopes downward toward the front lower side. If a pair of hanging portions 94 facing each other with the displacement member 8 in between is taken as a set, a plurality of sets of hanging portions 94 are arranged in the scale direction, and the lower ends of the plurality of sets of hanging portions 94 are connected in the scale direction by a connecting portion 95. Each part 91 - 95 of the holder 9 including the rotating shaft 90 is integrally formed using a resin material, but the holder 9 may be formed from a plurality of parts.

[0038] The front end portion of the substrate 10 (see FIG. 1) is supported by the connecting portion 95, and the rear end portion of the substrate 10 is supported by the chassis 4 (support portion 41) via a fixing member 11 (see FIG. 1). Details of the support structure of this substrate 10 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0039] As shown by arrow B in Fig. 3, when the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported by the holder 9, the displacement member 8 can be moved (swung in the scale direction) so as to twist in the scale direction. This is because in addition to a slight gap being formed between the rotation axis 90 and the shaft hole 81, the pair of wall portions 91 can be elastically deformed. By utilizing the swing of the displacement member 8 in this scale direction, the guide pin 73 (see Fig. 4(a)) of the interlocking member 7 is engaged with the groove 80.

[0040] This engagement method will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 4(a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 showing the state before the guide pin 73 of the interlocking member 7 is inserted into the groove 80 of the displacement member 8, and Fig. 4(b) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 showing the state where the displacement member 8 rotates by its own weight. In Fig. 4(a), the state where the holder 9 is assembled to the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 is illustrated, but Fig. 4(a) corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVa-IVa shown in the enlarged portion of Fig. 3. Also, Fig. 4 is a view of the displacement member 8 seen from the side, but in order to facilitate understanding, the detected portion 82 is hatched.

[0041] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the groove 80 of the displacement member 8 extends in a direction away from the rotation axis 90 (shaft hole 81 shown in Fig. 3) of the holder 9, and the groove width of the groove 80 gradually expands as it moves away from the rotation axis 90.

[0042] More specifically, the lower slide surface 80b (see Fig. 4(a)) of the displacement member 8 is a plane linearly extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation axis 90 (substantially parallel to the direction of arrow F-B in Fig. 4(a)), while the upper slide surface 80a is composed of a plane parallel to the lower slide surface 80b, an inclined surface rising forward and upward from the front edge (the end on the arrow F side) of the plane portion, and a curved surface smoothly connecting these plane and inclined surfaces.

[0043] On the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member 8, an opening of the groove 80 is formed by the front edge of the inclined surface of the upper slide surface 80a and the front edge of the lower slide surface 80b, and the guide pin 73 of the interlocking member 7 is inserted along the insertion direction C from this opening. The insertion direction C of this guide pin 73 is the same direction as the sliding direction of the guide pin 73 along the groove 80 (the part where the upper and lower slide surfaces 80a and 80b face each other in parallel).

[0044] At the opening portion of the groove 80 in the displacement member 8, a regulating wall 84 is formed that connects the inclined surface of the upper slide surface 80a and the front end portion of the lower slide surface 80b. The regulating wall 84 is a wall for regulating the guide pin 73 of the interlocking member 7 from coming out of the groove 80. Although illustration is omitted, in the assembled state of the white key 2a with the guide pin 73 engaged with the groove 80 (the state of FIG. 1), it is formed at a position where the regulating wall 84 and the guide pin 73 overlap in the insertion direction C of the guide pin 73.

[0045] Therefore, when the white key 2a is pivotally supported on the key shaft member 5 (see FIG. 1) and the guide pin 73 is simply inserted along the insertion direction C from the opening of the groove 80, the regulating wall 84 will interfere with the insertion. Although this interference can be generally avoided by the swing of the displacement member 8 indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, a front inclined surface 84a (see FIG. 4(a)) is formed on the side surface of the regulating wall 84 to make it easier to insert the guide pin 73 into the groove 80. The side surface of the regulating wall 84 is a surface facing the side opposite to the protruding direction of the guide pin 73 in the scale direction (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4(a)).

[0046] The front inclined surface 84a is inclined so as to obliquely notch the front edge portion of the side surface of the regulating wall 84. Therefore, when the guide pin 73 is inserted along the insertion direction C from the opening of the groove 80, by slightly causing the swing of the displacement member 8 indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 3 (slightly twisting the displacement member 8 toward the back side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4(a)), the guide pin 73 can be engaged with the groove 80 while sliding the guide pin 73 along the front inclined surface 84a. Therefore, the guide pin 73 can be easily engaged with the groove 80, and the workability of the assembly operation of the white key 2a can be improved.

[0047] In addition, a rear inclined surface 84b is also formed on the side surface of the regulating wall 84. Since the rear inclined surface 84b is inclined so as to obliquely notch the rear edge (the end on the arrow B side) portion of the side surface of the regulating wall 84, when pulling out the guide pin 73 from the groove 80 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction C, it causes a slight swing of the displacement member 8 shown by the arrow B in FIG. 3 (slightly twisting the displacement member 8 toward the back side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4(a)). Thus, while sliding the guide pin 73 along the rear inclined surface 84b, the guide pin 73 can be removed from the groove 80. Therefore, the guide pin 73 can be easily removed from the groove 80, improving the workability of replacing the white key 2a and performing maintenance work.

[0048] Here, as shown in FIG. 4(b), in a state where the guide pin 73 is not engaged with the groove 80, the displacement member 8 rotates by its own weight around the rotation axis 90. When the displacement member 8 contacts the coil 100 of the substrate 10 due to this rotation, there is a risk of damaging the coil 100.

[0049] If the detected portion 82 of the displacement member 8 is formed in a single arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90, even if the displacement member 8 rotates by its own weight around the rotation axis 90, the detected portion 82 will not contact the coil 100. However, although details will be described later, the detected portion 82 of the present embodiment is composed of an arc-shaped curved surface portion 82a centered on the rotation axis 90 and a linear flat surface portion 82b continuous with the front edge of the curved surface portion 82a. For this reason, when the guide pin 73 is removed from the groove 80 and the displacement member 8 rotates by its own weight around the rotation axis 90, there is a risk that the flat surface portion 82b of the detected portion 82 will contact the coil 100.

[0050] In contrast, in the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted that can prevent such contact between the flat portion 82b and the coil 100. Specifically, a convex portion 85 surrounding the groove 80 (upper and lower sliding surfaces 80a, 80b) protrudes from the side surface of the displacement member 8, and a wall portion 91 (mounting portion 92) of the holder 9 is formed on the displacement locus around the rotation axis 90. When the displacement member 8 rotates around the rotation axis 90 due to its own weight, before the flat portion 82b of the detected portion 82 contacts the coil 100, the wall portion 91 (mounting portion 92) of the holder 9 is configured to contact the convex portion 85 at the contact point P1.

[0051] Also, simultaneously with the contact between the wall portion 91 and the convex portion 85 at the contact point P1, the connecting portion 95 of the holder 9 is also configured to contact the displacement member 8 at the contact point P2. That is, a part of the holder 9 (wall portion 91, mounting portion 92, and connecting portion 95) located on the displacement locus of the displacement member 8 functions as a restricting member that restricts the contact between the detected portion 82 (flat portion 82b) and the coil 100.

[0052] Thereby, even when the detected portion 82 is not in a single arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90 (for example, when the flat portion 82b is formed), when the displacement member 8 rotates around the rotation axis 90 due to its own weight, the contact between the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 can be restricted by the holder 9. Therefore, damage to the coil 100 due to such contact can be prevented.

[0053] Next, the mounting structure of the substrate 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard device 1 showing a state where the substrate 10 and the fixing member 11 are removed, FIG. 6(a) is a side view of the keyboard device 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow VIa in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6(b) is a side view of the keyboard device 1 showing a state where the substrate 10 is attached to the holder 9 and the fixing member 11. In FIG. 6(a), a state where the fixing member 11 is fixed to the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 is illustrated.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of protrusions 110 arranged in the scale direction (arrow L-R direction) protrude from the upper surface of the fixing member 11, and through holes 44 are formed in the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 at positions corresponding to the protrusions 110. By inserting the pair of protrusions 110 into the through holes 44, the mounting position of the fixing member 11 with respect to the support portion 41 is positioned.

[0055] A through hole 111 penetrating the fixing member 11 vertically is formed on the rear side of the pair of protrusions 110. By fastening a screw (not shown) inserted from below into the through hole 111 to the threaded hole 45 of the support portion 41 of the chassis 4, the fixing member 11 is attached to the lower surface of the support portion 41.

[0056] From the front surface of the fixing member 11 (the surface facing the arrow F side), a fixing portion 112 for fixing the substrate 10 protrudes forward, and a threaded hole 113 extending vertically is formed in the fixing portion 112. A plurality of fixing members 11 are arranged in the scale direction, and through holes 101 are formed in the rear end side (the end portion on the arrow B side) of the substrate 10 at positions corresponding to the threaded holes 113 of the plurality of fixing members 11. By fastening a screw (not shown) inserted from below into the through hole 101 of the substrate 10 to the threaded hole 113 of the fixing member 11, the rear end portion of the substrate 10 is fixed to the fixing member 11.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 6(a), a protrusion 96 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the vertical portion 94 of the holder 9, and a protrusion 97 protrudes rearward from the rear surface (the surface facing the arrow B side) of the connecting portion 95. These protrusions 96 and 97 are integrally formed with the vertical portion 94 and the connecting portion 95. Although not shown, a plurality of these protrusions 96 and 97 are arranged in the scale direction.

[0058] An inclined surface 96a rising and inclining upward is formed at the front edge (the end portion on the arrow F side) of the protrusion 96, and an inclined surface 97a descending and inclining downward is formed at the rear edge (the end portion on the arrow B side) of the protrusion 97. These inclined surfaces 96a and 97a are formed in parallel. The distance between the inclined surfaces 96a and 97a and the distance between the lower surface of the protrusion 96 and the upper surface of the protrusion 97 are substantially the same as the thickness of the substrate 10.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6(b), when attaching the substrate 10 to the holder 9 and the fixing member 11, first, with the substrate 10 tilted parallel to each inclined surface 96a, 97a, it is inserted between the projections 96, 97. Next, as indicated by the arrow D, the front end of the substrate 10 is rotated between the projections 96, 97, and the rear end portion of the substrate 10 is screwed to the fixing member 11. Thereby, the substrate 10 is supported by the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 via the holder 9 and the fixing member 11.

[0060] Thus, in the present embodiment, the substrate 10 is supported by the holder 9 by inserting the front end of the substrate 10 between the projections 96, 97 (insertion portion). That is, since the substrate 10 is merely inserted between the projections 96, 97 without being screwed to the holder 9, it is not necessary to form a through hole (such as the through hole 101) for screwing to the holder 9 in the front end portion of the substrate 10. Thereby, the front-rear direction dimension of the substrate 10 can be shortened, and the manufacturing cost of the substrate 10 can be reduced.

[0061] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the displacement member 8 accompanying the key pressing (key releasing) of the white key 2a will be described. FIG. 7(a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 showing the state during key pressing (before the white key 2a contacts the key pressing stopper 12) when the white key 2a is key pressed from the state of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7(b) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 showing the state where the white key 2a that has been further key pressed contacts the key pressing stopper 12 from the state of FIG. 7(a).

[0062] As shown in FIG. 7, when the guide pin 73 rotates downward (clockwise in FIG. 7) when the white key 2a is key pressed, the lower slide surface 80b is pushed in by the guide pin 73. Thereby, the displacement member 8 rotates around the rotation axis 90 of the holder 9 (clockwise in FIG. 7).

[0063] With this rotation, the detected portion 82 of the displacement member 8 is displaced relative to the substrate 10 supported by the holder 9. That is, as the stroke amount of the white key 2a increases from the state before the key is pressed, the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region increases. The amount of intrusion of this detected portion 82 is the size of the area where the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 face each other in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the substrate 10.

[0064] On the other hand, when the white key 2a is released after being pressed, the guide pin 73 rotates (counterclockwise in FIG. 7) so as to return to the initial position by the elastic force of the coil spring 6 (see FIG. 1). Due to this rotation of the guide pin 73, the upper slide surface 80a of the groove 80 is pushed up by the guide pin 73, and the displacement member 8 rotates around the rotation axis 90 (clockwise in FIG. 7). At this time, the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region decreases.

[0065] Since the detected portion 82 is formed using a non-magnetic metal (such as copper), when a current is passed through the coil 100 to generate a magnetic field, if the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region is increased, the inductance of the coil 100 decreases, and if the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region is decreased, the inductance of the coil 100 increases. Based on the increase and decrease of the inductance of this coil 100, the sensor output value (V) changes (see FIG. 8(b)). Based on the increase and decrease of this sensor output value, key press information (note information) is detected.

[0066] Regarding the technique of detecting key press information with this type of non-contact sensor, the applicant of the present application has filed a patent application for the invention shown in FIG. 12 (PCT / JP2022 / 032673, which was not published at the time of filing of the present application). FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional keyboard device 301.

[0067] In this conventional keyboard device 301, there has been a problem that the initial position (angle) of the displacement member 207 before the key is pressed and the displacement amount (rotation amount) of the displacement member 207 accompanying the key press may deviate from the design values.

[0068] As a reason for the above problems, in the structure shown in FIG. 12, while the holder 210 that rotatably supports the key 202 is fixed to the chassis 204, the holder 10 that rotatably supports the displacement member 207 is fixed to the bottom plate 3 via the substrate 9. That is, since the key 202 and the displacement member 207 are assembled to different components, the relative positional accuracy between the key 202 and the displacement member 207 is likely to decrease due to assembly errors or the like. For this reason, the engagement position between the guide pin 229 of the key 202 and the groove 270 of the displacement member 207 is likely to deviate from the design value.

[0069] In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a structure including a chassis 4 (first support member), a white key 2a (a plurality of keys 2) swingably supported by the chassis 4, a displacement member 8 interlocked with the swing of the white key 2a, a holder 9 (second support member) that displaceably supports the displacement member 8 and is attached to the chassis 4, and a coil 100 (sensor) that faces the detected portion 82 of the displacement member 8 and detects the displacement of the displacement member 8.

[0070] That is, since the white key 2a and the holder 9 on which the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported are assembled to the same chassis 4, the relative positional accuracy between the white key 2a and the displacement member 8 can be improved. As a result, the guide pin 73 of the interlocking member 7 and the groove 80 of the displacement member 8 can be accurately engaged at the designed position, so that the initial position (angle) of the displacement member 8 before pressing the key and the displacement amount (rotation amount) of the displacement member 8 accompanying the pressing of the key are also likely to be as designed. Therefore, the key pressing information of the white key 2a can be accurately detected.

[0071] Also, in the initial position before the key is pressed (the state shown in FIG. 1), the lower slide surface 80b of the groove 80 slopes upward toward the front upper side. When the displacement member 8 rotates to an angle along the horizontal direction when the key is pressed, the guide pin 73 slides toward the rear end side (arrow B side) of the lower slide surface 80b (see FIGS. 1 and 7(a)). On the other hand, when the displacement member 8 further rotates from the angle where the lower slide surface 80b is along the horizontal direction when the key is pressed, the guide pin 73 slides toward the front end side (arrow F side) of the lower slide surface 80b (see FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)).

[0072] That is, since the sliding direction of the guide pin 73 along the groove 80 is reversed during key pressing (the guide pin 73 reciprocates in the groove 80 when the key is pressed), the sliding range of the guide pin 73 with respect to the groove 80 can be narrowed. As a result, the groove 80 can be formed shorter, making it easier to improve the accuracy of the shape of the groove 80. Also, this makes it easier for the engagement position between the guide pin 73 and the groove 80 to be as designed, so that the key pressing information of the white key 2a can be accurately detected.

[0073] In addition, since the substrate 10 is directly attached to the holder 9 to which the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported, the relative positional accuracy between the displacement member 8 and the coil 100 of the substrate 10 can also be improved. As a result, the clearance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 of the displacement member 8 is also likely to be the dimension as designed, so that the key pressing information of the white key 2a can be accurately detected.

[0074] Note that in this embodiment, the substrate 10 is directly attached to the holder 9, but a configuration in which the substrate 10 is attached to a support component provided separately from the holder 9 may also be used. As an example of this configuration, the vertical portion 94 and the connecting portion 95 of the holder 9 are omitted, the substrate 10 is extended forward (arrow F side), and the front end portion of such a substrate 10 is supported by a component similar to the fixing member 11 (see FIG. 6). Even in such a structure, since the substrate 10 provided with the coil 100 and the holder 9 to which the displacement member 8 is pivotally supported can be supported by the same chassis 4, the clearance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 is likely to be the dimension as designed. Therefore, the key pressing information of the white key 2a can be accurately detected.

[0075] Here, it is also possible to integrally form the key shaft member 5 (see FIG. 2) that swingably supports the white key 2a and the fixing member 11 (see FIG. 6) to which the rear end of the substrate 10 is fixed with the holder 9. However, if these components are integrally formed, the components become larger and errors are likely to occur in the dimensions of the components themselves (for example, the length in the front-rear direction). When such dimensional errors occur, the engagement position between the guide pin 73 and the groove 80 and the clearance between the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 are likely to deviate from the design values. Therefore, the key pressing information of the white key 2a cannot be accurately detected.

[0076] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the key shaft member 5 (see FIG. 2), the holder 9, and the fixing member 11 are separate components, each of these components can be miniaturized. As a result, the dimensional accuracy of the key shaft member 5, the holder 9, and the fixing member 11 themselves is likely to be improved.

[0077] Also, although not shown, the key shaft member 5 (see FIG. 2) supports the keys 2 for one octave, and the holder 9 supports the displacement members 8 for one octave (12 pieces) as described above (see FIG. 3).

[0078] That is, a plurality of key shaft members 5 and holders 9 are arranged in the scale direction. As a result, compared with a configuration in which all the keys 2 arranged in the scale direction are supported by one key shaft member 5 or a configuration in which all the displacement members 8 arranged in the same direction are supported by one holder 9, the key shaft member 5 and the holder 9 can be miniaturized. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the key shaft member 5 and the holder 9 themselves is likely to be improved.

[0079] Also, as described above, since the fixing member 11 (see FIG. 6) is also arranged in the scale direction, the fixing member 11 can be miniaturized compared with the case where the substrate 10 is supported by one fixing member 11 extending in the scale direction. As a result, the dimensional accuracy of the fixing member 11 itself is likely to be improved.

[0080] Thus, by improving the dimensional accuracy of the key shaft member 5, the holder 9, and the fixing member 11 itself, the engagement position between the guide pin 73 and the groove 80 and the clearance between the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 are more likely to be as designed. Therefore, the key pressing information of the white key 2a can be detected accurately.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 7(b), the swinging when the white key 2a is pressed is restricted by the key pressing stopper 12. The key pressing stopper 12 is a cushioning material adhered to the upper surface on the rear end side of the support portion 41 of the chassis 4, and the area until the lower surface of the white key 2a contacts the key pressing stopper 12 during key pressing is the normal playing area. On the other hand, a performance of pressing the key deeper than the end position of normal performance (the state in FIG. 7(b) where the white key 2a contacts the key pressing stopper 12) is the performance area of aftertouch. When this aftertouch performance is performed, a musical tone different from that during normal performance, for example, a musical tone with a different timbre or a musical tone with effects (volume change or vibrato) is generated.

[0082] And in this embodiment, in addition to the key pressing information during normal performance, the key pressing information during aftertouch performance is also detected based on the change in the magnetic field of the coil 100 (increase or decrease in the sensor output value). These performance detection methods will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0083] FIG. 8(a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 showing a state where the white key 2a is further pushed in from the state of FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 8(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the stroke amount of the white key 2a and the sensor output value. The vertical axis represents the magnitude (V) of the sensor output value, and the horizontal axis represents the stroke amount of the key 2 of the white key 2a. In FIG. 8(b), for ease of understanding, the range of the aftertouch performance area and the change in the sensor output value are schematically illustrated.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 8(a), when the white key 2a is further pushed in from the end position of normal playing (the state in Fig. 7(b)), the key-pressing stopper 12 is compressed by the white key 2a, and the lower slide surface 80b of the groove 80 is pushed downward by the guide pin 73 of the interlocking member 7. As a result, the intrusion amount of the detected portion 82 into the detection region further increases.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 8(b), when the intrusion amount of the detected portion 82 into the detection region facing the coil 100 increases, the sensor output value decreases. That is, when the white key 2a is pressed, the sensor output value gradually decreases as the pressing amount of the white key 2a increases, while when the white key 2a is released, the sensor output value gradually increases.

[0086] In order to accurately detect the key-pressing information based on this sensor output value, it is preferable that the difference between the sensor output value before key-pressing and the sensor output value at the end position of key-pressing (hereinafter referred to as "dynamic range") is large. In particular, in this embodiment, in addition to normal playing, the after-touch performance is also detected from the change in the sensor output value shown in Fig. 8(b). Therefore, in order to accurately detect the after-touch, it is necessary to significantly reduce the sensor output value when the white key 2a in contact with the key-pressing stopper 12 is further pushed in.

[0087] This sensor output value decreases as the area where the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 face each other increases, and also decreases as the distance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 approaches. For this reason, for example, as shown by the dashed line E in Fig. 8(a), if the detected portion 82 is formed in a single arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90 of the holder 9, the distance between the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 cannot be sufficiently reduced when the displacement member 8 rotates to the after-touch performance region. Therefore, as shown by the dashed line F in Fig. 8(b), it becomes difficult for the sensor output value to decrease in the after-touch performance region.

[0088] That is, when the detected portion 82 is formed in a single arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90 of the holder 9, it becomes difficult to widen the dynamic range, and thus after-touch cannot be accurately detected. Further, if the displacement member 8 (coil 100) is enlarged to widen the dynamic range, there is a problem that the keyboard device 1 becomes larger and the cost increases.

[0089] In contrast, in the present embodiment, the detected portion 82 is provided with a curved surface portion 82a and a flat surface portion 82b, so that after-touch can be accurately detected. This configuration will be described below. In the following description of the detected portion 82, with reference to the rotation direction of the displacement member 8, the direction in which the displacement member 8 rotates when a key is pressed is defined as the front side of the detected portion 82, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side for explanation.

[0090] Among the detected portion 82, the portion located on the front side (arrow B side) in the rotation direction of the displacement member 8 is the curved surface portion 82a, and the portion continuous with the rear side of the curved surface portion 82a in the same rotation direction is the flat surface portion 82b. The curved surface portion 82a is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90 (a curved shape convex in the direction away from the rotation axis 90), and the flat surface portion 82b is formed in a planar shape extending in the tangential direction of the rear end (the end on the arrow F side) of the curved surface portion 82a.

[0091] That is, since the curvature of the flat surface portion 82b is smaller than that of the curved surface portion 82a, compared with the case where the detected portion 82 is in a single arc shape centered on the rotation axis 90 as described above, the distance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 (flat surface portion 82b) can be reduced in the after-touch performance area. As a result, the dynamic range can be widened (the sensor output value can be greatly decreased in the after-touch performance area) without enlarging the displacement member 8 (coil 100). That is, while the displacement member 8 is miniaturized, after-touch can be accurately detected.

[0092] In particular, in the present embodiment, since the flat portion 82b is formed in a flat shape, the distance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 (flat portion 82b) can be made as close as possible in the playing area of the aftertouch compared to the case where the flat portion 82b is a curved surface with a smaller curvature than the curved surface portion 82a. Therefore, the dynamic range can be effectively widened.

[0093] Also, in the playing area (terminal position) of the aftertouch, since the flat portion 82b and the coil 100 (substrate 10) face each other substantially in parallel, the distance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 (flat portion 82b) can be made as close as possible. This also enables the dynamic range to be effectively widened. Note that "substantially in parallel" preferably means a state in which the flat portion 82b and the coil 100 (substrate 10) face each other in parallel so as not to contact each other, but they may face each other non-parallelly.

[0094] In this way, by widening the dynamic range of the sensor output value, the key-pressing information of the white key 2a can be detected accurately. In particular, when detecting the aftertouch based on the change in the sensor output value as in the present embodiment, it is particularly preferable that the dynamic range is wide (the sensor output value decreases significantly in the playing area of the aftertouch). Thereby, the aftertouch can be detected accurately.

[0095] In the present embodiment, at the initial position before key pressing (see the enlarged portion of FIG. 1), the curved surface portion 82a of the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 are arranged at positions overlapping in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the substrate 10). That is, since the curved surface portion 82a of the detected portion 82 and the coil 100 face each other vertically at the initial position before key pressing, the change in the sensor output value accompanying the rotation of the detected portion 82 can be caused immediately after key pressing. Thereby, the key-pressing information can be detected accurately.

[0096] Here, as a prior art for detecting aftertouch, a technique is known in which a pressure-sensitive sensor is pushed in by a hammer interlocked with the swing of a key when the key is pressed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-234751). In this type of keyboard device, if the key press stopper that regulates the swing of the key when the key is pressed is formed relatively hard, when the key contacts the stopper during key pressing, a feeling of reaching the end of normal performance (hereinafter referred to as "full stroke feeling") is likely to be given to the performer.

[0097] However, if the key press stopper is formed hard, it becomes difficult to greatly displace the key (hammer) during aftertouch performance, so aftertouch cannot be accurately detected. On the other hand, if the key press stopper is simply formed soft, it is difficult to obtain the full stroke feeling when the key contacts the key press stopper, so a performer performing normal performance may push the key into the aftertouch area. Therefore, normal performance and aftertouch cannot be accurately separated and detected. In contrast, the key press stopper 12 of this embodiment is configured to solve such problems.

[0098] The detailed configuration of this key press stopper 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9(a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 along the line IXa-IXa in FIG. 7(b), showing a cross-sectional view of the white key 2a swung to the end position of normal performance. FIG. 9(b) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 along the line IXb-IXb in FIG. 8(a), showing a cross-sectional view of the state where the white key 2a is further pushed in (aftertouch performance is performed) from the state of FIG. 9(a). In FIG. 9, only the main part of the keyboard device 1 is shown, and the illustration of other parts (for example, the key 2 adjacent to the white key 2a) is omitted.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 9, the key press stopper 12 includes a first cushion layer 120 made of foamed urethane that is adhered to the upper surface of the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 by a double-sided tape or an adhesive. On the surface layer side of this first cushion layer 120 (the side plate 21 side of the white key 2a), a hard layer 121 made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is laminated. Further, a second cushion layer 122 made of felt is laminated on the surface layer side of the hard layer 121, and these respective layers 120 to 122 are adhered by an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like.

[0100] Thus, in the present embodiment, a hard layer 121 harder than the first cushion layer 120 is laminated on the surface layer side of the relatively soft first cushion layer 120. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when a pair of side plates 21 of the white key 2a come into contact with the key press stopper 12 (the second cushion layer 122) during key pressing, a relatively hard full-stroke feeling can be imparted to the performer by the hard layer 121.

[0101] Also, even when the hard layer 121 is pushed into the first cushion layer 120 side by a pair of side plates 21 during normal performance, the first cushion layer 120 is compressed as a whole by the relatively hard hard layer 121 (the key pressing force of the white key 2a is dispersed by the hard layer 121), so the pressure applied to the first cushion layer 120 becomes relatively small. Thereby, even if the first cushion layer 120 is relatively soft, it is possible to suppress the white key 2a from being pushed into the aftertouch performance area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a key press intended for normal performance from being detected as an aftertouch.

[0102] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(b), when the hard layer 121 is strongly pushed in during aftertouch performance, the white key 2a can be largely displaced by the deformation of the relatively soft first cushion layer 120. Therefore, aftertouch can be detected accurately. That is, normal performance and aftertouch can be accurately distinguished and detected.

[0103] Also, even if the key pressing stopper 12 is strongly pushed in by the pair of side plates 21, since the hard layer 121 deforms so as to bend, the load due to the pushing can be dispersed by the hard layer 121. That is, since the hard layer 121 can regulate the pair of side plates 21 from deforming by biting into the first cushion layer 120, the durability of the key pressing stopper 12 can be improved (the first cushion layer 120 is less likely to sag).

[0104] Also, the key pressing stopper 12 is linearly formed so as to extend in the scale direction (arrow L-R direction), and the swinging of a plurality of keys 2 arranged in the scale direction (for example, the keys 2 for one octave) is regulated by one key pressing stopper 12. Thereby, even if the key pressing stopper 12 is strongly pushed in by the pair of side plates 21, the pushing force can be effectively dispersed by the bending of the hard layer 121 extending in the scale direction. Therefore, the durability of the key pressing stopper 12 can be improved.

[0105] By improving the durability of the key pressing stopper 12, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the key pressing stopper 12 from gradually becoming thinner over time, and thus it is possible to suppress the normal playing end position from gradually becoming deeper. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the key press intended for normal playing from being detected as aftertouch, and thus it is possible to accurately distinguish and detect normal playing and aftertouch.

[0106] As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to aftertouch, the key pressing information during normal playing until contacting the key pressing stopper 12 is also detected based on the output value of the coil 100. That is, since normal playing and aftertouch are detected by one sensor, in such a configuration, it is particularly preferable to regulate the displacement of the white key 2a with the key pressing stopper 12 provided with the above-described respective layers 120 to 122. Thereby, normal playing and aftertouch can be accurately distinguished and detected.

[0107] However, even in a keyboard device where the sensor for detecting key-pressing information during normal performance (keyboard switch 4) and the sensor for detecting aftertouch (pressure-sensitive sensor 5) are separate sensors as in the above-described conventional technology (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-234751), the rocking of the keys may be regulated by the key-pressing stopper 12 of the present embodiment.

[0108] Here, when simply imparting the full-stroke feeling of normal performance by the hard layer 121 and aiming to greatly displace the white key 2a by the deformation of the first cushion layer 120 during aftertouch performance, for example, the second cushion layer 122 can be omitted. However, when the white key 2a contacts the relatively hard (for example, made of PET) hard layer 121, noise due to the contact is likely to occur.

[0109] Therefore, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to laminate the second cushion layer 122 softer than the hard layer 121 on the surface layer side of the hard layer 121. Thereby, since the impact when the pair of side plates 21 contacts the key-pressing stopper 12 can be absorbed by the second cushion layer 122, the noise generated at the time of their contact can be reduced.

[0110] On the other hand, the first cushion layer 120 is softer than the second cushion layer 122. Thereby, while it is possible to reduce the noise generated when the white key 2a (side plate 21) contacts the key-pressing stopper 12 by the second cushion layer 122, the white key 2a can be greatly displaced by the deformation of the first cushion layer 120 during aftertouch performance.

[0111] The thickness of the first cushion layer 120 is 1.5 mm or more and 8.0 mm or less, the thickness of the hard layer 121 is 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and the thickness of the second cushion layer 122 is 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

[0112] That is, since the thickness of the hard layer 121 is thinner than that of the first cushion layer 120, while enabling the hard layer 121 to impart a full-stroke feeling during normal playing, when performing an aftertouch, the white key 2a can be largely displaced by the deformation of the first cushion layer 120.

[0113] Also, the thickness of the second cushion layer 122 is thicker than that of the hard layer 121 and thinner than that of the first cushion layer 120. Thereby, while enabling the hard layer 121 to impart a full-stroke feeling during normal playing and reducing the noise when the white key 2a (side plate 21) contacts the second cushion layer 122, when performing an aftertouch, the white key 2a can be largely displaced by the deformation of the first cushion layer 120.

[0114] On the side plate 21 of the white key 2a, a stopper portion 28 for restricting the swinging of the white key 2a when it is released is integrally formed. The stopper portion 28 extends downward from the side plate 21, and at the lower end of the stopper portion 28, a bent portion 28a that bends backward (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 9) is formed.

[0115] The bent portion 28a is hooked on the lower surface of the support portion 41 through a through hole 46 formed in the front leg portion 40 (see FIG. 5) of the chassis 4, and on the lower surface of the support portion 41 of the chassis 4, a key release stopper 13 that faces the bent portion 28a vertically is adhered.

[0116] The key release stopper 13 has the first cushion layer 130, the hard layer 131, and the second cushion layer 132 laminated in order from the support portion 41 side of the chassis 4. These layers 130 to 132 have the same configuration as the layers 120 to 122 of the key press stopper 12.

[0117] Therefore, although illustration is omitted, even if the key-off stopper 13 is pushed in by the bent portions 28a of the pair of stopper portions 28 when the white key 2a is released, the first cushion layer 130 is not entirely compressed by the relatively hard hard layer 131 (the pushing force of the white key 2a is dispersed by the hard layer 131), so the pressure applied to the first cushion layer 130 can be reduced. That is, since the hard layer 131 can regulate the pair of bent portions 28a from deforming so as to bite into the first cushion layer 130, the durability of the key-off stopper 13 can be improved.

[0118] Further, the key-off stopper 13 is formed in a linear shape extending in the scale direction, and the swing when the plurality of keys 2 arranged in the scale direction (for example, the keys 2 for one octave) are released is regulated by one key-off stopper 13. Thereby, the pushing force by the pair of bent portions 28a can be effectively dispersed by the deflection of the hard layer 131 extending in the scale direction. Therefore, the durability of the key-off stopper 13 can be improved.

[0119] By improving the durability of the key-off stopper 13, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the key-off stopper 13 from gradually decreasing over time, so it is possible to suppress the height of the white key 2a at the initial position before the key is pressed from gradually increasing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the height of each key 2 arranged at the initial position, and thus the appearance of the keyboard device 1 can be improved.

[0120] Also, by keeping the height of the white key 2a at the initial position before the key is pressed constant, it is possible to suppress the engagement position between the guide pin 73 (see the enlarged portion in FIG. 1) and the groove 80 from deviating from the design value. Therefore, the key-pressing information of the white key 2a can be accurately detected based on the displacement of the displacement member 8 (change in the sensor output value).

[0121] In this way, by regulating the swing of the white key 2a with the stoppers 12 and 13 having a laminated structure, the initial position of the white key 2a before the key is pressed and the end position (height of the white key 2a) during normal performance are less likely to change over time. However, it is difficult to prevent any change over time in the initial position and end position of the white key 2a.

[0122] In contrast, in this embodiment, the sensor output values at the initial position before pressing the white key 2a, the end position of normal performance, and the end position of aftertouch are corrected (calibrated), and the key-pressing information of normal performance and aftertouch is detected based on the corrected values.

[0123] Specifically, for the initial position before key pressing, when it can be determined from the change over time of the sensor output value that the height (sensor output value) of the white key 2a is higher than the first threshold value and the white key 2a is in a stationary state (a state higher than the first threshold value), the height (output value of the sensor) of the white key 2a is corrected so as to be determined as the initial position before key pressing. Note that, as an example, the case where it can be determined from the change over time of the sensor output value that the white key 2a is in a stationary state is the case where the stationary state of the white key 2a continues for a certain period of time.

[0124] Also, for the end position of normal performance, an upward acceleration (deceleration) generated when the white key 2a contacts the key pressing stopper 12 is detected from the change over time of the sensor output value, and the position of the white key 2a at which the upward acceleration occurs (the sensor output value at that position) is corrected so as to be determined as the end position of normal performance.

[0125] Also, for the end position of aftertouch, the position of the white key 2a when the height (sensor output value) of the white key 2a becomes the lowest (the sensor output value at that position) is corrected so as to be determined as the end position of aftertouch.

[0126] By performing such correction, normal performance and aftertouch can be accurately separated and detected. Note that the correction of the sensor output value at each position may be automatically performed during the performance of the performer, or may be performed when the performer starts the correction mode.

[0127] In addition, the correction (calibration) of the sensor output value at each position of the white key 2a described above explains the correction method when the sensor output value decreases as the stroke amount of the white key 2a increases during key pressing. However, the same correction is possible when the sensor output value increases during key pressing. For example, when the sensor output value increases during key pressing, if it can be determined from the change over time of the sensor output value that the sensor output value is in a state lower than the first threshold value, the output value of the sensor may be corrected to be determined as the initial position before key pressing. Further, the value when the sensor output value becomes the highest may be corrected to be determined as the end position of aftertouch.

[0128] Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the keyboard device 201 of the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the case where the detected portion 82 is formed on the displacement member 8 interlocked with the white key 2a was described. In the second embodiment, the case where the detected portion 82 is formed on the hammer 214 interlocked with the white key 202a will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0129] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 201 in the second embodiment. FIG. 11(a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 1 in which the XIa portion of FIG. 10 is enlarged, and FIG. 11(b) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyboard device 201 showing a state in which the white key 202a is pressed from the state of FIG. 11(a) to the end position of aftertouch.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 10, the keyboard device 201 includes a plurality (88 in this embodiment) of keys 202 and constitutes a keyboard instrument (electronic piano). The keys 202 are composed of white keys 202a and black keys 202b, and the plurality of white keys 202a and black keys 202b are arranged in the scale direction (arrow L-R direction).

[0131] On the upper surface of the bottom plate 3, a resin chassis 204 is supported via a channel member 215. On the upper surface of the rear end side (the end on the arrow B side) of the chassis 204, a rotation shaft 247 of the key 202 is provided, and the rear end portion of each key 202 is swingably supported by this rotation shaft 247.

[0132] At a substantially central portion of the chassis 204 in the front-rear direction (the direction of arrow F-B), the hammer 214 is rotatably supported around a rotation axis 248 along the scale direction. The hammer 214 includes a mass portion 214a (mass body) for imparting a key pressing feel when the white key 2a is pressed, and the mass portion 214a is located on the rear side (arrow B side) of the rotation axis 248.

[0133] Among the hammer 214, the portion on the front side (arrow F side) of the rotation axis 248 is configured as a facing portion 214b that faces the substrate 10 when the white key 202a is pressed. On the upper surface of the facing portion 214b, a receiving portion 214c that is recessed downward is formed, and the protrusion 229 of the white key 2a is inserted into the receiving portion 214c.

[0134] The protrusion 229 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the substantially central portion of the upper plate 20 of the white key 202a in the front-rear direction, and the bottom surface of the receiving portion 214c is configured as a sliding surface on which the tip (lower end) of the protrusion 229 slides back and forth.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 11, when the white key 202a is pressed, the protrusion 229 slides along the bottom surface of the receiving portion 214c of the hammer 214, and the facing portion 214b is pushed downward by the protrusion 229, so that the hammer 214 rotates around the rotation axis 248 (clockwise in FIG. 11). Due to the rotation of the hammer 214, the facing portion 214b of the hammer 214 is displaced relative to the substrate 10. In the following description, the outer surface of the hammer 214 facing the direction orthogonal to the axial direction (scale direction) of the rotation axis 248 will be described as the "outer peripheral surface".

[0136] On the outer peripheral surface of the facing portion 214b of the hammer 214, a detected portion 82 similar to that of the first embodiment is formed by adhering a metal plate such as a non-magnetic metal (copper, etc.) or by plating.

[0137] As the stroke amount of the white key 202a increases from the initial position before key depression, the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region increases. On the other hand, when the white key 202a is released after being depressed, the hammer 214 rotates (counterclockwise in FIG. 11) so as to return to the initial position by the weight of the mass portion 214a. Due to this rotation of the hammer 214, the amount of intrusion of the detected portion 82 into the detection region decreases. As a result, the inductance (sensor output value) of the coil 100 changes, and key depression information is detected based on this change.

[0138] The detected portion 82 is formed with a curved surface portion 82a located on the front side in the rotation direction of the hammer 214 during key depression, and a flat surface portion 82b continuous with the rear side of the curved surface portion 82a in the same rotation direction. The curved surface portion 82a is formed in a convex curved shape in a direction away from the rotation axis 248 of the hammer 214, and the flat surface portion 82b is formed in a planar shape extending in the tangential direction of the rear end (the end on the arrow F side) of the curved surface portion 82a.

[0139] Thus, also in this embodiment, since the curvature of the flat surface portion 82b is smaller than that of the curved surface portion 82a of the detected portion 82, the distance between the coil 100 and the detected portion 82 (flat surface portion 82b) in the after-touch performance region can be reduced. As a result, the dynamic range can be widened, so that the sensor output value can be greatly decreased in the after-touch performance region.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 10, the swing when the white key 202a is depressed is restricted by a key depression stopper 12a that contacts the lower surface of the white key 202a and a key depression stopper 12b that contacts the mass portion 214a of the hammer 214.

[0141] Although illustration is omitted, each of these stoppers 12a and 12b has layers 120 to 122 (see FIG. 9) similar to the key press stopper 12 of the first embodiment laminated thereon. Therefore, during normal performance, a relatively hard full-stroke feeling is imparted by the hard layer 121 (see FIG. 9), and during aftertouch performance, the white key 202a can be largely displaced by the deformation of the first cushion layer 120. Therefore, normal performance and aftertouch can be accurately distinguished and detected.

[0142] Further, a stopper portion 228 extends downward from the side plate 21 of the white key 202a, and a bent portion 228a bends forward (arrow F side) from the lower end of this stopper portion 228. When the key-off stopper 13 attached to the chassis 204 comes into contact with this bent portion 228a, the swing of the white key 202a during key-off is restricted.

[0143] Although illustration is omitted, this key-off stopper 13 also has layers 130 to 132 (see FIG. 9) similar to the key-off stopper 13 of the first embodiment described above laminated thereon. Therefore, when the white key 202a is keyed off, the hard layer 131 can restrict the deformation such that the bent portion 228a bites into the first cushion layer 130. Therefore, the durability of the key-off stopper 13 can be improved.

[0144] Although the above has been described based on the above embodiments, it is easily conceivable that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments at all, and various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0145] In each of the above embodiments, the case where normal performance and aftertouch are detected based on the output value of the coil 100 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a sensor for detecting normal performance and a sensor for detecting aftertouch may be provided separately, or a configuration that does not detect aftertouch may be used.

[0146] In each of the above embodiments, non-magnetic metal (such as copper) was exemplified as an example of the material of the detected portion 82 that changes the magnetic field of the coil 100. However, the material of the detected portion 82 may be a magnetic metal or a material other than metal as long as it has conductivity. Examples of materials other than metal include conductive polymers (conductive rubber and conductive resin), carbon, and graphite. That is, the material of the detected portion 82 is not limited as long as it has the property of generating eddy currents in response to changes in the magnetic field.

[0147] In each of the above embodiments, the coil 100 was exemplified as an example of a sensor that detects the key-pressing information (normal performance or aftertouch) of the white keys 2a, 202a, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a sensor that detects key-pressing information based on a change in capacitance may be used, or other known non-contact sensors (for example, the sensor described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-048295) or contact sensors (for example, the pressure-sensitive sensor described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-234751) may be used to detect the key-pressing information.

[0148] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the detected portion 82 is formed on the displacement member 8 or the hammer 214 that rotates in conjunction with the swing of the keys 2, 202 was described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the detected portion 82 may be formed on a displacement member that linearly displaces in conjunction with the swing of the keys 2, 202. As such a displacement member that linearly displaces, the displacement member 307 described in FIGS. 15 and 16 of PCT / JP2022 / 032673 is exemplified.

[0149] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the detected portion 82 is formed by the curved surface portion 82a formed in an arc shape (a curved shape convex in the direction away from the rotation axes 90, 248) centered on the rotation axes 90, 248 and the planar portion 82b extending in the tangential direction at the rear end of the curved surface portion 82a was described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the curved surface portion 82a may be omitted and the entire detected portion 82 may be formed in a planar shape, or the planar portion 82b may be omitted and the detected portion 82 may be formed in a single arc shape. Also, the planar portion 82b may be a curved surface with a smaller curvature than the curved surface portion 82a.

[0150] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the flat portion 82b and the coil 100 (substrate 10) face each other substantially in parallel at the performance area (terminal position) of the after-touch has been described. However, in the same area (terminal position of the key press), the flat portion 82b and the coil 100 (substrate 10) may be non-parallel.

[0151] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the key press stoppers 12 and 12a contact the lower surfaces of the white keys 2a and 202a, or the case where the key press stopper 12b contacts the hammer 214 has been described. However, the arrangements of the key press stoppers 12, 12a, and 12b can be set as appropriate. Therefore, for example, the displacement of the white keys 2a and 202a may be restricted by bringing the key press stoppers 12 and 12a into contact with the lower surfaces of the stopper portions 28 and 228 (bent portions 28a and 228a).

[0152] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the displacement of the white keys 2a and 202a during key press is restricted by the key press stopper 12 including the first cushion layer 120, the hard layer 121, and the second cushion layer 122 has been described. However, it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, some of these layers 120 to 122 may be omitted, or another layer may be added in addition to the layers 120 to 122. As an example of a configuration in which another layer is added, a configuration in which felt is added between the first cushion layer 120 and the support portion 41 of the chassis 4 is exemplified.

[0153] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the first cushion layer 120 is made of urethane foam, the hard layer 121 is made of PET, and the second cushion layer 122 is made of felt has been described. However, it is not necessarily limited to this. Each of the layers 120 to 122 may be formed using other elastic materials such as rubber, resin such as elastomer (synthetic resin), or foamed materials using these resins. That is, the materials of the layers 120 to 122 can be changed as appropriate. For example, when the hardness of each of the layers 120 to 122 is measured with a durometer of type A in accordance with JIS K6253-3:2012, a configuration in which the hardness of the hard layer 121 (second cushion layer 122) is higher than that of the first cushion layer 120, or a configuration in which the hardness of the second cushion layer 122 is lower than that of the hard layer 121 is acceptable.

[0154] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the swinging of a plurality of keys 2, 202 arranged in the scale direction (for example, the keys 2, 202 for one octave) is restricted by a single key depression stopper 12, 12a, 12b or key release stopper 13 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the key depression stopper 12 or key release stopper 13 may be provided for each key 2, 202.

[0155] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the thickness of the hard layer 121 is thinner than the thickness of the first cushion layer 120, or the case where the thickness of the second cushion layer 122 is thicker than the hard layer 121 and thinner than the first cushion layer 120 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the thickness of the hard layer 121 may be thicker than the first cushion layer 120. Also, the thickness of the second cushion layer 122 may be thinner than the hard layer 121 or thicker than the first cushion layer 120.

[0156] In the above first embodiment, the case where the substrate 10 is attached to the holder 9 and the substrate 10 is supported by the chassis 4 via (indirectly) the holder 9 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. A configuration in which the substrate 10 is attached to the chassis 4 (the substrate 10 is directly supported by the chassis 4) may also be used. That is, the "substrate 10 supported by the chassis 4 (support member)" is a concept that includes both the case where the substrate 10 is indirectly attached to the chassis 4 and the case where the substrate 10 is directly attached to the chassis 4. However, the substrate 10 may be supported by the bottom plate 3, and the support position of the substrate 10 can be changed as appropriate.

[0157] In the above first embodiment, the case where one end (front end) of the substrate 10 is inserted into the protrusions 96, 97 of the holder 9 while the other end (rear end) of the substrate 10 is screwed to the fixing portion 112 of the fixing member 11 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, one end of the substrate 10 may be screwed to the holder 9, or one end of the substrate 10 may be hooked on an elastic claw formed on the holder 9. Also, a pair of protrusions similar to the protrusions 96, 97 may be formed on the fixing member 11, and the other end of the substrate 10 may be inserted into the pair of protrusions, or the other end of the substrate 10 may be hooked on an elastic claw formed on the fixing member 11.

[0158] In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the key shaft member 5, the holder 9, and the fixing member 11 are separate parts has been described, but some or all of these parts may be integrally formed.

[0159] In the above-described first embodiment, the case where a plurality of key shaft members 5, holders 9, and fixing members 11 are arranged in the scale direction has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a configuration in which all the keys 2 arranged in the scale direction are pivotally supported by one key shaft member 5, or a configuration in which all the displacement members 8 arranged in the same direction are pivotally supported by one holder 9 may be used. Also, a configuration in which the substrate 10 is supported by one fixing member 11 may be used.

[0160] In the above-described first embodiment, while the guide pin 73 is formed on the interlocking member 7 attached to the white key 2a and the groove 80 with which the guide pin 73 engages is formed on the displacement member 8, a groove may be formed on the interlocking member 7 and a guide pin that engages with the groove may be formed on the displacement member 8. Also, the interlocking member 7 (guide pin 73) may be integrally formed with the white key 2a.

[0161] In the above-described first embodiment, the case where a part (wall portion 91, attached portion 92, and connecting portion 95) of the holder 9 located on the displacement locus of the displacement member 8 functions as a regulating member that regulates the contact between the detected portion 82 (flat portion 82b) and the coil 100 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a site that regulates the displacement of the displacement member 8 may be provided on the chassis 4 (support portion 41) or other parts supported by the chassis 4.

[0162] In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the white key 2a and the holder 9 are assembled to the same chassis 4 (support portion 41) has been described, but the white key 2a and the holder 9 may be assembled to separate parts.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0163] 1,201 Keyboard device 2,202 Key 2a,202a White key (key) 2b,202b Black key (key) 73 Guide pin 8 Displacement member 80 Groove 82 Detected part 82a Curved surface part (first detected part) 82b Flat surface part (second detected part) 9 Holder (restricting member) 100 Coil 12, 12a, 12b Push key stopper

Claims

1. A plurality of keys arranged in the scale direction, a displacement member that rotates in conjunction with the swing of the keys, a detection portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member and having conductivity, and a coil that faces the detection portion and generates a magnetic field. The detection portion includes at least a curved first detection portion located on the front side in the rotation direction of the displacement member, and a second detection portion that is continuous with the rear side of the first detection portion in the rotation direction and has a smaller curvature than the first detection portion. A keyboard device characterized by this.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion has a property of being able to generate eddy currents in response to a change in the magnetic field.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion is made of metal.

4. A key press stopper that regulates the swing of the key when the key is pressed, and the coil that detects the displacement of the key as aftertouch when the key is further pushed after the key contacts the key press stopper. The keyboard device according to claim 1, characterized by comprising.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the second detection portion is formed in a planar shape.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 5, wherein the second detection portion and the coil face substantially parallel to each other in the performance area of the aftertouch.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 5, wherein the first detection portion faces the coil at the initial position before the key is pressed.

8. One of the key and the displacement member includes a guide pin that protrudes in the scale direction, and the other of the key and the displacement member includes a groove into which the guide pin is slidably inserted. The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating member that regulates the contact between the second detection portion and the coil by regulating the displacement of the displacement member when the guide pin is removed from the groove.

9. A method for detecting key press information of a key in a keyboard device including a plurality of keys arranged in the scale direction, a displacement member that rotates in conjunction with the swing of the keys, a detection portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the displacement member and having conductivity, and a coil that faces the detection portion and generates a magnetic field. A method for detecting key-pressing information, characterized in that the detected part, which is at least composed of a first detected part having a curved surface shape located on the front side in the rotation direction of the displacement member and a second detected part that is continuous with the rear side of the first detected part in the rotation direction and has a smaller curvature than the first detected part, is relatively displaced with respect to the coil to detect the key-pressing information of the key.

10. The method for detecting key-pressing information according to claim 9, characterized in that the detected part has a property of being able to generate eddy currents in response to a change in a magnetic field.

11. The method for detecting key-pressing information according to claim 9, characterized in that the detected part is made of metal.

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