Keyboard device
The keyboard device achieves compactness by using a frame with varying side wall heights and recesses to accommodate internal components without key interference, enhancing miniaturization and efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024006218
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-31
AI Technical Summary
The miniaturization of electronic keyboard devices is limited due to the need to house components such as circuit boards, speakers, and battery boxes within the housing, leading to interference between these components and the keys when pressed.
A keyboard device design that includes a frame with white keys of varying side wall heights and recesses to accommodate components without overlapping, allowing for compact arrangement and preventing interference during key presses.
The design enables a compact keyboard device by minimizing interference between keys and internal components, facilitating a more compact and efficient layout.
Smart Images
Figure 2025112119000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a keyboard device. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a keyboard device in which a structure is provided under some of a plurality of white keys.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, the development of electronic keyboard devices such as electronic pianos has been underway. In an electronic keyboard device, it is necessary to provide members such as a circuit board for processing signals from sensors for detecting key presses, a speaker for sound generation, a battery box (or battery), and a cable used as wiring inside the housing (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 2).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] As described above, in an electronic keyboard device, since it is necessary to house the above members inside the housing, there is a limit to the miniaturization of the electronic keyboard device. Therefore, in order to achieve both the reduction in the depth direction and the reduction in the height direction of the keyboard device, it has been considered to arrange a circuit board, a speaker, a battery box, and a part of the structure of the cable under the keys. However, when a structure is arranged under the keys, there is a problem that the key and the structure interfere with each other when the key is pressed.
[0005] One of the objects of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a compact keyboard device.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a frame, a first white key swingably connected to the frame, and a second white key swingably connected to the frame and adjacent to the first white key. The first white key includes a first side wall and a second side wall at both ends in a first direction in which the first white key and the second white key are arranged. The second white key includes a third side wall and a fourth side wall at both ends in the first direction. The second side wall and the third side wall face each other, and the height of the third side wall is smaller than the height of the second side wall.
[0007] The first white key may be the key at the outermost end in the first direction among three or more white keys including the first white key and the second white key.
[0008] The keyboard device further includes a first member provided between the upper surface of the frame and the second white key. In a top view, the first member at least overlaps with the fourth side wall and may not overlap with the second side wall.
[0009] The first member may be at least any one of a circuit board, a reinforcing rib, a boss, a battery box, a cable, and a speaker.
[0010] In a state where the first key is pressed, the positions of the lower ends of the first side wall and the second side wall may be below the upper end of the first member.
[0011] The height of the first side wall may be the same as the height of the second side wall, and the height of the third side wall may be the same as the height of the fourth side wall.
[0012] A keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a frame, a first white key and a second white key swingably connected to the frame, and a speaker provided on the upper surface of the frame. The first white key overlaps with the speaker in a top view, the second white key does not overlap with the speaker in a top view, and the height of the side wall of the first white key is smaller than the height of the side wall of the second white key.
[0013] The keyboard device further includes a third white key swingably connected to the frame. In a top view, the third white key is closer to the speaker than the second white key. The height of the side wall of the second white key may be greater than the height of the side wall of the third white key.
[0014] A keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a frame, a first white key and a second white key swingably connected to the frame, and a speaker provided on an upper surface of the frame. The first white key overlaps the speaker in a top view, the second white key does not overlap the speaker in a top view, and the height of the side wall of the first white key is greater than the height of the side wall of the second white key.
[0015] The keyboard device further includes a third white key swingably connected to the frame. In a top view, the third white key is closer to the speaker than the second white key. The height of the side wall of the second white key may be smaller than the height of the side wall of the third white key.
Advantages of the Invention
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a compact keyboard device can be provided.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017]
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[0018] Hereinafter, a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referred to in this embodiment, the same parts or parts having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals (reference numerals with A, B, etc. appended after the numbers), and repeated descriptions thereof may be omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings (ratios between components, ratios in the vertical, horizontal, and height directions, etc.) may differ from the actual ratios for convenience of explanation, and a part of the configuration may be omitted from the drawings. In the following description, based on the vertical direction in each drawing, there may be expressions such as "upper", "above", "upper end", "lower", "below", and "lower end", but these vertical directions only explain the relative directional relationship and may be reversed.
[0019] [1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Configuration of Keyboard Device] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the keyboard device in the first embodiment. The keyboard device 1 is an electronic keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano that produces sound in response to a key press by a user (performer). The keyboard device 1 may be a keyboard-type controller that outputs control data (e.g., MIDI) for controlling an external sound source device in response to a key press. In this case, the keyboard device 1 may not have a sound source device.
[0020] The keyboard device 1 includes a keyboard assembly 10. The keyboard assembly 10 includes white keys 100w-1, 100w-2 and black keys 100b. When there is no need to distinguish between the white keys 100w-1 and 100w-2, they are simply referred to as white keys 100w. When there is no need to distinguish between the white keys 100w and the black keys 100b, they are simply referred to as keys 100. A plurality of keys 100 are arranged side by side in the D1 direction. The plurality of keys 100 have a longitudinal direction in the D2 direction. The number of keys 100 is N, which is 88 in this example. The direction in which these keys 100 are arranged is called the scale direction (D1 direction). The keyboard device 1 has a longitudinal direction in the D1 direction.
[0021] A part of the keyboard assembly 10 is inside the housing 90. When the keyboard device 1 is viewed from above, the portion of the keyboard assembly 10 covered by the housing 90 is called the non-exposed part NV, and the portion exposed from the housing 90 and visible to the user is called the exposed part PV. That is, the exposed part PV is a part of the key 100 and indicates an area where a performance operation can be performed by the user. Hereinafter, the portion of the key 100 exposed by the exposed part PV may be referred to as the key body part.
[0022] Inside the housing 90, a circuit board 60, a sound source device 70, and a speaker 80 are arranged. Although details will be described later, the circuit board 60 is provided under the white key 100w-2. In this embodiment, among the adjacent white keys 100w, the white key 100w that does not overlap the circuit board 60 in top view is the white key 100w-1, and the white key 100w that overlaps the circuit board 60 is the white key 100w-2. The white key 100w-1 may be referred to as the "first white key". The white key 100w-2 may be referred to as the "second white key". Note that the circuit board 60 may be, for example, a detection circuit for detecting a key press, a control circuit for controlling the musical instrument body, a signal conversion circuit, a relay circuit for relaying between each circuit board, or a circuit board provided with a sound source, a power supply, an amplifier, various interfaces (for example, a headphone, a microphone, a USB device, or a MIDI device, etc.).
[0023] The circuit board 60 may be referred to as the "first member". The first member is a member provided between the upper surface of the frame 20 and the white key 100w-2. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the first member is the circuit board 60 is illustrated, but the first member may be other structures. The first member may be a reinforcing rib, a boss, a battery box, a cable, or a speaker. That is, the sound source device 70 or the speaker 80 may be incorporated in the circuit board 60, or may be provided at that position instead of the circuit board 60. The sound source device 70 generates a sound waveform signal in accordance with the depression of the key 100. The speaker 80 outputs the sound waveform signal generated in the sound source device 70 to the external space. The keyboard device 1 may include a slider for controlling the volume, a switch for switching the tone color, a display for displaying various information, and the like.
[0024] In the description in this specification, directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back indicate the directions when the keyboard device 1 is viewed from the player during performance. For example, it can be expressed that the non-appearance part NV is located on the back side of the appearance part PV. There are also cases where directions are indicated based on the key 100, such as the key front side (key forward side) and the key rear side (key backward side). In this case, the key front side indicates the front side as viewed from the player with respect to the key 100. The key rear side indicates the back side as viewed from the player with respect to the key 100. According to this definition, it can be expressed that, among the black keys 100b, the part protruding upward from the front end to the rear end of the key body portion of the black key 100b is higher than the white key 100w.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound source device in the first embodiment. The sound source device 70 includes a signal conversion unit 710, a sound source unit 730, and an output unit 750. The sensor 300 is provided corresponding to each key 100, detects the key operation, and outputs a signal according to the detected content. In this example, the sensor 300 outputs a signal according to the three-stage key depression amount. The key depression speed can be detected according to the interval of this signal.
[0026] The signal conversion unit 710 acquires the output signals of the sensors 300 (sensors 300-1, 300-2, ···, 300-88 corresponding to 88 keys 100), and generates and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation state of each key 100. In this example, the operation signal is a signal in MIDI format. In response to a key-pressing operation, the signal conversion unit 710 outputs a note-on. At this time, the key number indicating which of the 88 keys 100 has been operated and the velocity corresponding to the key-pressing speed are output in association with the note-on. On the other hand, in response to a key-releasing operation, the signal conversion unit 710 outputs the key number and note-off in association with each other. Signals corresponding to other operations such as a pedal may be input to the signal conversion unit 710 and reflected in the operation signal.
[0027] The sound source unit 730 generates a sound waveform signal based on the operation signal output from the signal conversion unit 710. The output unit 750 outputs the sound waveform signal generated by the sound source unit 730. This sound waveform signal is output to, for example, the speaker 80 or the sound waveform signal output terminal.
[0028] [1-2. Configuration of Keyboard Assembly] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the housing in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard assembly 10 includes white keys 100w-1, a frame 20, a housing 90, a support portion 91, a shaft 92, a guide portion 93, and a sensor 300. The support portion 91 and the guide portion 93 are fixed to the frame 20. The shaft 92 supports the white key 100w-1 so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame 20. In other words, the white key 100w-1 is swingably connected to the frame 20. The guide portion 93 restricts the position and rotation range of the white key 100w-1 in the D1 direction. The front end portion of the white key 100w-1 receives an upward force by a weight or a spring (not shown). The sensor 300 is a sensor that detects the process in which the white key 100w-1 moves from the rest position toward the end position in response to a pressing operation on the white key 100w-1, and is disposed on the lower surface side of the white key 100w-1 in this example.
[0029] In this embodiment, an example configuration where the white key 100w is rotatably supported with respect to the frame 20 has been illustrated, but the configuration is not limited to this. The white key 100w may be swingably supported with respect to the frame 20 via a flexible hinge or the like. As long as the front end of the white key 100w can swing in the vertical direction by the user pressing the key, the white key 100w may be supported by a configuration other than a hinge.
[0030] [1-3. Configuration of the white key 100w-1] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a white key in an embodiment of the present invention. The white key 100w-1 includes a key upper surface portion 110, a key front surface portion 120, and a key side plate portion 130. As the key upper surface portion 110 and the key front surface portion 120, acrylic resin (PMMA resin), ABS resin, AS resin, and unsaturated polyester resin are used. As the key side plate portion 130, a wooden member is used. The key upper surface portion 110 is a member that comes into contact with the user's finger during performance.
[0031] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a white key in an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view shown in FIG. 5 is a perspective view when the white key 100w-1 is cut at the position of the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the white key 100w-1 includes a key side surface portion 140 in addition to the above members. The white key 100w-1 has a hollow structure. In other words, the key side surface portion 140 is substantially U-shaped. The two key side surface portions 140 extend from both ends of the key upper surface portion 110 in the D1 direction in the D3 direction and face each other. A recess 141 is provided in the key side surface portion 140, and the key side plate portion 130 is embedded in the recess 141. The key side surface portion 140 and the key side plate portion 130 may be collectively referred to as a side wall 150.
[0032] [1-4. Configuration of the white key 100w-2] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the housing in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the white key 100w-2 is shown. The configuration shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, but is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 3 in that the circuit board 60 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 20 and the side wall 150 of the white key 100w-2 corresponding to the region where the circuit board 60 is provided is recessed upward. Since the other configurations in FIG. 6 are the same as those shown in FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit board 60 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 20 via the base 61. A recess 155 is provided in the side wall 150 of the white key 100w-2. The recess 155 is provided in a region corresponding to the position where the circuit board 60 is provided. By providing the recess 155 in the side wall 150, it is possible to prevent the side wall 150 from colliding with the circuit board 60 when the white key 100w-2 is pressed. Although details will be described later, the recesses 155 are provided in both side walls 150 provided at both ends of the white key 100w-2 in the D1 direction.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard device in one embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when cut along the line A1-A2 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the white key 100w-1 is provided in a region that does not overlap with the circuit board 60, and the white key 100w-2 is provided in a region that overlaps with the circuit board 60. The white key 100w-1 (first white key) includes side walls 151 and 152 at both ends in the D1 direction. The white key 100w-2 (second white key) includes side walls 153 and 154 at both ends in the D1 direction. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the side walls 151 to 154, the side wall 150 is used as described above.
[0035] The side wall 151 is referred to as the "first side wall", the side wall 152 as the "second side wall", the side wall 153 as the "third side wall", and the side wall 154 as the "fourth side wall" in some cases. In this case, it can be said that the second side wall and the third side wall face each other, and the height of the third side wall is smaller than the height of the second side wall. The height of the first side wall is the same as the height of the second side wall, and the height of the third side wall is the same as the height of the fourth side wall. Note that the height of the side wall means the length from the key upper surface portion 110 (110-1, 110-2) to the tip of the side wall 150 in the D3 direction.
[0036] As described above, by reducing the height of the side wall of the white key 100w provided in the region corresponding to the position where the circuit board 60 is provided, a structure can be arranged in the space under the key. In this embodiment, in a top view, the circuit board 60 and the side wall 153 do not overlap, but the height of the side wall 153 is the same as the height of the side wall 154. By having such a configuration, similar to the white key 100w-1, the balance of the white key 100w-2 in the D1 direction can be kept good. However, the height of the side wall 153 may be larger than the height of the side wall 154.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, among the plurality of keys 100, the outermost white key in the D1 direction is the white key 100w-1. For the outermost white key 100w in the D1 direction, when the key is released, its key side plate portion 130 is easily visible from the side. If the height of the side wall 150 is reduced in the outermost white key 100w, its structure may be visible to the user. To avoid such a situation, the white key 100w-1 is used as the outermost white key 100w in the D1 direction as described above.
[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, an example of a configuration in which the height of the side wall 150 of some of the white keys 100w-2 in the D2 direction is smaller than the height of the side walls 150 of the other parts (a configuration in which a recess 155 is provided in the side wall 150) is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the height of the side wall 150 may be the same as the height of the side wall 150 in the recess 155 of FIG. 6, and the height of the side wall 150 may be the same throughout the entire D2 direction. In this case, the height of the front end of the frame 20 may be adjusted so that the lower end of the front end portion of the white key 100w-2 at the time of key release is not visible to the user.
[0039] Even in the case of FIG. 6 and in the case of FIG. 8, when the white key 100w-2 is in a key-pressed state, the lower end of each of the side walls 150 (corresponding to the side walls 153 and 154 in FIG. 7) is located above the circuit board 60. On the other hand, when the white key 100w-1 shown in FIG. 3 is in a key-pressed state, the lower end of each of the side walls 150 (corresponding to the side walls 151 and 152 in FIG. 7) is located below the circuit board 60. That is, by making the height of the side walls 153 and 154 smaller than the height of the side walls 151 and 152, it is possible to prevent the side walls 153 and 154 from colliding with the circuit board 60 when the keys are pressed.
[0040] [2. Second Embodiment] The keyboard device 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1A shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1 shown in FIG. 7, but the two differ in that there are three or more types of heights of the side walls 150A of the white key 100wA, the height of the side walls 150A changes stepwise, and a speaker 80A is provided as a structure under the key 100A. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and mainly the differences from the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, when describing the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 8, and the reference numerals shown in these figures will be appended with the alphabet "A" for description.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 9, the height of the side wall 150A gradually decreases from the white key 100wA-1 toward the white key 100wA-2. The height of the side wall 150A gradually increases from the white key 100wA-2 toward the white key 100wA-3. That is, in the region from the white key 100wA-1 to the white key 100wA-3, the height of the side wall 150A of the white key 100wA-2 is the smallest. A speaker 80A is provided on the upper surface of the frame 20A. The white key 100wA-2 is the key that overlaps with the speaker 80A in top view.
[0042] The height of the side wall 150A gradually decreases from the white key 100wA-3 toward the white key 100wA-4. The height of the side wall 150A gradually increases from the white key 100wA-4 toward the white key 100wA-5. That is, in the region from the white key 100wA-3 to the white key 100wA-5, the height of the side wall of the white key 100wA-4 is the smallest. The white key 100wA-4 is the key that overlaps with the speaker 80A in top view.
[0043] The white keys 100wA-2 and 100wA-4 that overlap with the speaker 80A in top view may be referred to as "first white keys". The white keys 100wA (for example, white keys 100wA-1, 100wA-3, 100wA-5) that do not overlap with the speaker 80A in top view may be referred to as "second white keys". In this case, it can be said that the height of the side wall 150A of the first white key is smaller than the height of the side wall 150A of the second white key.
[0044] The white keys 100wA-6 and 100wA-7 that do not overlap with the speaker 80A in top view and are closer to the speaker 80A than the white key 100wA-3 in top view may be referred to as "third white keys". In this case, it can be said that the height of the side wall 150A of the second white key is larger than the height of the side wall 150A of the third white key.
[0045] As described above, in the keyboard device 1A according to the present embodiment, an acoustic space SS is provided above the speaker 80A. By providing the acoustic space SS, the sound waves emitted from the speaker 80A spread in the D1 direction, so that the bias of the propagated sound in the D1 direction can be suppressed. As a result, the user can be made to feel that sound is being emitted from the entire area of the keyboard device 1. In the case where the height of the side walls of all the keys is the same as in a conventional keyboard device, most of the sound emitted from the speaker leaks upward through the gaps between the keys provided above the speaker and is propagated. Therefore, the user feels that the volume is larger in the area where the speaker is located and smaller in other areas, and the volume difference is large.
[0046] In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the acoustic spaces SS are provided at two locations on the left and right is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in addition to the left and right acoustic spaces SS shown in FIG. 9, an acoustic space SS may be provided near the center.
[0047] [3. Third Embodiment] The keyboard device 1B according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1B shown in FIG. 10 is similar to the cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1A according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, but the direction in which the speaker 80B is provided is different from that of the keyboard device 1A. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the second embodiment will be omitted, and mainly the differences from the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, when describing the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 9, and the reference numerals shown in these figures will be appended with the alphabet "B" for description.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 10, the height of the side wall 150B from the white key 100wB-1 to the white key 100wB-5 is the same as the height of the side wall 150A from the white key 100wA-1 to the white key 100wA-5 shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the speaker 80A is arranged to emit sound upward (the center cap and the conical diaphragm face upward), while in FIG. 10, the speaker 80B is arranged to emit sound downward. That is, the speaker 80B is arranged in a state where the magnet and the yoke are located above the center cap.
[0049] The frame 20B is provided with a sound emission hole 21B. The sound emission hole 21B is a hole provided in a region overlapping the speaker 80B in plan view and is a hole penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the frame 20B. The sound wave emitted from the speaker 80B passes through the sound emission hole 21B and is propagated to the lower surface of the frame 20B. When a sound wave is emitted downward from the speaker 80B, a sound wave having a phase opposite to that of the sound wave emitted downward is also emitted upward. The sound wave emitted upward is propagated above the key 100 through the acoustic space SS in the same manner as the keyboard device 1A shown in FIG. 9. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a single sound emission hole 21B is provided for one speaker 80B is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. A plurality of sound emission holes smaller than the sound emission hole 21B may be provided in a region overlapping the speaker 80B in plan view.
[0050] As described above, in the keyboard device 1B according to the present embodiment, since the sound wave emitted from the speaker 80B spreads in the D1 direction due to the acoustic space SS above the speaker 80B, the bias of the propagated sound in the D1 direction can be suppressed.
[0051] [4. Fourth Embodiment] With reference to FIG. 11, the keyboard device 1C according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1C shown in FIG. 11 is similar to the cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1A according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, but differs from the keyboard device 1A in that the position where the speaker 80C is provided and the shielding plate 200C is provided on the speaker 80C. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the second embodiment will be omitted, and mainly the differences from the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, when describing the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 9 are referred to, and the reference numerals shown in these figures are appended with the alphabet "C" for explanation.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 11, the height of the side walls 150C of the white keys 100wC-1 to 100wC-5 is the same as the height of the side walls 150A of the white keys 100wA-1 to 100wA-5 shown in FIG. 9. On the other hand, in FIG. 11, the speaker 80C provided on the upper surface of the frame 20C overlaps the white key 100wC-3 in a top view. Further, a shielding plate 200C is provided between the speaker 80C and the white key 100wC-3. The shielding plate 200C is provided in at least a region that overlaps the white key 100wC-3 in a plan view, and is provided at a height (position in the D3 direction) that does not interfere with the white key 100wC-3 in a pushed-in state. The shielding plate 200C reflects the sound emitted from the speaker 80C.
[0053] The white key 100wC-3 that overlaps the speaker 80C in a top view may be referred to as the "first white key". The white keys 100wC (for example, the white keys 100wC-2 and 100wC-4) that do not overlap the speaker 80C in a top view may be referred to as the "second white keys". In this case, it can be said that the height of the side wall 150C of the first white key is greater than the height of the side wall 150C of the second white key.
[0054] In a top view, the white keys 100wC-6 and 100wC-7 that do not overlap with the speaker 80C and are closer to the speaker 80C than the white keys 100wC-2 and 100wC-4 in a top view may be referred to as "third white keys". In this case, it can be said that the height of the side wall 150C of the second white key is smaller than the height of the side wall 150C of the third white key.
[0055] As described above, in the keyboard device 1C according to the present embodiment, the shielding plate 200C is provided above the speaker 80C, and the acoustic space SS is provided on the side of the speaker 80C. The sound waves emitted from the speaker 80C toward the white key 100wC-3 are reflected by the shielding plate 200C, spread in the D1 direction, pass through the acoustic space SS, and are propagated, for example, above the white keys 100wC-2 and 100wC-4. As a result, pseudo-stereo sound can be realized from one speaker 80C.
[0056] In addition, in the present embodiment, a configuration for realizing stereo sound by providing the shielding plate 200C above the speaker 80C is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, instead of providing the shielding plate 200C or in combination with the shielding plate 200C, a configuration in which the speaker 80C is tilted or placed sideways so that sound waves are emitted from the speaker 80C toward the acoustic space SS may be used.
[0057] [5. Fifth Embodiment] The keyboard device 1D according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1D shown in FIG. 12 is similar to the cross-sectional structure of the keyboard device 1A according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, but is different from the keyboard device 1A in that the position of the acoustic space SS formed by the difference in the height of the side wall 150D and the shielding plate 200D is provided on the speaker 80D. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the second embodiment will be omitted, and mainly the differences from the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, when describing the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 9 will be referred to, and the reference numerals shown in these figures will be described with the letter "D" appended.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 12, the height of the side wall 150D gradually decreases from the white key 100wD-1 toward the white keys 100wD-3. The height of the side wall 150D gradually increases from the white key 100wD-3 toward the white keys 100wD-5. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the acoustic space SS extends below the white key 100wD-3. Further, shielding plates 200D are provided between the speaker 80D and the white key 100wD-2, and between the speaker 80D and 100wD-4, respectively. The shielding plate 200D is provided in at least a region that overlaps the white keys 100wD-2 and 100wD-4 in a plan view, and is provided at a height (position in the D3 direction) that does not interfere with the white keys 100wD-2 and 100wD-4 in the pushed-in state. The shielding plate 200D reflects the sound emitted from the speaker 80D.
[0059] As described above, in the keyboard device 1D according to this embodiment, the sound waves emitted from the speaker 80D toward the white key 100wD-2 and the sound waves emitted from the speaker 80D toward 100wD-4 are each reflected by the shielding plate 200D, spread in the D1 direction, pass through the acoustic space SS formed near the center of the keyboard device 1D, and are propagated upward. As a result, it is possible to realize a widening of the sound emission area like that of an acoustic piano.
[0060] In this embodiment, a configuration for realizing a widening of the sound emission area by providing the shielding plate 200D above the speaker 80D is illustrated, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, instead of providing the shielding plate 200D or in combination with the shielding plate 200D, a configuration in which the speaker 80D is tilted or oriented sideways so that sound waves are emitted from the speaker 80D toward the acoustic space SS may be used.
[0061] In the above-described second to fifth embodiments, a configuration in which 17 white keys 100w are arranged in the D1 direction is illustrated, but the configuration is not limited to this. The number of white keys 100w can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of the keyboard device.
[0062] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof. Each of the embodiments described above as embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in appropriate combination as long as they do not conflict with each other.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0063] 1: Keyboard device, 10: Keyboard assembly, 20: Frame, 21B: Sound emission hole, 60: Circuit board, 61: Base, 70: Sound source device, 80: Speaker, 90: Housing, 91: Support portion, 92: Shaft, 93: Guide portion, 100: Key, 100b: Black key, 100w: White key, 110: Key upper surface portion, 120: Key front surface portion, 130: Key side plate portion, 140: Key side surface portion, 141: Recess, 150 to 154: Side wall, 155: Recess, 300: Sensor, 710: Signal conversion portion, 730: Sound source portion, 750: Output portion, NV: Non-appearance portion, PV: Appearance portion, SS: Acoustic space
Claims
1. A frame, a first white key swingably connected to the frame, and a second white key swingably connected to the frame and adjacent to the first white key, wherein the first white key includes a first side wall and a second side wall at both ends in a first direction in which the first white key and the second white key are arranged side by side, the second white key includes a third side wall and a fourth side wall at both ends in the first direction, the second side wall and the third side wall face each other, and the height of the third side wall is smaller than the height of the second side wall. A keyboard device.
2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the first white key is the key at the outermost end in the first direction among three or more white keys including the first white key and the second white key.
3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a first member provided between the upper surface of the frame and the second white key, wherein, in a top view, the first member overlaps at least the fourth side wall and does not overlap the second side wall.
4. The keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein the first member is at least one of a circuit board, a reinforcing rib, a boss, a battery box, a cable, and a speaker.
5. The keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein, in a state where the first white key is pressed, the positions of the lower ends of the first side wall and the second side wall are located below the upper end of the first member.
6. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the first side wall is the same as the height of the second side wall, and the height of the third side wall is the same as the height of the fourth side wall.
7. A frame, a first white key and a second white key swingably connected to the frame, and a speaker provided on the upper surface of the frame, wherein the first white key overlaps the speaker in a top view, the second white key does not overlap the speaker in a top view, and the height of the side wall of the first white key is smaller than the height of the side wall of the second white key. A keyboard device.
8. The keyboard device according to claim 7, further comprising a third white key swingably connected to the frame, wherein the third white key is closer to the speaker than the second white key in a top view, and the height of the side wall of the second white key is greater than the height of the side wall of the third white key.
9. A frame, a first white key and a second white key swingably connected to the frame, and a speaker provided on the upper surface of the frame, wherein the first white key overlaps the speaker in a top view, the second white key does not overlap the speaker in a top view, A keyboard device, wherein a height of a side wall of the first white key is greater than a height of a side wall of the second white key. **Claim 10** further comprising a third white key swingably connected to the frame, wherein, in a top view, the third white key is closer to the speaker than the second white key, The keyboard device according to claim 7, wherein a height of a side wall of the second white key is smaller than a height of a side wall of the third white key.
Citation Information
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