Keyboard Guide Groove Angles for Compact Piano Key Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard devices face an issue where the increase in size in the forward-rearward direction is unavoidable due to varying key dimensions, which affects the displacement trajectories of keys, making it difficult to replicate the playing experience of acoustic pianos effectively.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device design that includes a support member with guide grooves and shafts, allowing white and black keys to swing with unique displacement trajectories, while maintaining a consistent size by adjusting the angle of the guide grooves between keys, thereby curbing the overall size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If key dimensions in forward-rearward direction are varied to simulate acoustic piano displacement trajectories, then the playing experience is improved, but the keyboard device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angle parameter of the guide groove for each key instead of changing the key dimensions. By varying the guide groove angle, each key achieves a unique displacement trajectory that simulates acoustic piano behavior while maintaining uniform key sizes, thus resolving the contradiction between improved playing experience and reduced device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the guide groove angle as an additional design dimension. Instead of varying key lengths in the forward-rearward direction, the solution varies the angular orientation of the guide groove, creating a new degree of freedom that enables trajectory differentiation without increasing overall device dimensions.
2Length of stationary object
If key dimensions are shortened to reduce device size, then the keyboard layout becomes compact, but the displacement trajectories cannot be differentiated for each key
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the guide groove angle parameter to achieve trajectory differentiation. By adjusting the angle of the guide groove for each key position, the system maintains compact key dimensions while still providing unique displacement trajectories for each key, effectively resolving the contradiction between compact size and trajectory differentiation.
3Ease of operation
If guide groove angles are varied for each key, then displacement trajectories are differentiated, but the mold design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mold design into a standardized base mold and variable guide groove components. The guide groove angle variation is achieved through modular adjustments or separate positioning features in the mold, rather than requiring completely different molds for each key angle, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining trajectory differentiation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for a compact keyboard layout that mimics the displacement trajectories of acoustic piano keys, enhancing the playing experience without increasing the device's size, and reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the mold design for key production.
Implementation Method 1
a guide shaft which extends in a scale direction, is inserted into the guide groove, and slides along the guide groove when the key swings
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes: a support member; and keys swingably supported by the support member. One of the support member and the key includes a guide groove guiding swinging of a key rear portion, and the other includes a guide shaft extending in a scale direction, inserted into the guide groove, and sliding along the guide groove when the key swings. The keys comprise white and black keys. When a point where a guide shaft center is positioned in a pre-key-pressed state is a starting point of the guide groove, a point where the guide shaft center is positioned in a state where the key is pressed to an ending edge position is an ending point of the guide groove, and a line connecting the starting and ending points is an angle of the guide groove, the angle of the guide groove differs between the white or black keys.