Keyboard Mass Concentration for Compact Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboard apparatuses with hammers face challenges in achieving a desired touch feeling without increasing the depth and height of the instrument, as the length of the hammers needs to be extended to secure sufficient mass and distance from the pivotal fulcrum, leading to inefficiencies in mass concentration and pivoting angle.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mass concentration part that extends outward beyond the mass member upper limit stopper, allowing for a thicker shape that increases the equivalent mass and inertia moment, while keeping the total length of the mass member short, and a non-extending portion closer to the pivot center restricts the upper limit position, enabling a larger pivotal angle and heavy touch feeling without increasing depth or height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the total length of the hammer is made long to secure sufficient mass and distance from the pivotal fulcrum, then the desired touch feeling is obtained, but the depth of the keyboard apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mass concentration part is positioned in the key width direction (lateral dimension) rather than extending the hammer length in the key longitudinal direction. This dimensional shift allows mass concentration without increasing the depth of the keyboard apparatus, resolving the contradiction between obtaining sufficient mass and maintaining compact depth.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly distributing mass along the entire hammer length, the invention concentrates mass locally in a specific region (the mass concentration part positioned laterally). This local mass concentration achieves the desired inertia moment and touch feeling without requiring the hammer to be long overall, thus avoiding increased keyboard depth.
2Ease of operation
If the mass member upper limit stopper is positioned high to allow sufficient pivoting angle, then the desired touch feeling is obtained, but the height and depth of the keyboard apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mass concentration part extends in the key width direction rather than the vertical direction, allowing the upper limit stopper to be positioned lower without restricting pivoting angle. This dimensional change enables sufficient pivoting range while maintaining lower keyboard height and depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The hammer is segmented into functional parts: a connecting part for force transmission and a separate mass concentration part for inertia control. This segmentation allows the mass concentration part to be positioned laterally without interfering with the vertical pivoting motion, enabling sufficient pivoting angle with a lower stopper position.
3Weight of moving object
If the folded part of the mass concentration part is lengthened to increase the mass of the hammer, then the mass is increased, but the position of the gravity center shifts closer to the pivotal fulcrum reducing the equivalent mass
Solution Approach 1:
The mass concentration part extends in the key width direction (lateral dimension) rather than along the key longitudinal direction. This positional change ensures that increasing the mass of the concentration part does not shift the gravity center closer to the pivotal fulcrum in the rotational axis direction, thereby maintaining a large distance and equivalent mass while increasing total mass.
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 configuration allows for a compact, high-performance keyboard with improved key touch feeling and reduced depth, enabling effective use of upper space and flexible key scaling without extending the hammer length, thus enhancing the mounting design and operability.
Implementation Method 1
the relation of I = ma 2. Therefore, in a case where the hammers extend linearly, since the mass distribution thereof is uniform, it is not possible to secure a sufficient mass and a sufficient distance from the pivotal fulcrum to the gravity center
Implementation Method 2
The hammers pivot in linkage with a key depression operation of the respective keys to give a force depending on their movement as a reactive force against a key depression force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A keyboard apparatus includes: keys composed of white keys (20) and black keys (40) supported pivotably on a key mounting part (10K) of a frame (10); mass members (50W, 50B) pivotably supported on a mass member mounting part (10G) and driven by mass member driving parts (29, 45) provided underside of the keys (20, 40); and a mass member lower limit stopper (84) and a mass member upper limit stopper (83) restricting a pivot range of the mass members (50W, 50B). Each of the mass members (50W, 50B) includes a mass concentration part (52Wc, 52Bc). The mass concentration part (52Wc, 52Bc) extends more outward in a key longitudinal direction than a position where the mass member upper limit stopper (83) on the frame (10) is disposed, and an upper face of the mass concentration part (52Wc, 52Bc) at its highest lifted position is substantially flush with an upper face of a rear end portion of the white key main body.