Modular Piano Keyboard Segmentation for Pocket Portability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable electronic pianos and keyboards are either too bulky to fit in a standard jacket pocket or handbag due to their thickness and rigidity, and existing modular solutions require complex assembly or lack versatility in application types.
Innovation Solution
A modular piano keyboard system composed of disassembled and stackable capacitive key modules, each with a microcontroller and magnetic connection, allowing for easy assembly and reconfiguration, with a thickness less than 3 cm and length over 16 cm, enabling fitting in a jacket pocket, and capable of detecting key pressure intensity and speed, using a Bluetooth transceiver for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible materials with air chambers are used to create a roll-up piano, then the piano can be folded for portability, but the thickness and diameter become too large to fit in a standard jacket pocket or small handbag
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into multiple discrete modules (e.g., 2.5-octave segments) that can be separately assembled and disassembled. Each module contains its own keys, circuitry, and connectors, allowing the keyboard to be configured in different lengths and carried in compact form without requiring the entire keyboard to be folded or rolled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional folded/rolled configuration to a one-dimensional linear assembly of thin modules. By stacking modules edge-to-edge with minimal spacing, the keyboard achieves a thickness of less than 3 cm while maintaining flexibility in length, enabling pocket-portability when configured in shorter versions.
2Ease of operation
If rigid or semi-rigid materials are used to create foldable groups of keys, then the piano can be folded in zigzag for portability, but the structure becomes complex and less versatile compared to loose modular assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into multiple discrete modules (e.g., 2.5-octave segments) that can be separately assembled and disassembled. Each module contains its own keys, circuitry, and connectors, allowing the keyboard to be configured in different lengths and carried in compact form without requiring the entire keyboard to be folded or rolled.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard system allows dynamic reconfiguration by adding or removing modules based on user needs. Users can assemble a 2-octave version for pocket carry or extend to 7-octave configurations when needed, providing adaptability that rigid folded structures cannot achieve.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular keyboards with manual octave selection are used, then the keyboard can be configured in different octaves, but the mechanical connection and tone generation become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical octave selection with electronic identification. Each module contains a microcontroller that automatically identifies its position in the sequence through electrical connections, eliminating the need for manual mechanical octave setting mechanisms while providing the same configurability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each keyboard module is designed as a universal unit that can function in any position within the sequence. The modules use standardized connectors and identical key layouts, allowing them to be assembled in different configurations (2 octaves, 7 octaves, etc.) without requiring position-specific components or manual configuration.
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
The modular design allows for a compact, versatile, and efficient musical instrument that can be easily carried and assembled, providing accurate key pressure detection and data transmission, suitable for various musical applications while maintaining portability.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive keyboard capable of detecting the intensity and speed with which the keys are pressed
Implementation Method 2
magnetic connection
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The present invention describes a modular piano keyboard whose main function is known as the "master keyboard" since it requires an external device to generate the complex tones and surrounding sounds of a classical piano or other musical instruments. More specifically, this modular piano keyboard comprises a main module (mZ) and secondary modules (m1 and successive) and each of which has a plurality of piano keys (k). Each module can be assembled and electrically connected with others allowing the main module (mZ) to know which keys are being pressed in each other module. The main module (mZ) processes the information and delivers it to said external device. In this manner, a modular piano keyboard is obtained which can be disassembled into modules of a defined number of keys or octaves with the objective of being carried in a pocket of jacket or in a small handbag.