Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable with respect to a frame, a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support, and a first extension portion disposed to the repetition lever on a jack side with respect to the center of rotation of the repetition lever, the first extension portion being in contact with a stopper from below the stopper.

Abstract: A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.

Abstract: A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.

Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable with respect to a frame, a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support, and a first extension portion disposed to the repetition lever on a jack side with respect to the center of rotation of the repetition lever, the first extension portion being in contact with a stopper from below the stopper.

Abstract: A condenser microphone includes a substrate having a cavity, first and second spacers defining an opening, a diaphragm having a rectangular shape positioned inside of the opening, and a plate having a rectangular shape positioned just above the diaphragm. Plate joint portions integrally interconnected with two sides of the plate are directly attached onto the second spacer. Supports, which are attached onto the second spacer across the opening and project inwardly of the opening, are connected to the prescribed portions of the diaphragm via third spacers relatively to the other two sides of the plate. The center portion of the diaphragm can be designed in a multilayered structure, and the peripheral portion can be bent outwardly. In addition, both ends of the diaphragm are fixed in position, while free ends of the diaphragm vibrate due to sound waves.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point, a mass member for imparting a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key, a transmission member provided in abutment with both of the key and mass member to transmit a load from one of the key and mass member to the other, and an electromagnetic actuator for driving, via a fixed coil, the transmission member toward at least one of the key or mass member. Good key touch feeling can be achieved not only by a load applied from the mass member to the key but also through load control by the actuator. Thus, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a key touch feeling approximate to that in a natural keyboard instrument, such as an acoustic piano, with a simple construction and facilitated control.

Abstract: In a keyboard apparatus including a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point, a mass member that imparts a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key, and an electromagnetic actuator provided between the key and the mass member for imparting a driving force to the key and mass member, a transmission member is provided in detachable abutment with the key and mass member. The transmission member can be disengaged from the key or the mass member depending on operating conditions of the key and the mass member. Thus, it is possible to not only prevent unnecessary binding forces from acting in areas where the transmission member and the key and the mass member abut against each other, but also achieve smooth movement of the key and the mass member and prevent increase of inertial mass of the transmission member. The smooth movement of the key and mass member can achieve force sense control with good responsiveness.

Abstract: In order to detect a state of a key 30, a differential acceleration sensor 38 is provided in addition to a common position sensor 35 and a velocity sensor 36. A reaction force applied by a solenoid unit 20 is determined on the basis of a function which monotonously increases with respect to a differential acceleration signal j in an initial period which is an early stage of depression of a key. After a lapse of the initial period, the reaction force is determined in accordance with velocity, acceleration and the like, referring to a table. As a result, the reaction force rises up rapidly when a key is depressed strongly.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point, a mass member for imparting a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key, a transmission member provided in abutment with both of the key and mass member to transmit a load from one of the key and mass member to the other, and an electromagnetic actuator for driving, via a fixed coil, the transmission member toward at least one of the key or mass member. Good key touch feeling can be achieved not only by a load applied from the mass member to the key but also through load control by the actuator. Thus, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a key touch feeling approximate to that in a natural keyboard instrument, such as an acoustic piano, with a simple construction and facilitated control.

Abstract: Keyboard apparatus includes: a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point; a mass member for imparting a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key; a transmission member provided in abutment with both of the key and mass member to transmit a load from one of the key and mass member to the other; and an electromagnetic actuator for driving, via a fixed coil, the transmission member toward at least one of the key and mass member. Good key touch feeling can be achieved not only by a load applied from the mass member to the key but also through load control by the actuator. Thus, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a key touch feeling approximate to that in a natural keyboard instrument, such as an acoustic piano, with a simple construction and facilitated control.

Abstract: In a keyboard apparatus including a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point, a mass member that imparts a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key, and an electromagnetic actuator provided between the key and the mass member for imparting a driving force to the key and mass member, a transmission member is provided in detachable abutment with the key and mass member. The transmission member can be disengaged from the key or the mass member depending on operating conditions of the key and the mass member. Thus, it is possible to not only prevent unnecessary binding forces from acting in areas where the transmission member and the key and the mass member abut against each other, but also achieve smooth movement of the key and the mass member and prevent increase of inertial mass of the transmission member. The smooth movement of the key and mass member can achieve force sense control with good responsiveness.

Abstract: Three valve assemblies are linked with finger buttons and inserted into a pipe structure of a trumpet for changing the length of air column, and a supporting system assists a player in fingering on the finger buttons; sensors are adhered to the finger buttons so as to supply a detecting signal representative of force exerted on the finger buttons by the player to a controlling unit; when the force exceeds over a threshold, the controlling unit energizes actuators connected to the valve assemblies so as to make the player feel the valve assemblies lightly changed.

Abstract: An approach of a finger of a player to a key in order to conduct an operation for playing music is sensed to exert an external force which resists a depression of the key before the finger whose approach has been sensed touches the key. As a result, the touch feeling of keys of an acoustic piano perceived by a player right after depressions of the keys is realized.

Abstract: In order to detect a state of a key 30, a differential acceleration sensor 38 is provided in addition to a common position sensor 35 and a velocity sensor 36. A reaction force applied by a solenoid unit 20 is determined on the basis of a function which monotonously increases with respect to a differential acceleration signal j in an initial period which is an early stage of depression of a key. After a lapse of the initial period, the reaction force is determined in accordance with velocity, acceleration and the like, referring to a table. As a result, the reaction force rises up rapidly when a key is depressed strongly.

Abstract: A player changes the pitch of tones produced through a trombone by controlling the breath and a slide, and the control of slide is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the trombone, and includes a manipulating board fitted to an appropriate portion of the trombone close to the slide, a driving mechanism connected to the slide and a controlling unit connected to the manipulating board and driving mechanism; when the player wishes to change the pitch of tones through the sliding motion of the slide, he moves a lever on the manipulating board by a distance shorter than a target stroke of the slide, and the controlling unit calculates the target stroke so as to supply a driving signal to the driving mechanism; and the driving mechanism exerts force on the slide so as to assist the player in varying the length of the column of air.

Abstract: An approach of a finger of a player to a key in order to conduct an operation for playing music is sensed to exert an external force which resists a depression of the key before the finger whose approach has been sensed touches the key. As a result, the touch feeling of keys of an acoustic piano perceived by a player right after depressions of the keys is realized.

Abstract: A saxophone has a complicated key mechanism for selectively closing and opening tone holes, and fingering on touch buttons and keys is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the saxophone so as to assist a human player in fingering, and includes sensors, actuators and a controlling unit; while the human player is fingering on the touch buttons and keys, the sensors inform the controlling unit of changes of the depressed touch buttons and depressed keys, and the controlling unit supplies driving signals to the actuators associated with the tone holes to be closed so as to permit the human player easily and quickly to play music tunes.

Abstract: Three valve assemblies are linked with finger buttons and inserted into a pipe structure of a trumpet for changing the length of air column, and a supporting system assists a player in fingering on the finger buttons; sensors are adhered to the finger buttons so as to supply a detecting signal representative of force exerted on the finger buttons by the player to a controlling unit; when the force exceeds over a threshold, the controlling unit energizes actuators connected to the valve assemblies so as to make the player feel the valve assemblies lightly changed.

Abstract: A saxophone has a complicated key mechanism for selectively closing and opening tone holes, and fingering on touch buttons and keys is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the saxophone so as to assist a human player in fingering, and includes sensors, actuators and a controlling unit; while the human player is fingering on the touch buttons and keys, the sensors inform the controlling unit of changes of the depressed touch buttons and depressed keys, and the controlling unit supplies driving signals to the actuators associated with the tone holes to be closed so as to permit the human player easily and quickly to play music tunes.

Abstract: A player changes the pitch of tones produced through a trombone by controlling the breath and a slide, and the control of slide is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the trombone, and includes a manipulating board fitted to an appropriate portion of the trombone close to the slide, a driving mechanism connected to the slide and a controlling unit connected to the manipulating board and driving mechanism; when the player wishes to change the pitch of tones through the sliding motion of the slide, he moves a lever on the manipulating board by a distance shorter than a target stroke of the slide, and the controlling unit calculates the target stroke so as to supply a driving signal to the driving mechanism; and the driving mechanism exerts force on the slide so as to assist the player in varying the length of the column of air.