Abstract: A signal supply device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a generator configured to generate a first sound signal and a second sound signal in accordance with an instruction signal corresponding to an operation input to an operation body and an adjuster configured to calculate an acceleration of the operation body in accordance with the instruction signal and to adjust a relationship between the first sound signal and the second sound signal on the basis of the acceleration.

Abstract: A keyboard device including a plurality of transmission members which are provided corresponding to a plurality of keys arranged in parallel and each of which makes a rotating motion in response to a depression operation on a corresponding key, a plurality of hammer members which are provided corresponding to the plurality of keys and each of which makes a rotating motion in response to the rotating motion of the transmission member and thereby provides an action load to the key, and a plurality of interlock control sections each of which controls the rotating motion of the hammer member made in response to the rotating motion of the transmission member by a relative motion of an interlock projecting section of the transmission member with respect to a guide hole provided in the hammer member.

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 method and system for controlling actuators in a mechanical reproducing piano or other instrument. In one implementation, a single finite state machine is provided to control all the actuators. The finite state machine may be or include a shift register or a toggle register, which increases the operating speed. When a note is to be played, the desired dynamic is mapped into a start vector and a stop vector. The actuator is turned on when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the start vector, and is turned off when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the stop vector. Furthermore, the period of the finite state machine is adjusted to be directly proportional to the supply voltage. This allows notes to be played at the desired dynamics even when the supply voltage fluctuates.

Abstract: A supporting system is provided on a saxophone for offering assistance to the player, and includes pressure sensors monitoring the touch pieces of the keys, power assisting units equipped with torque motors provided for the keys and a controller connected to the pressure sensors and the power assisting units; a conversion table for depressed touch pieces and another conversion table for released touch pieces are prepared in the controller, and different relations between the finger force and the amount of current to be supplied to the torque motor are respectively defined in the conversion tables, respectively; the amount of current to be supplied is read out from the conversion tables depending upon the increase and decrease of finger force so that the player quickly closes the tone whole with the padded cup without curious key touch.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling actuators in a mechanical reproducing piano or other instrument. In one implementation, a single finite state machine is provided to control all the actuators. The finite state machine may be or include a shift register or a toggle register, which increases the operating speed. When a note is to be played, the desired dynamic is mapped into a start vector and a stop vector. The actuator is turned on when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the start vector, and is turned off when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the stop vector. Furthermore, the period of the finite state machine is adjusted to be directly proportional to the supply voltage. This allows notes to be played at the desired dynamics even when the supply voltage fluctuates.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling actuators in a mechanical reproducing piano or other instrument. In one implementation, a single finite state machine is provided to control all the actuators. The finite state machine may be or include a shift register or a toggle register, which increases the operating speed. When a note is to be played, the desired dynamic is mapped into a start vector and a stop vector. The actuator is turned on when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the start vector, and is turned off when the state of the finite state machine is equal to the stop vector. Furthermore, the period of the finite state machine is adjusted to be directly proportional to the supply voltage. This allows notes to be played at the desired dynamics even when the supply voltage fluctuates.

Abstract: A key driving apparatus for driving a key may include, but is not limited to, a first elastically deformable unit. The first elastically deformable unit is configured to receive a first control voltage. The first elastically deformable unit is configured to show elastic deformations of stretch and shrinkage based on the level of the first control voltage. The first elastically deformable unit is configured to allow the key to be driven by the elastic deformations of stretch and shrinkage of the first elastically deformable unit.

Abstract: Key frame has a key support section that pivotably supports thereon a plurality of keys. Hammer structures are pivotably provided in corresponding relation to and below the keys, each of which pivots in interlocked relation to depression operation of a corresponding one of the keys. On a rear portion of the key frame, there is provided an upper stopper that is elongated and extends in a direction where the keys are arranged. The upper stopper defines an upper end limit of pivoting movement of each of the hammer structures. Opening portion is formed between the key support section and the upper stopper. Wiring cable connected to a circuit board, having switches corresponding to the keys, is run below the key support section, then passed through the opening portion and thence drawn upwardly beyond the upper stopper so that it is led out to a region above the upper stopper.

Abstract: A jig is used in an assemblage between key sensors and an acoustic piano, and the jig has a shutter guide assembled with a casing of optical sensor array for aligning slits with target trajectories of shutter plates and pieces of adhesive double coated tape adhered to the shutter plates for aligning the shutter plates with associated white/black keys, wherein the shutter plates are inserted into the slits so that the shutter plates are placed on the target trajectories, and the white/black keys are moved along the target trajectories until they are brought into contact with the pieces of adhesive double coated tape for temporality tacking the shutter plates to the associated white/black keys.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes an acoustic piano for generating acoustic tones, a silent system for rebounding the hammer assemblies between the escape from the key action mechanisms and strikes against strings and automatic playing system for actuating the key action mechanisms without fingering, and the automatic playing system generates electronic tones on the basis of the key motions monitored by associated key sensors, wherein the space between the rest position and the end position is divided into plural sections, and a controller calculates a key velocity in each of the plural sections so as to exactly determine the key motion, thereby improving the fidelity of the electronic sounds to the key motion.

Abstract: The key actuation system is designed for use with a keyboard instrument of the type that has a key fulcrum which pivotally supports multiple keys. Each key has a front end forward of the fulcrum which is to be depressed by a player, and a rear portion which is positioned rearward of the fulcrum and it pivots upwardly when the front end is depressed. The key actuation system includes a pull solenoid with a coil portion and a piston. When the coil portion of the solenoid is energized, the piston is drawn into the coil portion. The solenoid is mounted such that the coil portion is above one of the keys and behind the key fulcrum. The piston is in mechanical communication with the rear portion of the key so that when the coil portion is energized and the piston is drawn into the coil portion, the rear portion of the key is lifted upwardly.

Abstract: A automatic player piano has an acoustic piano with black/white keys selectively fingered by a player, solenoid-operated key actuators selectively energized with driving signals for moving the black/white keys without the fingering, magnetic velocity sensors for detecting current velocities of the plungers of the solenoid-operated key actuators and a controller connected between the solenoid-operated key actuators and the magnetic velocity sensors and changing the magnitude of the driving signals for matching the current velocities to target velocities, and a magnetic shield structure is provided between the solenoid-operated key actuators and the magnetic velocity sensors so as to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the detecting signals supplied to the controller.

Abstract: A silent electronic keyboard instrument for operation in conjunction with a synthesizer for transmitting sound only electronically to a headphone terminal, and exhibiting keyboard operation substantially duplicative of acoustic piano keyboard operation.

Abstract: An electronic instrument which generates sound using a sound generator upon receipt of a trigger signal. Each pad actuator for generating a trigger signal includes first and second actuators for respectively triggering first and second switches which, upon actuation, generate the trigger signal for the sound generator. The pad actuator is mounted so as to rotate in a first direction about a pivot point upon depression by a user. The first actuator is placed closer to the pivot point than the second actuator and is mounted on a floating cantilever beam such that continued depression of the pad actuator in the first direction after actuation of the first switch by the first actuator causes the first actuator to displace in a second direction opposite the first direction while the second actuator continues to rotate in the first direction about the pivot point until the second switch is actuated by the second actuator.

Abstract: A piano set having automatic playing keys comprises a bracket having a plurality of fixing columns and mounting sockets. A gear set, linkage set of a gear set driven by a motor and connecting shaft of the keyboard are rotationally mounted thereon. The bracket further includes a controlling circuitry which includes a printed circuit board, a battery set, a microswitch and a speaker and which are electrically connected. The keyboard set includes an upper fixing board and a lower fixing board by which a plurality of keys are movably fixed therebetween. Each of the keys is aligned with a driving gear of the connecting shaft. The upper cover is provided with a front recess in which a fallboard is pivotally disposed thereof by means of a fixing plate. The fallboard is provided with a pair of pressing tabs at both sides. When the fallboard is uncovered, those two pressing tabs will trigger on the microswitch such that the motor is powered to drive the gear set and connecting shaft and the connecting rods.

Abstract: A plurality of solenoid-operated actuator units are incorporated in an automatic player piano for selectively driving keys in a playback mode, and share two elongated yoke members interdigitated with one another so as to house the solenoid-operated actuator units as close as possible without sacrifice of electro-magnetic forces produced thereby.

Abstract: A computer system connected through appropriate analog and digital circuitry controls or monitors a piano. Solenoids connected to each piano key and to each note-sounding hammer permit a computer program to control the keys and/or the sounding of a note, as well as transmitting to the computer for storage and analysis information concerning a student's performance.