Abstract: Keys of an acoustic piano require balancers for cancellation of a part of self weight of the action units/hammers; however, the balancers are liable to be dropped off due to the aged deterioration of the wooden bars; in order to keep the balancers stable in the keys against the aged deterioration, the balancer is plastically deformed so as to bite into the wooden bar, the balancer, which is formed with thorns, is rotated so as to make the thorns bite into the wooden bar, the balancer is shaped into a configuration different from the holes so as to exert resilient force on the inner surface in a direction in parallel to the grain of wood, or the balancer is inserted into a constricted hole so as to strongly exert the resilient force on the inner surface, thereby being prevented from the dropping off from the keys.

Abstract: An automatic player reenacts a music passage on an acoustic piano without any fingering of a human player; solenoid-operated key actuators and a solenoid-operated pedal actuator is provided for the keys and damper pedal; the automatic player makes the damper pedal travel along a simulative pedal trajectory, and the central processing unit stores pieces of control data expressing the pedal stroke together with the amount of mean current supplied to the solenoid-operated pedal actuator; the central processing unit analyzes the pieces of control data so as to determine an entry point of half pedal section and an exit point of the half pedal section, and specifies a target half point in the half pedal section; while reenacting a music passage, the automatic player brings the damper pedal to the half point so as to reproduce the half pedal state, exactly.

Abstract: A data acquisition system is used in the transplantation of the piano key touch from an acoustic piano to an electronic piano, and the function thereof is broken down into a table producer, a motion controller and a servo-controller; a table, which expresses relation between current key positions and the amount of current supplied to key actuators, is stored in the table producer; the table producer supplies pieces of test data to the motion controller, which determines reference test trajectories, and the servo-controller forces the keys to travel thereon through the key actuators; sensors reports the current key positions and current key velocity to the table producer, and the table producer produces tables expressing pieces of inner force data through the analysis on these data; the tables are supplied to an inner force sense controlling system, which reproduce the key touch in the electronic piano.

Abstract: An automatic player piano includes key sensors, solenoid-operated key actuators and a controller, which form a servo-control loop, and the key motion is reproduced under the control of the servo-control loop; the servo-control loop adjusts the driving pulse signal to a target duty ratio or mean current so as to force the black and white keys to travel on reference key trajectories; the controller categorizes the key motion in half-stroke or full-stroke, and determines the target duty ratio on the basis of a deviation between the target key position and the actual key position, a deviation between the target key velocity and the actual key velocity and the sort of key motion so as to make the key motion stable.

Abstract: A testing system is incorporated in an automatic player piano for specifying a half pedal point of a damper pedal at which the loudness of tones is lessened, and an automatic player moves the damper pedal to the half pedal point so as to lessen the loudness of tones in an automatic playing; the testing system accumulates pieces of experimental data expressing relation between the loudness of tones and a current pedal position of the damper pedal, and searches the pieces of experimental data for points of reflection; and the testing system determines the half pedal point through an internal division on the line between the points of reflection.

Abstract: Detector detects movement of a hammer (driven member) that strikes a string (abutted member) by moving in response to operation of a key. On the basis of detection outputs of the detector and a given abutment-presuming reference value, it is presumed that the hammer has struck or abutted against the string. For example, performance event data is generated on the basis of the abutment presumption. In order to minimize errors due to variation over time or aging of a hammer action mechanism, a determination section determines that the hammer has, actually or with a high probability, reached an abutting position where the hammer abuts against the string, and the abutment-presuming condition in accordance with the determination result. It is determined that the hammer has reached the abutting position, by comparing, on the basis of detection outputs of the detector, movement of the hammer toward the string and movement of the hammer away from the string.

Abstract: A set of formation data codes, which includes action event codes and duration codes, is loaded in an automatic player piano, and a controller interprets the action event codes for driving the solenoid-operated key actuators; since the solenoid-operated key actuators slowly push the associated keys, the hammers do not reach the strings, and any piano tone is not produced; the plungers make the keys sunk to different depth so that the keys are laid on a artistic pattern; the controller sequentially changes the artistic pattern, and offers an artistic visual expression to the audience.

Abstract: A 2 manual musical keyboard with the pitch progression on one of the manuals reversed. The keys on these manuals are segregated into 2 groups of 2 different heights in the same way as a standard musical keyboard. The key configurations on these manuals have 12 semi-tones linearly distributed across 12 keys of alternating heights. Instead of the traditional 7 lower keys (white) and 5 upper keys (black), this arrangement has 6 lower keys and 6 upper keys. The notation system for this unique keyboard is a dual character set. Six unique characters for the upper keys and six unique characters for the lower keys. The musical staff for this unique keyboard will have six lines assigned to one character set and the six spaces assigned to the other character set.

Abstract: An integrated computer and music keyboard module includes a key assembled base, on a first side of which a plurality of music keys are parallelly arranged. The key assembled base is provided on at least one lateral end with a connecting member for turnably connecting at least one extended module thereto. The extended module includes an extended key assembled base, on a first side of which a plurality of music keys are arranged, and on a second side of which a plurality of computer keys are arranged. When the extended module is turned about the connecting member to an extended position, a music keyboard is shown; and when the extended module is turned to a folded position, the computer keys are exposed to serve as a computer keyboard.

Abstract: A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and music function keys for producing musical effects, At least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the music function keys and musical keys. The music function keys have functionality to produce the musical effect. The modification is only affective while the alphanumeric key is pressed after the musical function key has been pressed. The modification is to change the musical sound produced by the musical keys, and a further modification can be effected by relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A keyboard and a method for manufacturing the keyboard using silicon rubber. The method for manufacturing the keyboard includes forming sheets from silicon rubber; forming the sheets into a top pad with keys integrally formed thereon and a bottom pad bonded to a bottom surface of the top pad; painting the keys through a silk-screen printing method; and bonding the top and bottom pads with silicon liquid rubber in a state where a flexible printed circuit board is interposed between the pads. The keyboard is configured such that the painted keys are arranged on a top surface of the top pad and the flexible printed circuit board is interposed between the top and bottom pads so that the flexible printed circuit board is electrically contacted to produce a desired sound from a speaker of a controller when a user strikes the keys.

Abstract: An electronic piano is provided in which activation of a keyboard (7) and foot pedals (8) causes sound to be generated and output via a pair of conventional cone loudspeakers (210–212) each comprising a tweeter (214), a woofer (216) and a base (218). Simultaneously with the activation of the conventional cone loudspeakers (210, 212), sound corresponding to the notes played by using the keyboard (7) is also generated and output via two distributed mode loudspeakers (220, 222) which are arranged to output sound through the inducement of resonant vibrations. The conventional cone loudspeakers (210–212) act as a series of discrete point sound sources. The distributed mode loudspeakers (220, 222) act as diffuse point sources generating sound across the entire surface area of the panels (220, 222). The air disturbance patterns propagated by the two different types of sound source result in sound more closely emulating the sound generated by a conventional high quality acoustic grand piano.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kind of computer keyboard being able to detect the pressing pressure of keys. The computer keyboard comprises: a plurality of keys; a detecting unit, which outputs a detecting signal according to the pressing pressure of the plurality of keys; and a keyboard controller, which generates a key code according to the detecting signal and sends the key code to a digital device.

Abstract: An upright keyboard instrument comprises a prescribed number of keys that are interlocked with actions, hammer assemblies, and a plate spring unit, which is interlocked with a loud pedal. When the key is depressed, the action is activated to drive the hammer assembly, thus producing a musical tone. Each of plate springs is normally arranged close to an end portion of a whippen included in the action. Upon depression of the key, the end portion of the whippen comes in contact with the plate spring to cause a resistive force, which is transmitted back to a player's finger depressing the key. When the loud pedal is depressed, the plate spring departs from the end portion of the whippen, which becomes free to rotate upon depression of the key, thus realizing loudness effect on sound.

Abstract: A multimedia console incorporating an alphanumeric keyboard, and a musical key-bed is described for generating multimedia work product conveniently when coupled with a digital personal computer or optionally as a stand alone music equipment. The musical key-bed is detachably coupled with a protective cover for providing ergonomic support when, said musical key-bed is not being used.

Abstract: A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and music function keys for producing musical effects, At least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the music function keys and musical keys. The music function keys have functionality to produce the musical effect. The modification is only affective while the alphanumeric key is pressed after the musical function key has been pressed. The modification is to change the musical sound produced by the musical keys, and a further modification can be effected by relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the use of the white keys of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard for the playing a selected scale whereby all while keys of the keyboard are remapped to the selected scale such that adjacent keys of the keyboard can be used to play adjacent notes of the selected scale. There is also disclosed a method for providing a functional aspect to at least one black key of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard, wherein upon a key of the keyboard being pressed, a first check is conducted to determine if a user has activated the selected scale setting; and if the selected scale function has been activated, a second check is conducted to determine if the key is a black key or a white key. If the key is a black key a second lookup table is checked based on a MIDI message for the black key to determine a corresponding functional aspect corresponding to the black key.

Abstract: An optical sensor array includes plural sensor heads arranged on a supporting plate at intervals for monitoring moving objects such as black/white keys of a composite keyboard musical instrument; the sensor head has resiliently deformable arms on both side portions thereof and a locating hole/guide groove are formed in the reverse surface portion of the sensor head, and an expander, a grip and projections are formed in the supporting plate; when a worker slides the sensor head on the expander, the resiliently deformable arms make the gap wider so that the grip is pinched between the resiliently deformable arms and that the projections are engaged with the locating hole and guide groove, whereby the sensor head is easily fixed to and located at a predetermined position on the supporting plate.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument that gives the performance feeling closer to that given by an acoustic piano and enables techniques of expression closer to those used when playing the acoustic piano. Touch information is generated based on first information output when an ON event of a first (deep) SW of a switch section occurs, and a tone generator section generates a musical tone according to the touch. When an OFF event of a third (shallow) SW of the switch section occurs during key release, the musical tone being generated is progressively damped, and at the same time a musical tone having a predetermined characteristic is generated. The OFF event of the third SW is made equivalent to a damper-leaving position in a key stroke of an acoustic piano keyboard.

Abstract: A key is an indispensable component parts of an acoustic or electronic keyboard musical instrument, and key balancers are embedded in the key for varying the moment exerted on the key; the key balancers are fastened to the key by means of an anchor so that the key balancers are neither chattered in nor dropped out from the key.

Abstract: A composite keyboard musical instrument comprises an acoustic piano and a silent system, and the silent system includes a hammer stopper split into two parts assigned to higher/middle pitched parts and a lower pitched part, respectively, and a timing changer for accelerating escape of jacks; although the two parts are independently rotatably supported by bearing units, two transmission mechanisms are used in parallel for transmitting torque from only one electric motor to the two parts and timing changer so that the power transmission system is simple.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for musical instruments such as pianos, organs, clavichords, and harpsichords, and methods for making and using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a plurality of keys, a plurality of lever assemblies each operably connected with its corresponding key, and a main fulcrum that together replicate the touch of an acoustic piano keyboard. It can be used in electronic and acoustic instruments, can be adjusted to simulate the feel of a selected type of keyboard instrument, and is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is broken down into an acoustic piano and an automatic playing system, and solenoid-operated key actuators are driven to rotate the black/white keys of the acoustic piano; the space between the keyboard and the array of black/white keys is so narrow that the manufacturer provides the solenoid-operated key actuators in the space below the key bed; plunger holes are formed in the rear portion of the key bed, and the solenoids occupy the space under the key bed so that the plungers project through the plunger holes into the space beneath the rear portions of the keys; the key bed is does not lose the mechanical strength so that the tuning work is not frequently required for the key action units.

Abstract: A silent piano is a composite keyboard musical instrument fabricated on the basis of an acoustic piano, and a pianist plays a tune by piano tones or electronic tones; when the pianist selects the electronic tones, a hammer stopper enters the trajectories of hammers, and a tandem regulating button mechanism changes damping columns onto the trajectories of jacks in such a manner that the jack is brought into contact with the damping column concurrently with a regulating button; since the damping columns are closer to the jack than the regulating buttons, the jack turns at a larger angular velocity so that the hammer is not pinched between the jack and the hammer stopper; the damping columns are moved onto a virtual plane where the regulating buttons are so that the jacks are commonly used between the silent piano and the standard acoustic piano.

Abstract: An electronic piano having a keyboard which is divided into plural zones each comprising two or more keys as one unit. with a tone being allocated to each of the zones. One can play the electronic piano in a sense of play. Besides, since each of the zones can be struck in a lump, this electronic piano is suitable for a person having large hands and fingers or a person declined in dexterity such as an old person or a physically handicapped person. This electronic piano can be utilized as a musical instrument for rehabilitation.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument that gives the performance feeling closer to that given by an acoustic piano and enables techniques of expression closer to those used when playing the acoustic piano. Touch information is generated based on first information output when an ON event of a first (deep) SW of a switch section occurs, and a tone generator section generates a musical tone according to the touch. When an OFF event of a third (shallow) SW of the switch section occurs during key release, the musical tone being generated is progressively damped, and at the same time a musical tone having a predetermined characteristic is generated. The OFF event of the third SW is made equivalent to a damper-leaving position in a key stroke of an acoustic piano keyboard.

Abstract: A composite keyboard musical instrument comprises an acoustic piano and a silent system, and the silent system includes a hammer stopper split into two parts assigned to higher/middle pitched parts and a lower pitched part, respectively, and a timing changer for accelerating escape of jacks; although the two parts are independently rotatably supported by bearing units, two transmission mechanisms are used in parallel for transmitting torque from only one electric motor to the two parts and timing changer so that the power transmission system is simple.

Abstract: There is provided a keyboard apparatus which has a high durability, portability, and operability, and facilitates adaptation to a wide range of musical scenes and to multi-model production. Each adjacent pair of four main cases are pivotally connected to each other via connecting portions, whereby the main cases are allowed to assume a folded position which enables the keyboard apparatus to be carried with ease, and a flat unfolded position in which the keyboard can be played. Each main case has a keyboard unit arranged therein. Three main cases for lower tone ranges each have four white keys arranged therein, and a main case for a highest tone range has three white keys arranged therein, and a total of 25 keys are arranged on the keyboard apparatus. The main case for the highest tone range also has a group of operating elements arranged therein.

Abstract: A hammer sensor includes a photo-filter plate movable together with a hammer assembly and having a base plate fixed to the hammer shank and an arc pattern formed on the base plate and different in transparency from the base plate, a photo radiating element radiating a light beam toward the arc pattern and a photo detecting element disposed on the optical path of the light beam for converting the amount of transmitted light to an electric signal, wherein the photo-filter plate converts the rotational angle of the hammer assembly to the amount of light incident on the photo detecting element, and makes the photo radiating element and the photo detecting element stationary so that a suitable photo-shield case prevents the photo elements from environmental light.

Abstract: An electronic piano is provided in which activation of a keyboard (7) and foot pedals (8) causes sound to be generated and output via a pair of conventional cone loudspeakers (210-212) each comprising a tweeter (214), a woofer (216) and a base (218). Simultaneously with the activation of the conventional cone loudspeakers (210, 212), sound corresponding to the notes played by using the keyboard (7) is also generated and output via two distributed mode loudspeakers (220, 222) which are arranged to output sound through the inducement of resonant vibrations. The conventional cone loudspeakers (210-212) act as a series of discrete point sound sources. The distributed mode loudspeakers (220, 222) act as diffuse point sources generating sound across the entire surface area of the panels (220, 222). The air disturbance patterns propagated by the two different types of sound source result in sound more closely emulating the sound generated by a conventional high quality acoustic grand piano.

Abstract: A MIDI controller musical instrument (80) with buttons (34) on two sensorboards (54,56) for controlling musical notes. The buttons (34) are arranged such that the most harmonious note combinations are played by fingering the most proximate button (34) combinations, and such that any given chord or scale can be played with a characteristic fingering pattern regardless of the range or key signature it is played in. The buttons (34) are placed such that the fingers and thumb of a hand can span the entire note range of the instrument (80). The buttons (34) that control the notes for any one key signature of the major scale are located within their own delimited area which does not contain buttons (34) controlling notes which are not part of that key signature. Notes are assigned to the buttons in such a way that the notes can be tuned to a wide variety of intonations without any consequent necessity to change the fingering patterns of the major scale or its modes.

Abstract: A MIDI controller musical instrument (80) with buttons (34) on two sensorboards (54,56) for controlling musical notes. The buttons (34) are arranged such that the most harmonious note combinations are played by fingering the most proximate button (34) combinations, and so that any given chord or scale may be played with a characteristic fingering pattern regardless of the range or key signature it is played in. The buttons (34) are placed such that the fingers and thumb of ether hand can simultaneously span the entire note range of the instrument (80). The buttons (34) that control the notes of a given major scale may be fingered within the boarders of a common area that does not contain buttons (34) for the notes that are not part of that scale. The buttons (34) are organized so that the notes can be tuned to a wide variety of intonations without altering the fingering of the major scale or its modes.

Abstract: A silent piano is a composite keyboard musical instrument fabricated on the basis of an acoustic piano, and a pianist plays a tune by piano tones or electronic tones; when the pianist selects the electronic tones, a hammer stopper enters the trajectories of hammers, and a tandem regulating button mechanism changes damping columns onto the trajectories of jacks in such a manner that the jack is brought into contact with the damping column concurrently with a regulating button; since the damping columns are closer to the jack than the regulating buttons, the jack turns at a larger angular velocity so that the hammer is not pinched between the jack and the hammer stopper; the damping columns are moved onto a virtual plane where the regulating buttons are so that the jacks are commonly used between the silent piano and the standard acoustic piano.

Abstract: Electronic guitar including a case, a keyboard, a sound synthesis electronic assembly and an output line. The keyboard is divided into an upper keyboard arranged on a neck of the case and a lower keyboard arranged on a body of the case. The upper and lower keyboards constitute a complex array. When a key on the upper keyboard and a key on the lower keyboard are pressed, a determined note is generated by the sound synthesis electronic assembly and can be output to a karaoke CD player. It is thus possible to play this guitar while singing the karaoke.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to change the mode of computer keyboard use from alpha-numeric language orientation to become a musical input keyboard where the keys change meaning for this purpose is provided. The apparatus and method implements a unique musical mapping for a standard computer keyboard such that the musical notes that are most often used in musical composition are mapped to keys of a home row of the standard keyboard. Musical notes that are the next most often utilized in musical composition are mapped to keys in the rows above and below the home row. All other musical notes are mapped based on their relative probability of being used in combination with the notes mapped in the home row and the rows above and below the home row.

Abstract: A silent piano includes a hammer stopper changed between a free position out of the trajectories of hammer shanks and a blocking position on the trajectories for blocking strings from being struck with the hammers and a tandem regulating button mechanism having standard regulating buttons and regulating bars used together with the hammer stopper changed in the blocking position for changing escaping speed of jacks, and an adjusting mechanism is provided between the regulating bars and a shaft for adjusting the regulating bars to appropriate angular positions, wherein the adjusting mechanism has regulating screws projecting from stationary brackets fixed to the shaft into a free space created in front of the array of action mechanisms so that a tuner easily adjusts the regulating bars to the appropriate angular positions without removing the action mechanisms from on the key bed.

Abstract: A multimedia keyboard with instrument playing device comprising a case, a connector and flexible protruding plate mounted on one end of the case. A protruding plate can be inserted into an available slot in the multimedia keyboard, providing a signal connection and a flexible clip. Playing elements such as guitar strings, piano keys, or a drumhead are mounted on the exterior of the case. Several series of flexible conducting elements connected to the playing elements are mounted within the case. When the playing elements are struck or plucked, the conducting elements will deform in direct proportion to the amount of force that has been applied. One signal pickup circuit board including several carbon film resistance plates is mounted on the top or bottom of each flexible conducting elements.

Abstract: Dampers are spaced from and brought into contact with associated sets of strings for defining piano tones, and the vibration absorbing capability is to be equalized among the dampers by regulating the weight, wherein at least one of the damper head and the damper lever is formed of powder-containing synthetic resin so that the damper is economical, durable and free from the environmental pollution.

Abstract: A hammer sensor includes a photo-filter plate movable together with a hammer assembly and having a base plate fixed to the hammer shank and an arc pattern formed on the base plate and different in transparency from the base plate, a photo radiating element radiating a light beam toward the arc pattern and a photo detecting element disposed on the optical path of the light beam for converting the amount of transmitted light to an electric signal, wherein the photo-filter plate converts the rotational angle of the hammer assembly to the amount of light incident on the photo detecting element, and makes the photo radiating element and the photo detecting element stationary so that a suitable photo-shield case prevents the photo elements from environmental light.

Abstract: An electronic guitar comprising a case (1), a keyboard (2), a sound synthesis electronic assembly (3), and an output line (4), characterized in that the keyboard (2) is divided into an upper keyboard (2-1) disposed on the neck (1-1) and a lower keyboard (2-2) disposed on the body (1-2); the upper and lower keyboards constitute a complex array; when a key on the upper keyboard and a key on the lower keyboard are pressed, a predetermined note is generated by the sound synthesis electronic assembly (3) and can be output to a karaoke CD player. It is possible to play this guitar while singing the karaoke, which is more pleasant. This guitar has novel and simple structure and is sure to be welcome.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument that is equipped with an electric tutor for guiding a trainee in practicing manipulation of black and white piano keys, whereby the electric tutor reads pieces of musical data information representative of the black and white keys to be depressed and a timing to depress each of the black or white keys for guiding the trainee in the fingering. More specifically, while the trainee is practicing a piece of music, the electric tutor automatically sinks the designated black or white keys as an advanced notice to the trainee so that the trainee can prepare to depress the keys at the appropriate timing, and whereby the electric tutor sinks the same keys again for an inductive action at the time when such keys are to be appropriately depressed.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument is provided, which is capable of having touch inputs to a key from a finger of a player reflected in his power of expression with higher fidelity even when the single key is successively depressed to repeatedly generate the same tone. A plurality of mass members are each disposed to be pivotally driven in response to depression of the corresponding key. A support device pivotally supports the keys and the mass members. A plurality of musical tone instruction devices provided respectively for the keys each instruct generation and damping of a musical tone in response to depression of a corresponding key, and are each comprised of a first sensor and a second sensor for generating a key event during a stroke of the corresponding key in response to depression thereof or in response to pivotal movement of the corresponding mass member responsive to the depression of the key.

Abstract: Dampers are spaced from and brought into contact with associated sets of strings for defining piano tones, and the vibration absorbing capability is to be equalized among the dampers by regulating the weight, wherein at least one of the damper head and the damper lever is formed of powder-containing synthetic resin so that the damper is economical, durable and free from the environmental pollution.

Abstract: An elastic and tactually-activated structure is applicable to keyboard and comprises a dome-shaped elastic member having a plurality of vent holes arranged on the bottom side thereof and separated with a predetermined distance. The inventive structure further comprises a hard film having an opening corresponding to the location of key of the keyboard, and the bottom end of the elastic member which has a larger diameter being attached upon the opening. The elastic and tactually-activated structure is placed upon the conductive film of the key and the cap of the key is placed upon the top end of the elastic member which has a smaller diameter. When the cap is suppressed, the elastic member is compressed accordingly such that the bump of the elastic member will pass through the opening of the hard film and touch the contact and circuit on the conductive film. The key is therefore formed a closed circuit.

Abstract: An adaptor module includes a graphical user interface having a video display and a touch responsive overlay. The graphical user interface displays graphical images representing parameters of an electronic musical instrument and generating control signals. A computer system is also included in the adaptor module for driving the graphical user interface. A music stand for supporting sheet material, wherein the graphical user interface forms part of the music stand. The graphical user interface can be mounted in an opening in the music stand and can provide a touch screen that is flush with the music support surface or recessed. The computer system is adapted for receiving signals from the electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: An acoustic piano is equipped with a shank stopper moved into and out of trajectories of hammer assemblies and a change-over mechanism for changing the shank stopper, and the change-over mechanism has a pedal, a transmitter connected to the pedal and another transmitter held in contact with the transmitter for transmitting force exerted on the pedal to the shank stopper, wherein the transmitters are only restricted in the direction to transmit the force from the pedal to the shank stopper so that the transmitters are independently disassembled and regulable.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument stores first key touch data codes representative of a first reaction component and grouped into first data groups by a key velocity, second key touch data codes representative of a second reaction component and grouped into second data groups by a key position and third key touch data codes representative of a third reaction component and grouped into third data groups by the key position, and produces a digital key position signal representative of current key position, a digital key velocity signal representative of current key velocity and a digital key acceleration signal representative of current key acceleration so that a solenoid-operated actuator generates a resistance against the key motion on the basis of the first key touch data code selected by using the digital key position signal and the digital key velocity signal, the second key touch data code selected by using the digital key velocity signal and the digital key position signal and the third key touch

Abstract: A stopper, a driver unit, key and pedal sensors, a sound processing unit and a sound system are installed in an acoustic piano so as to remodel the acoustic piano into a keyboard musical instrument performable with either acoustic or electronic sounds.

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: A keyboard musical instrument is a compromise between an upright piano and an electronic keyboard, and a hammer stopper is provided between hammer shanks and sets of strings; the hammer stopper has cushion members on a stopper rail where the hammer shanks rebound before a strike against the strings, and a pair of parallelogram crank mechanisms are connected to both end portions of the stopper rail so as to project the cushion members into and retract them from the trajectories of the hammer shanks, thereby decreasing space occupied by the cushion members.