Abstract: A keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprises at least a plurality of keys, a key support member and a plurality of key-return springs. The key support member rotatably supports the keys; and the key-return spring is provided between the key and key support member so as to press up the key to a normal position. Mechanical parameters which affect a key scaling to key-touch responses of the keys are sizes, shapes and locations of parts of the keyboard assembly, which are set by analyzing motions of an action mechanism of an acoustic piano. For example, weight of the key is adjusted using a deadweight member so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key. An amount of elastic resilience, made by the key-return spring, is adjusted by changing at least one location, at which one end of the key-return spring is terminated, so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key.

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: An electronic piano includes an electronic keyboard; a graphical user interface, having a video display and a touch responsive overlay, for displaying graphical images representing controllable parameters of the electronic piano and generating control signals; a control system for the electronic piano and the graphical user interface; a piano housing supporting the electronic keyboard and providing a desk surface above the keyboard; and a music stand mounted to the desk surface 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 flush with the music support surface or recessed.

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 keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument includes a key displacement detection unit. The key displacement detection unit includes a first resilient member, a movable member connected to the first resilient member, a second resilient member connected to the movable member, and a base fixing member connected to the second resilient member. The base fixing member may be directly or indirectly fixed to a keyboard musical instrument so that the key displacement detection unit is mounted to the keyboard musical instrument. A first displacement detection sensor is coupled with the first resilient member for detecting a key depression force in a key depression-release direction, and a second displacement detection sensor is coupled with the second resilient member for detecting a key depression force in a key arrangement direction. Both the first displacement detection sensor and the second displacement sensor are mounted on the key displacement detection unit.

Abstract: A keyboard for an electronic instrument and an electronic piano providing a key touch and a key touch response similar to those of an acoustic piano and stabilizing the key touch response for each key. Two detection positions of a key stroke are detected by a jack tail sensor or a jack sensor by detecting contact of a jack tail equivalent member or a jack equivalent member, before or after a hammer equivalent member disengages from or releases from a jack equivalent member. A time difference between the two positions is not adversely affected by the let-off of the jack equivalent member. Therefore, the positions and the time difference are detected stably for each key. Sound timing and sound intensity are controlled based upon the detected positions and time difference between the positions. Therefore, a key touch response, similar to that of an acoustic piano, can be stably obtained for each key.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is fabricated on the basis of an acoustic piano, and a hammer stopper and solenoid-operated actuators are provided for hammer assemblies and black and white keys; and a controller instructs the solenoid-operated actuators to move the black and white key at different velocities depending upon the position of the hammer stopper, and causes the acoustic piano to give little offense to the ear at a blocking position of the hammer stopper.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has an upright piano, an automatic playing system for exerting forces on the keys of the upright piano instead of a player on the basis of music data codes and an electronic sound generating system for generating electronic sounds from the music data codes, and a player can perform an ensemble through a fingering on the keyboard of the upright piano together with the electronic sound generating system.

Abstract: A polyphonic electronic musical instrument is provided including a keyboard, an information processing system, e.g., a microprocessor-controlled computer system, and a tone generating device. The processing system processes data received from the keyboard and sends note-on/note-off commands to the tone-producing device. The processing system groups keys of the keyboard into "key sets". Keys within each set occupy different rows of the keyboard. The processing system commands the tone generating device to effectively produce not more than one tone corresponding with each key set at any one time regardless of how many keys within the set are depressed. A key set may operate in "sustain mode," in which depression of a first key produces a tone which sustains without interruption as long as at least any one key of the same set is in depressed position. Alternately, a key set may operate in "repetition mode.

Abstract: An acoustic upright piano, an electronic sound system and a hammer stopper form in combination a keyboard musical instrument for generating acoustic sounds in an acoustic sound mode and electronic sounds in an electronic sound mode, and the hammer stopper has a rotatable shaft extending in a lower space under damper blocks of damper assemblies, cushion members projecting into an upper space over the damper blocks and connecting brackets provided between the rotatable shaft and the cushion members, thereby perfectly interrupting hammer motions before an impact on strings in the electronic sound mode.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes an acoustic piano for generating acoustic sounds, an electronic system for generating electronic sounds and a silent system for selecting one of the acoustic sounds and the electronic sounds, and the electronic system is equipped with key sensors and hammer sensors so as to determine a loudness of the electronic sound and a timing for a tone-generation from a key position signal or a hammer position signal depending upon a fingering on a keyboard.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for generating acoustic piano tones and an electronic sound mode for generating electronic sounds instead of the acoustic piano tones, and a stopper is changed between a free position and a blocking position by an actuator controlled through detection with photo-interrupters, thereby eliminating aged deterioration from the position control between the free position and the blocking position.

Abstract: A hammer sensor of a keyboard musical instrument monitors a hammer action from a home position to a rebounding point on a stopper or strings, and a controller determines a hammer velocity and a time at an intermediate point on a trajectory of the hammer in a recording mode; the controller delays the time so as to determine a key-on timing, and an electronic system reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the key-on timing in a playback mode so as to reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the same timing as the original sound.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument selectively generates acoustic sounds and electronic sounds depending upon a mode selected by a player, and has a hammer stopper for interrupting hammers before strikes at strings and an escape accelerator for accelerating an escape of a jack from the hammer assembly in the silent mode earlier than an escape in the acoustic sound mode, thereby preventing the hammer assembly from capture between the jack and the hammer stopper without deterioration of the piano key touch.

Abstract: An musical tone control device, employed by an electronic keyboard instrument, comprises a keyboard frame, a stopper member and a sensor. The keyboard frame is located beneath an arrangement of keys in the keyboard and is provided to support the keys in a vertical direction as well as in a horizontal direction. The key is normally pressed upward by a key-return spring. The stopper member comprises a base part, a flexible part, having flexibility In a selected direction, and an edge portion which are assembled together. The base part is fixed to the keyboard frame. The edge portion of the stopper member provides at least a lower-limit stopper for the key. The sensor is attached to the flexible part so as to sense a deformation of the stopper member in the selected direction. An output of the sensor is used to control a musical tone in terms of a specific musical parameter such as pitch.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has a hammer stopper provided between strings and hammer assemblies and operative to prevent the strings from hammer heads for electronically producing sounds in response to a fingering on a keyboard, and a driving mechanism for the hammer stopper is provided on the opposite side of the hammer assemblies so as to accommodate the driving mechanism in a wide space.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has an acoustic piano for generating acoustic sound in an acoustic sound mode, an electronic sound generating system for generating electronic sounds on the basis of detecting signals of hammer sensors in an electronic sound mode and a stopper operative to prevent strings from hammers in the electronic sound mode, and a change-over mechanism changes the hammer sensors between a closed position and a spaced position so that the electronic sound generating system exactly determines the intensities of the electronic sounds.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument has a metallic keyboard chassis and a balance rail provided on the keyboard chassis. A plurality of pins are provided on the balance rail. The pins and the balance rail constitute fulcrums for swingably supporting white keys and black keys. A hammer is provided in a rear side of each of the white and the black keys so as to be swingable by swinging of each of the respective keys by a second fulcrum comprising oval cross sectional shafts extending outwardly from the side surface of one of the hammer and a bearing member, the side surface extending perpendicular to a direction of swing movement of the hammer and a pair of bearing recesses for pivotally receiving the shaft, the bearing recesses being formed in the other of the hammer and the bearing member. Each of the bearing recesses has a guide slot for guiding each of the shafts from outside into the bearing recess for assembling.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a key which drives a swing arm. The swing arm transfers return force from a coil spring or other return force mechanism to the key. The rotational axis of the swing arm is perpendicular to the length of the keyboard. Various key position sensing means utilizing the swing arm are disclosed as well.

Abstract: A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument is constructed by a plurality of keys, a key frame, a plurality of key guides and a pressure sensor. On the key frame, a plurality of keys are arranged such that each of them can freely rotate about the predetermined fulcrum point. The key guides are provided on the key frame, while each of the key guides supports each of the keys such that each of the keys can slide along guide surfaces of each of the key guides when the key is depressed. The pressure sensor is provided at the guide surface of the key guide. This pressure sensor senses the pressure applied thereto in a lateral direction corresponding to a disposing direction of the keys in the keyboard unit when the key is depressed. When the key is moved in the lateral direction while being depressed down, the pressure sensor senses the pressure applied to the key in the lateral direction so that the predetermined musical parameter (e.g.

Abstract: In order to allow a player to perform a music without an acoustic sound, a stopper blocks hammer shanks before impacts of hammer heads to strings, and recesses substantially conformal to the hammer shanks are formed in cushion members of the stopper for improving durability of the cushion members.

Abstract: An acoustic piano, an electronic sound producing system and a controlling system form a keyboard instrument for selectively producing acoustic sounds and electronically synthesized sounds, and the controlling system has a catcher stopper for restricting rotations of catchers before hammer heads strike sets of strings in the electronic sound producing mode, thereby giving the unique piano key-touch to a player without mixing noise with the synthesized sounds.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for performing a music with acoustic piano sounds and an electronic sound mode for performing a music with synthetic sounds, and a rotary stopper is provided between hammer shanks and strings for interrupting a rotation of the hammer toward the strings in the electronic sound mode; wherein a cushion is provided on the rotary stopper for damping an impact of a damper leaving from the strings in both acoustic and electronic sound modes so that a player can perform a music without a noise.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for producing piano tones and into an electronic sound mode for producing synthetic tones, and comprises an acoustic piano, an electronic sound generating system and a mode controlling system, wherein the mode controlling system has a stopper slidable along strings of the acoustic piano so that the strings are struck by or blocked from hammers of the acoustic depending upon the position of the stopper.

Abstract: An acoustic piano is equipped with an electronic sound generating system, and a key bed structure is angularly movable between an acoustic sound mode and an electronic sound mode for changing gaps between hammer heads and sets of strings, thereby allowing a player to perform a music with acoustic sounds or synthesized sounds.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument has a metallic keyboard chassis and a balance rail provided on the keyboard chassis. A plurality of pins are provided on the balance rail. The pins and the balance +*rail constitute fulcrums for swingably supporting white keys and black keys. The fulcrums for the black keys are disposed on the same line with, or in front of, the fulcrums for the white keys. Hammers are provided in a rear of the keys so as to be swingable by swinging of each of the respective keys. The hammers are disposed on the same axis of rotation, and a position for the black keys to operate to swing the respective hammers is located in front of a position for the white keys to operate to swing the respective hammers such that an angle of rotation of the respective hammers becomes substantially equal to each other. A stopper member for restricting the swinging movement of the keys or the hammers are provided in a rear upper portion of the keys.

Abstract: A hammer stopper is moved into and outof an orbit of an extension of a hammer shank depending upon an operation mode, and the extension rebounds on the hammer stopper in an electronic sound producing mode between an escape of a jack from a butt and a strike of a hammer head at a set of strings so that a player performs a music through synthesized sounds without sacrifice of the piano key-touch.

Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus for an electronic keyboard musical instrument has a shelf board constituting a casing of the musical instrument. The shelf board has a sound emission opening and a first port. A loudspeaker is mounted on an upper side of the shelf board in alignment with a fringe of the sound emission opening. A first speaker box is mounted on the upper side of the shelf board so as to enclose the loudspeaker and the first port. A second speaker box is mounted on a lower side of the shelf board in fluid communication with the first speaker box via the first port. The second speaker box has a second port.

Abstract: Sound signal generator, comprising a housing (1,2) containing a microcontroller for the storage and control of reproduction of several sound messages, and a loudspeaker for reproducing the said sound messages connected to the in lieu thereof microcontroller. The housing of the sound-signal generator also carries, over at least a portion of its outer wall, a keyboard associated with the microcontroller and formed by selection keys (3) respectively bearing identification symbols for the sound messages stored in the microcontroller.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising a wooden key which is swingably supported by a fulcrum on a metallic keyboard chassis and which is returned from its depressed position by returning means, a precisely constructed balance rail of metal or plastic is provided on the metallic keyboard chassis, and the wooden key is directly supported by the balance rail.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument is provided, comprising a keyboard housing having a top and a bottom; a handle attached to and extending from the bottom of the keyboard housing; a keyboard having a plurality of keys operatively attached to the top of the housing; a plurality of keyboard controls, mounted on the keyboard housing; a sound component housing; at least one speaker mounted in the sound component housing; a synthesizer, mounted within the sound component housing; and keyboard, sound component and communications circuitry. The instrument may include a volume expression control mounted in the handle, enabling user to control volume expression while maintaining the instrument in a horizontally oriented plane.

Abstract: An acoustic keyboard musical instrument such as a piano includes a keyboard, a mechanical musical tone generating mechanism, a fallboard, and an operation panel for an external electronic musical tone generating unit. The keyboard includes a plurality of keys aligned on a musical instrument body. The fallboard is pivotally supported by the musical instrument body and to be closed/opened so as to cover/uncover the keyboard. The musical tone generating unit electrically generates a musical tone signal in response to a key depression on the keyboard under the control of control information which is provided by switches on the operation panel. The operation panel is located at a position opposite to a performer in the inner surface of the fallboard when the fallboard is open so that the performer can operate the operation panel during his performance at the keyboard.

Abstract: A manually played control device mounted on the playing board of an electronic keyboard instrument, to be played by one hand of a player while the other hand plays the main keys. The main keys produce usual control signals whereas the control device produces electrical control or sound signals for the variation, supplementing and completion of the control signals produced by the main keys. A plurality of continuous and/or gradual control signals can be played simultaneously for a subtle control and shaping of sound parameters, such as volume, pitch, timbre and noise, through the use of a control handle which is movable in several directions and in several planes and is sensitive to the variable load by the player's hand.

Abstract: A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type, such as a synthesizer, electronic piano, organ or controller keyboard. The keyboard includes an electromechanical key actuation and sensing element that in combination with electronic processing allows the performer to adjust both tactile and tone control parameters associated with keyboard touch response. The tactile response can be tuned over a broad range and is capable of simulating a light organ touch, heavier "piano key feel" or stiff percussive action. Since any of these features can be selected and adjusted while the performer is playing the keyboard, the keyboard system also has a desirable "real time" capability that does not interfere with musical performance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a keyboard structure incorporated in an electronic keyboard instrument the keyboard structure including; a plurality of key members each having a depressible front end portion and a rear end portion; a plurality of flexible connecting members each merged with the rear end portion of each key member; a retainer member merged with the flexible connecting members for retaining a circuit board which carries a plurality of key switches; and a plurality of coupling members each having a first element merged with the rear end portion of each key member and a second element merged with the retainer member, and the first element is snapped into the second element, so that major members are simultaneously formed by a molding, thereby enhancing the assembling efficiency.