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: An ideal automatic player piano is assumed to reproduce an original performance from fundamental data representative of a fundamental forward key trajectory and a backward key trajectory; however, if an actual automatic player piano reproduces a forward key trajectory and a backward key trajectory on the basis of the fundamental data, the forward key trajectory and the backward key trajectory do not faithfully reproduce the original key motions; for this reason, the actual automatic player piano learns first offset time at the end position and second offset time at an intermediate position between the end position and the rest position so as to determine a virtual forward key trajectory and a virtual backward key trajectory, and further learns first dead time around the rest position and second dead time around the rest position so as to exactly determining first starting time at the rest position and a second starting time at the end position, thereby moving keys along composite forward/backward trajectories

Abstract: A musical sound generating system which generates musical sounds having desired tone regardless of the variation of volume setting. In the musical sound generating system, the standard tone control touch curve TCstd, the maximum tone control touch curve Tcmax, and the minimum tone control touch curve TCmin when the amplification factor V is standard (a standard amplification factor Vstd), maximum, and minimum respectively are stored. If the amplification factor is higher than the standard amplification factor Vstd, an interpolation between the standard tone control touch curve TCstd and the maximum tone control touch curve TCmax is performed, and the tone control touch curve TC according to the amplification factor V is obtained. Based on the tone control touch curve, the cut-off frequency F corresponding to the velocity value Tv is determined, and then the tone of the musical sound is controlled by the low pass filter with the cut-off frequency F.

Abstract: There is described a motion-to-sound apparatus which provides for musical scores and accompaniments, and lyrics and in response to a movement in three-dimensional space along more than one plane. Further disclosed is a motion-to-sound apparatus for producing sounds responsive both to the final position, or direction of movement, of the detector in space and the acceleration of the device towards that position or along that plane. Control of sound production is oriented such as to be intuitively familiar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately sensing key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which optical emitters and sensors are positioned above the hammer catchers. The optical emitters and sensors are arranged on a plurality of individually addressable sensor boards, and the sensor boards are divided into a plurality of individually addressable sensor banks. Each sensor board is independently and sequentially activated by a controller according to a specified timing sequence. As the controller activates a sensor board in one bank, allowing the board to warm up, another sensor board in the second bank, which has previously been activated and warmed up, is read and analyzed by the controller. Activation and reading of sensor boards alternates between sensor banks as the sensor boards are sequenced through.

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: An automatic player piano controls keys to be rotated by solenoid-operated actuator units in such a manner as to pass a reference point on a trajectory of the key at a reference velocity in a playback mode, and a hammer driven by the depressed key strikes strings at the same intensity as that in a recording mode, because the intensity is variable with the reference velocity at the reference point.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a plurality of keys being displaceable relative to a support member therefor in response to depression thereof. A CPU detects velocity of depression of each of the keys from displacement of the each key caused by depression thereof, and also detects a pressure force or an impact force with which the each key urgingly contacts a stationary member at or near termination of depression of the each key. The CPU is responsive to the detected velocity of depression and pressure force or impact force, for determining initial touch information for a musical tone to be generated or at least one musical tone parameter, and for controlling the musical tone to be generated, based on the determined initial touch information.

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 device for an electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard chassis, keys rotatively arranged on the keyboard chassis, and a key switch arranged beneath each of the keys for detecting a key status of each key. Each key has a switch-depressing projection arranged just above the key switch, and a hammer-depressing projection for depressing a hammer when the hammer is provided, with the switch-depressing projection and the hammer-depressing projection being formed adjacent to each other in one piece.

Abstract: An electronic musical tone signal controller has a resilient operating member, at least two sensors mounted on the operating member at at least two different positions in the longitudinal direction so as to detect the distortion amount of the operating member, a musical tone control signal generating unit for obtaining a force applied to the operating member and a force-applied position of the operating member in accordance with a signal outputted from each sensor, and generating a control signal corresponding to the obtained force and position, and a musical tone signal generating unit for generating a musical tone signal in accordance with the control signal supplied from the musical tone control signal generating unit. The direction of a force applied to the operating member may be obtained by using signals from the sensors to generate a control signal corresponding to the force direction.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided having optical emitters and detectors both positioned beneath each of the instrument's keys, whereby optical energy is emitted upon the bottom reflective surface of the key and the reflected light is detected. The distance between the optoelectronic sensor and the bottom of the key is detected by the light detector which produces an analog output signal and, by measuring the time between a first and second threshold crossing, the key's velocity can be determined. The two thresholds are preferably chosen to measure a rising voltage as the key is depressed, and the threshold values are preferably chosen at 50% of key travel and 75% of key travel. By use of these thresholds, a relatively clean and useful waveform is available at both threshold crossings, particularly since the mechanical movement of the key has nearly reached its terminal velocity.

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: An electronic musical instrument can perform a musical-tone control according to a playing-style. In the instrument, a touch sensor is provided for each key on a keyboard, and pressure sensors are also provided under the keys. Each touch sensor detects a speed data corresponding to a depression speed of the key, and each pressure sensor detects a pressure data corresponding to an initial peak of a depression pressure after the start of the depression of the key. The instrument operates according to the speed data and the pressure data for discriminating between a standard playing-style which touches the key from an upside remote position and a push playing-style which starts depression of the key from a state where the key is touched.

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 play data recording apparatus for a keyed musical instrument converts keying strength information, which is detected by an appropriate detector when one of keys of a keyboard apparatus is operated, into reference keying strength information based on the relationship obtained in advance between keying strength information detected when one of the keys of the keyboards is operated at an arbitrary one or ones of fractionized reference sound volumes and reference keying strength information obtained by digitizing the fractionized reference sound volumes, and then causes the reference keying strength information obtained by the conversion to be stored as one of play data into a storage device.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument employing a keyboard unit provides a position sensor with respect to each of plural keys so as to detect a depressed position of the key in a real-time manner. A key-operating velocity is calculated from the depressed positions of the key which are sequentially detected by the position sensor. A critical velocity is determined in advance with respect to each of the depressed positions of the key. The critical velocity is defined as a minimum velocity by which a hammer can strike a string when a hammer moves from a position corresponding to each of the depressed positions of the key. One of the channels is selected in accordance with a predetermined algorithm on the basis of a result of a judging operation which judges whether or not the key-operating velocity exceeds the critical velocity corresponding to a current depressed position of the key. Then, a tone-generation task to produce a musical tone signal responsive to a key-operation event is assigned to a selected channel.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes an operator such as a bar-like touch operator having a play position to be designated, which play position is arranged in a predetermined direction thereof, a tone pitch designation circuit for generating tone pitch information corresponding to the play position, a tone generation designation operator such as keys in a keyboard for generating tone generation designation information in accordance with a tone generation designation operation, and a tone generator for generating a tone signal corresponding to the tone pitch information provided by the tone pitch designation operator in response to the tone generation designation information provided by the tone generation designation operator.

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 key touch detector, for an electronic musical instrument, that detects key touch states, comprises: a first switch to be closed at a first key displacement position disposed along the line of travel of a depressed key; a second switch to be closed at a second key displacement position disposed along the line of travel of the depressed key; a key depression detector for detecting the closure of the first switch and the closure of the second switch; a touch data computer for computing touch data for the depressed key during a period that begins following the closure of the first switch and ends with the closure of the second switch; and delay circuitry for deferring initiation of touch data computation by the touch data computer until a predetermined time has elapsed following the closure of the first switch.

Abstract: A touch controller according to the present invention can allow both wide expression and easy play of an electronic musical instrument by controlling a degree of the initial touch effect based on performance data in real time. According to the present invention, a width of a tone volume or an attack speed of a musical tone which can be controlled according to initial touch data is controlled in real time based on another performance data. As another performance data, an elapse time from a key OFF event of an immediately preceding performance tone or an elapse time from a key ON event of an immediately preceding performance tone may be used.

Abstract: A striker designed to strike or be swung for playing music is provided with a musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device including switching members. When the striker strikes or swings, the switching members perform a switching action which triggers the transmitting of a musical sound-initiating command signal from the musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device. A desired musical sound is produced by a musical sound producing unit in response to the musical sound-initiating command signal. A number of different timbres can be selectively used for a musical tone, by operating a timbre-selecting switch provided on the striker.

Abstract: This invention discloses a touch response setting apparatus with which a player can rewrite a touch response curve for converting key touch data into tone generation tone level data. The touch response curve is defined by a polygonal line having at least a low touch setting point and a high touch setting point, and is stored in a RAM which receives a key touch input as an address, and outputs tone level data. In a test mode, low-touch (piano) and high-touch (forte) key operations corresponding to the touch setting points are performed, and an average value of a plurality of key depression strengths upon these key operations is obtained. When a predetermined value is given as tone level data corresponding to a touch average value at each touch setting point, the inclination of each segment of the polygonal line is determined. Thus, points on the segments are interpolated, and generated touch response curve data is stored in the RAM.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus controls a musical tone corresponding to a movement itself of an object and the like which is detected by a detector Such detector detects also a moving speed, a moving force, a moving angle or an intensity of given impulse of the object. In the case where the detector is mounted in the vicinity of a player's joint, the detector detects a revolving or bending angle of the player's joint. Hence, the musical tone can be controlled based on such angle of the player's joint. Thus, through this musical tone control apparatus, the player can generate a musical tone having, for example, a desirable tone pitch, a desirable volume and a desirable tone color based on the movement of the object or the player's joint.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument for realizing touch at the time of the manipulating of a manipulator such as a keyboard faithfully reflected on the resulting musical tone. The electronic musical instrument has acceleration pickups respectively attached to keys in the keyboard, and tone synthesizing portions respectively driven on the basis of signals obtained by integrating acceleration detection signals outputted from the acceleration pickups.

Abstract: An envelope waveform generation apparatus which generates an envelope waveform consisting of a plurality of segments in order to control a musical tone signal, having a touch data detection device, which detects touch data corresponding to the relative strength of a generated musical tone, a memory device, which stores a plurality of control mode patterns comprising data showing whether each segment of this envelope waveform is to be controlled by means of this touch data, a selection device, which selects from among the plurality of control mode patterns stored in the memory device, and a touch data supplementing device, which controls each segment of the envelope waveform by means of the touch data, when the data in the control mode pattern selected by the selection device show the each segment is to be controlled.

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: An electronic piano system provides an automatic performance piano capable of automatically carrying out pre-recorded performance, plus a key-return speed detecting unit and/or a string-striking speed presuming unit. When a depressed key is released so that a key is to be returned to its original position, a key-return speed is occurred, which is detected by the key-return speed detecting unit. On the other hand, when the key is depressed so that a hammer strikes a string in order to generate the corresponding sound, a string-striking speed of hammer is occurred. Based on a detected key-striking speed, the string-striking speed presuming unit presumes the corresponding string-striking speed. Thus, by use of the detected key-return speed and/or presumed string-striking speed, the automatic performance can be carried out with high fidelity.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument has a jack which is movable and rotatable by a force to be transmitted from a key, and a hammer which is rotatable by a force to be transmitted from the jack. The jack is rotatably engaged by a fulcrum which is provided in the key. The jack is urged to its original position by a spring. The key has a return load applying portion which abuts the hammer when the hammer rotated by the jack returns to its original position.

Abstract: In a keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument having jacks and hammers, each jack is rotatable by a force to be transmitted from a key when the key is depressed, and each of the hammers is rotatable by a force to be transmitted from the rotatable jack. Respective jack is rotatably disposed relative to the respective key by fitting a first supporting shaft formed in the respective jack into a first bearing recess formed in the respective key. Respective hammer is rotatably disposed in a keyboard chassis by fitting a second supporting shaft formed in one of the keyboard chassis and the respective hammer into a second bearing recess formed in the other of the keyboard chassis and the respective hammer.

Abstract: In order to obtain speed and position information about a moving component of a musical instrument a fin extending in the direction of travel of the moving component is coupled thereto as, for example, by affixing the fin to the hammer shank of a piano. The fin carries indicia, such as a bar code, which can be read, for example, by an optical or magnetic sensor assembly. In one embodiment, a pair of side-by-side indicia bands are carried on the fin with the bands slightly offset in the direction of travel in order that direction, as well as speed and position information can be obtained. The gathered data may include information recorded, for example, for all the notes and the pedals of a piano in order that a performance may be reconstructed and played back employing a solenoid stack or the like.

Abstract: A key position computing apparatus for a player piano is presented which includes the following components (a) sensing device provided on each key and adapted for measuring a distance between a reference plane and a key surface for each key, (b) memory device for storing computer programs to compute the relationship between the output from the sensing device and the distance between the reference plane and the key surface, (c) programmable memory device for storing the characteristic operating data of the sensing device for each key, (d) computing device for computing the relationship between the output from the sensing device and the distance from the reference plane to the surface of each key, (e) gain adjusting device for adjusting the gain of the output from the sensing device to a constant value, and (f) linearizing device for approximating the output of the sensing device by a linearized signal.

Abstract: In construction of a keyboard apparatus in which a plurality of keys are swingably mounted to a fixed key support and change in electric inductance is induced in response to every key operation for adjustment of musical tone control parameters, the change in inductance by an inductance change inducer is detected by at least one planar coil pattern which is arranged such that its mating surface area with the an inductance change inducer should change in correspondence to the key stroke of the key at key operation. Thanks to use of the change in the mating surface area in detection, a linear relationship is obtained between the key stroke and the detection output, which well avoids inter-key variation in detection output for uniform generation of musical tones from different keys.

Abstract: A striker designed to strike or be swung for playing music is provided with a musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device including switching members. When the striker strikes or swings, the switching members perform a switching action which triggers the transmitting of a musical sound-initiating command signal from the musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device. A desired musical sound is produced by a musical sound producing unit in response to the musical sound-initiating command signal. A number of different timbres can be selectively used for a musical tone, by operating a timbre-selecting switch provided on the striker.

Abstract: A key matrix scanning apparatus is provided. The key matrix comprises a plurality of switches which are arranged at intersections of a plurality of input signal lines and a plurality of output signal lines. The scanning apparatus repeatedly and quickly discharges or charges the plurality of input signal lines at appropriate times within a one complete scanning cycle to establish a reference potential on these lines in preparation for readings of switch states. Therefore, the scanning apparatus can provide a high-speed scanning of switches with high reliability. A good number of switches can be coupled to be read by a single unit of key scanner without a substantial delay in the detection of the switch operation.

Abstract: A musical-tone-control apparatus having digit members worn along the fingers and contracting and expanding in the longitudinal directions of the digit members in response to the bending and straightening of the fingers. The bending of the digit members is detected by detectors coupled to the digit members and the generation of musical tones is controlled on the basis of the detected signal, i.e. the bending of the fingers. The contraction and expansion of the digit members facilitates the bending and straightening of the fingers. The digit members can also rotate in a plane of the hand to further facilitate the movement of the fingers. The digit members are made to bend about the axes positioned on the third joint of the fingers or the second joint of the thumb (the joint just below the root of the fingers or the thumb), which makes the bending of the digit much easier.

Abstract: The musical tone control apparatus detects a movement of a player, such as a holding, touching, beating, depressing, pulling, lifting up or down movement. Then, the musical tone control apparatus generates musical tone control data based on a detecting result of the movement of the player. The musical tone control data control a tone pitch, a tone color or a tone volume of a musical tone to be generated.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a key-on information generation circuit for generating key-on information indicating depression of one of keys, an after-touch information generation circuit for generating after-touch information representing the state of a key operation subsequent to an initial touch on the key, a tone generator for generating a tone signal corresponding to the depressed key in response to the key-information, and a tone generation control circuit for controlling the tone generator so that a tone signal based on the depressed key is regenerated in response to the after-touch information. In one aspect of the invention, the tone generation control circuit includes a comparator for comparing the after-touch information with a predetermined value and controls the tone generator in accordance with a result of comparison by the comparator. A special effect such as trill can be imparted to a tone by regenerating it in response to the after-touch information.

Abstract: Strings and frets are simulated in a resilient fingerboard controller for synthesizer-type musical instruments. Raised string-faces and fret-faces simulate the feel of conventional strings and frets. Embedded sensor strips connect to an external customized encoder. In operation, notes are selected in the manner of conventional guitar fret-stopping but with either hand or both hands simultaneously. The pitch of each note is under real time control of the player's finger tips via pressure exerted in either lateral direction against the simulated strings, bending the pitch upward in proportion to the amount of such pressure in either direction as is usual in stringed instruments, or, alternatively, bending the pitch up or down depending on the direction of the pressure. Optional fret-bend sensors enable proportional control over additional effects.

Abstract: A switching system for an electric guitar using bridge and fingerboard humbucker pickups and a single coil intermediate pickup wherein distinct groups of GIBSON tonality and FENDER tonality can be readily selected. The system uses a two-gang, five position switch for tone selection, the switch employing two, double contacting wipers; and, for mode selection either a toggle or push-pull double pole, double throw switch is utilized.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument capable of producing a key touch feeling resembling one in playing the piano by the provision of a hammer which is interlocked with a key, key-on data and touch data are generated in response to downward displacement of the key. In this type of electronic musical instrument, key-on data and touch data are also generated when the hammer is displaced upwardly and downwardly due to bounding of the hammer independently of the movement of the key. A touch control characteristic is established usually by using touch data generated in response to key-on data. When, however, second key-on data has been generated within a predetermined length of time after generation of preceding first key-on data, a touch control characteristic for the second on data is established by using first touch data generated in response to the first key-on data.

Abstract: An improved percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having cam follower surfaces for following the playing key camming surfaces, hammer stop for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to depression of its associated key, includes an electronic sensor for generating an electrical signal for each key which is related in amplitude to the pressure with which the key is depressed during play of the keyboard, and a scanning keyboard state monitor connected to said sensor including a keyboard scanner for scanning each of the keys of the keyboard to determine if a key event has occurred, an amplitude comparator for determining when a key depression causes a said key depression signal amplitude to pass predetermined minimum and maximum amplitude threshold values, a scan counter for counting the number of scans occurring between the scans when the key depressi

Abstract: In construction of an electronic musical instrument having plural musical tone controllers such as keys, push buttons and an expression pedal unit, a number of pulses are generated depending on the extent of movement of each controller on output lines whose number is smaller than that of the pulses so generated and musical tone control parameters such as tone volume, tone color and tonal pitch are changed in multi-stage fashion in response to the pulses generated. Generation of musical tones is assured whilst well reflecting delicate change in player's emotion via subtle key touch control.

Abstract: A modular retroactive keyboard fitted with keys permitting to send back to the user a perception characteristic of the key. Each key is an element of an independent flat and parallelepipedic module that includes a motor, a position detector and an electric connector. Each module further includes arrangement for fixing it to the adjacent module, and the keys are connected to a central processing unit for giving them the desired response by acting on the motor and for processing the detector signals.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument with an ANY KEY mode which regards keys as a single one-key, an ON event in a non-operation state is valid, and a one-key play operation is advanced by one tone.

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 piano action device for electronic keyboard musical instruments includes a key arranged on a keyboard chassis so as to be swingable up and down, a first hammer arm swung in response to the depression of the key, switch unit for indicating a start of generating musical sounds to be generated when it is pushed, and a second hammer arm swung in response to the swinging of the first hammer arm to push the switch unit.