JP5217554B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device that can give a good touch feeling to a key.

  In a conventional keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument, a plurality of keys are rotatably arranged in a support member such as a keyboard frame via fulcrums. Each key is generally given a return force by a spring, and when the key is pressed, the key is pressed against the return force and displaced. Therefore, the operation feeling, that is, the key touch feeling, is roughly determined by the reaction force of the spring. However, with a simple reaction force by a spring, a key touch like an acoustic piano cannot be obtained, and the playing feel becomes mechanical and it is difficult to obtain a delicate playing feel. Therefore, various techniques have been developed to change the key touch feeling in the keyboard device of such an electronic musical instrument. For example, it is possible to adjust the strength of the spring that gives the return force to the key, or to arrange another spring between the adjustment lever and the vicinity of the rotation fulcrum of the key to which the return habit is given There has been a mechanism in which a key touch feeling at the time of key depression is changed by providing a mechanism for adjusting the return force of the key by rotating the lever by an external operation. In addition, a keyboard device has been conceived in which an action mechanism in which an arm with a weight attached is interlocked with a key so that a key touch feeling close to that of a piano can be obtained.

By the way, in an acoustic piano, when the key is slowly depressed, the load changes during the key depression, and the reaction force received by the finger also varies depending on the key depression speed. However, since the conventional technique for changing the key touch feeling is realized by a physical mechanism, it has been difficult to realize a delicate key touch feeling like the touch feeling of an acoustic piano.
In order to solve this problem, various devices for applying a reaction force to the key using an actuator have been developed. In this type of conventional apparatus (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), a reaction force that varies according to the key pressing position is generated by an actuator and applied to the key, thereby generating a performance sensation like an acoustic piano. I am doing so.
Japanese Patent Publication No.7-111631 JP-A-10-177378

In a conventional keyboard device, a reaction force is applied to the key using an actuator. As an actuator, a solenoid having a movable iron core in the coil is used, and a suction force proportional to the square of the current flowing in the coil is generated in the movable iron core, and a reaction force is applied to the key using this suction force. ing. Since the reaction force corresponding to the key pressing position is obtained and the reaction force is applied to the key using the actuator, the configuration of the control system has been complicated in the conventional keyboard device.
By the way, conventionally, there is known a fluid whose viscosity greatly increases when placed in a magnetic field called a magneto-rheological fluid (MR fluid). The MR fluid is a slurry in which ferromagnetic metal fine particles are dispersed at a high concentration in a liquid serving as a medium, and the particles magnetized by an external magnetic field strongly attract each other and become highly viscous. The use of MR fluid for dampers and the like has been studied, and when MR fluid is used, the apparent viscous resistance can be controlled by a magnetic field. However, it has not been applied to keyboard devices.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device that can give a desired touch feeling to a key by using a magnetorheological fluid.

In order to achieve the above object, the keyboard device of the present invention is configured such that both the support member and the key interfere with each other in the key swing range, and a touch feeling corresponding to the interference is obtained. A touch-sensitive variable mechanism, the touch-sensitive variable mechanism having a central piece and two side parts sandwiching both sides of the central piece, and a stress transmitting part fixed to the lower surface of the key; A container filled with a magnetorheological fluid whose viscosity changes when placed, and a magnet is provided on each of the two side portions located below the lower end of the central piece, When the key is depressed, the central piece is inserted into the container part, and the two side parts are positioned on both sides of the container part, and the magnetorheological fluid is placed in the magnetic field of the magnet. This is the main feature.

According to the present invention, when the key is depressed, the central piece inserted into the magnetorheological fluid having increased viscosity is subjected to a large reaction force by the action of the magnets provided on the two side portions, thereby giving a touch feeling. Will come to be. Since the magnet is positioned below the container at the end of the key press, the central piece is inserted into the magnetorheological fluid with reduced viscosity, so the central piece has a small reaction force at the end of the key press. It is possible to reproduce the touch feeling similar to the escape feeling when the key of the acoustic piano is weakly pressed. Furthermore, since the position of the magnet is located below the lower end of the central piece, the part of the magnetorheological fluid in the direction in which the central piece is drawn when the key is released is always less affected by the magnetic field formed by the magnet. The key is quickly restored because of its position and its viscosity decreasing .

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a keyboard device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard device 100 is configured by arranging a large number of white key assemblies and black key assemblies, and one of the white key assemblies is shown in FIG.
In the keyboard device 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the key 1 is attached to a cylindrical shaft member 5 whose base end portion 1b is fixed to the rear end portion of the slit of the keyboard frame 2 which is a key support member. The shaft member 5 is pivotably fitted, and the shaft member 5 serves as a pivot fulcrum of the key 1. The key 1 is returned in the right-handed direction with the shaft member 5 as a rotation fulcrum by a key return spring 4 which is a leaf spring having an end rotatably attached between the base end 1b and the keyboard frame 2. Power is given.

  An actuator 1 a having a pair of legs for operating the key switch 3 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the key 1. A printed circuit board 3c is arranged substantially in parallel at the lower part of the keyboard frame 2, and a fixed contact pattern 3b is provided on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 3c. A movable member 3a made of conductive rubber on which a movable contact is formed is disposed. As a result, the key switch 3 that also serves as a key pressing speed sensor that is sequentially pressed and closed by a pair of legs formed at the lower part of the actuator 1a when the key is pressed is configured. Further, a stress transmission portion 11 is fixed to the lower surface of the front portion of the key 1, and a lower portion of the stress transmission portion 11 is inserted into the touch feeling variable mechanism 10. The touch feeling variable mechanism 10 generates a reaction force when the key 1 is pressed and applies it to the stress transmission unit 11, whereby the touch feeling is changed to the key 1 by the touch feeling variable mechanism 10 when the key 1 is pressed. Will be given. Further, the key guide portion 2 a fixed to the keyboard frame 2 guides the movement in the vertical direction by restricting the movement of the front end portion of the key 1 in the left-right direction and the twist of the tip portion of the key 1. The key guide portion 2a includes a lower limit stopper that abuts the lower edge of the front end portion of the key 1 when the key is depressed and restricts its lowering stroke, and an upper limit stopper that abuts the stopper piece of the key 1 when the key is restored and restricts its raised position. And.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the first example of the touch feeling variable mechanism 10.
The touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 includes an interference part 20 in which the lower part of the stress transmission part 11 is inserted, and a cylindrical shape for reinforcing the generated magnetic field made of a ferromagnetic material provided in the lower part of the interference part 20 And a yoke 22. The interference part 20 has a container part 20a having a substantially cylindrical shape, and a concave part 20b is formed on the lower surface of the container part 20a, and a predetermined amount of magneto-rheological fluid (MR (Magneto-) Rheological Fluid) The material of the container 20a is made of a metal such as aluminum that is not a ferromagnetic material or resin, and a magnetic ring 20c is fixed to the upper edge of the inner surface of the container 20a. The cylindrical yoke 22 is made of a ferromagnetic material, and has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 22b whose bottom surface is closed, and a substantially circular cross section that is erected in the cylindrical portion 22b substantially along the central axis from the approximate center of the lower surface. The rod-shaped portion 22a. A coil is wound around the peripheral side surface of the rod-shaped portion 22a to form a coil portion 22c. By passing an electric current through the coil portion 22c, a magnetic field is generated between the open tip of the rod-like portion 22a and the peripheral edge of the tip that is the open surface of the cylindrical portion 22b. Be placed in a magnetic field. Then, the viscosity of the MR fluid 21 placed in the magnetic field increases according to the strength of the magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the stress transmission unit 11.

  The stress transmission part 11 inserted into the interference part 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the material thereof is made of a metal such as aluminum or resin that is not a ferromagnetic material. Since the stress transmission unit 11 moves in the same direction as the key 1 moves, the stress transmission unit 11 is inserted into the interference unit 20 to move downward when the key is depressed. FIG. 2 shows the key-pressed state position where the stress transmission unit 11 is most inserted into the interference unit 20. When the key is released, the key is moved upward together with the key 1 and is indicated by the key-released position. The lower end of the stress transmission part 11 comes to be located. That is, the interval S between the key release state position and the key press state position is the key stroke of the key 1. And in the stress transmission part 11 made into the key pressing state position, the several air hole 11a is formed in the side surface of the stress transmission part 11 in the position above the liquid level of MR fluid 21. FIG. The air hole 11a is a hole through which air escapes from the stress transmitting portion 11 when the stress transmitting portion 11 is inserted into the MR fluid 21 when the key is depressed, and the stress transmitting portion 11 is moved to the MR fluid 21 when the key is released. It becomes a hole into which air is taken into the stress transmission part 11 when it is pulled out from the inside. In addition, a magnet 12 is inserted above the air hole 11 a in the stress transmission portion 11. The magnetic field generated by the magnet 21 passes through a ferromagnetic magnetic ring 20c provided at the upper end of the container portion 20a. For example, when the key is not pressed, the portion of the magnet 12 and the magnetic ring 20c are different from each other, and when the key is pressed, they are the same pole. As a result, even if the keyboard device 100 lies sideways, it is possible to prevent leakage from the container portion 20a to the outside. That is, since the space between the magnetic ring 20c and the magnet 12, which is the path through which the MR fluid 21 leaks from the container portion 20a, is placed in the magnetic field, the path through which the keyboard device 100 leaks even if the keyboard device 100 is laid down. The viscosity of the MR fluid 21 that has reached the value increases and does not leak. Further, even if a part of the MR fluid 21 adheres to the inside of the magnetic ring 20c for some reason, the magnetic pole becomes the same polarity when the key is pressed. MR fluid adhering to can be shaken off.

  Here, the key pressing speed or the key pressing acceleration is detected from the switch signal from the fixed contact pattern 3b in the key switch 3 when the key is pressed, and the strength of the magnetic field applied to the MR fluid 21 is determined based on the detected information. By changing it, the magnitude of the reaction force when the stress transmission part 11 is inserted into the MR fluid 21 can be controlled. With this control method, a desired touch feeling can be imparted to the key 1 when the key is depressed, and the acoustic piano key is held by controlling the current value flowing through the coil portion 22c to change for a predetermined time. The touch feeling can be reproduced.

Next, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the keyboard apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard apparatus 101 is also configured by arranging a large number of white key assemblies and black key assemblies, of which one white key assembly is shown in FIG.
In the keyboard device 101 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the key 1 is attached to a cylindrical shaft member 5 whose base end 1b is fixed to the rear end of the slit of the keyboard frame 2 which is a key support member. The shaft member 5 is pivotably fitted, and the shaft member 5 serves as a pivot fulcrum of the key 1. Also, a cylindrical shaft member 9 is fixed to the front end portion of the slit of the keyboard frame 2, and a rear end portion 6b of the hammer 6 formed in a crank shape is fitted to the shaft member 9 so as to be rotatable. Are combined. This shaft member 9 serves as a rotation fulcrum of the hammer 6. One end of a leaf spring 7 is locked to the rear end 6b of the hammer 6, and the other end of the leaf spring 7 is rotatably attached to the base end 1b. With this leaf spring 7, the hammer 6 is urged in the clockwise direction with the shaft member 9 as a rotation fulcrum, and the key 1 is also urged in the clockwise direction with the shaft member 5 as a rotation fulcrum. Restoring power is given.

  At the base of the hammer 6, an actuator 8 having a pair of legs is provided at the lower part, and engagement pressing parts 6 c that engage with recesses provided at the lower parts of both sides of the key 1 are provided on both sides. . As a result, when the key is depressed, the engagement pressing portion 6 c is pushed down by the concave portion by the downward rotation of the key 1, and the hammer 6 is rotated in the key pressing direction against the urging force of the leaf spring 7. . At this time, the distance from the engagement pressing portion 6c between the key 1 and the hammer 6 to the shaft members 5 and 9 which are the respective fulcrums is much shorter in the hammer 6 than in the key 1; The rotation stroke of the hammer 6 can be expanded several times by the rotation stroke, and the touch feeling can be given to the key 1 by providing the hammer 6. Further, a printed circuit board 3c is arranged in parallel under the keyboard frame 2, a fixed contact pattern 3b is provided on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 3c, and a pair of movable contacts facing each fixed contact with a slight gap are provided. A movable member 3a made of conductive rubber is formed. As a result, the key switch 3 that also functions as a key pressing speed sensor that is sequentially pressed by the pair of leg portions of the actuator 8 when the key is pressed is configured.

  Further, the tip portion 6a of the hammer 6 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the stress transmission portion 11 is fixed to the lower surface of the tip portion 6a. The lower part of the stress transmission unit 11 is inserted into the touch feeling variable mechanism 10, and the touch feeling variable mechanism 10 generates a reaction force when the key 1 is pressed and applies it to the stress transmission unit 11. Thereby, a touch feeling is given by the touch feeling variable mechanism 10 when the key 1 is pressed. In this case, as described above, the rotation stroke of the tip portion 6a of the hammer 6 can be expanded several times by a slight rotation stroke of the key 1, so that the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 generates a small reaction force. Only by this, a large touch feeling can be given to the key 1. The touch feeling variable mechanism 10 generates a reaction force when the key 1 is pressed and applies it to the stress transmission unit 11, whereby the touch feeling is changed to the key 1 by the touch feeling variable mechanism 10 when the key 1 is pressed. Will be given. Further, a key guide portion 2a fixed to the keyboard frame 2 is provided. Since the operation of the key guide portion 2a is as described above, the description thereof is omitted.

Next, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a second example of the touch feeling variable mechanism 10.
The touch feeling variable mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 4 is characterized in that it can be constructed with only a permanent magnet without using an electromagnet. It has other points and will be apparent from the following. The container portion 32 filled with the MR fluid 34 and the yoke 31 made of a ferromagnetic material are used. The yoke 31 has side parts 31a that can move up and down on both sides of the container part 32, and a central piece 31b inserted into the container part 32 is formed integrally with the side part 31a. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the yoke 31 also serves as the stress transmission unit 11. Magnets 33 are provided on the surfaces of the side portions 31a facing each other so as to sandwich the container portion 32, and the container portion 32 sandwiched between the two magnets 33 is placed in a magnetic field. As a result, the MR fluid 34 in the container portion 32 sandwiched between the two magnets 33 is placed in the magnetic field, and its viscosity increases. The direction of the magnetic field generated by the two magnets 33 is substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the yoke 31.

In FIG. 4, the position of the yoke 31 indicated by the solid line is the key release state position, and the position of the yoke 31 indicated by the broken line is the key press state position. That is, the interval S between the key release state position and the key press state position is the key stroke of the key 1. In this case, when pressing the key, the yoke 31 having the side portion 31a and the central piece 31b moves downward together with the key 1, but the viscosity of the MR fluid 34 in the container portion 32 into which the central piece 31b is inserted is The viscosity is increased by the action of the magnet 33 located below the lower end of the piece 31b. For this reason, the central piece 31b inserted into the MR fluid 34 having increased viscosity receives a large reaction force, and as a result, a touch feeling is given to the key 1. At the end of key pressing, the yoke 31 reaches the key pressing state, and the magnet 33 is positioned below the container portion 32, so that the MR fluid 34 is released from the magnetic field and the viscosity is reduced. The central piece 31b is inserted into the MR fluid 34 in the state. For this reason, the central piece 31b receives only a small reaction force at the end of the key depression, and it is possible to reproduce a touch feeling similar to the escape feeling at the time of weak key depression which the acoustic piano key has.
Since the position of the magnet 33 is located below the lower end of the central piece 31b, the portion of the MR fluid 34 in the direction in which the central piece 31b is drawn when the key is released is always from the magnetic field formed by the magnet 33. Since the viscosity is decreased, the key 1 is quickly restored.

A specific configuration of the second example of the configuration of the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 of the second example, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the configuration of the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 of the second example. .
In the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 of the second example shown in these drawings, the stress transmission portion 11 and the yoke 31 are integrally formed, and the yoke 31 that is a ferromagnetic body has two flat side portions 31a. And a flat central piece 31b formed between the side portions 31a. The lower portions of the two side portions 31a are formed in a U-shaped cross section and connected to each other, and a container portion 32 having a rectangular cross section is disposed therebetween. The material of the container part 32 is made of a metal such as aluminum that is not a ferromagnetic material or a resin, and the container part 32 is filled with the MR fluid 34. A rectangular magnet 33 is provided on the inner surface of the lower part of the two side parts 31 a facing the container part 32, and the central piece 31 b is inserted into the container part 32 filled with the MR fluid 34. The magnetization directions of the two magnets 33 provided on the side portion 31 a are aligned so that the magnetic field passes through the container portion 32.

Next, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic keyboard instrument to which the keyboard device according to the present invention is applied. In this case, the applied keyboard device according to the present invention includes the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 of the first example shown in FIG.
In the electronic keyboard instrument 110 shown in FIG. 7, the key switch group 40 is composed of key switches 3 provided in the respective keys 1 provided in the keyboard device according to the present invention. The key-on signal and key-off signal from the key switch group 40 are supplied to the tone generator 41 and the envelope generator 44. The tone generator 41 captures the note number and velocity of the key 1 that has been keyed on. In addition, the envelope generator 44 starts generating a musical tone control envelope A for the sound generation channel. The shape of the volume envelope A is controlled according to the velocity and the like, and the tone control envelope A is supplied to the tone generator 41. Then, when the tone volume is controlled by the tone control envelope A in the tone generation channel assigned by the tone generator 41, the tone of the designated tone color is generated and the tone generation is started. The musical tone signal output from the musical tone generator 41 is amplified by the amplifier 42 and emitted from the speaker 43. In addition, as a sound source method of the musical sound generating unit 41, a method such as a PCM sound source method, an FM sound source method, or a physical model sound source method can be adopted. The envelope generating unit 44 generates a reaction force generating envelope B corresponding to the velocity and supplies it to the reaction force generating signal forming unit 46 via the buffer 45. The output signal from the reaction force generation signal forming unit 46 is applied to the coil part 22c of the touch feeling variable mechanism 10 to control the reaction force generated by the touch feeling variable mechanism 10. An envelope generator 44, a buffer 45, and a reaction force generation signal generator 46 are provided for each key 1.

Next, a block diagram showing the configuration of the envelope generating unit 44 in the electronic keyboard instrument 110 is shown in FIG.
The envelope generation unit 44 shown in FIG. 8 includes a key switch group 40 including a contact time difference SW in which each key switch includes a switch 1M and a switch 2M. This contact time difference SW is a key switch 3 that also serves as a key pressing speed sensor in which a pair of movable contacts as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 is formed. In each switch of the key switch group 40, when the key 1 is depressed, it is first detected that the switch 1M is turned on and the key is turned on. Next, when the key 1 is further pressed, the switch 2M is turned on with a delay, and the switch 2M is turned on with a delay. The touch detection unit 51 detects that the two switches 1M and 2M are turned on, and detects the time until the switch 2M is turned on with a delay. Depending on the detected time, the touch detection unit 51 detects the velocity at the time of key depression. The velocity detected at the time of key-on in each key 1 is supplied to the tone control ENV generator 52 and the reaction force generator ENV generator 53. The musical sound control ENV generator 52 generates a musical sound generating envelope corresponding to the supplied velocity at a key-on timing and supplies it to the musical sound generator 41. In this case, the tone control ENV generator 52 is supplied with velocities corresponding to each tone generation channel, and the tone control ENV generator 52 has tone generation envelopes a1, a2,... For each tone generation channel. , An are generated. In addition, the musical tone generating envelope is stopped and made zero at the key-off timing.

Further, the reaction force generation ENV generation unit 53 generates a reaction force generation envelope corresponding to the supplied velocity and supplies it to the reaction force generation signal forming unit 46 via the buffer 45. In this case, the velocity corresponding to each key 1 pressed is supplied to the reaction force generation ENV generation unit 53, and the reaction force generation ENV generation unit 53 counteracts each key 1 pressed. Force generating envelopes b1, b2,..., Bn are generated. In this case, the reaction force generating ENV generating unit 53 is provided with a table capable of selecting an envelope waveform corresponding to the magnitude of the velocity from a plurality of envelope waveforms when the velocity is supplied. An example of this table is shown in FIG. As shown in the table shown in FIG. 9, the envelope waveform suddenly rises immediately after key-on, and gradually decreases when the peak is reached. A high envelope waveform is selected. As a result, the coil portion 22c of the touch-sensitive variable mechanism 10 driven by the reaction force generation signal forming unit 46 is driven according to the envelope waveform described above, and therefore a larger reaction force when the key 1 is strongly pressed. Is given to the key 1 and the touch feeling of the key of the acoustic piano can be obtained. This reaction force generating envelope is also generated at the key-on timing, stopped at the key-off timing, and zeroed.
Further, the velocity at the time of the key depression detected by the touch detection unit 51 is differentiated by the differentiator 54 to detect the acceleration at the time of the key depression, and this acceleration information is supplied to the reaction force generating ENV generation unit 53. Thus, an envelope waveform corresponding to the magnitude of acceleration may be selected and generated.

Next, keyboard devices according to third to sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the keyboard devices according to these embodiments, a magnetorheological fluid damper is used as a touch-sensitive variable mechanism. Therefore, FIGS. 10 and 11 show the configuration of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 used in these embodiments. 10 is a front view showing the configuration of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 in a sectional view, and FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the configuration of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 shown in the sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. is there.
The magnetorheological fluid damper 60 shown in these drawings includes a coil part 61 wound on a donut, a container part 62 filled with an MR fluid 63 disposed substantially at the center of the coil part 61, and a container part 62. It is comprised from the piston part 64 arrange | positioned so that an inside can be moved up and down. Here, when an electric current is passed through the coil part 61, a magnetic flux is generated in the coil part 61 in which the container part 62 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and the MR fluid 63 is placed in a magnetic field. Thereby, when the viscosity of the MR fluid 63 is increased and the piston part 64 is moved up and down, a reaction force is generated. This reaction force can be changed according to the magnitude of the magnetic field, that is, the magnitude of the current flowing through the coil section 61. The direction of the magnetic field generated by the coil part 61 is substantially the same as the moving direction of the piston part 64.

Next, another configuration of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 that can be used in these embodiments is shown in a sectional view in FIG. The magnetorheological fluid damper 60 having the other configuration shown in this figure has substantially the same configuration as the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and further has a lower surface of the piston portion 64 and a lower surface of the container portion 62. A structure in which the return spring 65 is housed in the container portion 62 is added. That is, in the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 having another configuration, when the piston part 64 is pushed down, the piston part 64 can be returned without applying a pushing force to the piston part 64.
FIG. 13 shows the characteristic of the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 with respect to the applied magnetic field of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 described above. As shown in FIG. 13, the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 increases in proportion to the applied magnetic field, that is, the value of the current flowing through the coil portion 61. Therefore, the reaction force that the piston part 64 receives by the MR fluid 63 can be controlled by the value of the current flowing through the coil part 61.

Next, FIG. 14 shows the configuration of a keyboard apparatus 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard device 200 is configured by arranging a large number of white key assemblies and black key assemblies.
A keyboard apparatus 200 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is an electronic keyboard apparatus equipped with an acoustic piano action, and includes an acoustic piano action unit 71. The key 70 is placed on a balance rail 70a on which a balance pin 70b is provided, and can be swung with the balance pin 70b as a fulcrum. Further, below the front end portion 70 c to which the key pressing force of the key 70 is applied, the above-described magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is provided so as to apply an auxiliary reaction force to the key 70 in addition to the reaction force by the action unit 71. ing.

  Here, when a key pressing force is applied to the front end portion 70c, the protrusion 70g of the rear end portion 70d is pushed up, the action unit 71 is driven, and the hammer shank 70e strikes the hammer shank stopper 70f. At the same time, as the front end portion 70 c is pushed down, the piston portion 64 in the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is pushed down into the container portion 62 filled with the MR fluid 63. At this time, since the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 is a viscosity coefficient corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61, the key 70 seems to receive a reaction force corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61. become. Therefore, by adjusting the current supplied to the magnetorheological fluid damper 60, the touch feeling of the keyboard device 200 can be changed to a desired touch feeling. As described above, in the keyboard apparatus 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a desired touch feeling can be obtained by using the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 using the MR fluid as an auxiliary. When the driven hammer shank 70e hits the hammer shank stopper 70f, the keyboard device 200 is a silent piano. When the silent piano mode is canceled, the hammer shank stopper 70f is moved and the hammer shank stopper 70f is moved. The shank 70e hits the string 78 when driven.

Next, FIG. 15 shows the configuration of a keyboard apparatus 210 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard device 210 is configured by arranging a large number of white key assemblies and black key assemblies, and a portion of one of the white key assemblies is shown in FIG.
In the keyboard device 210 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the rear end portion of the key 75 is pivotally supported by a shaft frame 77a on a frame 77 of the keyboard. The hammer 76 provided under the key 75 is pivotally supported on the frame 77 so as to be swingable by a shaft portion 77b. A transmission piece 75a is provided on the lower surface of the front end portion 75c of the key 75. When a key pressing force is applied to the key 75, the key pressing force is also applied to the front end portion 77c of the hammer 76 via the transmission piece 75a. To receive. The distance between the shaft portion 77b on which the hammer 76 is pivotally supported and the front end portion 77c of the hammer 76 is much shorter than the distance between the shaft portion 77b and the rear end portion 77d of the hammer 76. In this case, a large reaction force can be applied to the key 75 by the hammer 76. As described above, the keyboard device 210 is a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, and includes a mechanism called a hammer 76 for applying a reaction force to the key 75. Further, the above-described magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is provided below the front end portion to which the key pressing force of the hammer 76 is applied so as to apply an auxiliary reaction force to the key 75 in addition to the reaction force by the hammer 76. .

  Here, when a key pressing force is applied to the front end portion 75c, the key 75 is pushed down, and the hammer 76 rotates about the shaft portion 77b as a rotation center by the action of the transmission piece 75a. At the same time, the piston portion 64 of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is pushed down into the container portion 62 filled with the MR fluid 63 as the hammer 76 rotates. At this time, since the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 is a viscosity coefficient corresponding to the current flowing in the coil portion 61, it corresponds to the current flowing in the coil portion 61 in addition to the reaction force by the hammer 76. The key 75 receives the reaction force. Therefore, by adjusting the current supplied to the magnetorheological fluid damper 60, the touch feeling of the keyboard device 210 can be slightly changed. As described above, also in the keyboard apparatus 210 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a desired touch feeling can be obtained by using the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 using the MR fluid as an auxiliary.

Next, FIG. 16 shows the configuration of a keyboard apparatus 220 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard device 220 is configured by arranging a large number of white key assemblies and black key assemblies, and one of the white key assemblies is shown in FIG.
The keyboard device 220 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument, and the key 70 is placed on a balance rail 70a provided with a balance pin 70b and placed on the keyboard frame 2. The balance pin 70b provided can be swung about a fulcrum. In addition, a solenoid 80 for applying a reaction force to the key 70 is provided, and the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 described above applies the thrust of the solenoid 80 below the front end portion 70c to which the key pressing force of the key 70 is applied. Auxiliary to control. The solenoid 80 is provided on the rear end portion 70d of the key 70. The solenoid 80 includes a yoke 80c, and a plunger 80b projects from the yoke 80c. In the solenoid 80, when a current is passed through the coil portion 80a, the plunger 80b is protruded downward in the figure with a thrust corresponding to the current.

Here, when a key pressing force is applied to the front end portion 70c, the rear end portion 70d is pushed up, but current is applied to the coil portion 80a of the solenoid 80 at the key-on timing, and a downward thrust is generated in the plunger 80b. Therefore, a reaction force is applied to the key 70 by the solenoid 80. In this case, a predetermined touch feeling can be imparted to the key 70 by controlling the current value applied to the solenoid 80 in conjunction with the touch response as time elapses. Further, as the key 70 is pushed down against the reaction force by the solenoid 80, the piston part 64 of the magnetic viscous fluid damper 60 is pushed down into the container part 62 filled with the MR fluid 63. At this time, since the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 is a viscosity coefficient corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61, the key 70 seems to receive a reaction force corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61. This reaction force is also transmitted to the solenoid 80 via the key 70. In other words, the thrust of the solenoid 80 can be controlled by adjusting the current supplied to the magnetorheological fluid damper 60, whereby the touch feeling of the keyboard device 220 can be subtly changed. As described above, also in the keyboard device 220 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a desired touch feeling can be obtained by using the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 using the MR fluid as an auxiliary.
As described above, the keyboard device 220 includes the solenoid 80 having the plunger 80b that comes into contact with the key 70, and the position of the plunger 80b does not interfere with the interference portion that is used as the magnetorheological fluid damper 60. The solenoid 80 is disposed at the rear end portion 70 d of the key 70.

Next, FIG. 17 shows the configuration of a keyboard apparatus 230 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. This keyboard device 230 is a keyboard device obtained by improving the keyboard device 220 shown in FIG. 16, and is different only in the method of providing the magnetorheological fluid damper 60. Hereinafter, this different configuration will be described. In the keyboard device 230 of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 17, a solenoid 80 for applying a reaction force to the key 70 is provided on the rear end portion 70 d of the key 70. A fluid damper 60 is provided as an integral unit so as to control the thrust of the solenoid 80. In this case, the plunger 80b of the solenoid 80 and the piston portion 64 of the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 are integrated.
Here, when a key pressing force is applied to the front end portion 70c, the rear end portion 70d is pushed up, but with the key-on, a current is applied to the coil portion 80a of the solenoid 80 and a downward thrust is generated in the plunger 80b. Therefore, a reaction force is applied to the key 70 by the solenoid 80. Furthermore, since the plunger 80 b and the piston portion 64 are integrated, the piston portion 64 in the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is pushed up into the container portion 62 filled with the MR fluid 63. At this time, since the viscosity coefficient of the MR fluid 63 is a viscosity coefficient corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61, the key 70 seems to receive a reaction force corresponding to the current flowing in the coil section 61. Thus, this reaction force is also transmitted to the plunger 80 b integrated with the piston portion 64. In other words, the thrust of the solenoid 80 can be controlled by adjusting the current supplied to the magnetorheological fluid damper 60, whereby the touch feeling of the keyboard device 230 can be subtly changed. In the keyboard device 230 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, since the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is integrally provided in the solenoid 80, the degree of freedom of installation can be increased and the cost can be reduced. It becomes like this.
As described above, the key 70 in the keyboard device 230 is a seesaw key having a fulcrum portion at the intermediate portion which is the balance rail 70a, and a plunger 80b that contacts the key 70 is provided above the rear end portion 70d of the key 70. The solenoid 80 is provided, and the plunger 80b is used as an interference driving body of an interference portion which is a magnetorheological fluid damper 60.

Next, FIG. 18 shows a change characteristic of the reaction force with respect to the key depression when the magnetic field generated by the coil unit 61 in the magnetoviscous fluid damper 60 is a low magnetic field (viscosity coefficient is small). In FIG. 18, the case where the key pressing force is weak is indicated by a solid line, the case where the key pressing force is intermediate is indicated by a broken line, and the case where the key pressing force is strong is indicated by a one-dot chain line. Referring to FIG. 18, the reaction force suddenly increases immediately after the start of key depression, and then gradually increases. A larger reaction force is generated as the key pressing force is larger.
Further, FIG. 19 shows a change characteristic of the reaction force with respect to the key pressing displacement when the magnetic field generated by the coil unit 61 in the magnetorheological fluid damper 60 is a high magnetic field (viscosity coefficient is large). In FIG. 19, the case where the key pressing force is weak is indicated by a solid line, the case where the key pressing force is intermediate is indicated by a broken line, and the case where the key pressing force is strong is indicated by a one-dot chain line. Referring to FIG. 19, the reaction force rapidly increases immediately after the start of the key depression, and then gradually increases. This reaction force is a much larger reaction force than in the case of a low magnetic field. A larger reaction force is generated as the key pressing force is larger.
That is, in the magnetorheological fluid damper 60, the reaction force can be changed in a large range by changing the strength of the magnetic field, so that a desired touch feeling can be obtained by appropriately controlling the current value flowing through the coil unit 61. Will be able to.

  The keyboard device according to the present invention described above can be applied as a keyboard device for an acoustic piano, an organ, an electronic piano, an electronic organ, or the like.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the 1st example of the touch feeling variable mechanism of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the 2nd example of the touch feeling variable mechanism of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the specific structure of the 2nd example of the touch feeling variable mechanism of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the specific structure of the 2nd example of the touch feeling variable mechanism of the keyboard apparatus concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic keyboard instrument to which the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the envelope generation part in the electronic keyboard instrument to which the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the envelope waveform of the table with which the envelope generation part in the electronic keyboard instrument to which the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention is applied. It is a front view which shows the structure of the magnetorheological fluid damper utilized for the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention with sectional drawing. It is a top view shown with the sectional view which cut the composition of the magnetorheological fluid damper used for the keyboard device concerning the present invention by the AA line. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structure of the magnetorheological fluid damper utilized for the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the viscosity coefficient with respect to the applied magnetic field of the magnetorheological fluid utilized for the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 4th Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 5th Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus concerning 6th Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the change characteristic of the reaction force with respect to key pressing displacement in the magnetorheological fluid damper utilized for the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the other change characteristic of the reaction force with respect to the key press displacement in the magnetorheological fluid damper utilized for the keyboard apparatus concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 key, 1a actuator, 1b base end, 2 keyboard frame, 2a key guide, 3 key switch, 3a movable member, 3b pattern for fixed contact, 3c printed circuit board, 4 key return spring, 5 shaft member, 6 hammer, 6a Front end portion, 6b Rear end portion, 6c Engagement pressing portion, 7 Leaf spring, 8 Actuator, 9 Shaft member, 10 Touch feel variable mechanism, 11 Stress transmission portion, 11a Air hole, 12 Magnet, 20 Interference portion, 20a Container Part, 20b concave part, 20c magnetic body ring, 21 MR fluid, 21 magnet, 22 cylindrical yoke, 22a rod-like part, 22b cylindrical part, 22c coil part, 31 yoke, 31a side part, 31b central piece, 32 container part, 33 Magnet, 34 MR fluid, 40 Key switch group, 41 Musical sound generator, 42 Amplifier, 43 Speaker, 44 Envelope Raw part, 45 buffer, 46 Reaction force generation signal forming part, 51 Touch detection part, 52 Musical sound control ENV generation part, 53 Reaction force generation ENV generation part, 60 Magnetorheological fluid damper, 61 Coil part, 62 Container part, 63 MR fluid, 64 piston part, 65 spring, 70 key, 70a balance rail, 70b balance pin, 70c front end part, 70d rear end part, 70e hammer shank, 70f hammer shank stopper, 70g protrusion, 71 action unit, 75 key 75a transmission piece, 75c front end, 76 hammer, 77 frame, 77a shaft, 77b shaft, 77c front end, 77d rear end, 78 string, 80 solenoid, 80a coil, 80b plunger, 80c yoke, 100 keyboard Device, 101 keyboard device, 110 electronic keyboard instrument, 200 keyboard Location, 210 keyboard device, 220 keyboard device, 230 keyboard apparatus, 1M switch, 2M switch

Claims (2)

A support member;
A key arranged to be swingable with respect to the support member via a fulcrum part;
The support member and the key are both configured to interfere with each other in a swing range of the key, and include a touch feeling variable mechanism that provides a touch feeling according to the interference.
The touch feeling variable mechanism has a central piece and two side parts sandwiching both sides of the central piece, a stress transmission part fixed to the lower surface of the key, and a viscosity when placed in a magnetic field. And a container portion filled with a magnetorheological fluid that changes, a magnet is provided on each of the two side portions located below the lower end of the central piece, and the key is depressed. The keyboard is characterized in that the central piece is inserted into the container part, the two side parts are positioned on both sides of the container part, and the magnetorheological fluid is placed in the magnetic field of the magnet. apparatus. 2. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnets provided on the two side portions are positioned below the container portion when the key is pressed .

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