JP2004046241A - Keyboard device of electronic keyboard instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument wherein the visibility of illuminating keys is improved, a keying state is clearly grasped, and the cost of the product is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The key that is formed of a light-transmitting raw material which is sectioned in a U shape and such translucent that although internal irradiation light can sufficiently be viewed from the surface side, the shape of an internal component etc., can not visually be recognized, and also has its free end part side arranged across its fulcrum part in a freely up/down movable state, is irradiated by a light emitting element with both its direct light and reflected light reflected by a resin part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a keyboard device used for an electronic organ, a portable electronic keyboard instrument, an electronic piano, and the like, and more particularly, to a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument capable of emitting a key of a keyboard during practice.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key press display device such as an electronic organ, for example, a key press display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 54-12615 is known. In this device, an indicator is provided on a frame portion or a key around a keyboard, and this indicator is displayed based on signals from various recording devices. By pressing, the user practices the electronic keyboard instrument.
JP-A-54-126015

However, the keyboard of this electronic keyboard instrument has the problems that the visibility of the displayed keys is inferior, that it is difficult to clearly grasp the pressed state, and that the cost of the product increases. That is, when the indicator is provided in the frame portion around the keyboard, the indicator is provided behind or in front of the key. The display is hidden by the finger or the hand, and it is difficult for the player to reliably recognize the illuminated key. Also, in both cases where the display is provided on the frame portion or on the key, the display only displays in a relatively small area, so it is difficult to see it clearly, and if the brightness is lowered to avoid it, the visibility by the player is reduced. Will be inferior.

In addition, since the brightness of the display is always displayed in a constant state, whether the displayed key is actually pressed or not is determined when the depression of the key with the finger has progressed considerably. It is difficult to confirm the key-pressing state quickly and clearly by the player. Further, in the case where the indicator is provided on the key, a hole for attaching the indicator is required in the key, so that a new mold or the like for molding the key is required, which increases the cost of the product.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a keypress indicator below the keyboard. However, simply providing the indicator below the key only leaks light from the gap between the keys, so the key is formed of a translucent material. There is a need. However, with a key using a translucent material, not only is the switch board, the frame, and the like visible and unsightly, but it is bothersome and difficult to play. Therefore, the idea of using a translucent translucent material key was conceived, but this alone does not lead to commercialization. This is because, when light is applied to the translucent light-transmitting material, light is scattered due to the nature of the material, so that the transmitted light is inevitably a display part with no sharpness. Therefore, it is conceivable to arrange a large-sized display to increase the amount of light from the light source.However, there are many parts that are indispensable for various keys, such as key switches and stoppers. However, there is a problem such as what to do with the light source installation space.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its object is to improve the visibility of a key that emits light, to clearly understand the key pressed state, and to reduce the cost of the product. To provide a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument.

The present invention is formed of a translucent transmissive material that is configured in a U-shaped cross-section and has such a degree that the light irradiated inside is sufficiently visible from the surface side and the shape of the internal parts and the like is not visible. The most important feature is that the key whose free end is vertically movable via its fulcrum is that both the direct light from the light emitting means and the reflected light from the resin illuminate the top surface of the key. Features.

In the keyboard device of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention, both the direct light from the light emitting means and the reflected light from the resin portion irradiate the key, so that the visibility is improved.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light emitting means is mainly applied to the top surface 5aa of the key by the direct light a1, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The light emitted from the light emitting means is reflected by a resin portion (key guide portion 8d and key stopper portion 8c) provided on the frame, and the reflected light illuminates the top surface 5aa of the key.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention in cross section. FIG. 2 shows a keyboard device from which all the keys 1 have been removed, and is a partial perspective view mainly showing a key frame as viewed obliquely from above from behind. Here, for convenience of explanation, the key free end side is referred to as the front (front end), and the key fulcrum side is referred to as the rear (rear end). In FIG. 1, the key 1 has a fulcrum 2 at a rear end 1a, and a free end 1b is arranged on the key frame 8 via the fulcrum 2 so as to be swingable in the direction of arrow a. The fulcrum 2 includes a vertically movable first hinge (horizontal hinge) 2a, a horizontally movable second hinge (vertical hinge) 2b, and a common base end (common fixed part) 2c. A key group of three blocks is superimposed on the base end 2c, including a black key group (all keys are shown only at a common base end) not shown, and is fixed to the key frame 8 with screws 8a.

In addition, an upper limit stopper 8b and a lower limit stopper 8c are provided in front of the key frame 8 so as to face the upper and lower end surfaces of the rear notched concave portion of the guided portion 3. When the free end portion 1b of the key 1 is pressed, the guided portion 3 is guided by the key guide 8d formed by outsert resin molding on the cut-and-raised piece 8f, and the hook-shaped piece 3d moves through the through hole 8e. It is configured to move downward, and the key contact portion 1c contacts the lower limit stopper (key stopper portion) 8c, thereby defining the lower limit of key pressing. The upper limit is defined by the upper end surface of the hook-shaped piece 3 abutting against the upper limit stopper 8b as shown in FIG. An LED (light emitting diode as a light emitting means) 7 for instructing key pressing is embedded and held in the lower limit stopper 8c together with its lead wire 71. An actuator 4 for pressing a key switch is integrally formed on the rear end 1a side of the center of the key.

Such a key 1 is formed by molding a synthetic resin with a mold (not shown) having a predetermined shape, and at least the key-side facing portion (5aa) of the key stopper portion is made of a transparent or translucent translucent material. It is formed. The entire key may be formed of a transparent or translucent translucent material. However, if the key is to be partially transparent or translucent, for example, the (semi) transparent from the double gate of the mold by a two-color molding method If the resin side is disposed on the key tip side, integral molding with a mold is also possible. The key 1 has a concave portion 5 having a substantially U-shaped cross section formed inside, and a part of the concave portion 5 forms the above-described guided portion 3 for vertically moving the key. When the entire key is formed of a transparent or translucent translucent material, the synthetic resin is formed substantially white for a white key, substantially black for a black key, and both a white key and a black key. The light irradiated into the guided portion 3, which is a concave portion, is formed so as to be sufficiently visible from the surface side, but the shape and the like of the internal components cannot be visually recognized.

A printed circuit board 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the key frame 8. A fixed contact (not shown) printed on the printed circuit board 9 in a U-shaped pattern and a movable contact facing the fixed contact are provided. A key switch including a movable arm 9S on the lower surface is provided below the actuator 4 of the key 1. The printed circuit board 9 may be a white or ivory thin substrate in order to increase the light reflection efficiency. In FIG. 2, the outsert resin is removed to show a part of the cut-and-raised piece 8f for easy understanding.

In order to insert and hold the LED 7 as the light emitting means in the key stopper 8C formed as described above, the following is performed. First, a switch circuit LED (not shown), a resistor (not shown), and a light emitting means LED 7 are held on a substrate 9 and are formed by dip processing in an automatic soldering tank, and a plurality of key switches 9s1, 9s2,. The key switch unit 9su composed of the key switch unit 9su is disposed at a predetermined position on the substrate 9 as shown in FIG. The entire front side edge 91 of the substrate 9 is brought into contact with the projection 8 ca (part of the lower limit stopper) for positioning and holding the key frame 8 in the front-rear direction, and the lower surface of the substrate 9 is positioned and held in the key arrangement direction protruding from the key frame 8. The LED 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 8c1 of the key stopper 8c while rotating the side edge 91 or the projection 8ca about the axis of the substrate 9 while making contact with the toe of the elastic projection 8g1. At this time, first, while the lead leg 71 of the LED 7 is guided by the slit 8d4, the base portion of the LED 7 is guided by the insertion hole 8c1, and at the same time, the toe p of the projection 8g1 projecting from the key frame 8 plays back and forth. The substrate 9 is smoothly fixed in a longitudinal direction without screws by being inserted into the elongated hole 93 having the protrusion 8g1. It is to be noted that two or more projections 8g1 are provided for one substrate, and the tip of the claw p is tapered in the key arrangement direction.

Therefore, the LED 7 in the keyboard device configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is illuminated in red, for example, when a predetermined signal corresponding to the music is input from the control circuit. When the LED 7 is turned on, much of the light is irradiated as direct light a1 on the top surface of the concave portion 5a (the key-side facing portion 5aa of the key stopper portion 8c), and a part of the light is guided to the key inner side surface 5ab and the guided portion. The reflected light (a2) is reflected by the portion 3, the guided rib front wall 8d1, and the key guide rear surface 8dr. Further, the reflected light a3 from the key stopper portion 8c and the front surface of the printed circuit board 9 is also applied to the top surface of the concave portion 5a. . Thereby, the key guide facing portion 5aa of the translucent key 1 is illuminated by the irradiation of the direct light and the reflected light from the LED 7.

At this time, since the adjacent keys 1 are in contact with each other via the double side wall and an appropriate gap, the light radiated into the concave portion 5a of the key 1 corresponding to the lit LED 7 emits the light from the adjacent key. The light is hardly transmitted to the first concave portion 5a, and each key 1 emits light clearly. If light is leaked from the phosphor key in the phosphor key, only the side walls 1c of the key 1 may be opaque-treated. The luminous efficiency can also be increased by more positively utilizing this opaque treatment. That is, a glossy plastic seal having a predetermined width is adhered as a reflector for improving the reflection efficiency of the inner surface of the key side wall 3b with or without opaque processing. Alternatively, using a robot, a key (unit) is held by a robot arm, and only the side wall of the key is immersed in a liquid tank filled with a coating material for gloss processing and opaque processing, and then lifted and dried. By performing such a process, the other key does not shine with the own key, and the own key (light emitting key) further improves the visibility.

As described above, in this embodiment, the key 1 itself can emit light at a position close to the player's finger, and the visibility by the player can be improved.

At this time, when the free end 1b side of the key 1 is pressed, the key-side facing portion 5aa of the light emitting key 1 approaches the LED 7. That is, the degree of light emission and the light emission range visually recognized by the player change according to the key depression amount. Due to this change, it is possible to visually confirm that the target key 1 is being pressed, and the player can confirm the visual sense and the sound (audience) emitted by the key press, thereby clearly grasping the key pressed state. can do. That is, since the key-depressing state can be visually recognized better, so-called flipping can be permitted. From these facts, the player can easily and surely press the key following the illuminating key 1, thereby improving the practice of the electronic keyboard instrument.

Further, in this embodiment, the key frame 8 can be formed of either metal or resin. In addition, everything that accompanies the key frame 8 including the key guide 8d may be integrally formed. For example, the upper limit stopper 8b, the lower limit stopper 8c, the key guide 8d, and the LED holding portion may be integrally molded outsert after molding the key frame with soft resin. In this case, the key guide is soft, so that it is suitable for a swinging keyboard.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which a key guide portion and a key stopper portion are cut out and the key is removed. In this embodiment, a light emitting means (LED 7) for instructing key pressing is provided at an intermediate portion between the key guide portion 8d and the key stopper portion 8c, and the key guide portion, the key stopper portion, and the light emitting portion are made of an outsert resin. It is provided by being integrated by molding. To outsert these, as shown in the previous embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the upper limit stopper and the lower limit stopper are provided with through holes 81 through which the resin can flow, so that the resin can be injected from one direction. In addition, the stoppers are not separated from the key frame 8, and the elasticity at the time of holding the substrate can be ensured particularly by the soft resin filled in the through hole at the rear end.

In this embodiment, the intermediate portion is formed as a continuous surface, and this surface is subjected to light reflection processing so as to function as a light reflection portion of the light emitting means. The treatment can be formed by outsert molding with a white soft resin, or by a similar method such as the robot treatment described above. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the intermediate area is formed so that the facing area between the side face 8d2 and the inner face of the key opposing the side face increases as the middle part approaches the key stopper part (lower limit stopper) 8c. It is a keyboard device with good key-pressing operability that has almost no rolling feeling when keys are pressed. Note that the groove n is for giving a slipping feeling. For example, if grease is applied, the grease becomes a grease pool.

Further, the color of the LED 7 and the shape of the key 1 in each of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and for example, the LED 7 of another color such as green may be used, or the LED 7 of a plurality of colors may be used. Needless to say, the shape of the key 1 can be appropriately changed according to various electronic keyboard instruments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Further, according to one aspect of the present embodiment, a key frame provided with a key stopper portion, and a free end portion of the key frame is disposed via the fulcrum portion so as to be vertically movable with respect to the frame. In a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument having a key provided with a key abutting portion abutting on a stopper portion, the key-side facing portion of the key stopper portion is formed of at least a transparent or translucent translucent material, The key stopper portion is provided with a light emitting means for emitting a key to be pressed.

With such a configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting means such as the LED provided on the key guide portion mainly emits the direct light a1 as shown by the arrow in FIG. Part) 5aa is irradiated. Since this portion is close to the portion where the key is pressed most frequently, the visibility is improved. Further, the distance between the key and the light emitting means changes due to the vertical movement of the key, and the light emission degree of the key changes according to the key depression amount. This facilitates the visual recognition of the key depression from an early stage of the key depression stroke, whereby the visual confirmation of the key depression and the like can be performed more reliably, and the player can more clearly understand the key depression state. Furthermore, since the light emitting means is located at the same position as the key stopper, the installation space is effectively used. For example, a key guide, a stopper, a key switch, and the like are generally provided below the key. Recently, as shown in JP-A-6-110450, a projection is provided below the key to increase the efficiency of assembling the key unit into the key frame. Although the above-described technology can be used in the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1), there is no space for disposing even if it is desired to provide a function additional component under the key as in the above-described conventional technology, and the visibility is unavoidable. Although it has to be provided at a place far from the low key-pressing part, in the present invention, the key stopper part and the light emitting means are used as described above. The key may have the same shape as a conventional key, and a new mold is not required only by replacing the resin with a light transmitting material.

Further, in the above aspect, the light emitting means is arranged so as to expose the light emitting portion, and at least the lead wire is protected by the key stopper portion.

According to this, a part or most of the light emitting means (for example, a lead wire or a base part) is covered by the key stopper, so that not only the positioning of the light emitting means with respect to the key is performed accurately, but also the key frame of the key. During installation and maintenance such as detachment of the key from the key frame, etc., the probability of short-circuit accidents related to lead wires and accidents such as damage to the light emitting means, which is a part protruding from the board by applying the key, can be suppressed. it can.

In the above aspect, the key opposing surface portion of the key stopper portion forms a light reflecting portion of the light emitting means. According to this, the light emitted from the light emitting means is illuminated by the front surface facing key guide portion of the key by the direct light a1 and the reflected light a3 by the reflection surface on the upper surface of the key stopper portion as shown by an arrow in FIG. Is done. Thereby, the illuminance of the key display section is increased, and the visibility is further improved.

Further, the key opposing surface portion of the key stopper portion is formed as a substantially concave surface as a whole. Thereby, the illuminance of the key display section is further increased, and the visibility is further improved.

Further, from another viewpoint, a key frame provided with a key guide portion and a key stopper portion, and a free end portion is vertically movably disposed with respect to the key frame via a fulcrum portion, and the key frame is provided at a pressed position. In a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument having a key provided with a key abutting portion abutting on a key stopper portion, a key-side facing portion of the key stopper portion is formed of at least a transparent or translucent translucent material. A light emitting means for emitting a key to be pressed is provided at an intermediate portion between the key guide part and the key stopper part, and the key guide part, the key stopper part, and the light emitting means are provided in an integrated manner.

According to this, not only can each functional component be efficiently stored in the limited space under the key, but also each part of the integrated component is reinforced with each other. Further, a guide / storage portion for a lead wire or the like of the light emitting means can be efficiently formed by integrating the above components. According to a more preferred embodiment (second embodiment), the base portion of the LED, which is the light emitting means, can be stored in the stacking portion at the same time when the substrate is provided, and the positioning of the LED is performed simultaneously.

Further, the intermediate portion is formed over the key guide portion and the key stopper portion, and a forming surface including the key guide portion and the key stopper portion is formed as a light reflecting portion of the light emitting means. I have.

According to this, the illuminance of the key display unit is increased, and the visibility is also improved. Further, as the key is pressed, the facing area between the side surface of the stacking portion and the inner surface of the key facing the stacking portion increases. As a result, there is also a byproduct effect that the key guide function (moving the key up and down without rolling it) becomes stronger as the key is pressed. Thus, when an after sensor or the like is added to the key structure to provide an after effect such as vibrato, the effect can be applied without rolling.

In another aspect, a key frame provided with a key guide portion and a key stopper portion, and a free end portion is disposed via the fulcrum portion so as to be movable up and down with respect to the frame. In a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument having a key provided with a key abutting portion abutting on a stopper portion, the key-side facing portion of the key stopper portion is formed of at least a transparent or translucent translucent material, A light emitting means for emitting a key to be depressed is provided at an intermediate portion formed by a continuous surface between the key guide portion and the key stopper portion, and the intermediate portion has a side surface facing the key stopper portion. Is formed so as to increase the area facing the inner surface of the key facing the side surface.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of a keyboard device of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention in cross section. The keyboard device according to the present invention, which is a partial perspective view mainly showing a key frame from which a key is removed as viewed from an obliquely rear upper part. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, showing a main part thereof.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 ... key, 1b ... free end, 1c ... key contact part, 2 ... key fulcrum, 5a ... key recess (guided part), 5aa ... top surface (key side facing part) 7) LED (light emitting means), 71 lead wire, 8 key frame, 8c lower limit stopper (key stopper portion), 8ca key opposing surface portion, 8d key guide portion, 8d2 ... Side, s1-s4 ... Concave

Claims (1)

Frame and
It has a U-shaped cross section, and is made of a translucent transmissive material so that the light irradiated inside is sufficiently visible from the front side and the shape of the internal parts etc. is not visible, and the free end side is A key that is vertically movable through its fulcrum,
Light-emitting means fixed to the frame, provided below a portion of the key capable of transmitting light, and emitting light toward the key, the light-emitting means being disposed on a free end side of the key, A keyboard portion for an electronic keyboard instrument, wherein the direct light from the light emitting means and the reflected light from the resin portion irradiate the top surface of the key.