JP2018163258A - Reaction force generating device and keyboard unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic keyboard instrument capable of stably generating a reaction force or a sound when a player presses a key.SOLUTION: A reaction force generation device includes: an actuator configured to rotate on the pivot point; and a reaction force generating member configured to come into contact with the actuator. The actuator and the reaction force generating member have a plurality of tangential planes, and the pivot point is included in at least of the plurality of the tangential planes. In the reaction force generation device, the actuator may be configured to move in a normal direction when the actuator comes into contact with the plurality of tangential planes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a reaction force generator and a keyboard device.

  In an acoustic piano, a predetermined feeling (hereinafter referred to as a touch feeling) is given to a player's finger through a key by the action of an action mechanism. In an acoustic piano, an action mechanism is required for key pressing with a hammer. On the other hand, in an electronic keyboard instrument, a key depression is detected by a sensor, so that sound generation is possible without having an action mechanism such as an acoustic piano. The touch feeling of an electronic keyboard instrument that does not use an action mechanism and an electronic keyboard instrument that uses a simple action mechanism are greatly different from the touch feeling of an acoustic piano. Therefore, a technique for providing a mechanism corresponding to a hammer in an acoustic piano in order to obtain a touch feeling close to that of an acoustic piano in an electronic keyboard instrument has been disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-226687 A

  In this case, the hammer moves in accordance with the player's key pressing operation, and a sound is emitted when the sensor is pressed. At this time, it is only necessary to always apply a force in the vertical direction to the key, but in the case of a key far from the performer or when the key is strongly pressed, the force is not always applied only in the vertical direction. A force may also be applied in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction or front-rear direction) of the key as viewed from the person. There is a case where a component force is generated in such a state. In this case, the force acting in the longitudinal direction is a force generated by displacement and is also called shear stress (or shear stress). Due to the shear stress, the sensor may not operate stably, and sound generation failure may occur. In addition, the above problem may occur even when the key directly presses the sensor in a keyboard device in which the hammer does not press the sensor (or does not use the hammer), and sound generation failure tends to occur. Moreover, the said problem will generate | occur | produce not only in the sensor in a keyboard apparatus but in the member which requires the reaction force (repulsive force) which does not have a sensor.

  Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to enable a reaction force to be stably generated when a performer presses a key in an electronic keyboard instrument. Another object of the present invention is to enable a stable sound to be emitted when a performer presses an electronic keyboard instrument.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, an actuator that rotates about a rotation fulcrum and a reaction force generation member that contacts the actuator are provided, and the actuator and the reaction force generation member have a plurality of tangential planes. A reaction force generator is provided in which at least one of a plurality of tangential planes includes a rotation fulcrum.

  In the reaction force generation device, the actuator may move in a normal direction when contacting with a plurality of tangent planes.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, an actuator that rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and a reaction force generation member that has at least three contacts with the actuator, the surface including the three contacts has a rotation fulcrum. A reaction force generator is provided.

  In the reaction force generation apparatus, the actuator may move in a normal direction when contacting the surface including the three contact points.

  In the reaction force generation device, the reaction force generation member can be deformed in response to pressing of the actuator, and may have a restoring force.

  In the reaction force generation device, at least one of the actuator and the reaction force generation member has at least one contact surface having a plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions are in contact with the other of the actuator and the reaction force generation member. May be.

  The reaction force generator may be a switching device.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device that includes a key and the reaction force generation device, and the actuator is a part of the hammer body.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device that includes a key and the reaction force generation device, and the actuator is a part of the key.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a performer depresses a key in an electronic keyboard instrument, it can be made to generate | occur | produce reaction force stably. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to stably emit a sound when a performer presses an electronic keyboard instrument.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the keyboard apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the sound source device in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing at the time of seeing the structure inside the housing | casing in 1st Embodiment from the keyboard side surface. It is explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator when the hammer side load part and upper electrode support part contact when it sees from the key side surface in 1st Embodiment. It is an enlarged view of explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator when the hammer side load part and upper electrode support part contact when it sees from the key side surface in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a reaction force generator when the hammer side load part at the time of seeing from the key side surface in 1st Embodiment pushes down an upper electrode upper electrode support part. It is explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator at the time of seeing from the key front end side in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the key assembly when the key (white key) in 1st Embodiment is pressed down. It is explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator when the hammer side load part at the time of seeing from the key side surface in 2nd Embodiment and an upper electrode support part contact | abutted. It is an enlarged view of explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator when the hammer side load part and upper electrode support part contact | abut when it sees from the key side surface in 2nd Embodiment. It is an enlarged view of explanatory drawing of the reaction force generator when the hammer side load part and upper electrode support part contact | abut when it sees from the key side surface in 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the reaction force generator at the time of seeing from the key front end side in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the reaction force generator at the time of seeing from the key side surface in 1st Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention should not be construed as being limited to these embodiments. Note that in the drawings referred to in this embodiment, the same portions or portions having similar functions are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals (for example, xxx-1, xxx-2, etc.) May be omitted. In addition, the dimensional ratios of the drawings (the ratios between the components, the ratios in the vertical and horizontal height directions, etc.) may be different from the actual ratios for convenience of explanation, or some of the configurations may be omitted from the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
(1-1. Configuration of keyboard device)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a keyboard device according to the first embodiment. In this example, the keyboard device 1 is an electronic keyboard instrument that emits sound in response to a user (player) key depression such as an electronic piano. Note that the keyboard device 1 may be a keyboard-type controller that outputs control data (for example, MIDI) for controlling an external sound source device in response to a key depression. In this case, the keyboard device 1 may not include the sound source device.

  The keyboard device 1 includes a keyboard assembly 10. The keyboard assembly 10 includes a white key 100w and a black key 100b. A plurality of white keys 100w and black keys 100b are arranged side by side. The number of keys 100 is N, which is 88 in this example. This arranged direction is referred to as a scale direction (sometimes referred to as a key side direction or D2 direction). When the white key 100w and the black key 100b can be described without particular distinction, the key 100 may be referred to. The longitudinal direction of the key 100 may be referred to as the D1 direction. Also in the following description, when “w” is added to the end of the reference sign, it means that the configuration corresponds to the white key. Further, when “b” is added at the end of the code, it means that the configuration corresponds to the black key.

  A part of the keyboard assembly 10 exists inside the housing 90. When the keyboard device 1 is viewed from above, a portion of the keyboard assembly 10 covered by the casing 90 is referred to as a non-appearance portion NV, and a portion exposed from the casing 90 and visible to the user is referred to as an appearance portion PV. . That is, the appearance part PV is a part of the key 100 and indicates an area where the user can perform a performance operation. Hereinafter, a portion of the key 100 that is exposed by the appearance portion PV may be referred to as a key body portion.

  Inside the casing 90, a sound source device 70 and a speaker 80 are arranged. The tone generator 70 generates a sound waveform signal when the key 100 is pressed. The speaker 80 outputs the sound waveform signal generated in the sound source device 70 to an external space. The keyboard device 1 may be provided with a slider for controlling the volume, a switch for switching timbres, a display for displaying various information, and the like.

  In the description in the present specification, directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back indicate directions when the keyboard apparatus 1 is viewed from the performer when performing. Therefore, for example, the non-appearance part NV can be expressed as being located on the back side with respect to the appearance part PV. Further, the direction may be indicated with the key 100 as a reference, such as the front end side (key front side) and the rear end side (key rear side). In this case, the key front end side indicates the front side as viewed from the performer with respect to the key 100. The rear end side of the key indicates the back side viewed from the performer with respect to the key 100. According to this definition, the black key 100b can be expressed as a portion protruding upward from the white key 100w from the front end to the rear end of the key body of the black key 100b.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the sound source device according to the first embodiment. The sound source device 70 includes a signal conversion unit 710, a sound source unit 730, and an output unit 750. The sensor 300 is provided corresponding to each key 100, detects a key operation, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected content. In this example, the sensor 300 outputs a signal according to the key depression amount in three stages. The key pressing speed can be detected according to the interval of this signal.

  The signal conversion unit 710 obtains output signals of the sensors 300 (sensors 300-1, 300-2,..., 300-88 corresponding to 88 keys 100) and corresponds to the operation state of each key 100. Generate and output an operation signal. In this example, the operation signal is a MIDI signal. Therefore, the signal conversion unit 710 outputs note-on according to the key pressing operation. At this time, the key number indicating which of the 88 keys 100 has been operated and the velocity corresponding to the key pressing speed are also output in association with the note-on. On the other hand, in response to the key release operation, the signal conversion unit 710 outputs the key number and note-off in association with each other. A signal corresponding to another operation such as a pedal may be input to the signal conversion unit 710 and reflected in the operation signal.

  The sound source unit 730 generates a sound waveform signal based on the operation signal output from the signal conversion unit 710. The output unit 750 outputs the sound waveform signal generated by the sound source unit 730. This sound waveform signal is output to, for example, the speaker 80 or the sound waveform signal output terminal. The configuration of the keyboard assembly 10 will be described below.

(1-2. Configuration of keyboard assembly)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when the configuration inside the housing in the first embodiment is viewed from the side of the keyboard. As shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard assembly 10 and the speaker 80 are arranged inside the housing 90. That is, the housing 90 covers at least a part of the keyboard assembly 10 (the connection portion 180 and the frame 500) and the speaker 80. The speaker 80 is disposed on the back side of the keyboard assembly 10. The speaker 80 is arranged so as to output a sound corresponding to the key depression toward the upper side and the lower side of the housing 90. The sound output downward advances from the lower surface side of the housing 90 to the outside. On the other hand, the sound output upward passes through the space inside the keyboard assembly 10 from the inside of the housing 90, and is externally transmitted from the gap between the adjacent keys 100 in the exterior portion PV or the gap between the key 100 and the housing 90. Proceed to Note that the path of sound from the speaker 80 that reaches the space inside the keyboard assembly 10, that is, the space below the key 100 (key body portion), is exemplified as the path SR.

  The keyboard assembly 10 includes a connection portion 180, a hammer assembly 200, and a frame 500 in addition to the key 100 described above. The keyboard assembly 10 is a resin-made structure whose most configuration is manufactured by injection molding or the like. The frame 500 is fixed to the housing 90. The connection unit 180 connects the key 100 so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame 500. The connecting portion 180 includes a plate-like flexible member 181, a key-side support portion 183, and a rod-like flexible member 185. The plate-like flexible member 181 extends from the rear end of the key 100. The key side support portion 183 extends from the rear end of the plate-like flexible member 181. A rod-shaped flexible member 185 is supported by the key side support portion 183 and the frame side support portion 585 of the frame 500. That is, a rod-shaped flexible member 185 is disposed between the key 100 and the frame 500. The key 100 can be rotated with respect to the frame 500 by bending the rod-shaped flexible member 185. The rod-shaped flexible member 185 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the key side support portion 183 and the frame side support portion 585. The rod-like flexible member 185 may be configured so as not to be attached or detached integrally with the key side support portion 183 and the frame side support portion 585, or by bonding or the like.

  The key 100 includes a front end key guide 151 and a side key guide 153. The front end key guide 151 is slidably in contact with the front end frame guide 511 of the frame 500. The front end key guide 151 is in contact with the front end frame guide 511 on both sides of the upper and lower scale directions. The side key guide 153 is slidably in contact with the side frame guide 513 on both sides in the scale direction. In this example, the side key guide 153 is disposed in a region corresponding to the non-appearance portion NV on the side surface of the key 100, and exists on the key front end side with respect to the connection portion 180 (plate-like flexible member 181). You may arrange | position to the area | region corresponding to the external appearance part PV.

  Further, the key 100 is connected to the key-side load unit 120 below the appearance portion PV. The key-side load portion 120 is connected to the hammer assembly 200 so that the hammer assembly 200 is rotated when the key 100 is rotated.

  The hammer assembly 200 is disposed in a space below the key 100 and is attached to the frame 500 so as to be rotatable. The hammer assembly 200 has a longitudinal direction in the key front end direction (D1 direction shown in FIG. 3). The hammer assembly 200 includes a weight part 230 and a hammer body part 250. The hammer main body 250 is provided with a shaft support portion 220 that serves as a bearing for the rotation shaft 520 of the frame 500. The shaft support portion 220 and the rotation shaft 520 of the frame 500 abut against each other at least at three points. The rotation fulcrum 521 is provided at the center of the rotation shaft 520. The hammer assembly 200 including the hammer body portion 250 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 521.

  The hammer side load portion 210 is connected to the front end portion of the hammer main body portion 250. The hammer side load portion 210 includes a portion that is slidable and abuts substantially in the front-rear direction inside the key side load portion 120. A resin material such as plastic is used for the hammer side load portion 210. A lubricant such as grease may be disposed on the contact portion. The hammer side load unit 210 and the key side load unit 120 (in the following description, these may be collectively referred to as “load generation unit”) generate a part of the load when the key is pressed by sliding on each other. To do. In this example, the load generating unit is located below the key 100 in the appearance portion PV (frontward from the rear end of the key body).

  The weight portion 230 includes a metal weight, and is connected to the rear end portion of the hammer main body portion 250 (the back side from the rotation shaft). In a normal state (when no key is pressed), the weight portion 230 is placed on the lower stopper 410. As a result, the key 100 is stabilized at the rest position. When the key is depressed, the weight portion 230 moves upward and collides with the upper stopper 430. This defines the end position that is the maximum key depression amount of the key 100. The weight 230 also applies a load to the key press. The lower stopper 410 and the upper stopper 430 are formed of a buffer material or the like (nonwoven fabric, elastic body, etc.).

  A sensor 300 is attached to the frame 500 below the load generation unit. When the sensor 300 is crushed by the hammer side load unit 210 by pressing the key, the sensor 300 outputs a detection signal. In the above description, the hammer side load unit 210 functions as one of the actuators. At this time, the crushed sensor 300 tries to return to its original shape by a restoring force, and thus gives a reaction force to the hammer side load portion 210. Therefore, the hammer side load unit 210, the key side load unit 120, and the sensor 300 may be collectively referred to as a reaction force generator 50. At this time, the sensor 300 may be referred to as a reaction force generating member. Further, as will be described later, when the switching operation is performed with the electrodes as in the sensor 300, the reaction force generation device 50 can be referred to as a switching device. The configuration of the reaction force generator 50 will be described in detail below.

(1-3. Configuration of reaction force generator)
4 to 6 are cross-sectional views of the reaction force generator 50 as seen from the key side surface direction (scale direction or D2 direction) when the key 100 is pressed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the hammer side load portion 210 and the upper electrode support portion 330 are in contact with each other. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a region A1 in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view after the hammer side load portion 210 and the upper electrode support portion 330 are both rotated and the sensor 300 is pushed down. Although details will be described later, the sensor 300 includes an upper electrode 310, an upper electrode support part 330, and a deformation part 340.

  For example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sensor 300 is provided in the rotation range of the hammer side load unit 210. At this time, the hammer-side load portion 210 and the sensor 300 come into contact with each other as the hammer-side load portion 210 rotates. Specifically, the hammer side load portion 210 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 270, and the sensor 300 is provided with an upper electrode support portion 330. In addition, the convex part 270 may have roundness in the front-end | tip part 270A. In this example, convex part 270-1 and convex part 270-2 have the same shape. As described above, the plurality of convex portions 270 and the upper electrode support portion 330 come into contact with each other. More specifically, the tip portions 270A of the plurality of convex portions 270 and the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support portion 330 are in contact with each other. A plane when the plurality of convex portions 270 (tip portion 270A) and the upper electrode support portion 330 (upper surface 330A) are in contact with each other is referred to as a tangential plane 333. That is, one (convex portion 270-1) of the plurality of convex portions 270 is in contact with the upper electrode support portion 330 and has a tangential plane 333 (tangential plane 333-1). Similarly, another one of the plurality of convex portions 270 (the convex portion 270-2) is in contact with the upper electrode support portion 330 and has a tangential plane 333 (tangential plane 333-2). Therefore, it can be said that the hammer side load portion 210 has a plurality of tangential planes 333 between the upper electrode support portion 330 and the hammer side load portion 210. In this example, the tangential plane 333-1 and the tangential plane 333-2 have the same shape. Further, at least one of the plurality of tangent planes 333 includes a rotation fulcrum 521.

  The hammer side load part 210 pushes down the upper electrode support part 330 and the upper electrode 310 while deforming the deformation part 340 while rotating. At this time, the hammer side load portion 210 moves in the normal direction N1 with respect to the plurality of tangential planes 333 when the plurality of convex portions 270 are in contact with the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support portion 330. Thereby, when the hammer side load part 210 which functions as an actuator depresses a sensor (the upper electrode support part 330 and the upper electrode 310), the component force to the longitudinal direction (direction where a shear stress works) of the key 100 does not arise. Or, the component force is suppressed. For this reason, the hammer side load part 210 always moves perpendicularly (normal direction) with respect to the tangential plane 333 while rotating. That is, the positional deviation of the upper electrode support part 330 and the upper electrode 310 is suppressed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the key 100 is pressed, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 are likely to come into contact with each other. Moreover, since the deformation | transformation part 340 carries out the stable operation | movement, it is prevented that a local force (it may be called an uneven load) is applied to the sensor 300, and durability of the sensor 300 improves.

  Below, each member of the reaction force generator 50 is demonstrated. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the reaction force generator 50 of FIG. 4 when viewed from the key front end side (key front side), that is, from the longitudinal direction (D1 direction) of the key.

  The sensor 300 includes an upper electrode 310, a lower electrode 320, an upper electrode support part 330, a deformation part 340 and a lower electrode support part 350.

  The upper electrode 310 is provided on the lower surface 330 </ b> B of the upper electrode support part 330. The upper electrode 310 is formed of an elastic body. A conductive portion 310 </ b> A is provided at the tip of the upper electrode 310. In this example, molded silicon rubber is used for the upper electrode 310, and conductive carbon black is used as the conductor for the conductive portion 310A.

  The lower electrode 320 is disposed on the upper surface side of the lower electrode support portion 350 so as to face the upper electrode 310. The lower electrode 320 includes a conductor. For example, the lower electrode 320 is made of a metal material such as gold, silver, copper, or platinum, or a conductive resin such as conductive carbon black. Further, the lower electrode 320 is disposed in the rotation range of the hammer side load unit 210. Although not shown, the lower electrode 320 includes a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode. The first lower electrode is connected to the signal line. The second lower electrode is connected to the GND line. When the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode are electrically connected by the upper electrode 310, a detection signal is output. The first lower electrode and the second lower electrode are adjacent to each other and are alternately arranged.

  The deforming part 340 is disposed so as to connect the upper electrode support part 330 and the lower electrode support part 350. The deformable portion 340 is connected to the end portion 331A of the upper electrode support portion 330 and the end portion 331B of the upper electrode support portion 330. In this example, the deforming portion 340 is directly fixed to the lower electrode support portion 350 by the connecting portion 340A and the connecting portion 340B. In addition, the deformation | transformation part 340 may be indirectly fixed with the lower electrode support part 350 through another member. The connecting portion 340 </ b> A is disposed outside and below the end portion 331 </ b> A of the upper electrode support portion 330. Similarly, the connection portion 340B is disposed outside and below the end portion 331B of the upper electrode support portion 330. In addition, when the deformation | transformation part 340 is being fixed to another member, the deformation | transformation part 340 does not need to be fixed with the lower electrode support part 350. FIG. Moreover, the deformation | transformation part 340 has an elastic force. Thereby, the deformation | transformation part 340 can deform | transform according to rotation (pressing operation | movement) of the hammer side load part 210. FIG. Further, when the deforming portion 340 is deformed, the upper electrode 310 and the upper electrode support portion 330 can move in the vertical direction. For this reason, the distance between the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 is variable. Moreover, when the deformation | transformation part 340 is released from a press by the hammer side load part 210, it can restore | restore to an original position by having elastic force. In this example, molded silicon rubber is used for the deformable portion 340.

  The upper electrode support portion 330 is disposed to face the hammer side load portion 210. In FIG. 7, the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support part 330 has a flat surface. Note that the upper surface 330 </ b> A may have a recess depending on the shape of the upper electrode 310. The upper electrode support 330 is made of silicon rubber so that it can be integrally formed with the upper electrode 310 and the deformable portion 340. The upper electrode 310 excluding the conductive portion 310A, the upper electrode support portion 330, and the deformation portion 340 may be collectively referred to as a reaction force generating member. At this time, the upper electrode support part 330 may be referred to as an upper surface part of the reaction force generating member. In addition, a lubricant may be appropriately provided on the upper electrode support 330.

  The lower electrode support part 350 is provided as another member together with the lower electrode 320. For example, the lower electrode support part 350 may be provided as a printed board, and the lower electrode 320 may be an electrode formed on the printed board. The lower electrode support part 350 may be referred to as a base material. Further, the lower electrode 320 may be referred to as a detection unit. The lower electrode 320 and the lower electrode support part 350 may be collectively referred to as a circuit board.

  A material harder than the upper electrode support portion 330 is used for the hammer side load portion 210. For example, a resin material such as plastic is used for the hammer side load portion 210.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper electrode support portion 330 of the sensor 300 includes the hammer main body portion 250 including the hammer side load portion 210 when viewed from the key side surface direction (D2 direction), and the lower electrode support portion 350. It is inclined with respect to. Note that the upper electrode support portion 330 does not necessarily have to be inclined, and the plurality of convex portions 270 of the hammer side load portion 210 may be arranged so that the upper electrode support portion 330 can be in contact with the upper electrode support portion 330 at the same time. Further, although three upper electrodes 310 are arranged, the number is not limited to this number.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower electrode 320 is arranged in alignment with the upper electrode 310 when viewed from the key side surface direction (D2 direction). The three upper electrodes 310 have different distances to the lower electrode 320, respectively. When at least one of the three upper electrodes 310 is connected to the lower electrode 320, a detection signal is output.

(1-4. Operation of keyboard assembly)
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the key assembly when the key (white key) is pressed. FIG. 8A is a diagram when the key 100 is in the rest position (a state where the key is not pressed). FIG. 8B is a diagram when the key 100 is in the end position (the state where the key is pressed to the end). When the key 100 is pressed, the rod-like flexible member 185 is bent with the center of rotation. At this time, the rod-shaped flexible member 185 is bent and deformed forward (frontward) of the key 100, but the key 100 moves forward due to the restriction of movement in the front-rear direction by the side key guide 153. Instead, the key 100 rotates in the normal direction (D3 direction). Then, when the key side load portion 120 pushes down the hammer side load portion 210, the hammer assembly 200 rotates around the rotation fulcrum 521.

  Furthermore, when the weight portion 230 collides with the upper stopper 430, the rotation of the hammer assembly 200 is stopped, and the key 100 reaches the end position. In addition, when the sensor 300 is crushed by the hammer side load unit 210, the sensor 300 outputs a detection signal at a plurality of stages according to the crushed amount (key pressing amount). As described above, by using the reaction force generation device 50 of the present embodiment, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 are easily brought into contact with each other when the key 100 is pressed. Therefore, a sound can be stably emitted.

Second Embodiment
(2. Configuration of reaction force generator 50-1)
In the second embodiment, a reaction force generator 50-1 having a structure different from that of the first embodiment will be described. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is used.

  FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the reaction force generator 50-1 as seen from the key side surface direction. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the area A1. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a plurality of convex portions 335 are provided on the upper surface 330 </ b> A of the upper electrode support portion 330. In this example, the convex portions 335 have different shapes, but may have the same shape. Further, the hammer-side load portion 210 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 270 and a plurality of convex portions 271. Similar to the convex portion 335, the convex portions 271 have different shapes, but may have the same shape. On the other hand, although the convex part 270 has the same shape, it is not limited to this. Further, the tip portion 270 </ b> A of the convex portion 270 is in contact with the upper surface 330 </ b> A of the upper electrode support portion 330. The tip portion 270A and the upper surface 330A each have a curved surface. At this time, a plane in which the tip 270A of the convex portion 270 and the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support 330 are in contact with each other is referred to as a tangential plane 333-1. In addition, the tip 271 </ b> A of the protrusion 271 is in contact with the tip 335 </ b> A of the protrusion 335 of the upper electrode support 330. Note that the distal end portion 271A and the distal end portion 335A each have a curved surface. A plane in which the tip portion 271A of the convex portion 271 and the tip portion 335A of the convex portion 335 are in contact is referred to as a tangential plane 333-2. The tip portion 270A, the upper surface 330A, the tip portion 271A, and the tip portion 335A each have a curved surface. The tangential plane 333-1 and the tangential plane 333-2 are not coplanar, but include a rotation fulcrum 521. The convex part 270 and the upper electrode support part 330, and the convex part 271 and the convex part 335 are simultaneously in contact with each other. The convex portion 270 of the hammer side load portion 210 moves in the normal direction N1 with respect to the tangential plane 333-1. The convex portion 271 moves in the normal direction N2 with respect to the tangential plane 333-2.

  By having the above-described configuration, when the hammer-side load portion 210 that functions as an actuator presses the upper electrode support portion 330 that is a reaction force generating member, even if it has a different tangent plane, the key 100 moves in the scale direction. The component force is not generated or the component force is suppressed. For this reason, the hammer side load part 210 always moves perpendicularly (normal direction) with respect to the tangential plane 333 while rotating. That is, the positional deviation of the upper electrode support part 330 and the upper electrode 310 is suppressed. Therefore, when the key 100 is pressed, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 are likely to come into contact with each other. As described above, when the key 100 is pressed, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 can come into contact with each other, and the detection signal is reliably output. That is, the keyboard device 1 can emit sound stably.

<Third Embodiment>
(3. Configuration of reaction force generator 50-2)
In the third embodiment, a reaction force generator 50-2 having a structure different from that of the second embodiment will be described. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, the description is used.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the contact portion between the hammer side load portion 210 and the upper electrode support portion 330 of the reaction force generator 50-2 as viewed from the key side surface direction. As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of convex portions 337 are provided on the upper surface 330 </ b> A of the upper electrode support portion 330. In this example, the convex portions 337 have different shapes, but may have the same shape. In addition, the hammer-side load portion 210 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 270 (the convex portions 270-1, the convex portions 270-2, and the convex portions 270-3). At this time, the convex portion 270-3 is provided at a position not on the line connecting the convex portion 270-1 and the convex portion 270-2. The front end portion 270-1A of the convex portion 270-1 and the front end portion 270-2A of the convex portion 270-2 are in contact with the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support portion 330. Tip part 270-1A, tip part 270-2A, and upper surface 330A may each have a curved surface. Further, the tip 270-3A of the protrusion 270-3 is in contact with the tip 337A of the protrusion 337 of the upper electrode support 330. At this time, the tip portion 270-3A and the tip portion 337A may each have a curved surface.

  Here, the convex portion 270-1 and the upper electrode support portion 330, the convex portion 270-2, the upper electrode support portion 330, and the convex portion 270-3 and the convex portion 337 are in contact with each other simultaneously. At this time, a contact point between the tip portion 270A and the upper surface 330A is defined as a contact P1. Further, a contact point between the tip portion 272A and the upper surface 330A is defined as a contact P2. Further, a contact point between the distal end portion 273A and the distal end portion 337A is defined as a contact P3. At this time, when the surface formed by the contact P1, the contact P2, and the contact P3 (referred to as the tangential plane 338) is expanded, the tangential plane 338 includes the rotation fulcrum 521. In the above, the convex part 270 of the hammer side load part 210 moves in the normal direction N3 with respect to the tangential plane 338.

  With the above-described configuration, when the hammer side load portion 210 that functions as an actuator presses the upper electrode support portion 330 that is a reaction force generating member, a component force in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the key 100 is generated. No or partial force is suppressed. For this reason, the hammer side load portion 210 can always move vertically (normal direction) with respect to the tangential plane 333 while rotating. That is, the positional deviation of the upper electrode support part 330 and the upper electrode 310 is suppressed. Therefore, when the key 100 is pressed, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 are likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, when the key 100 is pressed, the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320 can come into contact with each other, and the detection signal is reliably output. That is, the keyboard device 1 can emit sound stably.

<Modification>
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various modes as follows.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the example in which the hammer side load unit 210 is shifted in the scale direction is shown. However, when the key 100 is displaced in the direction (scale direction) or in the oblique direction, the hammer side load unit 210 is further rotated. This also applies when twisted.

  In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the example in which the hammer side load portion 210 is in contact is shown. However, the key side load portion 120 may be in direct contact with the upper electrode support portion 330 and pressed. In this case, the key-side load unit 120 may be the lower surface of the key 100. Further, the arrangement of the sensor 300 is different from the position shown in FIG. 3, and the sensor 300 is arranged immediately below the key 100 (for example, the middle position of the line connecting the front key guide 151 and the side key guide 153 in FIG. 3). May be. The key 100 may be connected to the hammer assembly 200 at a location different from the position shown in FIG. In this case, the rotation fulcrum is provided on the side key guide 153 side. Since the key-side load unit 120 is directly affected by the player pressing the key, the upper electrode support unit 330 is more easily displaced in the scale direction. Therefore, the effect by using this invention can be acquired further. In the above, another member may be used without providing the hammer assembly 200.

  Further, the hammer side load unit 210 or the key side load unit 120 may not press the upper electrode support unit 330. For example, another member separated from the hammer side load unit 210 and the key side load unit 120 may function as the actuator. In this case, the actuator may be a movable part that interlocks with the key.

  In 1st Embodiment of this invention, although the example in which the convex part 270 was provided in the contact surface 215 of the hammer side load part 210 was shown, it is not limited to this. The contact surface 215 may not be provided with the convex portion 270. In this case, the contact surface 215 and the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support portion 330 may be in surface contact. In the case of surface contact, the rotation fulcrum is included in a plane formed by three different contact points on the contact surface between the contact surface 215 and the upper surface 330A of the upper electrode support 330.

  Further, the contact surface 215 and the upper surface 330A may have curved surfaces having the same shape when in surface contact. Further, the contact surface 215 and the upper surface 330 </ b> A may have unevenness of the same shape when in surface contact. Further, the contact surface 215 or the upper surface 330A may be provided with convex portions arranged in a mesh shape. In these, a plurality of tangential planes provided arbitrarily may pass through the rotation fulcrum 521.

Moreover, although the reaction force generator provided with the upper electrode and the lower electrode has been described in the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction force generator 50-3 as viewed from the key front end side. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction force generator 50-3 as viewed from the key side. In the reaction force generator 50-3, the hammer side load portion 210 and the reaction force generation member 301 have the same configuration as the sensor 300 except for the upper electrode 310 and the lower electrode 320. By having the above-described configuration, the hammer side load portion 210 and the reaction force generation member 301 have a plurality of tangential planes 333. The tangent plane 333 includes a rotation fulcrum 521. When the hammer-side load portion 210 that functions as an actuator presses the reaction force generating member 301, no component force is generated in the longitudinal direction of the key 100 (direction in which shear stress acts) or the component force is suppressed. For this reason, the hammer side load part 210 always moves perpendicularly (normal direction) with respect to the tangential plane 333 while rotating. Thereby, the reaction force generating member can generate the reaction force at an appropriate timing, and the touch feeling in the keyboard device can be improved. Further, in the above, since the reaction force generating member is prevented from being deformed abnormally, durability is improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Keyboard device, 10 ... Keyboard assembly, 50 ... Reaction force generator, 70 ... Sound source device, 80 ... Speaker, 90 ... Housing, 100 ... Key, 100b ... Black key, 100w ... White key, 120 ... Key side load part, 151 ... Front end key guide, 153 ... Side key guide, 180 ... Connection part, 181 ... Plate -Like flexible member, 183 ... key-side support part, 185 ... rod-like flexible member, 200 ... hammer assembly, 210 ... hammer-side load part, 220 ... shaft support part, 230・ ・ ・ Weight part, 250 ... Hammer body part, 270 ... Projection part, 271 ... Projection part, 300 ... Sensor, 301 ... Reaction force generating member, 310 ... Upper electrode, 320 ... lower electrode, 330 ... upper electrode support, 333 ... tangential plane, 335 ... 340 ... deformation part 350 ... lower electrode support part 410 ... lower stopper 430 ... upper stopper 500 ... frame 511 ... front end frame guide 513・ Side frame guide, 520... Rotating shaft, 521... Rotating fulcrum, 585... Frame side support, 710... Signal converter, 730. Part

Claims (9)

An actuator that rotates about a rotation fulcrum;
A reaction force generating member in contact with the actuator;
Have
The actuator and the reaction force generating member have a plurality of tangential planes,
The rotation fulcrum is included in at least one of the plurality of tangential planes,
Reaction force generator. The actuator moves in a normal direction when contacting the plurality of tangent planes;
The reaction force generator according to claim 1. An actuator that rotates about a rotation fulcrum;
A reaction force generating member having at least three contacts with the actuator;
Have
The surface including the three contact points includes the rotation fulcrum.
Reaction force generator. The actuator moves in a normal direction when contacting the surface including the three contact points.
The reaction force generator according to claim 3. The reaction force generating member is deformable in response to the pressing of the actuator and has a restoring force.
The reaction force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. At least one of the actuator and the reaction force generating member has a plurality of convex portions, and the plurality of convex portions are in contact with the other of the actuator and the reaction force generating member.
The reaction force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The reaction force generator is a switching device.
The reaction force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Key and
A reaction force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The actuator is part of a hammer;
Keyboard device. Key and
A reaction force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
Have
The actuator is part of a key;
Keyboard device.

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