Key actuation systems for keyboard instruments

A player keyboard instrument for producing notes and actuating the keys to simulate being played by an operator, the keyboard instrument comprising:

• a key bed;
• a plurality of keys, each key having an upper surface and a lower surface and being pivotally supported above the key bed, each key further having a front end that is depressed by a player to play a note, the key bed extending under and spaced from the lower surface of the key, each key having a post extending downwardly from the lower surface of the key towards the key bed, the post including a portion of ferromagnetic material;
• a counterweight system comprising a plurality of counterweights, one of the counterweights being in mechanical communication with each of the keys such that depression of the front end of each key causes the corresponding counterweight to move in a first direction;
• a plurality of actuator coils disposed in the space between the lower surface of the keys and the key bed, one of the actuator coils being disposed about each of the posts, each actuator coil operable to electromechanically move the ferromagnetic portion of the corresponding post downwardly so as to move the corresponding key.

A key actuation system for a keyboard instrument of the type having a plurality of keys, each key being pivotally supported and having a front end that is depressed by a player to play a note, the actuation system comprising:

• a plurality of actuators operable to move at least some of the plurality of keys, the plurality of actuators together comprising:
• a block of ferromagnetic material with a plurality of bores defined therein,
• a winding disposed in each of the bores, each of the windings having a hole defined therein, and
• a piston at least partially disposed in each of the holes, each piston being in mechanical communication with one of the keys such that movement of the piston causes movement of the key;
• wherein energizing one of the windings causes the corresponding piston to move relative to the winding, thereby moving one of the keys.

A key actuation system for a keyboard instrument of the type having a key fulcrum pivotally supporting a plurality of keys, each key having a front end disposed forward of the fulcrum which is depressed by a player, and a rear end disposed rearward of the fulcrum that pivots upwardly when the front end is depressed, said system comprising:

• a pivotal support;
• a rocking lever arm supported by the support and having a lifting end on one side of the support in mechanical communication with the rear end of one of the keys and a piston end on the other side of the support, the piston end including a portion of ferromagnetic material;
• and
• an actuator coil having a opening therein, the coil disposed such that the piston end of the lever arm is at least partially disposed in the opening, the actuator operable to electromechanically move the piston end of the lever arm.

A key actuation system for a keyboard instrument of the type having a plurality of pivotally supported keys each having a front end which is to be depressed by a player to pivot the key, said system comprising:

• a primary underlever having a mounted end and a free end that is movable in at least a first direction;
• an actuator operable to move the primary underlever such that the free end of the primary underlever moves in the first direction;
• and
• a secondary underlever having a mounted end and a free end that is movable in at least a second direction, the free end being in mechanical communication with one of the keys such that when the free end of the secondary underlever moves in the second direction, the key pivots as if depressed by a player, the secondary underlever further having a midportion defined between the mounted and free ends;
• the free end of the primary underlever being in mechanical communication with the midportion of the secondary underlever such that when the free end of the primary underlever moves in the first direction, the free end of the secondary underlever is moved in the second direction.

A player keyboard instrument for producing notes and actuating the keys to simulate being played by an operator, the keyboard instrument comprising:

• a plurality of pivotally supported keys, each key having an upper surface and a lower surface, each key further having a front end that is depressed by a player to play a note, each key having a post extending downwardly from the lower surface of the key, the post including a portion of ferromagnetic material;
• a sensor operable to sense movement of the posts of each of the keys;
• a sound reproduction system in communication with the sensor and operable to produce sound in response to movement of the posts;
• and
• a plurality of actuator coils, one of the actuator coils being disposed about each of the posts, each actuator coil operable to electromechanically move the corresponding post downwardly so as to move the corresponding key.