Active touch keyboard
OwnerRichard P. Bakerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type, such as a synthesizer, electronic piano, organ or controller keyboard. The keyboard includes an electromechanical key actuation and sensing element that in combination with electronic processing allows the performer to adjust both tactile and tone control parameters associated with keyboard touch response. The tactile response can be tuned over a broad range and is capable of simulating a light organ touch, heavier "piano key feel" or stiff percussive action. Since any of these features can be selected and adjusted while the performer is playing the keyboard, the keyboard system also has a desirable "real time" capability that does not interfere with musical performance.
Claims42
A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument, adapted to enable a desired tactile response of keys in the keyboard system to be effected by performer adjustment of tactile response parameters associated with a keyboard touch response, comprising:
- (a) a keyboard, including:
- (1) a base structure;
- (2) a plurality of playing keys adapted to be pivotally mounted on the base structure and to be linearly arranged in the keyboard;
- and
- (3) means for pivotally mounting and linearly arranging the plurality of playing keys in the base structure;
- (b) a plurality of electromechanical key actuation and sensing elements, associated with the keyboard, including:
- (1) a plurality of electric motors mounted in said base structure, for generating motor output torque, a back electromotive force that is a function of the speed of said motors, and electrical parameters including current and voltage levels;
- (2) means for coupling the electric motors to said keys so as to transmit motor output torque from said motors to said keys;
- (3) electrical means for sensing a motor electrical parameter;
- and
- (4) motor control means for controlling said motor output torques and for developing estimates of said motor back electromotive forces from said sensed motor electrical parameter;
- (c) performer interface means for enabling performer adjustment of tactile response parameters associated with said keyboard touch response;
- and
- (d) electronic processing means for generating motor control commands for controlling motor output torque in said motor control means in response to said tactile response parameters and said estimates of motor back electromotive force, whereby a desired tactile response of said keys is effected by said performer adjustment of said tactile response parameters.
A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument, adapted to enable a desired tactile response of keys in the keyboard system to be effected by performer adjustment of tactile response parameters associated with a keyboard touch response and a desired touch sensitive tone response to be effected by performer adjustment of dynamic response parameters, comprising:
- (a) a keyboard, including:
- (1) a base structure;
- (2) a plurality of playing keys adapted to be pivotally mounted on the base structure and to be linearly arranged in the keyboard;
- and
- (3) means for pivotally mounting and linearly arranging the plurality of playing keys in the base structure;
- (b) a plurality of electromechanical key actuation and sensing elements, associated with the keyboard, including:
- (1) a plurality of electric motors mounted in said base structure, for generating motor output torque, a back electromotive force that is a function of the speed of said motors, and electrical parameters including current and voltage levels;
- (2) means for coupling the electric motors to said keys so as to transmit motor output torque from said motors to said keys;
- (3) electrical means for sensing a motor electrical parameter;
- and
- (4) motor control means for controlling said motor output torques and for developing estimates of said motor back electromotive forces from said sensed motor electrical parameter;
- (c) performer interface means for enabling performer adjustment of tactile and dynamic response parameters associated with said keyboard touch reponse;
- (d) means for generating a distinct note on/off discrete for each of said keys in accordance with said performer playing said keyboard;
- (e) musical interface means for outputting said note on/off discretes to a plurality of musical tone generators for causing distinct touch sensitive tonal outputs upon actuation of said keys;
- and
- (f) electronic processing means for generating motor control commands for controlling motor input torque in said motor control means in response to said tactile and dynamic response parameters and said estimates of motor back electromotive force and for generating tone control commands for outputting in said musical interface means, whereby a desired tactile response of said keys is effected by said performer adjustment of said tactile response parameters and a desired touch sensitive tone response is effected by said performer adjustment of said dynamic response parameters.
A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument, adapted to enable a desired touch sensitive tone response to be effected by performer adjustment of dynamic response parameters, comprising:
- (a) a keyboard, including:
- (1) a base structure;
- (2) a plurality of playing keys adapted to be pivotally mounted on the base structure and to be linearly arranged in the keyboard;
- and
- (3) means for pivotally mounting and linearly arranging the plurality of playing keys in the base structure;
- (b) a plurality of electromechanical key actuation and sensing elements, associated with the keyboard, including:
- (1) a plurality of electric motors mounted in said base structure for producing a back electromotive force that is a function of the speed of said motors;
- (2) means for respectively coupling said motors to said keys such that a rotation of said key will cause a corresponding rotation of said motor;
- (3) electrical means for respectively sensing voltages of said motors;
- (4) motor interface means for respectively developing estimates of said motor back electromotive forces from said sensed motor voltages;
- (c) performer interface means for enabling performer adjustment of dynamic response parameters associated with said keyboard touch response;
- (d) means for determining a distinct note on/off discrete for each of said keys in accordance with said performer palying said keyboard;
- (e) musical interface menas for outputting said note on/off discretes to a plurality of musical tone generators for causing distinct touch sensitive tonal outputs upon actuation of said keys;
- and
- (f) electronic processing means for generating said tone control commands for controlling motor output torque in said motor control means in response to said dynamic response parameters and said estimates of motor back electromotive force, whereby a desired touch sensitive tone response is effected by said performer adjustment of said dynamic response parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.