Keyboard unit for electronic musical instrument having a key motion detectors

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys each providing a sliding member;
• a key frame on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys freely rotates when depressed;
• a plurality of key guides which are provided on said key frame, each of said key guides providing a guide channel which is shaped to engage a respective sliding member of one of said keys each of said key guides supporting the respective key by engaging said respective sliding member with its guide channel when said key is depressed;
• and
• a plurality of pressure sensing members wherein a respective pressure sensing member is provided at an interior wall of said guide channel, so that said pressure sensing member senses pressure applied thereto in a lateral direction corresponding to a disposing direction of a respective one of said keys in the keyboard unit when said key is depressed,
• whereby when said respective one of said keys is moved in the lateral direction while being depressed down, said pressure sensing member senses the pressure applied to said key in the lateral direction so that a predetermined musical parameter of a musical tone to be generated is controlled responsive to sensed pressure.

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys;
• a key frame on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys freely rotates;
• a key guide which is mounted on said key frame such that it can be freely moved in a lateral direction, said key guide providing a plurality of key supporting portions each of which supports at least one of said keys such that said supported keys can be freely depressed down in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lateral direction;
• and
• a pressure sensor which is provided between said key frame and said key guide such that it can sense a lateral movement of said key guide,
• whereby a predetermined musical parameter of a musical tone to be generated is controlled responsive to a sensed lateral movement of said key guide.

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys;
• a key supporting means on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys freely rotates in response to a depressing motion applied to said key by a player of the electronic musical instrument;
• a plurality of key guides which are provided on said key supporting means, wherein each of said key guide includes a guide surface and each of said keys slides along at least one of said guide surfaces when depressed;
• a plurality of sensors which are respectively provided at said guide surfaces of said key guides, each of said sensors detecting a moving distance of a respective key when said respective key is depressed;
• and
• a control means for controlling a musical tone signal based on a detected moving distance of said respective key.

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys;
• a key supporting means on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys freely rotates in response to a depressing motion applied to said key by a player of the electronic musical instrument;
• a plurality of key guides which are provided on said key supporting means, wherein each of said key guides includes a guide surface and each of said keys slides along at least one of said guide surfaces when depressed;
• a plurality of sensors which are respectively provided at said guide surfaces of said key guides, each of said sensors detecting a depressing pressure which is applied to a respective key when said respective key is depressed;
• and
• a control means for controlling a musical tone signal based on a detected depressing pressure.

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys;
• a key supporting means on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys is freely rotatable in response to a depressing force applied by a player of the electronic musical instrument;
• a plurality of key guides which are provided on said key supporting means, wherein each of said key guides includes a guide surface and each of said keys slides along at least one of said guide surfaces when depressed;
• a plurality of sensors which are respectively provided at said guide surfaces of said key guides, each of said sensors detecting a moving distance of a respective key in a lateral direction corresponding to a disposing direction of said respective key when said respective key is depressed;
• and
• a control means for controlling a musical tone signal based on a detected moving distance of said respective key in the lateral direction.

A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument comprising:

• a plurality of keys;
• a key frame on which said plurality of keys are arranged such that each of said keys is freely rotatable in response to a depressing force applied by a player of the electronic musical instrument;
• a plurality of key guides which are provided on said key frame, wherein each of said key guides includes a guide surface and each of said keys slides along at least one of said guide surfaces when depressed;
• a plurality of sensors which are respectively provided to said keys at positions respectively facing said guide surfaces of said key guides, each of said sensors detecting a pressure applied thereto in a lateral direction corresponding to a disposing direction of a respective key when said respective key is depressed;
• and
• a control means for controlling a musical tone signal based on a detected pressure of said respective key-in the lateral direction.