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US 7,060,883 B2Granted
Compact keyboard apparatus with accurate detection of key pressing speed
AssigneeRoland Corporation
InventorsYasunori Nagaoka, Shiro Uno, Shinichi Matsumoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard apparatus is provided with a key unit that has a plurality of keys supported for pivotal motion. Also provided is a detection section for detecting a key speed when any of the keys are pivoted. The key unit and detection section are supported by a housing having a bottom member formed of a resin. A reinforcing member having a sufficient rigidity is provided to reinforce the bottom member of the housing such as to reduce warping of the bottom member so as to reduce movement of the detection section as a result of warping of the bottom member.
Claims62
A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a key unit having a plurality of keys supported for pivotal motion;
- a detection section for detecting a key speed in those cases where any of the keys has been pivoted;
- a housing having a bottom member for supporting the key unit and the detection section, the bottom member formed of a resin;
- and
- a reinforcing member for reinforcing the bottom member of the housing,said reinforcing member having sufficient rigidity to reinforce the bottom member;
- wherein the reinforcing member has a bottom surface with a continuous width that is at least about a width of all of the keys that are possessed by the keyboard apparatus and with a length that is at least about a length of a black key, and
- wherein the bottom surface of the reinforcing member and an inside flat surface of the bottom member of the housing are joined.
4 more elements
A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of keys operable to pivot;
- a housing that supports the plurality of keys, the housing comprising a housing bottom;
- a sensor system disposed within the housing for detecting key speed as any of the plurality of keys is pivoted;
- and
- a reinforcing member supported by the housing, the reinforcing member having sufficient rigidity such as to reduce warping of the housing bottom so as to reduce movement of the sensor system as a result of warping of the housing bottom;
- wherein the reinforcing member has a bottom surface that is parallel to a first surface of the housing bottom and that is flat across a length that is at least about a length of at least one key of said plurality of keys.
3 more elements
A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a bottom member;
- a reinforcing member attached to the bottom member of the housing, the reinforcing member having a first surface parallel to an inside flat surface of the bottom member of the housing, a first portion of said reinforcing member extending approximately perpendicular with respect to the first surface, a second portion of said reinforcing member extending from said first portion of said reinforcing member and extending approximately parallel with respect to the first surface said second portion of said reinforcing member being a key guide;
- and
- a key operable to pivot, the key comprising:
- a key body having an upper surface on which a user presses to operate the key;
- and
- a key guide receptacle that protrudes from the key body, the key guide receptacle having a wall with an opening for receiving the key guide, the wall with the opening surrounding the key guide upon the key guide being received in the opening;
- wherein the key guide is inserted into the opening in the wall of the key guide receptacle.
5 more elements
A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a bottom member;
- a reinforcing member supported on the bottom member of the housing, said reinforcing member having a bottom surface facing said bottom member, an opening formed in the reinforcing member that extends from a top surface of the reinforcing member to the bottom surface of the reinforcing member;
- a first cushion surface located inside of the opening in the reinforcing member, the first cushion surface supported on the bottom member;
- and
- a key operable to pivot, the key comprising a key body and a key wall, the key wall extending from the key body and located above the first cushion surface;
- wherein when the key is operated, the key wall comes into contact with the first cushion surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.