Method and apparatus for altering actuator drive in a reproducing piano

Claim 2

A reproducing piano comprising: a plurality of keys, piano action means actuated by said keys to move hammers into contact with respective strings when the pertaining keys are depressed, said hammers being positively engaged by said action means until let-off occurs after which the hammers travel in free flight toward the strings, and key actuation means including actuators in engagement with said keys for selectively moving said keys at a controlled velocity until let-off occurs and moving said keys at a second higher velocity after let-off occurs, whereby the action is accelerated after let-off to prevent double hammer strikes.

Claim 3

The piano of claim 1 wherein said actuation means includes: means associated with said action means for sensing when let-off occurs and transmitting a signal to a control circuit, said control circuit including means for passing a first current through said actuator just prior to let-off and for passing a second current higher than the first current through the actuator in response to the signal transmitted by said means for sensing.

Claim 4

The piano of claim 2 wherein said means for sensing comprises means for sensing a predetermined position of the hammer as it moves toward the string.

Claim 5

The piano of claim 3 wherein said means for sensing comprises an optical sensor means that senses by the movement of said hammer.

Claim 6

The piano of claim 1 wherein said key actuation means includes: microprocessor means under stored program control, and a actuator drive circuit means for energizing said actuator with a selected current corresponding to an actuator velocity drive signal at an input of the circuit means, said microprocessor means includes means for installing at the input of the circuit means a first velocity drive signal just prior to let-off and a second higher velocity drive signal subsequent to let-off.

Claim 7

The piano of claim 5 wherein said drive circuit includes digital-to-analog converter means connected to said input for converting a digital said drive signal to an analog velocity control signal.

Claim 8

A reproducing piano comprising: a plurality of keys, piano action means actuated by said keys to move hammers into contact with respective strings when the pertaining keys are depressed, said hammers being positively engaged by said action means until let-off occurs after which the hammers travel in free flight toward the strings, an actuator means in engagement with each of said keys for actuating the respective key when the actuator means is energized, and a control means including a closed-loop current supply circuit means connected to said actuator means to energize said actuator means at a first controlled velocity during a first portion of the hammer actuating travel of the pertaining key and to energize said actuator means at a second velocity higher than the first velocity during a second portion of the hammer actuating travel of the key.

Claim 9

A reproducing piano comprising: a plurality of keys, piano action means actuated by said keys to move hammers into contact with respective strings when the pertaining keys are depressed, said hammers being positively engaged by said action means until let-off occurs after which the hammers travel in free flight toward the strings, an actuator means in engagement with each of said keys for actuating the respective key when the actuator means is energized, and a control means including a closed-loop current supply circuit means connected to said actuator means to energize said actuator means at a first controlled velocity during a first portion of the hammer actuating travel of the pertaining key and to energize said actuator means at a second velocity higher than the first velocity during a second portion of the hammer actuating travel of the key.

Claim 10

The piano of claim 7 wherein said control means includes sensor means for sensing when the hammer reaches a predetermined position and triggering said control means to energize said actuator means at the second velocity.

Claim 11

The piano of claim 7 wherein said control means includes a digital to analog converter means and a microprocessor means having an output connected to the input of said digital to analog converter means for selectively installing on said input digital values corresponding to the first and second velocities, and including a sensor means connected to an input of said microprocessor means for sensing when the hammer reaches a predetermined position and inputting a signal to said microprocessor means to initiate installing of the digital value corresponding to the second velocity.

Claim 12

The piano of claim 9 wherein said control means includes means for sensing when said hammer is traveling in free flight toward the string and initiating the supply circuit means to energize said actuator means at said second velocity.

Claim 13

A reproducing piano comprising: a plurality of keys a piano action mechanism connected to each key including a hammer, a repetition roller connected to the hammer, and a jack positioned in engagement with the repetition roller and in the path of the repetition roller for moving the hammer toward a string when the pertaining key is depressed and moving out of the path of movement of the repetition roller after the hammer commences to travel in free flight toward the string, actuator means in engagement with said key for selectively moving said key in a direction to actuate said action to move said hammer against the string, and control means electrically connected to said actuator means for producing a current flow in said actuator means to move said key in said direction with a first controlled velocity and for producing a current flow through said actuator means to move said key in said direction with a second higher velocity after said hammer is in free flight toward said string thereby to cause said jack means to move out of the path of said repetition roller more quickly and prevent double hammer strikes of the string.

Claim 14

A reproducing piano comprising: a plurality of keys a piano action mechanism connected to each key including a hammer, a repetition roller connected to the hammer, and a jack positioned in engagement with the repetition roller and in the path of the repetition roller for moving the hammer toward a string when the pertaining key is depressed and moving out of the path of movement of the repetition roller after the hammer commences to travel in free flight toward the string, actuator means in engagement with said key for selectively moving said key in a direction to actuate said action to move said hammer against the string, and control means electrically connected to said actuator means for producing a current flow in said actuator means to move said key in said direction with a first controlled velocity and for producing a current flow through said actuator means to move said key in said direction with a second higher velocity after said hammer is in free flight toward said string thereby to cause said jack means to move out of the path of said repetition roller more quickly and prevent double hammer strikes of the string.

Claim 15

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and in engagement with a pertaining hammer adapted to move the hammer to strike a respective string when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to each key, a method of depressing the key by actuator action in a manner to prevent double hammer strikes on the strings comprising: passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a first controlled velocity thereby causing the action to move the hammer in continuous positive engagement until the point of let-off at which time the hammer begins to travel in free flight toward the string, and subsequently passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a second velocity higher than the first velocity beginning at about the point of let-off to accelerate a portion of the action out of a return path of the hammer as the hammer rebounds from the string thereby preventing double strikes of the hammer on the string caused by rebound from the action.

Claim 16

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and in engagement with a pertaining hammer adapted to move the hammer to strike a respective string when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to each key, a method of depressing the key by actuator action in a manner to prevent double hammer strikes on the strings comprising: passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a first controlled velocity thereby causing the action to move the hammer in continuous positive engagement until the point of let-off at which time the hammer begins to travel in free flight toward the string, and subsequently passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a second velocity higher than the first velocity beginning at about the point of let-off to accelerate a portion of the action out of a return path of the hammer as the hammer rebounds from the string thereby preventing double strikes of the hammer on the string caused by rebound from the action.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 including the step of sensing when the hammer reaches a predetermined point in its travel toward the string and initiating the second key velocity at that time.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of sensing includes optically sensing the hammer position.

Claim 19

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and having a hammer propelled against a string by the action when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to the key, a method of controlling the energization of the actuator comprising: passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a first controlled velocity and cause the action to continuously, positively engage the hammer to move the hammer toward the string, and subsequently passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a second velocity higher than the first velocity after the hammer commences to travel in free flight toward the string.

Claim 20

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and having a hammer propelled against a string by the action when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to the key, a method of controlling the energization of the actuator comprising: passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a first controlled velocity and cause the action to continuously, positively engage the hammer to move the hammer toward the string, and subsequently passing a current through the actuator to depress the key at a second velocity higher than the first velocity after the hammer commences to travel in free flight toward the string.

Claim 21

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and having a hammer propelled against the string by the action when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to the key, a method of depressing a key during playback comprising: retrieving a first actuator drive value from a non-volatile memory, converting the drive value to a first control current and energizing the actuator under the control of the first control current to cause the key to be depressed with a first velocity, determining if the first drive value is greater than a predetermined level, detecting when let-off in the action has occurred and installing a second actuator drive value corresponding to a higher current only if the first drive value is greater than the predetermined level, and converting the installed second value to a second control current and energizing the actuator under the control of the second current to cause the key to be depressed with a second velocity higher than the first velocity following let-off if the second drive value is installed.

Claim 22

In a reproducing piano having a plurality of keys, a piano action connected to each key and having a hammer propelled against the string by the action when the key is depressed, and a key actuator connected to the key, a method of depressing a key during playback comprising: retrieving a first actuator drive value from a non-volatile memory, converting the drive value to a first control current and energizing the actuator under the control of the first control current to cause the key to be depressed with a first velocity, determining if the first drive value is greater than a predetermined level, detecting when let-off in the action has occurred and installing a second actuator drive value corresponding to a higher current only if the first drive value is greater than the predetermined level, and converting the installed second value to a second control current and energizing the actuator under the control of the second current to cause the key to be depressed with a second velocity higher than the first velocity following let-off if the second drive value is installed.