US5115705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular electronic keyboard with improved signal generation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-10-22
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2010-10-22
Abstract
Abstract An improved percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having cam follower surfaces for following the playing key camming surfaces, hammer stop for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to depression of its associated key, includes an electronic sensor for generating an electrical signal for each key which is related in amplitude to the pressure with which the key is depressed during play of the keyboard, and a scanning keyboard state monitor connected to said sensor including a keyboard scanner for scanning each of the keys of the keyboard to determine if a key event has occurred, an amplitude comparator for determining when a key depression causes a said key depression signal amplitude to pass predetermined minimum and maximum amplitude threshold values, a scan counter for counting the number of scans occurring between the scans when the key depression amplitude signal passes between the minimum and maximum amplitude threshold values and a digital output for putting out the number of scans as a digital value. A programmed microprocessor is connected to receive the digital value scan count for a key and converts the scan count into a key velocity signal. A keyboard setup memory is connected to the microprocessor for recording user provided setup parameters for operation of the keyboard, and the microprocessor is programmed to operate the keyboard in accordance with the setup parameters recorded in the keyboard setup memory. A programmable output path is connected to the microprocessor for putting out the key velocity signal to music generation equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Monte
- 👤 Paul J. White
- 👤 Anne C. Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:40
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/18; G10H1/182; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10H1/344; G10H1/346; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having impact cam follower surfaces for following the playing key impact camming surfaces, hammer stop means for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to impact of its associated key, comprising: electronic sensor means for generating an electrical signal for each impacted key, the electrical signal a product of key impact relative to at least one key impact compensation means; scanning keyboard state monitoring means connected to said sensor means including keyboard scanner means for scanning each key of the keyboard to determine whether a key event has occurred, comparison means for determining when a key impact causes a key impact signal to exceed predetermined minimum and maximum threshold values, and scan counting means for counting the number of scans when the key impact amplitude signal passes between the minimum and maximum threshold values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having impact cam follower surfaces for following the playing key impact camming surfaces, hammer stop means for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to impact of its associated key, comprising: electronic sensor means for generating an electrical signal for each impacted key, the electrical signal a product of key impact relative to at least one key impact compensation means; scanning keyboard state monitoring means connected to said sensor means including keyboard scanner means for scanning each key of the keyboard to determine whether a key event has occurred, comparison means for determining when a key impact causes a key impact signal to exceed predetermined minimum and maximum threshold values, and scan counting means for counting the number of scans when the key impact amplitude signal passes between the minimum and maximum threshold values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 1 wherein said scanning keyboard state monitoring means includes key impact determining means for determining the impact with which a key is depressed during play.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 1 wherein the electronic sensor means comprises force sensitive resistance material having an electrical resistance characteristic which is inversely related to the force with which the material is urged toward conductor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 3 wherein the electronic sensor means comprises an XYZ force sensitive array means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 3 wherein the electronic sensor means comprises a continuous film substrate carrying a force sensitive resistance coating on one side and at least one printed circuit substrate means carrying arrays of interleaved conductors forming individual sense cells for each key of the keyboard facing said one side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 5 further comprising a strip of elastomeric material placed between the keys and the continuous film substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 5 wherein the individual sense cells are grouped into predetermined groups and wherein the keyboard scanner means includes group select means for individually enabling each group of the predetermined groups and wherein the cells within each group are individually connected to plural scan buses, there being in number as many scan buses as there are cells within each group, so that by enabling a group and then by scanning each scan bus, each key of the keyboard may thereby be scanned in its turn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 1 wherein the scanning keyboard state monitoring means further includes digital output means for putting out the number of scans as a digital value and further comprising programmed microprocessor means connected to receive the digital value scan count for a key and convert the scan count into a key velocity value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 1 wherein the scanning keyboard state monitoring means further includes memory means for recording scan counts for all keys being played during a scan of the keyboard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 8 further comprising programmable output path means connected to said microprocessor means for putting out said key velocity value to music generation equipment via said programmable output path means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 10 further comprising programmable input path means connected to said microprocessor means for receiving incoming keyboard programming information from a source thereof via said input path means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 8 further comprising keyboard setup memory means connected to the microprocessor means for recording user provided setup parameters for operation of the keyboard, and wherein the microprocessor means is programmed to operate the keyboard in accordance with the setup parameters recorded in the keyboard setup memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 12 further comprising disk file subsystem means connected to said microprocessor means for recording as disk files a plurality of different user provided setup parameters for operation of the keyboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 12 wherein the keyboard has a performance mode during which the playing keys emulate play of the musical instrument and has an edit mode during which the playing keys act as data entry ports for entry of the setup parameters provided by the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 14 wherein the playing keys bear indicia indicative of the data entry function of the particular key during edit mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 12 further comprising plural programmable output path means connected to said microprocessor means for putting out said key velocity value to a plurality of music generation equipment via said plural programmable output path means and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to provide a plurality of internal operators, each operator being configured to operate a said music generation equipment through a said one of the plurality of output path means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 16 wherein said keyboard setup memory means is paged into a plurality of functional pages, including a first page for utility functions, a second page for global program setup functions and a third page for operator functions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 8 further including data entry switches formed on a front panel of the keyboard for enabling the user to provide commands to the microprocessor means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 8 further including status indicating means fored on a front panel of the keyboard for enabling the microprocessor means to indicate the status of the keyboard to the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 10 wherein said programmable output path means comprises a plurality of output paths separately programmable by the microprocessor means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 11 wherein said programmable input path means comprises a plurality of input paths separately programmable by the microprocessor means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 8 further comprising at least one proportional control means operable by the user during play and further comprising analog to digital conversion means connected between the proportional control means and the microprocessor means for converting proportional analog control values into digital values.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard set forth in claim 12 wherein the microprocessor means is programmed to operate the keyboard in accordance with the setup parameters recorded in the keyboard setup memory means by page arrangement, there being a utilities page, a global setup program page and an operator page.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key impact compensation means comprises a user adjustable hammer position relative to the impact camming surface of each key.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key impact compensation means comprises a means for adjusting the position of the key relative to the electronic sensor means associated with each key.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key impact compensation means comprises programmable minimum and maximum threshold values, a means for adjusting the position of the key relative to the electronic sensor means associated with each key, and a user adjustable hammer position relative to the impact camming surface of each key.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument comprising: a plurality of pivoted playing keys each having a finger contact surface, a cam surface distal from the finger contact surface, and capable of being impacted at varying speeds, compensation means adjustably responsive to the actuation of at least one key for providing a compensation signal representative of the travel of the key after being impacted by the finger; and sensor means for producing a tone generation signal in response to the compensation signal and the speed at which the key is impacted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
The percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument comprising: a plurality of pivoted playing keys each having a finger contact surface, a cam surface distal from the finger contact surface, and capable of being impacted at varying speeds, compensation means adjustably responsive to the actuation of at least one key for providing a compensation signal representative of the travel of the key after being impacted by the finger; and sensor means for producing a tone generation signal in response to the compensation signal and the speed at which the key is impacted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard as in claim 27 wherein the adjustment of the compensation means may be made by the user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard as in claim 27 wherein the compensation means comprises a user adjustable hammer position relative to the cam surface of each key.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard as in claim 27 wherein the compensation means comprises a means for adjusting the position of the key relative to the electronic sensor means associated with each key, and user adjustable key position relative to the cam surface of each key.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
A percussive action electronic keyboard as in claim 27 wherein the compensation means comprises programmable minimum and maximum threshold values, a means for adjusting the position of the key relative to the electronic sensor means associated with each key, and a user adjustable hammer position relative to the cam surface of each key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |