Keyboard device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10380985-B2
Application number	US-201816033015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2018
Priority date	Jul 12, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A keyboard device includes at least one key and an action mechanism corresponding to the at least one key. The action mechanism includes a transmitter which moves in response to key depression to the at least one key, a hammer member which operates, in response to movement of the transmitter, to apply a load to the depressed key, a first abutting part which is arranged on one of the hammer member and a member which the hammer member abuts, and an elastic part which is arranged on another of the hammer member and the member which the hammer member abuts. At least one part of the elastic part gets over the first abutting part in a process of deforming of the elastic part, thereby a let-off feeling is given to the depressed key.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard device comprising:
at least one key; and
an action mechanism corresponding to the at least one key, wherein the action mechanism comprises:
a transmitter which moves in response to key depression to the at least one key;
a hammer member which operates, in response to movement of the transmitter, to apply a load to the depressed key;
a first abutting part which is arranged on one of the hammer member and a member which the hammer member abuts; and
an elastic part which is arranged on another of the hammer member and the member which the hammer member abuts,

wherein at least one part of the elastic part gets over the first abutting part in a process of deforming of the elastic part, thereby a let-off feeling is given to the depressed key.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein, by abutting the first abutting part, the elastic deformer elastically deforms in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the hammer member moves.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic deformer abuts at least one lateral face of the first abutting part.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the transmitter is supported by a transmitter holder, the transmitter being pivotable on a first pivoting axis, and
wherein the hammer member is supported by a hammer holder, the hammer member being pivotable on a second pivoting axis.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic deformer is formed integrally with the transmitter.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic deformer is formed separately from the transmitter.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elastic deformer comprises a second abutting part at a tip of the elastic deformer, the second abutting part abutting the first abutting part, and
wherein the second abutting part comprises at least one of an R corner or a chemfered corner at both edges in a direction in which the hammer member moves.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part are each arranged at a position where a distance between the transmitter and the hammer member widens in response to the key depression,
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part do not abut each other while a distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is within a first distance, and
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part abut each other while the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is equal to the first distance.

9. The keyboard device according to claim 8 :
wherein counter force is given against a direction of widening the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member when the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is equal to the first distance in response to the key depression and the elastic deformer elastically deforms by abutting the first abutting part, and
wherein counter force is not given against a direction of narrowing the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member when the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is back to within the first distance in response to key release and the elastic deformer elastically deforms by separating from the first abutting part.

10. A keyboard device comprising:
at least one key; and
an action mechanism corresponding to the at least one key, wherein the action mechanism comprises:
a transmitter which moves in response to key depression to the at least key; and
a hammer member which adds weight to the depressed key by moving in response to the transmitter and on which an elastic deformer is arranged,

wherein a let-off feeling is given to the depressed key when a first abutting part which abuts the elastic deformer causes the elastic deformer to elastically deform.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein, by abutting the first abutting part, the elastic deformer elastically deforms in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the hammer member moves.

12. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the elastic deformer abuts at least one lateral face of the first abutting part.

13. The keyboard device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the transmitter is supported by a transmitter holder, the transmitter being pivotable on a first pivoting axis, and
wherein the hammer member is supported by a hammer holder, the hammer member being pivotable on a second pivoting axis.

14. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the elastic deformer is formed integrally with the hammer member.

15. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the elastic deformer is formed separately from the hammer member.

16. The keyboard device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the elastic deformer comprises a second abutting part at a tip of the elastic deformer, the second abutting part abutting the first abutting part, and
wherein the second abutting part comprises at least one of an R corner or a chemfered corner at both edges in a direction in which the hammer member moves.

17. The keyboard device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part are each arranged at a position where a distance between the transmitter and the hammer member widens in response to the key depression,
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part do not abut each other while a distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is within a first distance, and
wherein the elastic deformer and the first abutting part abut each other while the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is over the first distance.

18. The keyboard device according to claim 10 ,
wherein counter force is given against a direction of widening the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member when the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is equal to the first distance in response to the key depression and the elastic deformer elastically deforms by abutting the first abutting part, and
wherein counter force is not given against a direction of narrowing the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member when the distance between the transmitter and the hammer member is back to within the first distance in response to key release and the elastic deformer elastically deforms by separating from the first abutting part.

Assignees

• Casio Computer Co Ltd

Inventors

• Taniguchi Hirokazu
• Kuno Toshiya

Classifications

• G10H1/346 Primary

  Keys with an arrangement for simulating the feeling of a piano key, e.g. using counterweights, springs, cams · CPC title

• G10C3/18

  Hammers · CPC title

• G10C3/16

  Actions · CPC title

• G10C3/12

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title

• G10B3/12 Primary

  Keys or keyboards; Manuals · CPC title