Sensor and keyboard device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10916230-B2
Application number	US-201916577157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2019
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A sensor includes: an upper electrode; a lower electrode provided facing the upper electrode; an upper electrode support portion provided in an upper portion of the upper electrode; a deforming portion provided at both ends of the upper electrode support portion and enabling a distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode to be changed; a rotatable actuator arranged facing the upper electrode support portion; and a member arranged between the upper electrode support portion and the actuator, and capable of moving relative to at least one of the actuator and the upper electrode support portion when the actuator presses the upper electrode support portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor comprising:
an upper electrode;
a lower electrode facing the upper electrode;
an upper electrode support portion provided in an upper portion of the upper electrode;
a deforming portion supporting the upper electrode support portion and configured to change a distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode;
an actuator arranged facing the upper electrode support portion; and
a movable member, including a film holding particles, arranged between the upper electrode support portion and the actuator, and configured to move relative to at least one of the actuator or the upper electrode support portion upon the actuator pressing the upper electrode support portion.

2. The sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower electrode support portion,
wherein the lower electrode is arranged on the lower electrode support portion, and
wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode are arranged within an area enclosed by the lower electrode support portion, the upper electrode support portion, and the deforming portion.

3. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member is arranged in the upper electrode support portion.

4. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper electrode support portion or the actuator includes at least one recessed portion larger than the diameter of the particles, and at least part of the particles is exposed from the recessed portion.

5. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member includes a lubricant.

6. The sensor according to claim 5 , wherein:
the upper electrode support portion includes a permeation inhibitor of the lubricant disposed at, at least one of inside or an upper face of the upper electrode support portion, and
the deforming portion includes the permeation inhibitor disposed at, at least one of inside or a side face of the deforming portion.

7. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the actuator is greater than a width of the upper electrode support portion in a direction where the actuator moves relative to the upper electrode support portion.

8. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the actuator is equal to or less than the width of the upper electrode support portion in the direction where the actuator moves relative to the upper electrode support portion.

9. A keyboard device comprising:
a key;
a hammer that rotates according to a movement of the key; and
a sensor comprising:
an upper electrode;
a lower electrode facing the upper electrode;
an upper electrode support portion provided in an upper portion of the upper electrode;
a deforming portion supporting the upper electrode support portion and configured to change a distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode;
an actuator arranged facing the upper electrode support portion; and
a movable member, including a film holding particles, arranged between the upper electrode support portion and the actuator, and configured to move relative to at least one of the actuator or the upper electrode support portion upon the actuator pressing the upper electrode support portion.

10. The keyboard device according to claim 9 , wherein the actuator is the key.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 9 , wherein the actuator is the hammer.

12. The keyboard device according to claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises another movable member that operates together with the key or the hammer.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• Yamamoto Shin

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

• G10H2220/285

  with three contacts, switches or sensor triggering levels along the key kinematic path · CPC title

• G10B3/12

  Keys or keyboards; Manuals · CPC title

• G10H1/0558

  using variable resistors · CPC title