JP2009237313A - Black key for electronic keyboard instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument which looks luminous over a wide range in received light from a light emitting means. <P>SOLUTION: A black key 1 the free end side of which is supported to freely move up and down via a rotation supporting point part with respect to a key frame, is provided with: a key body 10 which has an upper wall 11, sidewalls and a front wall 13 in the free end side formed with a blackish translucent material, wherein a hollow part 15 is formed inside; a diffusing layer 50 provided along an inner surface of the key body to transmit light while diffusing it; a translucent light transmission body 40 arranged in the hollow part 15 to extend along the key body 10; and a light guide part 30 provided in a lower part of the key body 10. In the black key for the electronic keyboard instrument, the light transmission body 40 is arranged in the hollow part 15 so that incident light to the light guide part 30 passes through the light transmission body and is at least partly emitted from the key body 10 via the diffusing layer 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a black key for a keyboard device used for an electronic keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano, an electronic organ, and a synthesizer.

  Some electronic pianos, electronic organs, and the like have a function of placing a light emitting means below each key and successively illuminating a predetermined key by the light emitting means based on a signal sent from a control unit. According to this function, it is possible to teach and guide the player to press the key by sequentially emitting the keys based on the program according to the music. In addition, there is a type in which a key-pressing operation is urged by making a key-pressed state light-emit so that the key-pressed state can be visually confirmed.

  In these cases, if a part of the key is lit, the light emitting part is hidden by the playing hand or finger, and it may be difficult for the performer to distinguish. On the other hand, the number of light sources and the amount of light emitted from the light emitting means placed under the key are limited due to cost and heat generation problems. Accordingly, various proposals have been made to illuminate a wide range of keys with light from limited light emitting means.

  For example, in the keyboard device described in Patent Document 1, an LED is disposed below a key formed of a translucent material, and a reflector is placed below the LED. This is because the light emitted from the LED is directed upward when it is directed upward, and the downward directed light is reflected by the reflector to illuminate the key, thereby expanding the irradiation range. is there.

  The device described in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which the emission end of the optical fiber is disposed on the rear end surface of the key, and the lower surfaces of the step portions provided on the left and right end portions of the key pressing surface are roughened. In this case, light incident from the rear end face of the key is propagated by total reflection on the wall of the key itself, and leaked upward by irregular reflection on the rough surface so that it can be seen from the outside.

The keyboard device described in Patent Document 3 uses a material in which a light diffusing agent and a colorant are added to a base polymer as a material for forming a key wall, and light from a light source under the key is transmitted through the key wall. By diffusing, the light source is prevented from being viewed directly and the color tone is adjusted.
JP-A-8-83073 JP 2003-150159 A (paragraph numbers 0100 to 0114) JP 2001-34268 A

  However, in the keyboard described in Patent Document 1, the bright portion at the time of light emission is limited to the vicinity of the light source and the reflecting plate in the key, and a wide range does not appear to shine. In the structure of Patent Document 2, the brightening is limited to the left and right ends of the roughened key, and the wide range of the key does not appear to shine. The keyboard device of Patent Document 3 is advantageous in the case of a white key because it diffuses light at the key wall, but in the case of a black key, the black colorant strongly absorbs light, so The incident light cannot reach the wide range of the key (especially the key upper surface) sufficiently.

  As described above, it is difficult to brighten a wide range of the key when the light emitting means emits light according to the conventional technique. In particular, the black key uses a black colorant, and this problem has not been solved.

  An object of the present invention is to solve this problem of the prior art and provide a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument that appears to shine over a wide range upon receiving light from a light emitting means.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a black key that is supported on the free end side up and down with respect to the key frame via a pivot fulcrum, and is made of a black translucent material. A key body having a formed upper wall, a side wall and a front wall on the free end side and having a hollow portion formed therein, a diffusion layer provided along the inner surface of the key body and transmitting light while diffusing, and A translucent light guide disposed in a hollow portion and extending along the key body; and a light introducing portion provided at a lower portion of the key body, wherein the light guide is incident on the light introducing portion. Provided is a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument, wherein the black key is disposed in the hollow portion so that light passes through the light guide and at least part of the light is emitted from the key body through the diffusion layer. Is.

  In this black key, a part of the light incident from the light introduction part travels while being totally reflected in the light guide and is emitted from the light guide, and a large amount of light reaches a position away from the light introduction part. The light reaches. The light emitted from the light guide is radiated to the outside through the key body. However, where the diffusion layer is provided on the inside, the light enters the diffusion layer, and the diffused light enters the key body on the inside. Shine from. As a result, a wide range of black keys appear to shine when viewed from the outside.

In the present specification and claims, the one closer to the player in the electronic musical instrument and its keyboard is referred to as the front, and the farther away is referred to as the rear.
(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is also a black key supported on the key frame so as to be movable up and down with respect to the key frame via a rotation fulcrum portion, and is a black translucent material. A key body having an upper wall, a side wall and a front wall on the free end side formed therein and having a hollow portion formed therein, a diffusion layer provided along the inner surface of the key body and transmitting light while diffusing, A translucent light guide that is disposed in the hollow portion and extends along the key body; a reflector that extends along a lower surface of the light guide; and a surface of the light guide that is not covered by the reflector. A light introducing portion provided at a lower part of the key body so as to face the light guide, and the light incident on the light introducing portion passes through the light guide, and at least a part of the light guiding portion is interposed through the diffusion layer. For an electronic keyboard instrument characterized by being disposed in the hollow portion so as to be released from the key body It is to provide a key.

In this black key, the light incident from the light introducing portion travels while being partially reflected in the light guide and is emitted from the light guide, and a large amount of light reaches the position away from the light introducing portion. The light reaches. The light emitted from the light guide is radiated to the outside through the key body. However, where the diffusion layer is provided on the inside, the light enters the diffusion layer, and the diffused light enters the key body on the inside. Shine from. Further, light emitted downward from the light guide is reflected by the reflector and turned upward, and travels again toward the light guide and the diffusion layer. Thereby, the incident light is effectively used to make the black key shine, and the black key appears to shine brighter. As a result, a wider range of black keys appear to shine when viewed from the outside.
(3) In the black keys of (1) and (2), the diffusion layer may be provided along the inner surface of the upper wall.
(4) In the black keys of (1) and (2), the diffusion layer may be provided along the inner surfaces of the upper wall, the side wall, and the front wall.
(5) The black key of (2) may be configured such that the light introducing portion is provided at the rear portion of the key body, and the reflector is inclined so as to rise as it approaches the front wall.
(6) The black key of (5) has an inclined wall in which the front wall rises rearward from the free end and reaches the upper wall, and the light introducing portion is provided at a rear portion of the key body. The reflector may be inclined so as to approach the upper wall as it approaches the front wall, and the front end may be positioned at the lower end of the inclined wall or below the lower end.
(7) In the black keys of (5) and (6), the surface of the reflector facing the upper wall has a shape that protrudes downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the black keys. can do.
(8) In the black keys of (2) and (5) to (7), the light introducing portion is provided at the rear end of the key body, and the surface of the reflector facing the light guide is rearward. It can be provided with a rear inclined surface that inclines downward as it goes.
(9) In the black keys of (1) to (8), the light introduction part is provided at the rear part of the key body, and the part along the inner surface of the front wall in the diffusion layer is thicker than the other part. Can be.
(10) In the black keys of (1) to (9), the light introducing portion is a rear end portion of the key body, and is located below the height at which the upper surface of the white key is located. can do.
(11) In the black keys of (1) to (10), a locking portion is provided on the inner surface of the side wall, and a member located in the hollow portion is held by the locking portion. it can.
(12) The black keys of (2) and (5) to (8) are provided with an actuator for driving a switch that emits a sound generation control signal in response to the key depression, below the reflector. It can be.
(13) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is also a black key which is supported on the free end side up and down with respect to the key frame via a pivot fulcrum, and is a black translucent material. A key body having an upper wall, a side wall and a front wall on the free end side formed therein and having a hollow portion formed therein, and a diffusion that is disposed in the hollow portion and extends along the key body to transmit light while diffusing A light guide and a light introduction part provided at a lower part of the key body, and the diffusive light guide diffuses light incident on the light introduction part while passing through the diffusive light guide. Thus, the present invention provides a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument, which is disposed in the hollow portion so as to be released from the key body.
(14) The black key of (13) may further include a reflector extending along the lower surface of the diffusive light guide.
(15) The black key of (14) may further include the configurations of (5) to (8) and (10) to (12).

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument that appears to shine over a wide range upon receiving light from the light emitting means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar parts in the drawings may be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof may be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a keyboard apparatus provided with a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention, and mainly shows a rear part of the keyboard. This keyboard device has a structure in which a plurality of white keys made of resin and a plurality of black keys are combined at the rear end to form a unit. The black keys 1a and 1b shown in the figure each include support plates 101a and 101b extending rearward from the rear ends of the key bodies 10a and 10b, and the rear ends connect a plurality of black keys in the key arrangement direction. Connected to the connecting bar 5.

  The black key 1a on the near side of the figure will be described. The support plate 101a extends from the rear end of the key body 10a so as to extend in the left-right direction as long as it does not interfere with similar members of the adjacent black key. The spring plate portions 102 and 103 extend further rearward from the location and reach the connecting bar 5. The spring plate portions 102 and 103 are thinned so as to be elastically deformed when the black key is pressed and released to move the free end side up and down, thereby forming a rotation fulcrum portion. The black key 1b on the back side of the figure also includes the same widened portion and spring plate portion, and the rear end of the spring plate portion is coupled to the connecting bar 5. On the further front side of the black key 1a and on the further back side of the black key 1b, there are black keys (not shown), which are similarly coupled to the connecting bar 5. The number of black keys arranged in this way can be, for example, 5 to 10, thereby constituting one key unit.

  The white keys are connected with the same structure. That is, the white key 2a on the near side of the figure includes a support plate 201, and the rear ends of the spring plate portions 202 and 203 are coupled to the connecting bar 6. The same applies to the white key 2b on the back side. The connecting bar 6 is positioned below the connecting bar 5. Some white keys are arranged adjacent to each other without a black key in between, so the connecting bar 7 is further overlapped on the lower side, and the support plates for the adjacent white keys are distributed to the connecting bars 6 and 7. , So as not to interfere with each other. A hook 501 extends downward from the rear end portion of the uppermost connecting bar 5. After the connecting bars 5, 6, and 7 are overlapped so as not to be displaced from front to back and from side to side, the hooks 501 are locked to a key frame (not shown), and further fixed to the key frame by screws. As a result, the three key units are collectively fixed to the key frame.

  In this embodiment, the spring plate portions 202, 203 of the white key 2a are positioned under the spring plate portions 102, 103 of the black key 1a, so that there is no space between the two spring plate portions of each black key. A place is formed. Below the spring plate portion, an optical fiber bundle F0 (a fiber case is shown in the drawing, the same applies hereinafter) extends in the key arrangement direction, and the optical fiber F1 drawn from the optical fiber bundle F0 is provided. Each optical fiber is arranged at the rear end of the key body of one black key so that the rear end of the key body 10a and the optical fiber F2 are arranged at the rear end of the key body 10b. Are arranged. For the white key, one optical fiber is disposed at the rear end portion of the key body of each white key with the emission end (not shown) at a position below the spring plate portion.

  Next, the specific structure of the black key according to the present invention will be described by taking the black key used in the keyboard apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as an example. In the following figure, the structure of a black key or the like is schematically shown. In addition to performing light irradiation from the emission end of the optical fiber as shown in FIG. 1, a light emitter such as an LED can be disposed at the rear end of the key body. Any one of the fiber exit ends is shown as appropriate and described as light emitting means.

  FIG. 2 is a vertical side view showing the black key 1 according to the first embodiment together with the light emitting means C. FIG. The black key 1 has an upper wall 11, a side wall (not shown), a front wall 13 on the free end side, a rear wall 14 on the rotating fulcrum part side, and a key body 10 that forms a hollow part 15 therein. The lower portion of the rear wall 14 is cut out to form a light introducing portion 30. The hollow portion 15 is fitted with a light guide 40 having a size that substantially fills the entire hollow portion 15, and a diffusion layer 50 is provided between the light guide 40 along the inner surface of the upper wall 11.

  The key body 10 is formed of a black translucent material. Such a translucent material can use polystyrene, AS resin, ABS resin or the like as a base material, and can use a pigment such as carbon black or aniline black, a dye, or the like as a black colorant.

  The light guide 40 is formed of a transparent block, and can be made of a resin such as acrylic, polystyrene, AS resin, or ABS.

  The diffusion layer 50 is a layer that transmits light while diffusing. For example, the base resin constituting the layer may include fine particles having different refractive indexes as a diffusing agent. Conventionally known light diffusing materials can be used, such as ABS, AS, etc., which contain fine particles such as a crosslinked polymethylmethacrylate or barium sulfate as a diffusing agent. The form can be interposed between the key body 10 and the light guide 40 as a film, or can be applied to the key body 10 or the light guide 40 as a coating film. The diffusion layer 50 can also be formed by roughening the surface of the key body 10 or the light guide 40. Furthermore, you may form the diffusion layer 50 combining the said film, a coating film, and roughening suitably. The diffusion layer 50 is preferably in close contact with the light guide 40 so that light propagating through the light guide 40 leaks to the diffusion layer 50 side without being totally reflected at the surface facing the diffusion layer 50.

  The light introduction part 30 is formed by cutting out the lower part of the rear wall 14 so that the light emitting means C can be arranged close to the end face of the light guide 40. In this embodiment, the light emitting means C is the emitting end of the optical fiber F shown in FIG. 1, but a light emitting body such as an LED may be used. Further, in order to efficiently guide the light from the light emitting means C to the light guide 40, it is desirable to form a notch 41 for receiving the light emitting means C below the light guide 40 as shown.

  Since the black key 1 is configured in this way, when light is introduced from the light emitting means C to the light guide 40 in a state of being incorporated in the keyboard device, the light travels in the light guide 40, Light directed upward reaches the upper wall 11 through the diffusion layer 50, and light directed forward reaches the front wall 13. A part of the light directed downward and laterally leaks from the light guide. However, a significant part of the light is totally reflected by the angle of the light with respect to the lower surface and the side surface, and the light redirected upward or forward is the diffusion layer 50 or the front wall. 13 is reached. The light reaching the front wall 13 and the light diffused by the diffusion layer 50 illuminate the front wall 13 and the upper wall 11 from the inside. As a result, when viewed from the outside, a wide range (range indicated by R in the figure) over almost the entire area of the front wall 13 and the upper wall 11 appears to shine. In particular, in a diffusion layer containing fine particles as a diffusing agent, the light reaching the layer is reflected and scattered by fine particles, and the scattered light is reflected and scattered by other fine particles. The light travels while being repeatedly scattered and is released out of the diffusion layer. Therefore, even if the intensity distribution of the light incident on the diffusion layer is uneven, it is emitted from the surface of the diffusion layer as a more uniform intensity distribution at the time of emission. As a result, the wall of the key body illuminated by the light that has passed through the diffusion layer appears to shine uniformly over a wide range.

  FIG. 3 shows a black key according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a longitudinal side view and (b) is a longitudinal front view. The black key 1 includes a key body 10 having an upper wall 11, a side wall 12, a front wall 13, and a rear wall 14 as in the first embodiment. The arrangement is different. The other configuration is the same. In the following other embodiments as well, the description will focus on the parts that are different from the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, the diffusion layer 50 is provided along the inner surfaces of the upper wall 11, the side wall 12, and the front wall 13, and as shown in a longitudinal front view (b) behind the front wall 13, the cross-sectional shape Is almost inverted U-shaped.

  Therefore, as described above, the light traveling from the light introduction unit 30 through the light guide 40 from the rear to the front is directed to the diffusion layer 50 provided along the inner surfaces of the upper wall 11, the side wall 12, and the front wall 13. It reaches and diffuses in the diffusion layer to illuminate these walls from the inside. As a result, the upper wall 11, the side wall 12, and the front wall 13 of the black key 1 are more uniform, and a wide range (range indicated by R in the figure) over almost the entire area appears to shine. In particular, the light diffused by the diffusion layer 50 provided along the inner surfaces of the upper wall 11, the side wall 12, and the front wall 13 is emitted to the outside from these wall portions and also to the inside of the key body. Inward, the light further reaches the diffusion layer on the other wall and is diffused there. Therefore, the light emission degree of the key body is increased by repeating the light diffusion between the diffusion layers of the plurality of wall portions. In addition, as a result of the player looking at the keyboard from diagonally above, for the black keys that are far away, the viewing angle for viewing the upper wall may be small and it may be difficult to detect the light, but the side walls are also wide as described above. By making the range appear to shine, it is possible to clearly detect the shining state of a black key in the distance.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 is provided with a reflector 60 along the lower surface of the light guide 40. The surface of the reflector 60 facing the light guide 40 is a rough surface or a mirror surface. When the surface is a rough surface, the light emitted from the light guide 40 is diffusely reflected, and when the surface is a mirror, the light emitted from the light guide 40 is specularly reflected. In either case, the reflected light travels toward the light guide, but the intensity distribution of the light reaching the key body 10 differs depending on the reflection form. The reaching light is made more uniform when the reflector is a rough surface, and when the reflector is a mirror surface, the uniformity is not high but partially strong. Therefore, the surface state of the reflector 60 is desirably selected so that these intensity distributions are optimal on the black key surface, and the rough surface portion and the mirror surface portion may be mixed. FIG. 4 shows a state of reflected light when the reflector 60 is a rough surface. In addition, the form of the reflector 60 can be attached to the light guide 40 as a film, or can be a coating film applied to the light guide 40. Further, it is desirable that the reflector 60 is in close contact with the light guide 40 so that light propagating through the light guide 40 leaks to the reflector side without being totally reflected by the surface facing the reflector.

  Thus, by providing the reflector 60 along the lower surface of the light guide 40, the light leaking downward from the light guide 40 can be used effectively for illumination of the key body. Looks brighter and brighter.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 is provided so as to be inclined so that the reflector 60 provided along the lower surface of the light guide 40 rises as it approaches the front wall 13. The upper wall 11 of the black key is inclined so as to rise slightly forward. Therefore, by tilting the reflector 60 in the same direction in this way, the distance between the upper wall 11 and the reflector 60 does not spread in front of the key, and the light propagating forward from the light introducing portion 30 is reflected by the reflector. 60 is efficiently transmitted forward. Since the light introduced from the light introduction unit 30 at the rear of the key is difficult to reach the front of the key, the black key 1 appears to shine brightly over a wider range by improving the propagation efficiency in this way.

  FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 is inclined so that the reflector 60 approaches the upper wall 11 as it approaches the front wall 13. Therefore, the slope is stronger than that shown in FIG. 5, and the light propagation is made more efficient, so that the black key 1 appears to shine brightly over a wider range. The front wall 13 has an inclined wall 131 that rises rearward from the free end and reaches the upper wall 11, and the front end of the reflector 60 is located at the lower end of the inclined wall 131. In the black key, since the portion of the inclined wall 131 protrudes above the white key, it is effective for a large amount of light to reach the inclined wall 131 in order that the black key 1 appears to shine over a wide range. is there. For this purpose, the front end of the reflector 60 only needs to be positioned below the lower end of the inclined wall 131.

  FIG. 7 shows a black key according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a longitudinal side view and (b) is a longitudinal front view. The black key 1 has a shape in which a surface of the reflector 60 facing the light guide 40 protrudes downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the black key 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the reflector 60 includes a central horizontal portion 61 and side wall-side inclined portions 62, and the inclined portions 62 located on both sides of the horizontal portion 61 The light introduced horizontally or downward from the introduction part 30 is reflected upward. When the reflecting surface of the reflector 60 is a mirror surface, it is directed upward as specular reflection, and when it is a rough surface, it is directed so that more irregularly reflected light is directed upward. Thereby, the light introduced from the light introducing unit 30 is directed upward more efficiently, and the black key appears to shine brightly over a wider range.

  FIG. 8 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 includes a part of a rear inclined surface 63 in which a surface of the reflector 60 facing the light guide body is inclined downward toward the rear. In this embodiment, the rearward inclined surface 63 is provided closer to the rear part of the black key 1. The light emitting means C preferably has a directivity that faces forward so that a large amount of light reaches the front of the key. On the other hand, this makes it difficult for light to reach the rear of the key, and the rear of the key tends to appear dark. On the other hand, by providing the rear inclined surface 63, a part of the light from the light emitting means C is reflected backward, so that the black key 1 shines brightly over a wider range including the rear part. looks like.

  FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the black key 1, a portion 51 along the inner surface of the front wall in the diffusion layer 50 is thicker than the other portions. When the light introducing part 30 is provided at the rear part of the key body, it is desirable to have directivity so that a large amount of light reaches the upper wall and the side wall in front of the key. The amount of received light is particularly large and becomes particularly bright compared to other wall portions. On the other hand, by increasing the thickness of the diffusion layer portion 51 along the inner surface of the front wall, the amount of light transmitted from the front wall 13 can be reduced and the brightness can be balanced with the other wall portions.

  FIG. 10 is a vertical side view showing a black key according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this black key 1, the light introducing portion 30 is located at the rear end portion of the key body 10 and below the height at which the upper surface of the white key is located. Behind the black key 1, a cover member (panel part) S of the instrument body is provided at a position close to the rear wall 14. The rear end portion of the black key 1 is covered with a cover member S that extends upward from the height H of the upper surface of the white key in a state of being inserted into the keyboard instrument. Therefore, by providing the light introducing portion at the above position, it is possible to prevent the light emitting means from being directly seen from above. Although it is possible to provide the light introduction part at other positions, for example, the positions indicated by P1 and P2 in FIG. 10, in this case, light mainly upward is introduced from the light emitting means, and the key body This is not desirable because the portion directly above the light emitting means tends to appear particularly bright through 10. If the light emitting means is placed in front of the front wall 13 as in P3, it interferes with the position of the white key. Further, even at the rear end portion of the key body 10, if the light introducing portion 30 is provided above the height H of the top surface of the white key, the light from the light emitting means provided at the position P4 behind the key portion 10 and the cover member S. It may be directly visible from the gap with the rear wall 14 of the black key.

  FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a black key according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the black key 1, a locking portion 121 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 12, and a member located in the hollow portion 15 is held by the locking portion. In this embodiment, the locking portion 121 is formed in a claw shape that protrudes inward from the lower portion of the side wall 12. The lower surface of the reflector 60 is locked to the locking portion 121, and a member above the reflecting surface is held in the hollow portion 15.

  Thereby, when attaching the member (diffusion layer, light guide, and / or reflector) located in the hollow part 15 to the black key, either or both of the side wall 12 and the locking part 121 are elastically deformed. If the member is pushed into the hollow portion 15 to above the locking portion 121, it can be locked to the locking portion 121, and the operation becomes easy. In particular, since the black key is narrower than the white key, it is likely to be difficult to mount the black key on the hollow portion.

  In addition, the member hold | maintained in the hollow part 15 by this structure changes with structures of a member. That is, when the diffusion layer 50 is attached to the light guide 40, the diffusion layer 50, the light guide 40, and the reflector 60 are held. On the other hand, when the diffusion layer 50 is attached to the key body 10, the light guide 40 and the reflector 60 are held, and when there is no reflector 60, the light guide 40 (the diffusion layer 50 is attached to the light guide 40). If attached, the diffusion layer 50 and the light guide 40) are held.

  The locking portion 121 can have various shapes that can hold the member in the hollow portion 15. The locking portion has a concave shape, and a convex portion is provided on the held member to be engaged. Good.

  FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a black key according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 is provided with an actuator 70 for driving a switch SW that emits a sound generation control signal in response to a key depression, below the reflector 60. As a result, if the actuator 70 is attached to the lower part of the reflector 60 in advance, the actuator can be provided at an appropriate position in the operation of attaching the reflector to the key body, and work efficiency and accurate positioning of the actuator can be improved. Realized. In particular, since a small actuator is used to drive a small switch, it is difficult to handle by itself, and by attaching it to a reflector, installation work and component management are simplified.

  FIG. 13 is a longitudinal side view showing a black key according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. The black key 1 includes a diffusive light guide 45 that is disposed along the key body 10 in the hollow portion 15 and transmits light while diffusing. That is, the light guide 40 and the diffusion layer 50 in the black key shown in FIG. The diffusive light guide 45 can be obtained by dispersing a diffusing agent used in the above-described diffusion layer 50 in a transparent base resin, and the light introduced from the light introducing portion 30 is black. It is assumed that the key 1 has translucency so that it reaches the front end of the key 1 and appears to shine from the outside. Thereby, compared with the case where a light guide and a diffused layer are provided separately, the number of parts can be reduced, cost can be reduced, and assembly work can be made more efficient.

  Moreover, a reflector can be provided along the lower surface of the diffusive light guide 45, and the structures described in FIGS. 4 to 8 can be employed as the structure of the reflector. Also, the structure shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 can be applied to the black key having the diffusive light guide 45.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. Moreover, the characteristic part of one embodiment can also be applied to another embodiment as long as the function is not impaired.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a keyboard device provided with a black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a vertical side view which shows 1st Embodiment about the specific structure of the black key which concerns on this invention which can be used for the keyboard apparatus of FIG. The black key which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a vertical side view, (b) is a vertical front view. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. The black key which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a vertical side view, (b) is a vertical front view. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical front view which shows the black key which concerns on 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 11th Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the black key which concerns on 12th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a, 1b: Black key, 10, 10a, 10b: Key body, 11: Upper wall, 12: Side wall, 13: Front wall, 15: Hollow part, 30: Light introducing part, 40: Light guide, 45 Diffusive light guide, 50: diffuser layer, 60: reflector, 63: rear inclined surface, 70: actuator, 121: locking portion, 131: inclined wall, 51: diffused layer portion along the inner surface of the front wall, C : Light emission means, SW: Switch

Claims (13)

A black key supported on the free end side of the key frame via a pivotal fulcrum so that the free end side can move up and down, and an upper wall, a side wall, and a front wall on the free end side made of a black translucent material. A key body having a hollow portion formed therein, a diffusion layer provided along the inner surface of the key body for diffusing and transmitting light, and a translucency disposed in the hollow portion and extending along the key body And a light introducing portion provided at a lower portion of the key body, wherein the light incident on the light introducing portion passes through the light guiding body and at least part of the light guiding portion diffuses. A black key for an electronic keyboard instrument, which is disposed in the hollow portion so as to be released from the key body through a layer. A black key supported on the free end side of the key frame via a pivotal fulcrum so that the free end side can move up and down, and an upper wall, a side wall, and a front wall on the free end side made of a black translucent material. A key body having a hollow portion formed therein, a diffusion layer provided along the inner surface of the key body for diffusing and transmitting light, and a translucency disposed in the hollow portion and extending along the key body A light guide, a reflector extending along a lower surface of the light guide, and a light introducing portion provided at a lower portion of the key body so as to face a surface of the light guide that is not covered with the reflector. And the light guide is disposed in the hollow portion so that light incident on the light introducing portion passes through the light guide and at least a part is emitted from the key body through the diffusion layer. This is a black key for electronic keyboard instruments. The black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion layer is provided along an inner surface of the upper wall. The black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diffusion layer is provided along inner surfaces of the upper wall, the side wall, and the front wall. The black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 2, wherein the light introduction is provided at a rear portion of the key body, and the reflector is inclined so as to rise as it approaches the front wall. The front wall has an inclined wall that rises rearward from the free end and reaches the upper wall, the light introducing portion is provided at a rear portion of the key body, and the reflector approaches the front wall. 6. The black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 5, wherein the black key is inclined so as to approach the upper wall and the front end is located at a lower end of the inclined wall or below the lower end. 7. The black for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 5, wherein a surface of the reflector facing the upper wall has a shape that protrudes downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the black key. key. The light introducing portion is provided at a rear end portion of the key body, and a surface of the reflector facing the light guide body includes a part of a rearward inclined surface that inclines downward toward the rear. A black key for an electronic keyboard instrument according to any one of claims 2 and 5 to 7. The said light introducing | transducing part is provided in the rear part of the said key main body, The part in alignment with the said front wall inner surface in the said diffusion layer is thicker than the other part, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Black key for electronic keyboard instruments. 10. The electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the light introducing portion is located at a rear end portion of the key body and below a height at which an upper surface of the white key is located. Black key for musical instruments. 11. The black for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein a locking portion is provided on an inner surface of the side wall, and a member positioned in the hollow portion is held by the locking portion. key. 9. The electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 2, wherein an actuator for driving a switch that generates a sound generation control signal in response to a key depression is provided below the reflector. Black key. A black key supported on the free end side of the key frame via a pivotal fulcrum so that the free end side can move up and down, and an upper wall, a side wall, and a front wall on the free end side made of a black translucent material. A key main body having a hollow portion formed therein, a diffusive light guide disposed in the hollow portion and extending along the key main body to diffuse and transmit light, and light provided at a lower portion of the key main body The diffusive light guide is disposed in the hollow portion so that light incident on the light guide is diffused through the diffusive light guide and emitted from the key body. This is a black key for electronic keyboard instruments.

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