Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to methods o~ and
apparatus for producing pitch variation, tone alteration
and related effects in musical instruments and the like,
being more particularly directed to a keyboard instrument
wherein sound, produced by depression Or an individual
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longitudinally extending key o~ the keyboard, may be ~
modi~ied by movement longitudinally backward and forward -
in the plane of the key, resultlng in the sustained ~ ;
varlation of pitch ("bent" notes, ~ustly intoned ln-
tervals, glissando, sliding pitches, etc.,) and other
varying characteristics.
The present state o~ the art in keyboard musloal
lnstruments ranges ~rom those instruments in which a
oonstant pitch is created by each individual key, to
those instruments in which a vibrato effect may be
created by a horizontal oscillation of blocks o~ keys, ;
as disclosed, ~or example, in U. S. Letters Patent
Nos. 1,853,630 and 1,914,831. Additionally, monophonic
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lnstruments have been proposed in which a glissando
effect may be created between pitch steps, as described
ln U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,871,745, and insbruments
in which control o~ the pitch i8 ef~ected a~ter the
initlal tone is struck by means of a double touoh control
_ system, as described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 3,652,774,
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and in whlch application of an additional secondary
amount Or rorce upon the key after the original tone
ls struck allows another means o~ control o~ the tone;
the stronger the additional secondary force, the more
the variations of the pitch. Still other approaches
have involved instruments in which do~nward depression
o~ the key produces an expression control (i.e., volume
control or, vibrato ef~ect) by a lateral shaking of
the keys, as illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No.
3,715,447. Tension o~ the sound-creating string can
also be varied by means o~ foot pedals, as in U. S.
Letters Patent No. 3,763,735. Such prior proposals
have not, however, provided simple and ready indiv-
idual control Or each key-produoed tone, or the de-
gree o~ rlexibility resulting from such a ~eature.
It is aocordingly an obJeot o~ this invention
to provide a new and improved method o~ and apparatus
for producing musical instrument keyboard-control
pitch variatlon and tone alteration and the like that
is not subJect to such limitations, but ena~les
faciie individual key control.
A further ob~ect is to provide a novel stringed
or similar muslcal instrument having a keyboard that
allows indlvidual oontrol o~ each key to make possible
variations in pitch, tone alteration and other related
e~feats, such as "bent" notes, Justly intoned intervals,
sliding pitches, gllssando, etc., in direct response
to the backward and forward ~longitudinal motion of each
longltudlnally extending key. Such backward and ~or- -~
ward motlon has dlstlnct advantages over the lateral
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horizontal motion of the prior art, above-discussed, since
such motion is readily consistent with the simple bone and : ;
muscular action of the human hand, is in the plane of motion
of the finger depressing the key, and since it enables every
key to be free to move independently~ Another distinct advantage -
of the backward and forward longitudinal motion of the key
mechanism, directly related to the pitch variation, is that
each individual key mechanism may slide the pitch intonation
higher or lower responding to the backward or forward motion of
the key. The ability to change the pitch in either a higher .
or lower direction is distinctly advantageous over the prior
proposals such as double touch key mechanisms, before discussed,
partlcularly since they allow movement only in one direction
rom the original pitch stxuck,
In summary, rom one o its broader aspects, khe
invention embraces a method of introducing tone variations to
the sound created by downwardly depressed key mechanisms in
musical instruments and thie like, that comprises, mounting
each longitudinally extending key mechanism with individual :.
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freedom of longitudinal motion in the direction backward and
forward in the plane of the key; limitlng the backward and
orward movements within predetermined limits; and responding .
to said backward and forward movements of the downwardly
: depressed key mechanisms, to introduce corresponding pitch ~ . .
variations, tone alterations and related effects,;separately ~ .
and differently generated for each such indi~idual key :
mechanism in accordance with the
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degree of backward and forward movement of the same.
The a~ove method may be carried out in a musical
instrument having planar longitudinally extending keys ~or manual
depression to produce sounds, key centering and positioning means
connected with each key adapted to enable downward depression
and independent movement of the same longitudinally backward and
forward substantially in-the plane of the keys, the means being
provided with limiting means for restricting such backward and
forward movement within predetermined limits, and means connected
with and responsive to the-movement of the positioning means for
introducing controlled pitch variation, tone alterations and
related effects in response to the backward and forward movement
of the individual key, independently altering the sound developed
by depression of each key.
Other and further eatures will be explalned herein- ~ !
atcr and are more partlcularly dslineated in the appended claims.
The invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of
a key mechanism of a stringed musical instrument constructed in
;' accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2A is a similar view of a portion o Fig. 1, upon
an enlarged scale, illustrating the key-centerlng-and-posi~ioning
mechanism;
Fig. 2B is also a perspective view illustrating means
, for avoiding con~flict between ad~acent keys in backward and
i~- forward motion;
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Fig. 2C is an exploded plan view of a strlng tensioning
, device;
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Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified key
mechanism of a stringed musical keyboard instrument embodying
the invention-,
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly sectionaliæed, of
an embodiment applied to an electronic key mechanism;
Figs. 5 and 6 (appearing on the same sheet as Fig. 3)
are graphs illustrating relationships between distanc:e of key ;
motion and pitch variation and relationships between distance
of key motion and force applied to the key, according, to the
present invention.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the frame 1 oi the
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key mechanism of a stringed musical instrument is shown
supporting one of an intended plurality of planar
longitudinally extending keys 2 that, upon manual downward
depression produce sounds by striking strings 19, as is
well known. The playing surface of the said keys 2 is
preferably provided with lateral ridges 3, or surface
undulations or other roughening or friction means such as
fiber coverings or the like, for enabling non-slipping
backward and forward longitudinal movement of the key,
substantially in its plane, and while at the same time
allowing untroublesome lateral motion of the player's fingers
across the surface of the keys. The keys 2 may be arranged
in two groups; the playing surfaces of the first group 2a,
Fig. 2B, extending farther out to the outer edge of the
instrument and being interiorly recessed or narrowed where
passing under the playing surfaces o the keys of the
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other group 2b. The overhanging interior key~ of the
other group 2b allow motion relative to that of the
keys of the first group 2a and in a plane parallel to
the playing surfaces of both groups, but without keys
of the two groups coming into contact, and without
producing gaps in the playing transverse overall key- `
board surface that would hinder the player~
Referring now particularly in ~igs. 1 and 2A
each key 2 is shown forwardly guided by a pin 4, which
makes sliding contact with the inside of a slot 5, the `~
long axis of which is paralleL to the longitudinal axis
of the key. A bearing 6 is affixed to the top of the~
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key 2 at its intermediate pivot region and is provided on
its lower side with a cylindrical bearing surface 7 apertured
to receive the upper end of a vertic~l pin 8 that is
accomodated in a longitudinal notch 9 in the key 2~ The - ~:
elongation of the slot 9 parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the key 2 permits some rotation o~ the pin 8 a~out the
axi.s of cylinder 7, and the pin 8 also pxeYent axial Xotation
and lateral translation of the key 2. At its lo~er endt the
pin 8 is affixed to a bearing surface lO xesting on rails 11 .
extending transversely to the keys 2 and under the same. A
plate 12 is disposed between the underside of the key 2 and
the rails 11 and is longitudinally slotted to accomodate the : ,
lower part of th.e pin 8~ with a spring 13 di.spo,s,.ed between the ..
plate 12 and the bearin~ surface 10. Dis.c 14 ~ixed to the
~; bearing surfacq 10 ~nd notch 15 in the 'unde~side o~ plate 12' .'~
maintain alignment of the spring 13. The latexal motion of
the bearing surface 10 along the rails. 11 is pre~ented ~y the .. ,
adjacent bearing surfaces lQ of the adjacent ke~ ~echanisms :.
(not shown) and ~X blocks at either end of the xails 11, '.: '.
~2Q Upon the application of a foxce having a component ' :~
`in the longitudinal direction of the key 2~ the pin 8 rotates .:.
either backward or forward, depending upon the resulting
sliding motion o~ the key, backward or forward~ xocking about ' .
either the rear or forwaxd rail 11 ~nd allowing the key 2 to .~ .
move longitudinally under the control of the foxward pin 4
in its slot 5 and the pivot pin 8 in its slot 9. T~e ~ey :~.
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thus can be ~ .
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moved from its center, zero or rest position, longitudinally
backward and forward substantially in its plane. The bearing
surface 10 presents a controlled opposing force to such motion,
and the predetermined limits to the backward and forward
motion are determined by the pin 4 in its forward slot 5. An
adjustment may be provided for the pin 4, allowing variations
in the predetermined limits of motion.
A rubber or similar pad 16 is shown affixed to the
upper rear por-tion of the key 2 7 Fig. 1. Upon depression of
the key 2, the pad 1~ establishes contact with a tensioner ~
lever 201 which is driven upward until it contacts a i
horizontal rail 18 covered by acoustic and impact deadening
material and affixed at its ends to the rame 1. The tone-
producing string 19 is intermediately looped around two
pulley segments 20 mounted near the top of the tension~r
lever 201, being clamped between them in su~h a way that
backward and forward motion of the lower end of said tensioner
lever 201, as the key 2 is moved longitudinally ~ackward or
forward by the finger, decreases and increases the tension o~
the string 19. A rotational force on the tensioner lever 201,
generated by the difference in points of origin on the
~ensioner lever o the orce vectors produced by the tension
on the segments of the string 19 ahead of and behind the lever,
is counterbalanced by a tension spring 21 affixed to the lower
end of the tensioner lever 201 with rotational freedom in a :
plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said key 2. The . .
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tension spring 21 is affixed at its forward end to an `
adjustment collar 22 threaded on an adjustable bolt 23
attached to a wrest plank assembly 24, fixed to the frame 1
at its ends. At its forward end, the spring 19 is fixed to
a wrest pin 25 over a transverse nut bar 26 and under a bar
27 which is adjustable in height.
When the tensioner lever 201 is driven upward by
the depressing of the key 2, the string 19 contacts a bridge
28 shortly before it comes to rest against the rail 18. The :
portion of the string 19 between the bridge 28 and the rear
hitch pin 29, affixed to the frame 1, then is set into
vibration by its sudden deceleration at the bridge 28.
When the key 2 is thus moved longitudi.nally
backwards and orwards subsequent to depression, the tensioner
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lever 201 accordingly varies tension of the string 19,
changing its musical pitch. Spring clip 32, as more
particularly shown in Fig. 2C, is affixed to said string 19 by
keeper 33, allowing the changlng of length of the string 19 as
required to effect a given tension change. When the key 2 is
released, the tensioner lever 201 drops tension of the string
19, returning the same to its equilibrium value and damping
oscillation by damping strip 34, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 illustrates by way of example several
relationships between distance the key moves longitudinally
and the restoring force that opposes such motion. In graph
(mj a linear relationship between restorlng force away from
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and toward the player is~shown as a functlon of longitudinal
displacement D. Other relation-
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ships may, of course, be introduced to produce desired tone
"bending" information, sliding pitch, glissando and similar
e~fects, by appropriate adjustment and shaping of the
mechanism. As another example, graph (n) o~ Fig. ~ shows a
nonlinear relationship in which the rate of increase of the
restoring force is adjusted such that the rate of increase
of the restoring force over a predetermined limited distance
of motion is greatest immediately above and below the zero
position, with the rate of increase of the magnitude of the
force being more gradual on either side thereof. In the
modified nonlinear relationship of graph ~nl) of Fig. 5, the
rate of increase of the restoring force has three steep
transitions, two on each side of the zero position, with
gradual intermediate restoring force - displacement slopes.
Fig. 6 ~hows by way o ~imilar example several
relationships between distance D through which the key moves
longitudinally, and the corresponding change in the musical
pitch or other controlled variable. In graph (j), the pitch
or similar controlled variable changes linearly with the
longitudinal motion of the key; whereas in graph tl), the
pitch c~langes non-linearly with its variation per unit of
longitudinal motion D of the key being slightest immediately
adjacent to the re~t position of the key. In graph (11), on
the other hand, similar regions of minimal change occur
symmetrically on each side of the zero or rest position.
Clearly, other variations will readily suggest themselves
to those skilled in the art.
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While ln the embodiment of Fig. 1 the strings, :
such as string 19, are shown mounted between pins 25
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and 29 and associated elements 26, 27, etc. with the
tensioner lever 201 and tensioning-changing mechanisms
disposed above the keys 2, in the modification of Fig. :
3, the keys 2 with their longitudinal sliding controls
4~5, 7-8, etc. are illustrated as disposed below the
keys 2. In both embodiments, moreover, the strings -~
may either be audibly monitored with an appropriate
sounding board, and/or electronically reproduced as
by a transducer 30 mounted by electrically insulated
pads 31 to generate an electrical signal in response
to the proximal vibrations of the respective strings
9.
Still a further modif-led system particularly `
adapted for electronic tone production is shown in
Fig. 4, where the keys 2 are shown at the top, pro-
vided with their forward longitudinal guiding pin
and slot structure 4-5, but rearwardly pivotable at
35. ~one-generating oscillators and the like are not
shown, the figure illustrating only the portions for
sensing the depressing of the key to activate the
tone generator and the sensing of the longitudinal
movement for variation.
~ C-shaped flat spring 36 i5 interposed be-
tween the frame 1 and the key 2, providing upward re-
storlng force to the key while allowing the key to
travel freely longitudinally in a backward and forward
direction, with further springs 37 and 38, interposed
between the pivot ~oint 35 and the frame 1, and be-
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tween the underside of the key 2 and a lower plate
extending from the lower arm of the spring 36, res-
pectlvely.
When the key 2 is depressed, spring 38 es-
tablishes contact with resilient keying contacts 39
and with a pressure-sensitive resistive block 40, as
of carbon or piezoelectric or similar material. As
the key is moved backwards and forwards longitudinally,
subsequent to being depressed, the springs 36, 37
and 38 accomodate this motion, and pick-up pressure- `
sensitive resistive elements 41, dlsposed on each side
o~ grounded sprin~ 37, differentially monitor the
rocking motion of the spring 37. When the key 2 is re-
leased its upward motion is limited by a clip 42 en-
gaging a frame proJection 43 forward of the front end
o~ the key. Clearly, other types of sensing elements
may also be used, as i8 well known.
Further modifications will also occur to those
skilled in the art, and such are considered to fall
within the spirit and scope of the invention as de-
fined ln the appended claims.
What is claimed is: ~
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