A key guide structure for a keyboard instrument, which is capable of stably and appropriately guiding a key pivotally moved by key depression without generating noise. The key guide structure has guide holders each erected below a guide recess of each key, and guide members mounted to tops of the guide holders, respectively, each for sliding contact with lateral inner side surfaces of the recess. Each guide member includes a body disposed between the lateral inner side surfaces of the recess with a predetermined clearance, two lateral flexible portions laterally flexible and extending from lateral ends of a front or rear surface of the body in a manner protruding in a front-rear direction, and two lateral contact portions which are provided at front ends of the flexible portions in a manner protruding sideward and are in contact with the lateral inner side surfaces of the recess.

A keyboard device for a keyboard instrument includes a plurality of key support mechanisms each provided in a state engaged with a keyboard chassis and supporting an associated key from below, for causing, upon key depression, the depressed key to operate such that the key pivotally moves about a virtual pivot located rearward of a rear end of the key. Each key support mechanism includes first and second arms each extending a predetermined length in a front-rear direction and configured to be swingable. The first and second arms are pivotally and slidably connected to each other. A rear-side connecting portion of the key includes a connecting body portion and a pair of engagement protrusions, and a rear-side connecting portion of the second arm includes two connecting arm portions having a bifurcated shape and formed with connecting holes.

A haptic controller including a base, a plurality of actuators, each actuator being mounted pivotally relative to the base along a pivoting axis perpendicular to the main direction, a plurality of damping elements, each being positioned so as to dampen a rotation movement of an actuator, the damping elements being elastically deformable between an initial configuration and a final configuration, each damping element including a body of deformable material, the body having at least one recess, wherein, each of the actuators have a protrusion suitable for coming into contact with the associated damping element, and each protrusion has a free end defining a contact with the associated damping element in its initial configuration.

Different aspects of the invention implement a sensor module that can be configured as a keyboard module or as a pedal module, allowing to connect a plurality of keyboard and pedal modules to assemble a configuration to the user's liking, such as, for example, the usual configuration of an 87-key piano together with two pedals. The sensor module transmits information about detected key or pedal strokes to a computer application for playback, either aural or visual. At the same time, the sensor module allows, both in the keyboard module and pedal module configuration, to transmit the feeling of playing a real piano.

Provided is a keyboard apparatus including: a key, displaced about a key axis and having a cavity opening downward formed therein; and a guide member, having a guide inserted into the cavity of the key and guiding displacement of the key by contact between a guided surface of the key and the guide. The key includes a stopper formed within the cavity. The stopper includes a base connected to the key and extending downward, and a hook formed on a lower end side of the base and displaced in a position vertically side by side with the key axis. The guide includes a recess formed on a rear surface of the guide, and the hook is inserted into the recess. The hook is formed in a position overlapping the guided surface or a position vertically side by side with the guided surface in a left-right view of the key.

There is provided an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that further improve skills. A load weight control unit controls generation of a load weight that becomes a load with respect to motion when a keyboard is depressed by a pianist, and a keystroke recognition unit recognizes motion of the keyboard. Then, the load weight control unit performs control of starting generation of a predetermined load weight at a timing when the keystroke recognition unit recognizes that the keyboard started to be depressed, and ending generation of the load weight at a timing when the keystroke recognition unit recognizes that the keyboard ended to be depressed and started to return. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a performance skill improvement system that evaluates and trains pianists' force sense.

There is provided an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that further improve skills. A load weight control unit controls generation of a load weight that becomes a load with respect to motion when a keyboard is depressed by a pianist, and a keystroke recognition unit recognizes motion of the keyboard. Then, the load weight control unit performs control of starting generation of a predetermined load weight at a timing when the keystroke recognition unit recognizes that the keyboard started to be depressed, and ending generation of the load weight at a timing when the keystroke recognition unit recognizes that the keyboard ended to be depressed and started to return. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a performance skill improvement system that evaluates and trains pianists' force sense.

A keyboard device is provided, and includes multiple keys and multiple hinges. Each of the keys is supported by a support member. Each of the hinges has: a pair of base parts, joined to the support member and separated from each other with a predetermined gap therebetween in a width direction of the keys, and a connection part, connecting the pair of base parts and each of the keys to each other in a longitudinal direction of the keys. A dimension of the connection part in the longitudinal direction of the keys is set to be larger than dimensions of the base parts in the width direction of the keys.

A reaction force generation unit includes an opposing member and a pressed body, which includes a base and domes, including a first dome, a second dome, and a third dome, bulging from the base. A leading end of each dome faces an opposing surface of the opposing member. When the pressing member presses the base, the leading ends of the domes move in a direction relatively close to the opposing member, where the domes become elastically deformed and cause an appropriate reaction force with respect to the handle. In a natural state where the pressed body is not subjected to any pressing force, axes of the domes are substantially parallel to each other, and acute angles formed by the axes and a normal line of the opposing surface are substantially similar to each other at a predetermined angle larger than zero degree.

Provided is a keyboard apparatus including: a hammer, having a mass body on one end side, rotating in a first direction by being pushed on the other end side when a key is pressed; and a load application member, applying, to the hammer, at least one of a first load directed in the first direction and a second load directed in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first load is a load that gradually increases as approaching a terminal position of the key in key pressing. The second load is a load that gradually decreases as approaching the terminal position.