A key operation detector includes a conductive unit provided in a key of a keyboard device, a substrate provided to face the key in a pressing and releasing direction of the key, a signal output unit including a coil, provided on the substrate, and configured to output a signal corresponding to a position of the conductive unit relative to the signal output unit, and a detection unit configured to detect a position of the key in the pressing and releasing direction and a displacement of the key in a front-rear direction based on the signal output from the signal output unit.

The electronic wind instrument (1) includes an instrument body (10) in which a through-hole leading into an internal space (11) opens on an outer surface (12), an operation piece (20) attached to the instrument body (10) at a position of a through-hole (14) and pushed down toward the internal space (11), and an electronic component disposed in the internal space (11). The electronic component includes a push-down sensor (6) that detects that the operation piece (20) is being pushed down, and the outer surface (12) of the instrument body (10) comprises an outer wall (16a) that is provided around the through-hole (14) and that faces toward the through-hole (14), an inner wall (16b) that is provided nearer to the through-hole (14) than the outer wall (16a) and that faces toward the outer wall (16a), and a groove bottom (16c) connecting the outer wall (16a) and the inner wall (16b) together.

A displacement sensor includes: a detectable portion: including a first coil; and being disposed on a movable member that is displaceable in response to an operation; and a signal generator: including a second coil that opposes the first coil; and being configured to generate a detection signal based on a relative position between the first coil and the second coil. A first distance from a first end of the first coil to a second end of the first coil in a first direction differs from a second distance from a third end of the first coil to a fourth end of the first coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when the first coil is viewed in plan view.

A switch device (4, 5) includes: a cap (7) including, on a top surface (711), a first region (71a) and a second region (71b) corresponding to a position where an internal light (133) is disposed and being thinner than the first region (71a); and a switch (61, 62) to which the cap (7) is mounted.

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.

The Thumb Bar Controller is a bar that runs the width of the electronic musical keyboard playing area, (plus whatever is needed for the lever attachment), connected by two armsrests just below the top, and approximately one inch away from the keys. It gives the performer control over two (or more) functions with the thumb of the playing hand, that would otherwise require the other hand or foot pedals, allowing a person with the disability of one arm/hand, to be as proficient as a person with two. It can be used for controlling pitch bend, modulation, MIDI specification controllers, various electronic controls, and product specific controls. The bar can be attached in numerous ways, could use a variety of spring type mechanisms to control it. It can be mounted externally or made as an integral part of the keyboard, with openings for the bar connections and movement required.

A control device (1) for controlling the sound of an electric musical instrument has a tread plate (2) and a signal generator (3). The tread plate (2) is mounted pivotally about a first axis (4a) and is mounted pivotally about a second axis (4b). The signal generator is configured such that it generates a first electrical signal for controlling the sound and a second electrical signal for controlling the sound, the first electrical signal being the result of a rotation of the tread plate (2) about the first axis (4a) and the second electrical signal being the result of a rotation of the tread plate (2) about the second axis (4b). A control system comprises a control device of this type and the electric musical instrument.

A sensing system for a keyboard. Each key sensor comprises passive and active resonant circuits. The passive resonant circuit has a resonant frequency and the active resonant circuit excites the passive resonant circuit at the resonant frequency. A sensor driver drives the active resonant circuit with an RF drive signal, a multiplexing system multiplexes the drive signal such that simultaneously driven key sensors are separated by at least (k-1) keys, and a detector detects a level of RF signal from a driven key sensor for sensing a position and/or velocity of a key.

A signal generation method implemented by a computer system includes: generating an audio signal in response to a manipulation of each of a first key and a second key; and controlling generation of the audio signal based on a reference point that is a position of the first key at a time point of a manipulation of the second key, based on the second key being manipulated during a manipulation of the first key.

A musical keyboard touch sensor pad having a plurality of integrated sensors disposed in an array is disclosed. The plurality of integrated sensors represents a keyboard key. A processor is electronically coupled to the plurality of integrated sensors. The processor is programmed to receive signals from several of the plurality of integrated sensors and to generate a sound signal based on input from the several of the plurality of integrated sensors. The output is variable based on the number in the plurality and the location of the plurality in the array. An audio output device is electronically coupled to the processor to generate a sound based on the sound signal. A keyboard using a plurality of the sensor pads as well as a method of generating sounds from the keyboard are also disclosed.