Music – Instruments
Patent
1984-04-18
1987-08-18
Caldwell, Sr., John W.
Music
Instruments
340365S, 340365R, 340365A, G10H 134, G06F 302
Patent
active
046868801
ABSTRACT:
A digital keyboard interface for a keyboard operated musical instrument, such as a piano, includes at least one switch associated with each key on the keyboard and positioned therebeneath. Key actuation produces a corresponding associated switch actuation. The keyboard interface is readily installed within an acoustic or electronic piano and includes adjustments for height and side-to-side alignment to provide precise registration of keys and switches and to provide simplified installation of the interface within the piano. A switch matrix includes a plurality of rows that assign switch closure information to corresponding data byte bit positions in a digital data stream. A shift register sequentially, and on a one-at-a-time basis, actuates a series of matrix columns to read a set of swtiches associated with the column. Thus, each switch operated in an actuated column corresponds to a data byte bit position in the data stream which is further processed to generate a serial data stream for external devices. One embodiment of the invention provides switches of the type having two contact sets by which key velocity information may be transmitted to an external electronic musical instrument or memory device. The invention also provides an interface for collecting and transmitting piano pedal information.
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Moffatt Jeffrey C.
Salani Steven J.
Caldwell Sr. John W.
Fatahi-Yar Mahmoud
Forte Music, Inc.
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