Patent ID: 6900379
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G10C,G10H,G10K

Abstract:
1. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of keys and a plurality of striking elements, each of said striking elements being associated with, and being controlled by operation of, a respective one of said keys, wherein said keys and said striking elements are mechanically dissociated from one another, and said instrument further comprises: a plurality of sensors each operatively associated with a respective one of said keys for producing a sensor signal representative of the rate of displacement of said respective key when said key is actuated; a plurality of force regulating means each coupled to a respective one of said keys for applying to said respective key a static force value corresponding to the static force that would be applied to said respective key by said associated striking element if said respective key were mechanically coupled to said associated striking element; first signal generating means coupled to said sensors to receive the sensor signals and convert the sensor signals into first signals representing the displacement rate of each of said keys that is being displaced and containing identification of each of said keys that is being displaced; a transmitter coupled to said first signal generating means for transmitting the first signals; a receiver disposed for receiving the first signals transmitted by said transmitter; second signal generating means coupled to said receiver, said second signal generating means being arranged to generate, in response to the first signals, control signals for each of said striking elements associated with a key for which a sensor signal has been produced; and a plurality of servomotors each coupled to said second signal generating means and a respective one of said striking elements for activating the respective one of said striking elements, each of the servomotors being arranged to activate, in response to a respective one of the control signals, the respective one of said striking elements in order to cause the respective one of said striking elements to execute a striking movement.