Patent ID: 7501570

Claim:
A key detection structure for detecting opening/closing states or positions of operating keys of an electric wind instrument including a tubular body having a plurality of tone holes and the operating keys mounted on the tubular body to open/close the tone holes, the key detection structure comprising: an axially-extending retaining member configured to be accommodated inside the tubular body; a circuit board mounted to or integrally formed with the retaining member; a plurality of detector units, mounted to the circuit board and positioned so that the detector units are positionable in corresponding relation to the tone holes so that each of the detector units becomes generally opposed to a back surface of the corresponding operating key to detect a relative distance to the back surface, each for out putting an electrical signal corresponding to the detected relative distance; and a plurality of resilient contact portions for suspending the retaining member inside the tubular body so that the detector units are suspended and kept in non-contacting relation with the operating keys and the tubular body, and wherein the resilient contact portions are spaced along the axially extending member and extend radially outwardly from the retaining member to press against an inner peripheral surface of the tubular body.