Patent ID: 6891092

Claim:
A keyboard instrument with an actuation system comprising: a key bed having a slot defined therein; a plurality of keys, each key being pivotally supported on the key bed and having a front end that is depressed by a player to play a note; a block of ferromagnetic material disposed in the slot in the key bed, the block being interconnected with the slot so as to structurally reinforce the key bed, the block having a plurality of bores defined therein; a plurality of actuators operable to move at least some of the plurality of keys, each actuator comprising: a winding disposed in one of the bores in the block, the windings having a hole defined therein; and a piston at least partially disposed in the hole, the piston being in mechanical communication with one of the keys such that movement of the piston causes movement of the key; wherein energizing one of the windings causes the corresponding piston to move relative to the winding, thereby moving one of the keys.