Keyboard for musical instrument, and instrument comprising such a keyboard

• US 8,614,384 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julien Hotrique
• Original Assignee: Julien Hotrique
• Inventors: Hotrique, Julien
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/263,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 844/23.R, 843/76.R
• US Class Current: 84/423.R
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/12 Keyboards; Keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/386 One-finger or one-key chord systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/251 arranged as 2D or 3D arrays; Keyboards ergonomically organised for playing chords or for transposing, e.g. Janko keyboard special keyboards for playing chords, e.g. accordion G10H2230/245

Abstract

A polyphonic, chromatic keyboard, whose notes are alternately distributed across two sub-keyboards arranged in thirds on each sub-keyboard. On each sub-keyboard, the notes are distributed across a tiling of basic triangles that is symmetrical from one sub-keyboard to the other and that peaks at one note, i.e. the major third thereof, and the minor third thereof. Thus, the quality of an interval, and consequently that of a chord or mode, does not vary with a nearby symmetry/translation. The harmonic material is represented by easily memorizable shapes. The relationships between chords are represented by geometrical movements. The keyboard can thus be a pedagogical aid for learning and understanding harmonic rules. The keyboard enables the user to play a bass line and a harmonic or melodic accompaniment simultaneously, feel the harmonic rhythm, and play with virtuosity. The keyboard can be fit onto a portable instrument, thus making it possible to play comfortably.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a musical instrument comprising:

a first under-keyboard; and

a second under-keyboard;

wherein each of said first and second under-keyboards includes at least four parallel and equidistant lines, each line including at least one key, the distance between the lines being identical for both under-keyboards;

such that, with respect to a given base key corresponding to a note n located on a line arranged between an adjacent lower line and an adjacent upper line;

on the adjacent upper line, there is at least one of an upward-major key and an upward-minor key with respect to the base key, wherein;

the upward-major-key actuates the upward major third of n, and is arranged so that the line starting from the base key and passing through the upward-major-key forms a first angle, with the line on which the base key is located;

wherein, on the first under-keyboard, the measure of the first angle is M and belongs to the interval [0°

, 90°

], and on the second under-keyboard, the measure of the first angle is −

M; and

the upward-minor-key actuates the upward minor third of n, and is arranged so that the line starting from the base key and passing through the upward-minor-key forms a second angle, with the line on which the base key is located;

wherein, on the first under-keyboard, the measure of the second angle is m and belongs to the interval [90°

, 180°

], and on the second under-keyboard, the measure of the second angle is −

m; and

on the adjacent lower line, there is at least one of a downward-major key and a downward-minor key with respect to the base key, wherein;

the downward-major-key actuates the downward major third of n, and is arranged so that the line starting from the base key and passing through the downward-major-key forms a supplementary first angle;

wherein, on the first under-keyboard, the measure of the supplementary first angle is M−

180°

, and on the second under-keyboard, the measure of the supplementary first angle is 180°

−

M; and

the downward-minor-key actuates the downward minor third of n, and is arranged so that the line starting from the base key and passing through the downward-minor-key forms a supplementary second angle;

wherein on the first under-keyboard, the supplementary second angle has a measure of m−

180°

, and on the second under-keyboard, the supplementary second angle has a measure of 180°

−

m;

and for each key actuating a note q on each of the under-keyboards, there exists on the other under-keyboard at least one of;

a key actuating the upward major second of the note q;

and a key actuating the downward major second of the note q;

so that notes are alternatively distributed from one under-keyboard to the other, while being arranged by thirds on each of them.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the under-keyboards are each located on a plane such that, if each of those planes is projected onto a bisecting plane of those two planes, each key corresponding to a note n will be located between the keys corresponding to the upward major second of n and the downward major second of n.

3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein M is equal to 60 degrees, and m is equal to 120 degrees.

4. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keys are sensitive to force and/or swiftness of actuation.

5. The keyboard according to claim 4, wherein an electronic device makes it possible to vary an intensity of an emitted sound according to a force and/or swiftness of actuation of the keys.

6. The keyboard according to claim 5, wherein each under-keyboard is arranged on a flat surface and the angle between front faces of the under-keyboards belongs to the interval [180°

, 270°

].

7. A musical instrument including a keyboard according to claim 1.

8. The musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the musical instrument comprises a sound generator of an expander type according to the MIDI standard.

9. The musical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a first device and a second device, wherein the first device makes it possible to vary pitch bend, upward and downward, and the second device controls a modulation serrated roller, which increases and lowers the effect obtained with the first device.

10. The musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a housing body, equipped with a carrying element, on which both under-keyboards are arranged.

11. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein M is equal to 60 degrees, and m is equal to 120 degrees.

12. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the keys are sensitive to force and/or swiftness of actuation.

13. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the keys are sensitive to force and/or swiftness of actuation.

14. The musical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a housing body, equipped with a carrying element, on which both under-keyboards are arranged.

15. The musical instrument according to claim 9, further comprising a housing body, equipped with a carrying element, on which both under-keyboards are arranged.