- Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 8,445,765
- Filed: 5 January 2012
- In the name of: Roland Corporation
- Title: Keyboard Device
- What’s claimed: “A keyboard device, comprising: a key, supported by a chassis in a free-rotation manner; a hammer, displaced rotationally corresponding to a key-pressing operation or a key-releasing operation of the key to provide an action load to the key; a protrusion, projected at a specific position on the hammer or the key, and displaced corresponding to the key-pressing operation or the key-releasing operation; a sliding surface, formed on any one of the chassis, the key, and the hammer, and having a flat surface or a curved surface inclined to a direction which is along a sliding direction of the protrusion in the key-pressing operation and gradually departs from a base portion of the protrusion, and where the protrusion slides thereon in the key-pressing operation or the key-releasing operation; and a bump portion, formed in continuation with the flat surface or the curved surface, and raising up from the sliding surface towards a direction which is along a sliding direction of the protrusion in the key-pressing operation and approaches the base portion of the protrusion.”
- Why this patent rocks: This patent appears to relate to Roland’s FP-10 digital piano, consisting of 88 keys. Roland Corporation claim that the FP-10’s PHA-4 keyboard ‘delivers the responsive feel of a fine acoustic piano, with every nuance whether you play hard or soft captured by Roland’s touch-detection technology.’ See here for a detailed take on the mechanics behind the Roland FP-10 and here for more general information.
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The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.
