Maria S Allen

US Patent:

44805195, Nov 6, 1984

Filed:

Sep 30, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/429364

Inventors:

Maria R. Allen - Washington DC

International Classification:

G10H 122

US Classification:

84 101

Abstract:

An improved keyboard for a musical instrument includes a plurality of keys arranged in a side-by-side order, all lying in a common plane. Different embodiments of the invention have a varying number of keys per octave, from as small as 12 keys per octave to as high as 90-120 keys per octave. In those embodiments of the invention in which the number of keys per octave results in a key whose width is too narrow to be uniquely depressed by an operator's finger, associated apparatus determines from a plurality of keys which have been depressed, a particular tone to be produced. The keyboard may be associated with apparatus to distinguish one set of keys from other sets of keys, which apparatus can include a selectively energizable light source associated with each different key or other equivalent apparatus.