Opto-electronic sensing method and device for an acoustic piano

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide for a displacement or displacement speed sensing device for a movable element in an acoustic piano, wherein the sensing device can be incorporated in a limited space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a displacement or displacement speed sensing device for a movable element in an acoustic piano which is both visibly hidden and mechanically, completely unobtrusive to the musician.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a displacement or displacement speed sensing device for a movable element in an acoustic piano which provides for continuous linear sensing.
That is, the voltage detected as the movable element is depressed will vary as a function of the position of the movable element.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a displacement or displacement speed sensing device for a movable element in an acoustic piano which is very inexpensive, incorporates only one opto-electronic sensor per movable element, incorporates very few other components, and is easily expandable when manufactured to cover any number of keys.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a displacement or displacement speed sensing device that is inherently reliable, and which does not require a piano tuner, electronics technician, or other expertise to install.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a displacement or displacement speed sensing device with a design that can accommodate almost any piano, and which virtually eliminates vertical and horizontal calibration or adjustment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a displacement or displacement speed sensing device with simplified electronics and software implementation that allows for complete adjustability and flexibility regarding the capture of musical note and note expression data.
This allows for the ability to generate the full range of musical effects and to dynamically change the independently generated trigger thresholds to do all kinds of things (i