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WO1989006848A1 - Dispositif d'affichage vibratoire electronique - Google Patents

Dispositif d'affichage vibratoire electronique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1989006848A1
WO1989006848A1 PCT/GB1989/000045 GB8900045W WO8906848A1 WO 1989006848 A1 WO1989006848 A1 WO 1989006848A1 GB 8900045 W GB8900045 W GB 8900045W WO 8906848 A1 WO8906848 A1 WO 8906848A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
display
casing
sender
surround
fingertip
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1989/000045
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert John Briscoe
Original Assignee
British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Telecommunications Public Limited Company filed Critical British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Publication of WO1989006848A1 publication Critical patent/WO1989006848A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B21/00—Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute
    • G09B21/001—Teaching or communicating with blind persons
    • G09B21/003—Teaching or communicating with blind persons using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electronic vibrational display, and in particular to an electronic vibrational display which may be used as a transitory Braille display.
  • the blind and in particular the deaf blind, are very reliant on the tactile sense for gathering information.
  • the present rapid expansion of electronic information and communication systems the majority of which use some form of visual display unit as a user interface, means that there is an increasing need for an interface which is usable with such systems, and which can generate some form of tactile output.
  • Electrically-operable transitory tactile displays are known in the form of Braille displays.
  • the common method of presenting Braille display is by means of raised dots.
  • the dots are conventionally positioned in a six-point matrix, and may be read using the pads of the reader's fingers.
  • electromagnetic means are used to raise or lower six elements whose tips correspond to the dots of the Braille matrix.
  • electromechanical transducers tend to be bulky, expensive and sensitive to mechanical shocks, as well as consuming appreciable power.
  • An alternative form of display which is described is GB patent specification no. 2181591, uses fixed vibratable pads in place of the known electromagnetic means having relatively translatable parts.
  • the user rests the tips of six of his or her fingers on the selectively vibratable pads.
  • the vibratable pads of the device may conveniently be piezoelectric transducers, since these are light, compact, cheap, convenient and consume minimal power.
  • new users of such a device occasionally find it difficult initially to determine at any instant which pads are energised and which are not. This problem is believed to be connected with the fact that the user's fingertips rest on all the vibratable pads continuously, and vibrational energy is transmitted, via the device casing, from one vibrating pad to other pad(s) which are not supposed to be vibrating.
  • Another problem with this type of device is that it has a limited power supply (namely a battery) to facilitate portability.
  • a limited power supply namely a battery
  • the reason for the requirement of maximum transmission of vibrational energy to individual pads is that the nerve endings in finger tips which are sensitive to vibrations are relatively sparse.
  • known portable devices which are, of necessity, battery powered
  • the aim of the invention is to provide an electronic vibrational display unit which is portable, and which permits sufficiently effect transmission of vibrational energy to the users fingertips to facilitate accurate sensing of the information being transmitted by the unit.
  • the present invention provides an electronic vibrational display comprising a casing, a plurality of separately-energisable vibrational transducers mounted within the casing, and a plurality of display elements mounted in the casing, each of the display elements comprising a sender arranged to vibrate with a respective one of the transducers, and a surround having an exposed surface large enough to accommodate a fingertip, said exposed surface having an aperture through which a tip of the sender is accessible to the fingertip, the arrangement being such as to enable a user to contact the exposed tip of each of the senders with a fingertip whilst resting that fingertip on the respective surround, wherein the display elements are mounted in the casing in such a manner that substantially the entire vibrational energy of a given transducer is prevented from being transmitted via the casing to any other display element.
  • the transducer of each display element is mounted in a housing having high inertia, whereby substantially the entire vibrational energy of that transducer is prevented from being transmitted via the casing to any other display element.
  • the housing is made of brass, and has a mass which is large in relation to the mass of the associated sender, the sender of each display element being constituted by a bead made of plastics material.
  • each display element is supported on the casing via a vibration-absorbing mounting assembly.
  • the vibration-absorbing mounting assembly of each display element may include a respective resilient insert which supports the associated housing on a common member fixed to the casing.
  • a circuit board constitutes said common member, and the resilient insert of each display element is made of rubber or an elastomer such as Sorbathane.
  • the sender of each display element is supported in an external surface of the casing by means of the respective surround, the sender being mounted within, and projecting slightly from, an aperture formed in that surround.
  • the surround is shaped so as to guide a user's fingertip onto the projecting portion of the associated sender.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display unit
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a display element of the display unit of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 shows details of a vibration - absorbing surround incorporated in the display element of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a block digram showing the control system for the display unit?
  • Figure 1 shows an electronic vibrational display unit 1 having a casing 2 in the upper surface 2a of which are mounted six vibrational display elements 3.
  • the display elements 3 are positioned so as to lie comfortably beneath the first three fingers of both hands of a user, and so can be used to transmit Braille displays to those six fingers.
  • a respective switch 4 is positioned adjacent to each of the display elements 3, the switches 4 being used for typing in Braille.
  • Four additional switches 5 are also provided in the upper surface 2a of the casing 2, these additional switches being function switches (a delete switch, a read/write switch, a data/communication mode switch, and a read/pause switch).
  • a space bar switch 6 is also provided on the upper front surface of the casing 2.
  • the front edge wall of the casing 2 incorporates a function switch 7 and three thumb wheel controls 8a, 8b and 8c.
  • the switch 7 permits the user to move forwards or backwards one word
  • the control 8a controls the amplitude of vibrations
  • the control 8b controls the duration of vibrations
  • the control 8c controls the pitch of vibrations.
  • each of the display elements 3 comprises a surround 3a, which is made of a vibration-absorbing material such as rubber (or other elastomer such as Sorbathane), and a sender 3b which projects slightly from an aperture 3c in the central portion of that element.
  • the surround 3a of each element 3 is shaped so as to guide the user's fingertip onto the central portion of that element.
  • each surround 3a has an annular border 3d (best seen in Figure 2) which is raised relative to its interior region 3e.
  • FIG. 2 shows, in detail, the configuration of one of the display elements 3, the other display elements being of identical construction.
  • the vibration-absorbing surround 3a of the element 3 is held in, and supported by, an upper surface 2a of the casing 2.
  • the annular border 3d of the surround 3a serves to guide the user's fingertip into contact with the sender 3b which sits in the aperture 3c the relatively-recessed interior region 3e of the surround.
  • the upper surface of the sender 3b is positioned slightly above (1mm or so) the level of the adjacent surround 3a.
  • the sender 3b is attached to, or integral with, a vibrational (piezoelectric) transducer 9.
  • the sender 3b is a bead secured with adhesive to the surface of the piezoelectric transducer 9.
  • the piezoelectric transducer 9 which is in the form of a disc, is held between two halves of a disc housing 10, which are themselves held together by means of a conventional resilient 0-ring 11 seated in a circumferential groove 12 around the exterior of the housing.
  • This method of securing the piezoelectric transducer 9 minimises the damping on the transducer.
  • the 0-ring 11 provides sufficient force to hold the housing assembly 10 together, without the risk of damaging the transducer 9 by over-tight clamping.
  • the transducer 9 is held in the groove 12 so that precise location is provided, even though only the edge of the transducer contacts the housing 10.
  • the housing 10 which is made of brass, has high inertia so that communication of the vibration of the disc 9 through the housing is minimised.
  • the housing 10 also provides one of the necessary electrical connections with the piezoelectric transducer 9.
  • the sender 3b is made of a dense and electrically-insulating material such as plastics material or glass.
  • the mass of the sender 3b is small in relation to the mass of the housing 10. Where, as in the present case, the sender 3b is added to a piezoelectric transducer, it is preferable that the area of the transducer which is restrained as a result is kept to a minimum. The use of a bead, secured with a small amount of adhesive is useful in this regard.
  • the transducer housing 10 is connected to a circuit board 13 via a vibration-absorbing mounting assembly (indicated generally by the reference numeral 14), the circuit board being mounted within the casing.
  • the mounting assembly 14 not only absorbs and prevents unwanted transmission of vibration, but also provides electrical interconnection between the transducer 9 and the circuit board 13.
  • One pole of the transducer 9 contacted at the periphery thereof, is connected via the brass housing 10 to a disc of conductive, flexible foil 15 and an annular brass spacer 16 to a conductive track 17 on the upper face of the circuit board 13.
  • the other pole of the transducer 9 is connected via an insulated wire 18, a tag-washer 19, a brass bolt 20, a nut 21 and a washer 22 to a conductive track 23 on the underside of the circuit board 13.
  • the resilient insert 25 also allows the mounting assembly 14 to be displaced if the user applies an excessive load to the sender 3b thereby minimising the risk of damage to piezoelectric transducer 9 which is the relatively easily damaged, if loaded excessively.
  • Figure 4 shows, in block diagrammatic form, the operation of a system suitable for driving the vibrational display unit. It shows the control of data flow through the system from an input to the vibrational display elements 3 of the unit.
  • a serial input feeds data 31 containing, -for example, a Braille message to a data latch 32, where it is held until a control circuit 33 releases it character by character to a decoder 34.
  • the rate of data release is determined by the user setting the duration control 8b which effectively determines the reading speed.
  • the decoder 34 extracts the individual Braille characters, and outputs them in six line parallel form to output drivers 35.
  • the six signal levels are used to enable particular output drivers 35 to switch in an alternating voltage from a 180 - 370 Hz oscillator 36 to the respective display elements 3 of the display unit 1.
  • the amplitude control 8a the user is able to control the amplitude of the alternating voltage which directly controls the physical deflection of the vibrational transducers 9.
  • the pitch control 8c enables the user to adjust the precise operating frequency of the oscillator 36. The user thus able to adjust the duration, pitch and amplitude of the Braille signals to suit his/her tactile sensitivity.
  • the housing 10 has high inertia, the housing is mounted within the casing 2 via a vibration-absorbing mounting assembly, and the user's reading fingertips are supported on the vibration-absorbing surrounds 3a (so that vibrational stimulation is applied, as appropriate, to just part of a supported fingertip rather than to the whole supported surface), users find it much easier to differentiate between those display elements 3 that are directly excited and those that are not. Consequently, it is much easier for the inexperienced to learn to use, and become accustomed to using, the display.
  • the disposition and configuration of the display elements 3 and surrounds 3a are such as to encourage the user to arch hands and fingers, so that the fingers are essentially supported just by the surrounds 3a; the palms or the heels of the hands possibly being supported by another part of the casing 2.
  • a particularly suitable arrangement is shown in Figure 3, the surround 3a, which is visible when the surround is mounted in the casing 2, being such that there is 0.5 and 1 mm clearance between the sender 3b and the walls of the aperture 3c.
  • the relatively recessed region 3e has an elongate bi-radial shape (pear-shaped but without a waist).
  • a shoulder 3f surrounds the recessed region 3c, the shoulder having a uniform width and sloping upwards and outwards at an angle of about 15° to the plane of the recessed region.
  • the annular border 3d surrounds the shoulder 3f, the annular border being a raised land which extends to the edge of the surround 3a.
  • the surrounds 3a need to be about 20-25mm wide and about 20-25mm long. These dimensions are sufficient to accept the fingertips of the average human adult.
  • the surrounds 3a may be larger, but if appreciably larger it is desirable to provide a clearly defined 'home' for the fingertips around the senders 3b, so that the user can readily find the senders. If the display is to be used solely by children, it may be advantageous to reduce the dimensions of the surrounds 3a and senders 3b accordingly.
  • the surface of the senders 3b contacted by the user's fingertips are rounded, and of sufficiently small extent to provide very localised stimulation of the fingertips.
  • the senders 3b would have a width of from 2 to 6mm, and preferably from 3 to 5 mm.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)

Abstract

Une unité d'affichage vibratoire électronique comprend un boîtier (2) portant six transducteurs vibratoires séparément énergisables (9). Chaque transducteur (9) est associé à un élément d'affichage respectif (3) monté dans le logement (2). Chacun des éléments d'affichage (3) comprend un émetteur (3b) destiné à vibrer avec le transducteur respectif (9) et une bordure (3a) dont la surface exposée est suffisamment étendue pour recevoir l'extrémité d'un doigt. La surface exposée de chaque bordure (3a) présente une ouverture (3c) à travers laquelle la pointe de l'émetteur associée (3b) est accessible à l'extrémité du doigt. L'agencement est conçu de façon à permettre à un utilisateur de toucher la pointe exposée de chacun des émetteurs (3b) avec l'extrémité d'un doigt tout en gardant l'extrémité du doigt sur la bordure respective (3a). Les éléments d'affichage (3) sont montés dans le boîtier (2) de sorte que sensiblement toute l'énergie vibratoire d'un transducteur donné (9) est empêchée de passer via le boîtier dans un autre élément d'affichage.
PCT/GB1989/000045 1988-01-21 1989-01-20 Dispositif d'affichage vibratoire electronique WO1989006848A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888801309A GB8801309D0 (en) 1988-01-21 1988-01-21 Electronic vibrational display
GB8801309 1988-01-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1989006848A1 true WO1989006848A1 (fr) 1989-07-27

Family

ID=10630296

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1989/000045 WO1989006848A1 (fr) 1988-01-21 1989-01-20 Dispositif d'affichage vibratoire electronique

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3042189A (fr)
GB (1) GB8801309D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1989006848A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992015079A1 (fr) * 1991-02-19 1992-09-03 Caretec Ges.M.B.H. Dispositif pour la constitution de structures superficielles variables
EP0446856A3 (en) * 1990-03-13 1993-06-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sound output electronic apparatus
WO1998032112A1 (fr) * 1997-01-20 1998-07-23 John Christian Doughty Nissen Appareil de communication sensoriel
US10169943B2 (en) 2017-04-05 2019-01-01 Hart Intercivic, Inc. Haptic feedback apparatus and method for an election voting system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3229387A (en) * 1964-01-14 1966-01-18 John G Linvill Reading aid for the blind
GB2002564A (en) * 1977-08-05 1979-02-21 Tretiakoff O Electromechanical transducer for relief display panel
US4473356A (en) * 1983-08-29 1984-09-25 Telesensory Systems, Inc. Electromechanical braille cell and method of operating same
EP0163501A2 (fr) * 1984-05-29 1985-12-04 Yasuhiko Ogawa Organe d'actionnement piézo-électrique en forme de peigne
GB2181591A (en) * 1985-09-26 1987-04-23 British Telecomm Electronic vibrational display, e.g. for braille

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3229387A (en) * 1964-01-14 1966-01-18 John G Linvill Reading aid for the blind
GB2002564A (en) * 1977-08-05 1979-02-21 Tretiakoff O Electromechanical transducer for relief display panel
US4473356A (en) * 1983-08-29 1984-09-25 Telesensory Systems, Inc. Electromechanical braille cell and method of operating same
EP0163501A2 (fr) * 1984-05-29 1985-12-04 Yasuhiko Ogawa Organe d'actionnement piézo-électrique en forme de peigne
GB2181591A (en) * 1985-09-26 1987-04-23 British Telecomm Electronic vibrational display, e.g. for braille

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0446856A3 (en) * 1990-03-13 1993-06-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sound output electronic apparatus
WO1992015079A1 (fr) * 1991-02-19 1992-09-03 Caretec Ges.M.B.H. Dispositif pour la constitution de structures superficielles variables
WO1998032112A1 (fr) * 1997-01-20 1998-07-23 John Christian Doughty Nissen Appareil de communication sensoriel
US10169943B2 (en) 2017-04-05 2019-01-01 Hart Intercivic, Inc. Haptic feedback apparatus and method for an election voting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8801309D0 (en) 1988-02-17
AU3042189A (en) 1989-08-11

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