DE2364342A1 - Electro-mechanical braille presentation machine - has pins magnetically pushed through surface for tactile reading - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has an assembly of modules each for the presentation of a single letter or symbol and each made up of six pins normally held by compression springs in a position just below the surface of the module. The end of each pin remote from the surface is abutted by the armature of an electro-magnetic coil. Selective energisation of the coils pushes the respective pins through openings in the surface so that the projecting ends of the pins become readable. An electro-magnetically releasable locking bar holds the pins in the reading position.

Description

Working group for rehabilitation technology at the University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg)

Elektrome.chanis.che Device for displaying Braille letters

To display the usual Schaarz script in tactile Braille is used almost exclusively for the blind. This has happened so far:

1. By embossing raised dots on paper or Metal foilsΓ

2. By means of a board with snap-in pens, which by Hand set v / ground.

3. By turning over knobs in an appropriately preformed plastic film.

These methods are not, or only to a limited extent, suitable for the rapid output of the 'Braille characters on electronic devices Computers, readers for the blind and magnetic tape devices.

The new method is characterized in that

1. No auxiliary carriers (paper, metal, plastic foils) required are. The characters are made directly by lifting them represented by pins beyond a ground plane.

2. a very high writing speed can be achieved.

3. It enables a compact design. The smallest unit, the so-called Braille module (i.e. the smallest unit with which a Braille character can be displayed with 6 freely adjustable stylus pens) is in its own Dimensions kept so small that it can be combined to form a normal Braille line of any length by stringing them together can be.

The stylus pins (dots) are located under a level ! Area and can be touched by electromagnets raised v / earth - or the stylus are located above the tactile level and can be lowered accordingly.

Each stylus is moved by an electromagnet. The electromagnets are controlled individually so that the to be able to display the desired Braiile characters. After they are set, the pins are pushed through mechanical lock held by permanent magnets or electromagnetic forces for any length of time. By a new one When the pens are activated, the old pen position is automatically deleted.

509826/0598.

e.g.

In the Karburger system, / should be used for the letter format "large" the point spacing in a character 2.7 mm and the Character spacing should be 6.6 mm. In order to maintain these dimensions when assembling a row of modules, the coil system is arranged as follows to save space: '

1. The coils and the stylus are arranged concentrically in the order that corresponds to the Braille symbol.

2. Since the line spacing of a Braille character is larger, than the Easter distance of the dots, the feeler pins are set closer than the coils. With this arrangement, the Coils are arranged in the form of the hexagonal closest packing of spheres.

3. The coils can be parallel to each other, vertically be arranged to the axes of the stylus.

4-. The coils can be fan-shaped with different angles be arranged to the axes of the stylus.

5. The coils can be arranged parallel to the stylus, but offset from one another in height.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to one in the drawing Exemplary embodiment explained in detail. 1 shows a longitudinal section shown on an enlarged scale;

Pia. 2 two different side views and ° inp top view in a) Scale 1: 1.

The 6 cylindrical stylus pins (6) are guided in the holes in the cover (1) and secured by helical compression springs (5) pressed down against the upper yoke (8). The upper yoke has 6 holes through which the thin cylindrical Part of the stylus goes through and pushes the cores (9) down. The nuclei move through the electromagnetic Forces of the coils (10, 11) upwards, the tips of the feeler pins occur beyond the touch plane of the cover. In the lid there is still a large hole that covers part of the core (J) and the spring (4-) that follows this core moves up, picks up.

The coil system is a system of pot magnets. It is space-saving in that it is in the magnetic Conclusion (14-) in the form of a cuboid 7 parallel holes' are located. The coils (10, 11) for actuating the stylus are located in the 6 small holes and in the large hole the magnet (21,22) for actuating the bolt (18) is located.

The bolt has 6 holes of the same diameter

are slightly larger than the diameter of the cores (9) and which have the same spacing as those in the. Have cores guided by coils. Are the cores in their lower end position, the bolt can move freely according to the difference between the bore diameter and the diameter the punctures in the cores are moved back and forth. In the left end position of the bolt, the holes are opposite offset the cores so that they cannot move ("locked"). In the end position of the bolt in a row

5Q9826 / 059 8,

INSPECTED

cores and holes are concentric so that the cores can be raised or lowered ("unlocked").

b) puncture

A Braille character is written as follows:

The bending magnet is controlled electrically so that the bolt is in the "unlocked" position. then are used to display the desired Braille character required coils controlled until the bolt is in the "locked" position again after the bolt magnet has been switched off. The Braille symbol set in this way is then held for any length of time without any additional energy supply and can also be done by touching it with the fingers are not accidentally erased on the stylus.

When a new character is entered, the old character is automatically deleted, i.e. those that are no longer required Pins are locked in by the return springs while the bolt is in the "unlocked" position brought their lower end position.

Claims (6)

Expectations Λ Λ Module with which the Braille symbol is set and then deleted by electrically actuating 6 electromagnetic magnets. . 2. Module according to 1, characterized in that the set pins are held by permanent magnets. 3. Module according to 1, characterized in that for energy saving ^ a mechanical lock holds the set pins in place so that the information remains available even after the Control current is maintained until an electromagnet passes through Releasing the lock clears the sign. 4. Module according to 1, which is in the usual character spacing from the line can be lined up and written in accordingly. 5. Module according to 1, characterized in that it is arranged is that a larger area with a uniform 2.7 mm grid can be covered with pens to make it easy To make structures (e.g. diagrams) and characters tactile accessible. 6. Module according to 1,. Characterized in that it is under a Plate equipped with snap-in pins (2.7 mm grid) is moved in the row direction and perpendicular to the row direction. By electrical control of the module Braille signs set on the plate. 50982 6/0598