ES1259617U - COMMUNICATION TERMINAL FOR PEOPLE WITH VISUAL DIFFICULTY (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Communications terminal (1) for people with visual impairments, of the type that comprise a housing (2) inside which are arranged a control electronics (3), microphone (4), speaker (5), power supply (7) and user interface; characterized in that the user interface comprises: -a keyboard (8), - at least one matrix (9) of retractable projections (90) arranged in a braille cell configuration to configure a sequential reading area, - means of independent actuation of each of said projections (90) associated with the control electronics (3) to configure braille characters sequentially, and - where the control electronics (3) comprise a sequencer (33) of the characters or groups of characters to present them sequentially in the matrix or arrays of highlights. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

COMMUNICATION TERMINAL FOR PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a communication terminal for people with visual impairment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the use of portable communications terminals is widespread by almost the entire population, which can be mobile phones with voice and data transmission, tablets with data transmission, etc.

These terminals comprise a housing, inside which are arranged a power supply (and its wired or wireless charging connections), a control electronics (with the corresponding wireless link modules for voice and / or data communications , electronic controller, and other accessory elements that complement the operation of these devices, such as geographic locator), microphone, speaker, connections to other external devices (headphones or computers) and user interface (screen, keyboard).

With the technological evolution of these terminals, they have gone from being simple telephones, which was the original functionality, to being powerful data communications terminals, which are entered and read through the user interface -which in almost all the cases consists of a touch screen - although there are still keys and even full keyboards on some of these terminals.

An obvious and therefore well known problem for people with visual impairment (blind or severely impaired vision) is the impossibility of visually interacting with the screen, which for logical portability reasons is of contained dimensions. This limits or directly prevents its use by these people, a drawback that the present invention partly solves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The communication terminal for people with visual impairment of the invention is of the type that comprises a housing, inside which a power supply (with its corresponding recharging connections), a control electronics (with modules of wireless voice and / or data communications link, electronic controller, and which may also include a geographic locator, vibrator, supports for SIM and / or memory cards, etc.), microphone, speaker, connections to other external devices, (headphones or computers) and that also has a user interface; where according to the invention said user interface comprises:

-a keyboard,

-At least one matrix of retractable highlights arranged in a braille cell configuration to configure a sequential reading area,

- means of independent actuation of each one of said projections, associated with the control electronics to configure braille characters sequentially, and

-where the control electronics comprise a sequencer of the characters or groups of characters to present them sequentially in the matrix or matrices of highlights.

As sequential or sequential reading, in this document it is meant that the braille characters are generated one after the other, the previous ones being replaced by the following once read to compose greater contents. In this way, texts, numbers and, in general, any character that can be represented in braille can be offered on the terminal, which can be readable by visually impaired people who know this language. Obviously, they will not be able to appreciate images, but they will be able to interact through texts or written commands and communicate with others through text messaging applications, with the additional advantage that these elements can be used in combination with the keyboard to read what is being read. typing in it and checking that no mistakes are made, without the need to implement a full braille keyboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the terminal of the invention.

Figure 2a shows a rear perspective view of the terminal of the invention in a variant where in this rear part there is a matrix of projections.

Figure 2b shows a rear perspective view of the terminal of the invention in a variant where in this rear part there are two matrices of projections.

Figure 3 shows a view similar to figure 2 in a variant embodiment with seven projection matrices at the rear of the terminal.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged front view of a matrix of projections, according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a matrix of projections and its actuating means.

Figure 6 shows a block diagram of the terminal of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairments of the invention is of the type that comprises a casing (2) inside which are arranged (see fig 6) a power supply (7) (and connections ( 70) for recharging, for example a USB type C or iphone® type input to help the blind person to connect it more easily), a control electronics (3) (with wireless link modules (30) for voice communications and / or data, electronic controller (31), geographic locator (32)), microphone (4), speakers (5), connections (6) to other external devices (headphones or computers, for example a minijack output), and that it also comprises a user interface, where according to the invention, the user interface comprises (see also figs 1 to 3):

-a keyboard (8),

-At least one matrix (9) of retractable projections (90) (see fig 5) arranged in a braille cell configuration to configure a sequential reading area,

- means of independent actuation of each one of said projections (90) associated to the control electronics (3) to configure braille characters sequentially, and

-where the control electronics (3) comprises a sequencer (33) (return to fig 6) of the characters or groups of characters to present them sequentially in the matrix or matrices of highlights.

It can also comprise a screen (88) where large characters can be represented, or which can be used for use by other people.

According to the invention, the control electronics can comprise a speed regulator (34) of the sequence in which the characters change associated with the sequencer (33) (actuated by buttons (10) to raise or lower the speed in increments), in such a way that the user can adjust the speed at which the different braille characters are sequenced to their capacity. Complementary or alternatively, a button (35) associated with the control electronics (3) can be provided to move to the next reading sequence manually. These buttons (10) or pushbuttons (35) can be illuminated to favor visualization by people with visual difficulties

A highly preferred variant of the invention comprises that the keyboard (8) is associated -through the control electronics (3) - with the means for actuating the projections (90) of each matrix (9), to replicate in Braille language the characters that are being entered through said keyboard (8). This allows the user to enter characters through a 12-key alphanumeric keyboard (0-9 # and *), logically with braille identification, and check that they are correct. Furthermore, the terminal may comprise other keys such as volume control or unlock.

In a variant of the invention, the matrices (9) of projections (90) can be arranged on the back of the casing (2) (opposite the keyboard, see figs 2 and 3) to be perceived with the fingers that remain by this part of the terminal when held by hand. In another variant of the invention (see fig 1), the matrices (9) of projections (90) are arranged in the front part of the casing (2) (the same as that of the keyboard), and ideally displaced lower than the keyboard (8) which allows its reading with the thumbs. The invention contemplates that the dies (9) can go in any position. The matrix (9) can also be covered with an elastic film to prevent the loss of parts belonging to the projections (90), such as electromagnets or the like.

Each matrix (9) of projections (90) preferably comprises six projections (90) arranged in two columns of three projections as seen in FIG. 4, since Braille coding is usually carried out with them.

The reading area can comprise one or two matrices (9) of lateral projections (90) for a finger of each hand or to read indistinctly with one or the other hand, as seen in Figures 2a and 2b, or even more than two , for example seven matrices (9) of bosses (90), to represent words totally or partially, as seen in fig 3.

For its part, the means of independent actuation of the projections (90) can comprise (see fig 5) electromagnets (11) and pieces (12) of material susceptible to be affected by the magnetic field generated by the electromagnets -such as material ferromagnetic-. For example, the projections (90) can be the pieces (12) of ferromagnetic material themselves and the electromagnets (11) can go under said projections (90) to produce magnetic repulsion that pushes the projection (90) out, with a spring recuperator (14) of the lowered position of the projection (90) when the magnetic field does not act.

It is preferred that each shoulder (90) have a rounded head, a diameter of 1.2 millimeters, and a spacing between centers of adjacent shoulders (90) of 2.5 millimeters.

Indicate that the housing (2) is preferred to be finished in bright colors, which will be better appreciated by people with non-absolute vision deficiencies, and / or to have a different color at the top and bottom in order to distinguish the writing part, where it is find the keyboard, visually; and that it has a hook (20) to facilitate its portability and location.

The keyboard (8) can also have keys associated with shortcuts: for example, pressing a quick key activates voice dictation for commands or writing, OR pressing the same key for a longer time generates a phrase that indicates the application in which We are, the submenu or the message that they have sent us, or by pressing another to send information, etc. There are as many possibilities as you can imagine.

The terminal can carry multiple applications, like all smart terminals on the market, for example:

• Phone or call application,

• Contacts application,

• Message application,

• Radio and audio application,

• Book application, which will read them in speech and / or braille,

• Internet search application,

• Instant messaging application,

• voice-over guidance application in cooperation with GPS,

Application of settings, and

Relief application: especially suitable considering the possible problems that a person with problems or lack of vision may have. This application would perform three actions if different keystrokes are made: the first of all is geolocation through GPS and the voice announcement of the place where it is located (street), the second would be the automatic sending of an SMS message to the o the people who are configured on the phone as main connection contacts, including a link with the geoposition that is recorded through the phone's GPS, and the third and last option would call an emergency phone 112, leaving the GPS locator open automatically to that the mobile terminal from which you are calling can be located. This option should only be used in case of extreme necessity and if an accident has occurred. With these three options the user can be helped in problems as simple as loss of orientation if, for example, he has left at a subway stop that was not, or turned early, the guide dog has been lost or any other problem that may have occurred. could occur, even more serious problems, such as a fall.

Phone lock application: it locks the terminal after an interval of time, and emits a slight vibration. To unlock it, press any key and then actuate a predefined key configuration. Also within settings you can increase or decrease the time in which the device locks. This lock is used to prevent the customer from sending an SMS or mistakenly calling anyone when carrying the device in his pocket or hanging up and accidentally pressing the keys.

Clock application. helps the visually impaired person to know what time it is at that moment. It is activated by a button specifically designed so that, when pressed, the time is reported according to the reading device that is activated. This means that, if the customer only has the braille reading system activated, for example, the hours appear first, a colon and then the minutes appear. If the voice guidance system is active, the device will say 12:45 loudly through the loudspeaker or through the headphones if these are connected. If the braille reading system is also active, the system generates the two reading versions. If the phone is locked, it would take several quick presses for the system to tell us the time. Thus, if the device is in the pocket and the button is accidentally pressed, the system will not read the time thanks to the multi-press security system.

Battery status notification application, through which, being unlocked the phone and making a long press on the clock application button, for example, the system will indicate, depending on the reading systems that are active, a number in percentage out of 100, the state in which the battery is. If we only have the braille system active, the raised numbers will appear mechanically. If voice guidance is active, the device will name the number through the loudspeaker or headphones if these are connected. Information can also be represented in both ways.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the way it is carried out in practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are susceptible to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims (15)

1. -Communication terminal (1) for visually impaired people, of the type comprising a housing (2) inside which are arranged a control electronics (3), microphone (4), speaker (5) , power supply (7) and user interface; characterized in that the user interface comprises: -a keyboard (8), -at least one matrix (9) of retractable projections (90) arranged in a braille cell configuration to configure a sequential reading area, - means of independent actuation of each one of said projections (90) associated to the control electronics (3) to configure braille characters sequentially, and - where the control electronics (3) comprise a sequencer (33) of the characters or groups of characters to sequentially present them in the matrix or arrays of highlights. 2. Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to claim 1, wherein the control electronics comprise a speed regulator (34) of the character presentation sequence, associated with the sequencer (33). 3. -Terminal (1) communications for visually difficulty according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a button (35) associated with the control electronics (3) to move to the next reading sequence. 4. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the previous claims, where the keyboard (8) is associated through the control electronics (3) to the means for actuating the projections (90) of each matrix (9) to replicate in braille language the characters that are being entered through said keyboard (8). 5. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the matrices (9) of projections (90) are arranged at the rear of the casing (2). 6. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of claims 1 to 4 where the matrices (9) of projections (90) are arranged in the front part of the casing (2). 7. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to claim 6 where the matrices (9) of projections (90) are arranged in the front part of the casing (2) and displaced inferiorly with respect to the keyboard (8) . 8. Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each matrix (9) of projections (90) comprises six projections (90) arranged in two columns of three projections. 9. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reading area comprises one or two matrices (9) of lateral projections (90) for a finger of a hand or two fingers, one of each hand. 10. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reading area comprises seven matrices (9) of projections (90). 11. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for independent actuation of the projections (90) comprise electromagnets (11) and pieces (12) of material capable of being affected by the magnetic field generated by electromagnets. 12. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, where each projection (90) has a rounded head, a diameter of 1.2 millimeters, and a separation between adjacent projection centers (90) of 2.5 millimeters. 13. -Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the keyboard (8) comprises a 12-key numeric keypad with braille identification. 14. -Communication terminal (1) for visually impaired people according to any of the preceding claims, where the housing (2) is finished in bright colors. 15. Communication terminal (1) for people with visual impairment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) comprises a hook (20).