JP2006244436A - Communication terminal unit device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal unit device allowing handicapped persons such as, in particular, a blind person and a hearing-impaired person, and other people to easily carry with themselves and to perform communication between them easily and accurately. <P>SOLUTION: This communication terminal unit device is provided with: a key electric potential generator 10 for generating electric potential in accordance with travel of keys moving in accordance with movement of fingers by arranging a plurality of keys 3, 4, 5, 6 in a case body for the case body at positions where respective fingers of a user gripping the case body 2 touch so as to advance, retract, and move; a code circuit 41 for converting generated electric potential into a transmission code signal; an uncoding circuit 42 for converting the received code signal into electric potential for moving the keys; a key driving generator 10 for moving the keys by the converted electric potential from the uncoding circuit; and a transmitter and receiver 10 for transmitting and receiving a coded signal. Consequently, this communication terminal unit device allows handicapped persons and other people to carry it with themselves easily and perform communication between them easily and accurately. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal device that enables communication between a person with some disability, such as a deafblind person, and other people.

  Conventionally, as a tool for communication between blind people, including the deafblind, and those around them, wear them on your fingers and always carry them with you to make menu selections and text input anytime, anywhere 2. Description of the Related Art A permanent wearing input system capable of inputting (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2) and a portable interactive device (for example, Patent Document 3) between a deafblind person and a surrounding person are known.

An example of a conventional always-on input system will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 15, a ring-type sensor module 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 is fitted to each finger 201 a, 201 b, 201 c, 201 d, 201 e of the user's left hand 201, and a wristwatch-type band is attached to the wrist of the left hand 201. 207 and the user has to have a portable information processor 208. An impact sensor, a signal amplifier, and an optical signal oscillating unit (not shown) are mounted in the ring type sensor modules 202 to 206, respectively. In addition, an optical receiver, an analysis unit, and a weak radio wave transmitter (not shown) are incorporated in the wristband direction band 207.

  The impact sensors in the sensor modules 202 to 206 attached to each finger are impacts generated when each finger strikes a support surface such as a floor, a wall, or a thigh with a fingertip (hereinafter referred to as a finger). Is supposed to be detected. The detected impact signal is frequency-discriminated and initially amplified by a signal amplifier, and then transmitted as an optical pulse by an optical signal transmitter. The optical pulse is received by the optical receiving unit in the wristwatch type band 207, and the received light signal is input to the analyzing unit in the band 106 to determine the output character code. The output character code is sent through a weak radio wave transmitter to a portable information processor 208 having a wireless receiver therein, and processed by this processor to determine input information.

  An example of a conventional portable interactive device will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 16, this interactive apparatus includes a first operation unit 300 for a deaf-blind person to input Braille and touching Braille, and an assistant to input a visible character string as shown in FIG. And a second operation unit 310 for reading, and a link device 320 for electrically and / or electronically coupling the first and second operation units as shown in FIG. It is a portable device. The linkage device 320 includes a control / storage unit 321 and basically has the same configuration as that of a main part of a normal word professor or personal computer. That is, the linkage device 320 is incorporated with the first operation unit 300 or is incorporated with the second operation unit 310.

  This device forms braille on the pin display 302 in response to a key operation of the braille input keyboard 301 from the first operation unit 300 and outputs a voice, and a corresponding visible on the display 311 of the second operation unit 310. A visible character string is displayed on the display 311 in accordance with the operation of the character input keyboard 312 and a corresponding braille string is formed on the pin display 302 of the first operation unit 300 to enable interaction between the two. .

Japanese Patent No. 2698320 JP 2000-321971 A JP 2001-75473 A

  In the above-described permanent wearing input system (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2) and portable interactive device (for example, Patent Document 3), in the case of the constantly wearing input system, the devices constituting the system must be always worn on the body. There is a risk that communication cannot be achieved, and this wearing may cause physical discomfort not only for the deafblind but also for the healthy person. In the case of a portable interactive device, since the linkage device is incorporated in the first operation unit or the second operation unit, even if it is portable, there is a possibility that it will be a considerable weight and a considerable physical burden on the user. .

  The present invention is intended to solve the problems of such a conventional configuration. In particular, a person with some disability such as a deafblind person and other persons are easy to carry, and An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device that can communicate easily and accurately.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is arranged in the casing so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the casing at a position where the fingers of the casing and the user holding the casing touch each other. A plurality of keys, a key potential generator for generating a potential according to the movement of the key in response to the movement of the user's finger, a code circuit for converting the generated potential into a transmission code signal, and the received code signal A communication terminal comprising: an uncoding circuit for converting the key to a potential for moving the key; a key drive generator for moving the key by the converted potential from the uncoding circuit; and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded signals Device.

  The second problem-solving means comprises the key potential generator and the key driving generator integrally, a movable shaft fixed to the key, a magnet fixed to the movable shaft, and opposed to the magnet. At least two exciting coils that are wound in opposite directions and provided with a single coil are provided.

  The third problem solving means comprises at least a pair of click switches and a scroll function switch.

  Further, the fourth problem-solving means has a shape that allows the user to hold the casing with one hand.

  According to a fifth means for solving the problem, two casings each having a shape that can be grasped by a user with one hand are formed into a pair, and these are integrally connected by wired or wireless connection.

  The operation of the first problem solving means is as follows. That is, a coded signal corresponding to the movement of the key is transmitted by the transmitter of the terminal device that is easy to carry, while the coded signal is received by the receiver of the terminal device in a wired or wireless manner. The key of the terminal device is moved, so if these codes correspond to languages such as Braille, it will be easy and accurate for people with some disabilities, including deaf people with this terminal device, Communication with surrounding people having this terminal device can be achieved. In addition, people with disabilities have this communication terminal device, while people around them have the same or similar communication terminal device, and of course, they can communicate by exchanging signals between them. It goes without saying that the communication terminal device may exchange signals via a personal computer and output characters and voices on the display of the personal computer.

  In addition, the second problem solving means can efficiently generate an electromotive force by making the exciting coil a linear type, while generating a driving force on the key by applying a potential.

  The operation of the third problem solving means can determine or cancel character input by at least a pair of click switches, and can input and output characters by a scroll function switch for reading characters.

  The action by the fourth problem solving means can be input with one hand, so that it is possible to input while working with a person who can use only one hand or the other hand.

  Furthermore, the action of the fifth problem solving means makes it possible to input braille consisting of six points.

  The communication terminal device according to the present invention as described above is a communication terminal device that can be easily carried by a person with some disability, such as a deafblind person, and a person around it, and that can communicate easily and accurately. Can be provided.

Embodiments of a communication terminal device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The communication terminal device according to this embodiment includes a pair of left and right communication terminals 1, 100. Although the right-hand communication terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the left-hand communication terminal 100 shown in FIG. 2 have the right and left differences, the basic configuration is the same. At the same time that the terminal 1 is described, the reference numerals of the constituent elements are written in parentheses and the same constituent elements of the left-hand communication terminal are written together, and description of each constituent element of the left-hand communication terminal 100 is omitted.

  The communication terminal 1 (101) is arranged so that it can move in and out of the casing at a position where the fingers of the casing 2 (102) and the user holding the casing 2 (102) touch. 4 keys 3 (103), 4 (104), 5 (105), and 6 (106). The case 2 (102) is shaped so that the user can easily hold it, and four keys are arranged so that the finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger can be touched while the user holds the case. is doing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of these keys is provided with a key potential generator 10 (110) that generates a potential according to the movement of the key in response to the movement of each finger of the user. The key potential generator 10 (110) also serves as a key drive generator that moves the key by a conversion potential from an uncoding circuit described later.

  For example, the key potential generator 10 (110) connected to the key 3 (103) will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the movable shaft 11 (111) fixed to the key and the movable shaft 11 ( 111) mounted on a cylindrical bobbin 14 (114), and a magnet 12 (112) mounted on the magnet 111 and two exciting coils 13 (113) wound in opposite directions provided opposite to the magnet. Coil springs 15 (115) and 16 (116) are provided to urge the magnet 12 (112) in the protruding and retracting direction with respect to the housing 2 (102). At both ends of the bobbin 14 (114), an outer receiving portion 17 (117) and an inner receiving portion 18 (118) for receiving the respective free ends of the coil springs 15 (115) and 16 (116) are provided. In FIG. 5, 13a (113a) is a right-handed exciting coil, 13b (113b) is a left-handed exciting coil, and 9 (109) is an electrode terminal.

  On the outside of the bobbin 14, a cylindrical cover 19 (119) having a thread groove on the outer surface is provided. The cover 19 (119) is screwed to the housing 2 (102) by the outer fixing nut 20 (120) and the inner fixing nut 21 (121). By adjusting the rotation of the outer fixing nut, the cover 19 (119) is moved in and out with respect to the housing 2 (102), and the keys 3 (103) and 4 are adjusted according to the size of the user's hand, that is, the finger position. The heights of (104), 5 (105), and 6 (106) can be adjusted. 3 and 4, reference numerals 7 and 107 denote a plurality of taps provided on the casings 2 and 102, and reference numerals 8 and 108 denote lead wire fixing rubbers.

  The function of the key potential generator 10 (110) that also serves as the key drive generator will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, when an external force F1 is applied to the keys 3 (103), 4 (104), 5 (105), and 6 (106), the magnet 12 (112) resists the coil spring 16 (116). On the other hand, in the figure, the position moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the direction in which the casing 2 (102) is immersed. At this time, an electromotive current, that is, a signal current is generated in the exciting coil 13 (113) in the direction of the arrow a in the drawing by the action of electromagnetic induction. These signal currents define signals for recognizing that a key has been pressed. In FIG. 6, B1 and B2 are magnetic flux lines directed in the direction of the arrows.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the external force applied to the key is removed from the depressed position, the magnet 12 (112) is coupled with the urging force of the coil spring 16 (106) to change from a solid line position to a two-dot chain line in the figure. Are moved by the force F <b> 1 in a direction protruding with respect to the housing 2 (102). At this time, an electromotive force, that is, a signal current is generated in the exciting coil 13 (113) in the direction b in the drawing by the action of electromagnetic induction. These signal currents are signals for determining which key is pressed following the key press recognition signal. In FIG. 7, B3 and B4 are magnetic flux lines directed in the direction of the arrows.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when a signal current is passed through the exciting coil 13 (113) in the direction of the arrow b in the figure, the magnet 12 (112) resists the coil spring 16 (116) by the action of electromagnetic induction. On the other hand, in the figure, it moves from the protruding position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line by the force F <b> 1 in the direction in which the casing 2 (102) is immersed. In FIG. 8, B3 and B4 are magnetic flux lines directed in the direction of the arrows.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when a signal current is passed through the coil 13 (113) in the direction of the arrow a in the figure, the magnet 12 (112) is moved by the electromagnetic induction action, as shown in FIG. In combination with the urging force of the coil spring 16 (106), the coil spring 16 (106) moves from the solid line position to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the direction protruding from the housing 2 (102) by the force F2. In FIG. 9, B1 and B2 are magnetic flux lines directed in the direction of the arrows.

  6 and 7, when the electromotive force is generated, when the keys 3 (103), 4 (104), 5 (105), and 6 (106) are pressed quickly, and when these keys are released. It can be understood from FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 that the pressure energy when the keys are slowly pressed and the return energy when the keys are released are the same. That is, in FIG. 10, when the electromotive force is taken on the vertical axis and the time is taken on the horizontal axis, if the time for quickly pressing each key is 20 milliseconds (MS), it is the pressure energy S1 at that time. The return energy S2 when released is the same size as the pressurization energy S1. The time required for return was 100 milliseconds (MS). On the other hand, in FIG. 11 where the electromotive force is taken on the vertical axis and the time is taken on the horizontal axis, when the time for slowly pressing each key is 50 milliseconds (MS), it is the pressure energy S3 at that time, and these keys are released. The return energy S4 at that time was the same size as the pressurizing energy S3. The time required for return was 100 milliseconds (MS).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the current generated by the key potential generator 10 (110) is supplied to the input amplifier circuits 23 (123), 24 (124), 25 (125), 26 provided on the circuit board 22 (122). CPU 40, which is a microcomputer, is amplified by (126), converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by A / D conversion circuits 27 (127), 28 (128), 29 (129), and 30 (130). Enter (140).

  The CPU 31 (131) includes a code circuit 41 that converts the converted digital signal into a transmission code, and receives the code signal received from the transceiver 50 as keys 3 (103), 4 (104), and 5 (105). , 6 (106) is converted to a potential for driving, and an uncoding circuit 42 (142) is provided.

  The code circuit 41 includes a code table table that can convert a signal into various codes. For example, FIG. 13 shows an example, which includes a code table table for converting a digital signal into Japanese hiragana and various symbols. It is possible to create 286 kinds of signals by combining the left and right eight keys 3, 4, 5, 6, 103, 104, 105, 106, and cover all the signals of the conventional keyboard. Characters are finger brailles of combinations of keys 3, 4, 5, 103, 104, and 105, and 64 types can be expressed by hexadecimal display. In addition, instructions and symbols including 256 kinds of characters can be expressed by combinations of the braille characters of the keys 6, 106 and the keys 3, 4, 5, 103, 104, 105.

  The character portion is displayed in hexadecimal notation. In FIG. 13, the vertical axis indicates the combination of the left hand keys 103, 104, 105, and 106, and the horizontal axis indicates the combination of the right hand keys 3, 4, 5, and 6. The left hand key 103 indicates 1 in hexadecimal on the vertical axis, the key 104 indicates 2, 3 in hexadecimal, and the key 105 indicates 4-7 in hexadecimal. Similarly, the right hand key 3 indicates 1 in hexadecimal notation, the key 4 indicates 2, 3 in hexadecimal notation, and the key 5 indicates 4 to 7 in hexadecimal notation. The bottom left hand key 106 functions as a shift key on the keyboard, and the right hand key 6 functions as an Alt key on the keyboard. Therefore, in FIG. 13, the lower left blank portion where the Shift key is written is an array that displays lowercase letters of English and other foreign languages, and the upper right blank portion where the Alt key is written is the Menu (menu) on the keyboard. ) An array that displays keys. The blank area at the lower right of FIG. 13 where the Ctrl (control) key is described is an array for displaying the Function (function) key on the keyboard.

  Further, for example, according to the example shown in FIG. 14, a code table table for converting a digital signal into uppercase letters of the English alphabet and various symbols is provided. 286 types of signals can be created by combining the left and right eight keys 3, 4, 5, 6, 103, 104, 105, 106, and the letters are the finger points of the combinations of keys 3, 4, 5, 103, 104, 105 64 characters can be expressed in hexadecimal notation, and commands and symbols including 256 characters can be expressed by the combination of key 6, 106 and finger 3, 4, 5, 103, 104, 105 What can be done is the same as in FIG.

  In FIG. 14, the lower left blank portion where the Shift key is written is an array that displays lowercase letters of the English alphabet, and the upper right blank portion where the Alt (conversion) key is written is the keyboard. This is an array for displaying the menu key. The blank area in the lower right of FIG. 14 where the Ctrl (control) key is described is an array for displaying the Function (function) key on the keyboard.

  The uncoding circuit 42 (142) also has a table similar to that of the coding circuit 41 (141), but is exactly the opposite of the coding circuit 41 (141), and signals such as Japanese hiragana or English alphabets. Is converted into a digital signal.

The transceiver 50 (150) includes a receiving circuit 51 (151) capable of bidirectional communication and a transmitting circuit 52 (152) including an infrared LED, an FM modulator, and the like. An antenna 60 (160) is electrically connected to the transceiver 50.
In the illustrated example, an infrared port is shown as an antenna. However, the signal may be directly connected from the USB port to the personal computer or the other terminal via the lead wire without passing through the antenna. In addition, when the terminals of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 are used as a pair, signals may be transmitted and received bidirectionally via the lead wires 68 and 168.

  Connected to the CPU 40 (140) are D / A conversion circuits 31 (131), 32 (132), 33 (133), and 34 (134) for converting the received digital signals into analog signals, and further these D / A conversions. Linear output amplifier circuits 35 (135), 36 (136), 37 (137), and 38 (138) are connected to the circuits, respectively. These linear output amplifier circuits also serve as key potential generators and key drive circuits 10 (110). Connected to each of.

The CPU 40 (140) also has a right click switch operation circuit 61 (161) for operating a right click switch button in the mouse or pointing input device, and a left click switch for operating the left click switch button in the mouse or pointing input device. An operation circuit 62 (162) and a scroll operation circuit 62 (162) for operating a scroll switch dial / click switch button in a mouse or pointing input device are connected to each other. 1 and 3 show a right click switch button 64, a left click switch button 65, a scroll switch dial 66, and a click switch button 67. FIGS. 2 and 4 show a right click switch button 164 and a left click switch button. 165, scroll switch dial 166, and click switch button 167 are shown.
When clicked, the right click switch buttons 64 and 164, the left click switch buttons 65 and 165, and the click switch buttons 67 and 167 turn on the switches and output corresponding electric signals.
The scroll switch dials 66 and 166 operate by rotating clockwise and counterclockwise in the figure, and output electrical signals corresponding to the rotation direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
When an operator presses and releases any of the keys 3, 4, 5, 6, 103, 104, 105, 106 with his / her hand, the movable shafts 11, 111 of the key potential generators 10, 110 corresponding to the respective keys are released. The upper magnets 12 and 112 vibrate in the excitation coils 13 and 113, and a potential is generated in the excitation coils.

  This change in potential is amplified as an analog signal by the input amplifier circuits 23, 24, 25, 26, 123, 124, 125, 126, and is converted into A / D conversion circuits 27, 28, 29, 30, 127, 128, 129. , 130 is collected as a digital signal at a necessary resolution within the range of the voltage input range set in advance by the controller 130 and sent to the CPUs 40, 140. The code circuits 41 and 141 in the CPUs 40 and 140 transmit the character code signals according to the finger braille from the transceivers 50 and 150 in accordance with the code table shown in FIG. . The signal is wired from the USB port via the lead wires 68 and 168 to a personal computer (not shown) or the other communication terminal held by another operator, or wirelessly connected through the antennas 60 and 160. The The personal computer receives the signal and displays appropriate characters, braille, etc.

  On the other hand, characters and Braille signals transmitted from the personal computer and the other operators are sent to the CPUs 40 and 140 through the transceivers 50 and 150 via the USB port or the antennas 60 and 160. The uncoding circuits 42 and 142 of the CPUs 40 and 140 transmit key vibration signals in accordance with the characters and Braille signals, and the D / A conversion circuits 31, 32, 33, 34, 131, 132, 133, and 134 are analog signals. The signal is amplified by the linear output amplifier circuits 35, 36, 37, 38, 135, 136, 137, and 138, and the corresponding key is appropriately vibrated by the key drive generator 10 connected to each key. The housing 2 is moved in and out. The vibration in this case is obtained by applying the same generated potential in the opposite direction as that at the time of input by an action reversible from that of the input, thereby obtaining the same vibration pressed by the finger at the time of input.

  When the communication terminals 1 and 101 are operated with one hand, the above-described communication can be achieved by recognizing the keys 3 to 6 and 103 to 106 by two inputs or two output vibrations. .

The front view of the communication terminal for right hands which shows embodiment of this invention The front view of the communication terminal for left hands which shows embodiment of this invention FIG. 1 is a front view of a right-handed communication terminal with half of the housing of FIG. 1 removed. FIG. 2 is a front view of the left-hand communication terminal with half of the housing of FIG. 2 removed. Sectional view showing a key potential generator that also functions as a key drive generator Schematic diagram showing the generation of electromotive current when a key is pressed on the key potential generator Schematic diagram showing the generation of electromotive force when the key potential generator returns from the pressed state. Schematic diagram showing the application of current in the direction in which the key is moved by the key drive generator Schematic diagram showing the application of current in the direction in which the key is projected in the key drive generator Graph showing pressurization energy and return energy when key is pressed quickly with key potential generator Graph showing pressurization energy and return energy when key is pressed late in key potential generator 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a circuit board in the communication terminal of FIGS. Table showing an example of a code table that can convert signals into various codes Table showing another example of code table that can convert signals into various codes The perspective view which shows the state mounted | worn with the left hand which shows the conventional permanent wearing type input system Plan view showing the configuration of a keyboard for braille input of a conventional portable interactive device A plan view showing a display of a conventional portable interactive device Block diagram showing the basic system configuration of a conventional portable interactive device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Right-handed communication terminal 101 Left-handed communication terminal 2,102 Case 3,4,5,6,103,104,105,106 Key 10,110 Key electric potential generator 11 and 111 which served as a key drive generator Movable shaft 12, 112 Magnet 13, 113 Excitation coil 40, 140 CPU
41, 141 Code circuit 42, 142 Uncode circuit 50, 150 Transceiver 60, 160 Antenna 64, 164 Right click switch button 65, 165 Left click switch button 66, 166 Scroll switch dial 67, 167 Click switch button

Claims (5)

  A housing, a plurality of keys arranged in the housing so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the housing at a position where each finger of the user holding the housing hits, and the user's finger A key potential generator for generating a potential according to movement of the key in response to movement of the key, a code circuit for converting the generated potential into a transmission code signal, and an uncode for converting the received code signal into a potential for moving the key A communication terminal device comprising: a circuit; a key drive generator for moving the key according to a conversion potential from the uncode circuit; and a transmitter / receiver for transmitting and receiving a coded signal.   The key potential generator and the key drive generator are integrally formed, and a movable shaft fixed to the key, a magnet fixed to the movable shaft, and at least two opposed to the magnets are opposite to each other. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a single-coil excitation coil that is a direction-winding excitation coil.   3. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least a pair of click switches and a scroll function switch.   The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the casing is shaped so that a user can hold it with one hand.   5. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two casings each having a shape that can be grasped by one user are formed into a pair, and are connected and integrated by wire or wireless.

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