JP2531908Y2 - Braille converter - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Braille conversion device for outputting Braille as ordinary characters such as kana, numbers, alphabets, and symbols, that is, as ink characters or as voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Optical scanning and mechanical scanning type Braille conversion devices for automatically reading Braille characters and outputting them as ink characters are well known.

[0003]

However, this type of apparatus has a problem in terms of cost because the scanning mechanism is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Braille conversion device that converts Braille into a character signal for ink characters with a simple structure.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the present invention has a detection surface which is pressed against a Braille area of Braille paper and is pressed by a protruding Braille dot. A sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor that detects a dimensional position by read-out scanning in the X-axis and Y-axis directions and outputs it as a two-dimensional coordinate signal, and Braille that converts Braille decoded from an input coordinate signal into a character signal for ink characters It is characterized by comprising a conversion means and an output terminal for outputting the converted character signal. In order to enable Braille to be viewed as ink or voice instead of as a conversion adapter, according to claim 2, instead of the output terminal of claim 1, ink or voice is output in response to the converted character signal. Output means is provided. In order to store ink character signals for one or a plurality of Braille sheets and output them later or repeatedly, a storage device for storing character signals for a plurality of Braille sheets is provided. Attach.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a braille sheet setting surface on which a braille sheet is set is provided on a lower case portion of a case divided into two vertically and a two-dimensional position sensor is provided on an upper case portion. A two-dimensional position sensor is provided which comes into pressure contact with the braille paper set on the braille paper setting surface, and at least one of the braille paper setting surface and the back side adjacent portion of the two-dimensional position sensor is formed of an elastic sheet. A two-dimensional position sensor on which braille paper is set is provided on the lower case portion, and an elastic sheet for pressing the braille paper set on the two-dimensional position sensor against the two-dimensional position sensor is provided on the upper case portion.

[0007]

When the braille area of the braille paper is pressed against the detection surface of the sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor, the two-dimensional position pressed by the braille dot is detected by the reading scan in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and its coordinate signal is obtained. Is output. Braille conversion means
Braille dots are decoded from a sequentially input coordinate signal and Braille is decoded from a Braille dot pattern in a unit Braille area, and the Braille in the Braille area is sequentially converted into a character signal for ink and supplied to a personal computer or the like through an output terminal, or Output as print or voice.

[0008]

1 to 3 show a Braille converting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a case corresponding to an A4 braille sheet 9 and divided vertically into two and hinged at the ends. A lock claw 8 that is unlocked by a button 8a is attached to the front surface of the upper case 1a, and a liquid crystal display device 2 is attached to the front surface thereof. A sheet touch sensor 4 is attached as a sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor of a given size. An elastic sheet 6 on which Braille paper 9 is set is attached to the substrate 5 of the lower case 1b, and a circuit portion described later is stored below the elastic sheet 6, and a speaker 11, a printer 12,
A manually operated key group 13, a lock 8b for locking the lock claw 8, and a handle 14 are attached. Thus, the case 1 is configured as a laptop portable.

The sheet touch sensor 4 itself is well known,
As shown in FIG. 3, an X-axis line-shaped coordinate electrode 4a and a Y-axis coordinate electrode 4b are formed in a mesh shape on both surfaces of a sheet-shaped conductive rubber 4c as a detection surface whose resistance changes due to pressure. These electrodes are grounded in sequence with the coordinate electrodes of the Y axis coordinate value 0, coordinate value 1, coordinate value 2,..., And in each case, coordinate electrode 0, coordinate value 1, coordinate value 2 of the X axis. …
.. Are sequentially applied with a pulse voltage, and a read-out scanning circuit 4d for outputting coordinate signals of the X-axis and the Y-axis at the intersection point at which a predetermined amount of current generated due to a decrease in resistance due to pressure reception is attached. I have. This scanning circuit can be read out according to another method. Thus, with respect to the coordinate electrode having a coordinate value of 0 on the Y axis, the X axis has a coordinate value of 0, a coordinate value of 1,
When sequentially scanning the coordinate electrodes of coordinate value 2,..., If a decrease in resistance occurs due to the pressing of a Braille dot near the coordinate value (0, 0), the X-axis coordinate electrode of coordinate value 0 is not scanned. A fixed amount of current is detected, and a coordinate value (0, 0) is detected. Hereinafter, when a predetermined amount of current is similarly detected during scanning of the coordinate electrode of coordinate value 1 or the coordinate electrode of coordinate value 2, the coordinate values (1,
A coordinate value of (0) or (2,0) is detected. Then, Y
The coordinate electrode of the coordinate value 1 of the axis is grounded, and the coordinate electrode of the coordinate value 0, coordinate value 1, coordinate value 2 of the X-axis,... Are sequentially scanned. The sheet touch sensor 4 is capable of sufficiently detecting unit Braille dots, for example, has a function of 0.1 mm in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. One having a resolution of about several mm is used. As the sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor, one having a detection surface formed of a piezoelectric element or the like can be considered, and the use of a magnetic sheet is already known.

As shown in FIG. 4, this sheet touch sensor is followed by a Braille converting means 15 for decoding unit Braille dots from coordinate signals which may be input in a plurality of unit Braille dots corresponding to the resolution. Then, it decodes the Braille dot pattern in the unit Braille area as Braille and converts it into a character signal for ink characters in a format corresponding to the print format of the Braille paper 9. The Braille converting means 15 receives the converted character signal as input and displays the ink character in a corresponding format, the liquid crystal display device 2, the voice synthesizing means 16 for converting the character signal into a voice signal, the printer 12, and the character signal. A storage device 17 that stores data in the specified format is connected. The voice synthesizing unit 16 outputs a voice signal to the speaker drive circuit 11a, and causes the speaker 11 to output Braille as voice. The key group 13 performs R / W control of the storage device 17 and control of voice output and print output by operating the keys.

The operation of the Braille converting apparatus thus constructed is as follows. Open the upper case 1a upward,
When the braille paper 9 is set on the elastic sheet 6, closed and automatically locked, the sheet touch sensor 4 corresponds to the weight of the upper case 1 a by the braille dots of the braille paper 9.
It is pressurized at a pressure of 0 to 50 g / cm ² . At this time, since the elastic sheets 3 and 6 are interposed on both sides, the pressure is made uniform over the Braille area, and even if the height of the Braille dots fluctuates, the fluctuation of the pressing force on the Braille dots is suppressed, As the dots are not crushed, reliable detection is guaranteed.

When the operation is started by the key operation, the coordinate values of the Y axis coordinate 0, coordinate value 1, coordinate value 2,... .., Are sequentially read out and scanned in the order of 1, coordinate value 2,..., And the Braille dot at the intersection of both electrodes is sequentially detected.

The Braille converting means 15 converts a coordinate signal sequentially inputted corresponding to the print format of the Braille paper into a character signal for ink in a corresponding format. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the illustrated braille is converted and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 2 into the illustrated katakana. In addition, printout or voice output can be performed by key operation, and can be stored at the same time, or only liquid crystal display and storage can be performed.

When the present invention is implemented as a braille conversion adapter, the height of the case 1 is reduced in the above-described embodiment, and
In the above, a connector for transmitting the output signal of the Braille converting means 15 is attached to the side of the case, and the remaining circuit portion is abolished so that it can be connected to a personal computer or a dedicated device. A personal computer or the like makes use of an external memory such as a hard disk or a floppy disk in which a program corresponding to the above-described circuit part is stored, and outputs a braille translation using a speaker or a printer to which the personal computer belongs. It is conceivable to attach a storage device 17 for storing character signals for a plurality of braille sheets to such a braille conversion adapter.

In the above embodiment, the case can be further reduced in size by omitting a printer, a speaker, and the like, if necessary. Further, by providing the sheet touch sensor on the lower case as a braille paper setting surface and providing an elastic sheet on the upper case, the braille paper set face down can be pressed against by closing the upper case. In addition, the upper case and the lower case are not hinged at the ends, and the upper case is slidably supported on the lower case by slide bars at the four corners, and the upper case and the lower case are two on each side. Can be hinged to support a parallel link, or the upper case and the lower case can be separated so that the upper case can be placed during use.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, a Braille conversion device using a sheet-like two-dimensional position sensor for reading Braille is provided.
Braille can be converted to ordinary characters at a simple structure, that is, at low cost, and can be displayed or printed out as an adapter for a personal computer or as ordinary characters, or output as voice. It can also be made portable. By incorporating a storage device, the read Braille text can also be stored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an open state of a braille conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the Braille conversion device in a closed state.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet-like two-dimensional position sensor of the Braille converting device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the Braille converting device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the Braille conversion device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Liquid crystal display device 3, 6 Elastic sheet 4 Sheet touch sensor 9 Braille paper 11 Speaker 12 Printer

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] The present invention has a detection surface for pressing against a Braille area of Braille paper, and detects a two-dimensional position pressed by a protruding Braille dot by reading scanning in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.
A sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor that outputs a two-dimensional coordinate signal, a Braille conversion unit that converts Braille decoded from the input coordinate signal into a character signal for ink character, and an output terminal that outputs the converted character signal. A Braille conversion device comprising: 2. A method for detecting a two-dimensional position pressed by a protruding Braille dot by detecting a two-dimensional position by a reading scan in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.
A sheet-shaped two-dimensional position sensor for outputting as a two-dimensional coordinate signal, a Braille converting means for converting a Braille decoded from the input coordinate signal into a character signal for ink character, and an ink character in response to the converted character signal Alternatively, a Braille conversion device is provided with output means for outputting voice. 3. A storage device for storing character signals for a plurality of Braille sheets, the storage device comprising:
Braille conversion device. 4. A braille paper setting surface on which braille paper is set is provided in a lower case portion of a case which is divided into upper and lower portions, and the braille paper set on the braille paper setting surface is provided in an upper case portion. 3. The Braille converting device according to claim 1, further comprising a two-dimensional position sensor that is pressed against, and wherein at least one of the braille sheet setting surface and a rear adjacent portion of the two-dimensional position sensor is formed of an elastic sheet. 5. A two-dimensional position sensor on which a Braille sheet is set is provided in a lower case part of a case which is divided into upper and lower parts, and the Braille sheet set on the two-dimensional position sensor is provided in an upper case part. 3. An elastic sheet to be pressed against said two-dimensional position sensor is provided.
Braille conversion device.