JP4104084B1 - 3D tactile display driven by magnetic force - Google Patents

Abstract

【Task】
To eliminate the troublesome reciprocation (vertical movement) of the tactile pin on the tactile surface at the time of output for the three-dimensional tactile display connected to the computer. To realize a tactile pin drive mechanism that is not affected by the influence of gravity. Increase output speed. Make it low cost. Enable high mounting density of tactile pins.
[Solution]
The tactile pin is moved in the projecting direction by moving the tactile pin suction plate in the projecting direction of the tactile pin while the tactile pin is attracted by the magnetic force. In the moving process, if the brake mechanism that can individually brake the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction is braked individually when each tactile pin reaches an arbitrary position, the suction is released, and the tactile pin is released. Is held at the braking position.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a drive mechanism for a tactile pin of a three-dimensional tactile display connected to a computer.

FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-3797 shows a state where the tactile pin is pushed up at the free end of the piezoelectric element actuator. A piezoelectric element actuator of a type that bends due to a difference in expansion and contraction between two layers of bonded piezoelectric elements is arranged in several layers with the free end shifted in the horizontal direction. When the piezoelectric element actuator is driven, the free end pushes up the tactile pin.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-301335 discloses a tactile pin that is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction, a cam that is disposed substantially vertically below to push up the tactile pin, and a cam that is disposed substantially vertically below the cam. It is constituted by a piezoelectric element actuator to be operated. The upper end of the piezoelectric element actuator arranged in the vertical direction is a free end. When the piezoelectric element actuator is driven, the free end moves to rotate the cam, and the tactile pin is pushed up.

In paragraph “0009” of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-89895, as a prior art, “a large number of pins that slidably penetrate the mounting plate, and biasing means that biases each of the pins in a direction to be immersed in the mounting plate,” A device is proposed which moves a lifting plate parallel to the mounting plate to project all pins simultaneously to the highest position, then lowers the lifting plate to retract these pins, There is a description that “the brake mechanism locks each pin at an arbitrary position in the vertical direction”.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-14674 shows a configuration in which the tactile pins are pushed up to the initial position by the lifting plate and the individual tactile pins are braked in the process of lowering the lifting plate from the initial position. .
JP-A-2005-3797 JP-A-6-301335 JP 2000-89895 A 3-14674

In a method such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-3797, the number of piezoelectric element actuators increases as the number of tactile pins increases, and the thickness of the device increases. Only value output can be expressed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-301335 has a complicated structure, and the tactile pin can express only a binary output of a convex and a concave.

Regarding the description of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-89895, the existence of the prior document cannot be confirmed. For this reason, it is not clear by what means the tactile pin is urged, but urging by an elastic body such as a spring is assumed as technical common sense. In that case, as many springs as the number of tactile pins have to be prepared, the cost increases, and if the amount of axial movement of the tactile pins is to be secured large, the spring must be lengthened accordingly. Further costs are incurred. Also, as the number of tactile pins increases, the number of springs that urge them increases, so the force required to push up the tactile pins to the initialization position against the urging force. Therefore, the actuator for that purpose must be strengthened, and the power consumption increases. Moreover, since the braking mechanism that brakes the axial movement of the tactile pin must be braked against the force of the spring, a strong braking force is required, so that the power consumption of the braking mechanism increases.

In the actual open flat 3-14674, all the tactile pins are once pushed up to the initial position by the lifting plate (step 1), and then the individual tactile pins are braked in the process in which the tactile pins are pulled in by gravity (see FIG. Step 2). As described above, the appearance of the tactile pin on the tactile plate is output through two steps (that is, output by reciprocating the tactile pin up and down on the tactile plate). The need for these two steps is bothersome for the user and is a limiting factor for the output speed. The three-dimensional tactile display is a tactile expression for visually impaired persons, but is also a visual expression for sighted persons. In that sense, it can be said that the three-dimensional tactile display is barrier-free. One of the problems of the present invention is to eliminate the troublesome vertical movement (in / out movement) of the tactile pin on the tactile plate. It is also an object of the present invention to increase the output speed in the process.

An object of the present invention is to solve these problems in the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to increase the mounting density of tactile pins in a three-dimensional tactile display, to prevent the thickness of the device from increasing even if the number of tactile pins is increased, and to output speed. Speeding up, reducing power consumption, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to enable operation without being influenced by the influence of gravity, such as upside down, wall hanging, or weightlessness.

Another object of the present invention is to keep the manufacturing cost of a three-dimensional tactile display low by using a tactile pin with a low manufacturing cost. The three-dimensional tactile display expressed by the protruding amount of the tactile pins uses a large amount of tactile pins. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the tactile pin affects the manufacturing cost of the three-dimensional tactile display. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional tactile display with low manufacturing cost by adopting a configuration in which a tactile pin that can be manufactured at low cost can be used.

Specifically, in order to achieve the above goals, the following configuration was adopted. That is, an output device that is connected to a computer and controls the protruding amount of the tactile pin by an output from the computer, has a tactile pin, has a tactile pin suction plate, and has the tactile pin and the tactile pin. The intelligent pin adsorption plate can be mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force, and the tactile pin adsorption plate is attached to the tactile pin in a state where the tactile pin and the tactile pin adsorption plate are mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force. It has the structure which has the moving mechanism which can be moved to the protrusion direction of this, and has the brake mechanism which can brake individually the protrusion direction movement of the said tactile pin.

Further, the output device is connected to a computer, and the protruding amount of the tactile pin is controlled by an output from the computer, has a tactile pin, has a tactile pin suction plate, and includes the tactile pin and the tactile pin. The intelligent pin adsorption plate can be mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force, and the tactile pin adsorption plate is attached to the tactile pin in a state where the tactile pin and the tactile pin adsorption plate are mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force. A moving mechanism that can move in the protruding direction of the tactile pin, and a braking mechanism that can individually brake the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction. On the other side, the structure can be mutually adsorbed by magnetic force.

Further, the output device is connected to a computer, and the protruding amount of the tactile pin is controlled by an output from the computer, has a tactile pin, has a tactile pin suction plate, and includes the tactile pin and the tactile pin. The intelligent pin adsorption plate can be mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force, and the tactile pin adsorption plate is attached to the tactile pin in a state where the tactile pin and the tactile pin adsorption plate are mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force. A moving mechanism that can move in the protruding direction of the tactile pin, and a braking mechanism that can individually brake the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction, and the tactile pin has a protruding portion on the side surface, The tactile pin adsorbing plate and the tactile pin can be adsorbed to each other by magnetic force on the upper surface or side surface of the protrusion-shaped portion.

Further, the output device is connected to a computer, and the protruding amount of the tactile pin is controlled by an output from the computer, has a tactile pin, has a tactile pin suction plate, and includes the tactile pin and the tactile pin. The intelligent pin adsorption plate can be mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force, and the tactile pin adsorption plate is attached to the tactile pin in a state where the tactile pin and the tactile pin adsorption plate are mutually adsorbed by a magnetic force. A moving mechanism that can move in the protruding direction of the tactile pin, a braking mechanism that can individually brake the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction, and the tactile pin has an upward step surface, The intelligent pin adsorption plate and the tactile pin can be mutually adsorbed by magnetic force on the upward stepped surface.

This will be described in more detail below.
The basic configuration of the present invention includes a tactile pin, a braking mechanism capable of individually braking the movement in the protruding direction of each tactile pin, a tactile pin suction plate, and the tactile pin suction plate. And a moving mechanism capable of moving in the protruding direction. The tactile pin suction plate and the tactile pin are each a magnet or a magnetic body and are attracted to each other by a magnetic force. Here, the tactile pin adsorption plate is moved in the protruding direction by being moved in the protruding direction of the tactile pin by the moving mechanism in a state where the tactile pin is adsorbed by the magnetic force. The In the process of moving the tactile pin, each tactile pin is individually braked by the brake mechanism when it reaches a target position or timing. Each tactile pin is desorbed when it is braked and held at the braking position. An important feature of the present invention is that the tactile pin is pulled while being attracted by a magnetic force.

The braking mechanism (which can individually brake the movement in the protruding direction of the tactile pin) in the claims may be any as long as it can individually brake the movement in the protruding direction of the tactile pin. Any mechanism, number, arrangement, etc. of the braking mechanism may be used. It is not always necessary to use one tactile pin braking mechanism for each tactile pin, and a plurality of braking mechanisms may be used. For example, a plurality of tactile pin braking mechanisms may be provided in the axial direction of the tactile pin as shown in FIG. 7, or may be provided so as to be sandwiched from both sides of the tactile pin as shown in FIG. Thus, a method of increasing the braking force by using a plurality of braking mechanisms is also conceivable. However, these are only examples, and any mechanism, number, and arrangement of the tactile pin braking mechanism may be used as long as they can individually brake the movement in the protruding direction of the tactile pins. There is no limitation on the present invention.

In the present invention, the braking and release of the tactile pin by the tactile pin braking mechanism does not necessarily have to be performed according to position information such as the position of the tactile pin or the position of the tactile pin suction plate, but according to the timing information. May be made. For example, the tactile pin suction plate may be moved by a stepping motor, and the tactile pin may be braked / released based on the position information, or a sensor (position for detecting the protruding amount of each tactile pin) The tactile pin may be braked / released based on the information), or the tactile pin suction plate may be braked / released at any time while continuously moving the tactile pin suction plate at a substantially constant speed. Also good. However, these are merely examples, and may be made based on any information, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

Regarding the tactile pin referred to in the claims, any tactile pin may be used. For example, when the tactile pin has a detent shape, the tactile pin can be prevented from falling off. Further, the tactile pin is not necessarily a cylinder, and the cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tactile pin may have any shape. For example, the cross section may be a quadrilateral or other polygon. Further, the cross-sectional area of the cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tactile pin is not necessarily uniform, and the tactile pin may be a cone, a triangular pyramid, a quadrangular pyramid, or the like. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, it is good also as a shape which has a level | step difference surface. Moreover, the shape which has a protrusion-shaped site | part may be sufficient as a side surface. The tactile pin may have any size (including thickness and length). However, considering the use of visually impaired people, it is desirable to have a size that can represent Braille. Further, the tactile pin may be configured by combining different materials. For example, by using a soft material at the tip, it is possible to consider the touch when touching with a finger. However, these are merely examples, and any shape, size, material, and the like of the tactile pins in the present invention may be used, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

The tactile pins do not necessarily have to be arranged in a matrix, and any arrangement / arrangement may be used. For example, an arrangement corresponding to Braille may be used. Of course, even when the tactile pins are arranged in a matrix, not only a three-dimensional shape output but also a normal braille display (binary output) can be used.

Regarding the protrusion-shaped part (having the tactile pin side surface) in the claims, the shape, number, arrangement, etc. of the protrusion-shaped part may be anything, and the present invention is not limited thereby. For example, as shown in FIG. 10a, a disk-like protrusion-shaped portion may be provided so as to surround the tactile pin (the state surrounding the tactile pin is also within the scope of the claims). (It is included in the concept of “having on the side” of the tactile pin), and a tab-like protrusion-shaped portion as shown in FIG. 10b may be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 10c, it may be provided at the lower end portion of the tactile pin, and this case is also included in the concept of “having on the side surface” of the tactile pin in the claims. The example shown in FIG. 10 shows an example of a protrusion-shaped portion provided on the side surface of the tactile pin. However, these are merely examples, and any protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin may be used, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

The configuration that can be mutually attracted by magnetic force as used in the claims may be any configuration as long as the tactile pin suction plate and the tactile pin can be mutually attracted by magnetic force. For example, the tactile pin adsorption plate may be a magnet and the tactile pin may be a magnetic body (such as iron). The tactile pin adsorption plate may be a magnetic body and the tactile pin is a magnet. Alternatively, magnets having different polarities (adsorbed to each other) may be used. Further, when the tactile pin is a magnetic body or a magnet, it is not always necessary that the tactile pin is a magnetic body or a magnet, and a part of the tactile pin may be a magnetic body or a magnet. In addition, when the tactile pin adsorption plate is a magnet or a magnetic body, the entire tactile pin adsorption plate is not necessarily a magnet or a magnetic body, and a part of the tactile pin adsorption plate may be composed of a magnet or a magnetic body. good. Further, when the tactile pin is attracted by a magnetic force, any part of the tactile pin may be adsorbed at any part of the tactile pin adsorption plate or may be adsorbed from any direction. For example, the side surface of the tactile pin may be adsorbed. In the case of a tactile pin having a protrusion-shaped part on the side surface, the protrusion-shaped part may be adsorbed. At this time, any part of the protrusion-shaped part may be adsorbed from any direction. In the case of a tactile pin having a step surface, the step surface may be adsorbed. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited by these.

In the present invention, expressions such as “upper” and “upper” roughly indicate the protruding direction of the tactile pin. Similarly, expressions such as “below” and “below” generally indicate the immersion direction of the tactile pin.

With respect to the tactile pin adsorption plate referred to in the claims, the tactile pin adsorption plate may be any one as long as it can be mutually adsorbed by the magnetic force, which restricts the present invention. There is nothing to do. This is because what the tactile pin suction plate is is dependent on the relationship between the tactile pin suction plate and the tactile pins that are mutually attracted by magnetic force. That is, the shape of the tactile pin that is attracted, the part of the tactile pin that is attracted, the direction from which the tactile pin is attracted, etc. Depending on the relationship, the best tactile pin suction plate should be used.

When the tactile pin suction plate is moved in the protruding direction of the tactile pin, the tactile pin suction plate may be continuously moved without staying, for example, every time the tactile pin is braked during the movement. The present invention is not limited by the manner of controlling such movement of the tactile pin suction plate.

As for the movement mechanism (which can move the tactile pin suction plate in the protruding direction of the tactile pin) in the claims, if it can move the tactile pin suction plate in the (roughly) protruding direction of the tactile pin Any moving mechanism may be used, and the present invention is not limited by the mechanism of the moving mechanism. As an example, a method using a feed screw and a guide can be mentioned. For example, by interlocking a plurality of feed screws that move the tactile pin suction plate with a toothed belt, the tactile pin suction plate can be moved in the protruding direction (of the tactile pin) while maintaining almost horizontal even on a wide surface. . 1 and 2 exemplify a method of moving the tactile pin suction plate in the protruding direction using the slope. However, these moving mechanisms are merely examples, and any moving mechanism may be used, and the present invention is not limited to a specific moving mechanism.

After the output of all the tactile pins is completed, when the person touches the output result expressed as the protruding state of the tactile pins with the finger, the pressure in the immersive direction (of the tactile pin) (of the tactile pin) is applied. Hereinafter, it is necessary to hold the position of the tactile pin against "tactile pressure". Although the tactile pressure can be resisted by the braking force of the braking mechanism, after all the pins have been output, all tactile pins are fixed with a stopper (hereinafter referred to as “pressure-resistant stopper”). A mechanism to resist may be provided. The pressure stopper in the present invention may be of any system / mechanism as long as it can hold the position of the tactile pin against the pressure in the immersion direction applied to the tactile pin by the finger. For example, it may be due to frictional force, may be locked by engagement of irregularities, or may be due to detent. Further, for example, the tactile pin may be pushed down when receiving a tactile pressure, and returned to the original position by an elastic force when the tactile pressure is removed. The three-dimensional tactile display is assumed to be used by visually impaired persons. For this reason, in consideration of Braille output, a high tactile pin mounting density is required. In order to obtain a high mounting density of the tactile pins, the braking mechanism (of the tactile pins) must fit in a narrow gap between the tactile pins. Roughly speaking, the size of an actuator (used as a braking mechanism) and its braking force are thought to be proportional, so it is questionable whether a braking mechanism of a size that fits in such a narrow gap can sufficiently resist tactile pressure. There is room. Therefore, a pressure-resistant stopper that can brake the movement of the tactile pin in the immersion direction against the tactile pressure is significant. However, the pressure-resistant stopper is not necessarily provided. For example, when the braking force by the braking mechanism can resist tactile pressure, it is considered that the pressure-resistant stopper is not necessarily provided.

FIG. 18 shows an example where the tactile pin has a shape having a recess on the side surface. The tactile pin shown in FIG. 18 can be interpreted as a shape having a stepped surface, and 32 in FIG. 18 can also be interpreted as a protrusion-shaped portion on the side of the tactile pin. That is, 31 in FIG. 18 is an upward stepped surface of the tactile pin, and is also an upper surface of the protruding portion (32 in FIG. 18) on the side surface of the tactile pin. Thus, in this claim, when it can be interpreted as included in either term / concept, it can be interpreted as either, and can be included in both terms / concepts. In this claim, what can be interpreted as being included in a plurality of terms / concepts may be included in all of the plurality of terms / concepts at the same time, and the scope of terms / concepts in the claims overlaps. Does not prevent you from doing.

The three-dimensional tactile display embodying the present invention uses a method in which the tactile pin is moved in the protruding direction while being magnetically attracted by the tactile pin suction plate, so that the tactile pin can be moved without being affected by gravity. Since it can be driven, it can operate without being influenced by the influence of gravity even in an environment such as upside down, wall hanging, or a non-gravity state such as outer space. Further, since it is not necessary to bias the tactile pin by an elastic body such as a spring, low cost and power saving can be realized. In addition, since the brake is braked in the process of moving the tactile pin in the protruding direction, the movement of the tactile pin on the tactile surface in the direction of appearance is output in one step (ie, the tactile pin protrudes). Therefore, it is possible to eliminate annoying vertical movement (in / out movement) of the tactile pin on the tactile plate. Further, the output speed can be increased by the mechanism. Further, the mounting density of the tactile pins can be increased. Also, increasing the number of tactile pins does not increase the thickness of the device. Of course, it can be used not only as a three-dimensional tactile display but also as a normal braille display (binary output). Moreover, since the tactile pin manufactured at low cost can be used, the manufacturing cost of the three-dimensional tactile display can be kept low.

The best mode for carrying out the invention seems to be as follows. That is, as shown in Example 1, a method of adsorbing the side surface of the tactile pin with a magnetic force is used. A pressure-proof stopper is provided to withstand tactile pressure. A mechanism is provided to notify the visually impaired by voice or actuator that the output has been completed.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the tactile pin suction plate moves in a state where the side surface of the tactile pin is sucked by magnetic force. Since this method can increase the area to be adsorbed, the adsorbed state of the tactile pin can be stably maintained. In addition, the mounting density of the tactile pins as viewed from the tactile surface can be increased as compared with the case where the protrusion-shaped portion on the side of the tactile pin is adsorbed.

The shape of the side surface of the tactile pin referred to in the claims may be anything. For example, it may be a flat surface, a curved surface, or a shape with any undulations. Of course, any material may be used. For example, when moving in the protruding direction while adsorbed by the tactile pin adsorption plate, a material with a small friction coefficient so that the adsorption is smoothly released when the tactile pin is braked in the protruding direction during the movement process Or you may give the coating etc. which make a friction coefficient small.

The side surface of the tactile pin referred to in the claims refers to a surface parallel to the axis of the tactile pin regardless of such a step even in the case of a tactile pin having a step surface as shown in FIG. That is, the part shown by 54 in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which a magnetic material such as metal is provided on the side surface of the tactile pin, and the tactile pin adsorption plate is moved in the protruding direction (of the tactile pin) in a state of being adsorbed by the magnet included in the tactile pin adsorption plate. Is shown. Here, if the tactile pin has a flat shape as shown in FIG. 9 and is attracted to the flat surface, it is considered that the attractive force and the stability at the time of adsorption are improved. Or if the shape of a tactile pin is made into a columnar shape with a polygonal cross-sectional area, a plane adsorption part can be easily secured on the side surface. When adsorbing the side surface of the tactile pin, the entire length or the entire area of the side surface is not necessarily used as the adsorption site, and a part thereof may be used as the adsorption site.

FIG. 12 shows an example using a cylindrical tactile pin. Here, c of FIG. 12 and d of FIG. 12 show an example in which the adsorbing portion has a cylindrical shape or a semi-cylindrical shape so as to follow the side shape of the tactile pin. In this way, holding stability at the time of suction may be achieved by forming the suction portion along the shape of the side surface of the tactile pin. Thus, the shape of the suction portion in the tactile pin suction plate may be any shape, and an optimum shape should be selected in relation to the tactile pin.

In the case of the present embodiment, after the tactile pin suction plate is raised to complete the tactile pin output, the tactile pin suction plate can be lowered in preparation for the next output. That is, after raising the tactile pin suction plate (in the protruding direction) to complete the tactile pin output, lower the tactile pin suction plate (in the immersive direction) in preparation for the next output and wait at the lower end Let me. At the time of the next output, when the tactile pin is braked off and dropped in the gravitational direction in the immersive direction, the magnetic material part of the tactile pin is magnetically applied to the tactile pin suction plate waiting at the lowering end. Adsorbed. Therefore, the tactile pin suction plate can be raised immediately, and the next output can be promptly moved. An advantage of this embodiment is that the output can be switched very quickly by performing the control as shown here. However, any control method may be used, and the present invention is not limited by the control method.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a low-cost method for manufacturing a tactile pin. A tactile pin is formed by attaching a band-shaped metal thin plate (magnetic material) to a position near one end of the surface of the plate material, and cutting and separating in the dotted line direction in the figure. When adsorbing the flat portion on the side surface of the tactile pin, a tactile pin manufactured at a low cost by a tactile pin manufacturing method as shown in FIG. 11 can be used. However, the tactile pin manufacturing method shown here does not limit the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a low-cost manufacturing method of the cylindrical tactile pin. Here, the cylindrical tactile pin made of a thermoplastic material has a small diameter portion at the lower end. A magnetic ring is fitted into the small diameter portion. The magnetic ring is formed by cutting a metal pipe. After the fitting, the small-diameter portion is deformed into a flare by pressing a heated metal tool against the lower end portion. Thus, by deforming the lower end portion of the tactile pin into a flare shape, an effect of preventing the magnetic ring from falling off and preventing the tactile pin from falling off is obtained. However, the tactile pin manufacturing method shown here does not limit the present invention.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the tactile pin suction plate moves in the protruding direction in a state in which the protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin is sucked by magnetic force. Since this method can increase the adsorption area, the adsorption force can be increased, and the adsorption state of the tactile pin can be more stably maintained.

5 and 6 show an example in which a tactile pin having a disk-like protrusion-shaped part is used on the side surface, and the tactile pin suction plate is moved in the protruding direction while the protrusion-shaped part is adsorbed by a magnetic force. Show. Here, the tactile pin has a shape as shown in FIG. 5 and 6, the tactile pin adsorbing plate is in the protruding direction (in FIG. 6) in a state where the disk-shaped protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin is adsorbed by magnetic force from above (side close to the tactile surface). By moving in the direction of the arrow, the tactile pin is moved in the protruding direction. In the movement process, any tactile pin is braked at an arbitrary position, so that the suction is released, and the tactile pin is held at the position.

Any protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin may be used. FIG. 10 shows various examples of the protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin. At that time, an optimum adsorption method can be used according to the shape of the protrusion-shaped portion. For example, in the case of having a disk-shaped protrusion-shaped portion as shown in FIG. 10a, the method of adsorbing the upper surface of the disk would be optimal, and in the case of having a tab-shaped protrusion-shaped portion as shown in FIG. A side surface (tab surface) of the tab can be adsorbed (that is, a portion having a large area of the protruding portion can be adsorbed). However, FIG. 10 is only an example of the protrusion-shaped part on the side surface of the tactile pin, and the protrusion-shaped part may have any shape. In addition, when the projection-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin is attracted by magnetic force, any surface of the projection-shaped portion may be attracted from any direction. One should be chosen.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin. 14, the tactile pin adsorbing plate can be adsorbed in order to output in the present invention, the upper surface (48 in FIG. 14) and the upward slope (FIG. 14). 14 of 49), and a side surface (50 of FIG. 14). In the present invention, the lower surface (51 in FIG. 14) of the protruding portion cannot be sucked and output. This is because if the tactile pin suction plate is moved in the projecting direction with the lower surface sucked, the tactile pin suction plate will push up the protruding portion from below, so that the tactile pin is braked in the moving process. However, the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction cannot be stopped. On the other hand, the tactile pin adsorbing plate is moved in the protruding direction with the upper surface (48 in FIG. 14), the upward slope (49 in FIG. 14), or the side surface (50 in FIG. 14) adsorbed. When the movement in the protruding direction of the tactile pin is individually braked during the movement process, the tactile pin is desorbed and the movement in the protruding direction of the tactile pin is stopped and held at the time of the braking. An output operation is performed. However, FIG. 14 is merely an example, and any surface may be adsorbed as long as the surface and the side surface are opened upward. For example, a curved surface opened upward may be used. Any surface with undulations may be used. The “upper surface or side surface” of the protrusion-shaped portion referred to in the claims includes a surface and a side surface that are opened upward as described above.

16 and 17 show an example in which a pressure-resistant stopper (which can brake the movement of the tactile pin in the immersion direction against the tactile pressure) is provided. FIG. 16 shows a tactile pin having a protrusion-shaped part on the side surface, and the tactile pin suction plate is moved in the protruding direction of the tactile pin in a state where the upper surface of the protrusion-shaped part is adsorbed by a magnetic force. When the tactile pin is braked by the braking mechanism, the suction is released at the time of the braking, and the tactile pin is held at the braking position. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the tactile pin is fixed with a pressure-resistant stopper, and is prepared to resist the tactile pressure. 16 and 17, the pressure-resistant stopper has a plate shape parallel to the tactile surface, and is configured to be able to brake all tactile pins or a plurality of tactile pins.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the tactile pin suction plate moves in a state where the upward step surface of the tactile pin is attracted by magnetic force.

FIG. 4 shows an example where the tactile pin has a shape having an upward stepped surface. The tactile pin suction plate may move in the protruding direction with the upward stepped surface sucked. The upward stepped surface may have any shape. For example, the upward stepped surface may be a slope or a shape with any undulation. The output operation of the present embodiment can be considered in the same manner as in the case of sucking the protrusion-shaped portion on the side surface of the tactile pin.

The upward step surface referred to in the claims refers to a step surface opened upward (in the protruding direction), as indicated by 31 in FIG. On the other hand, for example, in the case of a step surface (downward step surface) opened downward (immersion direction) as shown in 52 of FIG. 15, it cannot be used in the present invention. Because, when the tactile pin suction plate is moved in the protruding direction with the downward stepped surface being sucked, the tactile pin suction plate pushes up the tactile pin from below. This is because the movement of the tactile pin in the protruding direction cannot be stopped even after braking.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

It can be used as a braille display or as a three-dimensional tactile display. For example, by displaying the terrain and other map information as a three-dimensional display, it can be used to guide the visually impaired. In that case, if it is a wall-mounted type, it does not occupy space, so it can be installed in a narrow place. It can also be used in a weightless environment such as outer space. Further, when used as a display device for a computer game, the range of expression is widened.

The figure which shows the example of the moving mechanism which moves a tactile pin adsorption board In Fig. 1, the state where the tactile pin suction plate is pushed up A state where the braking mechanism is arranged so as to be sandwiched from both sides The figure which shows the example of the tactile pin of the shape which has an upward level | step difference surface The figure which shows the mechanism which moves in the state where the projection part of the tactile pin side is adsorbed In FIG. 5, the tactile pin is braked while moving Multiple braking mechanisms arranged vertically Adsorbing the side of the tactile pin Tactile pin with a flat surface on the side Various examples of protrusion-shaped parts on the side Diagram showing an example of a tactile pin manufacturing method Example of adsorbing the side of a cylindrical tactile pin The figure which shows the example of a manufacturing method of a cylindrical tactile pin The figure explaining the protrusion shape part which it has on the tactile pin side Diagram explaining the downward step surface Example with pressure-resistant stopper Example of operating a pressure stopper Explanatory drawing exemplifying a shape having a recess on the side of the tactile pin

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tactile pin 2 Braking mechanism 4 Tactile pin adsorption board 5 Tactile board (surface board which touches a state that a tactile pin protrudes with a finger)
22 Slope 23 for moving the tactile pin suction plate in the axial direction Wheel 24 Feed screw 25 Motor 26 Gear 27 Guide 31 Upward stepped surface 32 of the tactile pin Projection-shaped portion 35 on the side surface of the tactile pin 35 Magnet 36 Magnetic body 37 Plane Part 41 Plate material 42 Strip-shaped metal thin plate (magnetic material)
43 Adsorption part 44 Magnetic body (metal ring)
45 Thermoplastic material tactile pin small-diameter portion 46 Heated metal tool 47 Flare-shaped tactile pin lower end portion 48 Upper surface of the protrusion-shaped portion on the side of the tactile pin 49 of protrusion-shaped portion on the side of the tactile pin Upwardly inclined surface 50 Side surface 51 of the protrusion-shaped part on the side surface of the tactile pin 51 Lower surface 52 of the protrusion-shaped part on the side surface of the tactile pin

Claims (4)

A three-dimensional tactile display that is connected to a computer and whose protrusion amount of a tactile pin is controlled by an output from the computer;
Having a plurality of tactile pins arranged two-dimensionally,
Having a tactile pin suction plate provided in common for the plurality of tactile pins,
The tactile pin and the tactile pin adsorption plate are a plurality of the tactile pins that can be adsorbed to the tactile pin adsorption plate by a magnetic force.
A moving mechanism capable of moving the tactile pin suction plate in the protruding direction of the tactile pin in a state where the plurality of tactile pins are collectively attracted to the tactile pin suction plate by magnetic force. Have
A braking mechanism capable of individually braking the movement of the tactile pins in the protruding direction;
The control is performed by driving the moving mechanism and the braking mechanism in accordance with an output from the computer. In claim 1,
The tactile pin adsorption plate and the tactile pin can be mutually adsorbed by magnetic force on the side surface of the tactile pin. In claim 1,
The tactile pin has a protruding portion on the side surface,
The tactile pin adsorbing plate and the tactile pin can be adsorbed to each other by magnetic force on the upper surface or the side surface of the protruding portion. In claim 1,
The tactile pin has an upward stepped surface,
The tactile pin adsorption plate and the tactile pin can be mutually adsorbed by magnetic force on the upward stepped surface.

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