JP5843258B2 - Information transmission device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information transmission device that transmits information using human tactile sensation.

  Conventionally, when transmitting information to people with visual disabilities, for example, a plurality of pin-shaped tactile bodies are arranged in Braille form, and each is moved forward and backward independently, and transmitted using the tactile sensation of the fingertip. (See Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The device of Patent Document 1 is incorporated in a mouse for a computer device. Actuators made of piezoelectric elements are provided below the tactile body. A voltage is individually applied to each actuator and deformed in the vertical direction to displace each tactile body, thereby stimulating the tactile sense of the user.

  The apparatus of Patent Document 2 is also configured to drive the tactile body with an actuator made of a piezoelectric element, similar to that of Patent Document 1.

  Moreover, the apparatus of patent document 3 is made to drive a tactile body using the actuator which consists of a shape memory alloy.

JP 2006-172374 A JP 2009-288757 A JP 2011-54079 A

  In the devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the tactile body is displaced by an actuator, but the tactile sensation of the fingertip may be sharp or dull depending on the person, and information is transmitted to all persons. In order to do so, there is a demand to increase the displacement of the tactile body.

  In addition, if humans have been receiving the same sensation for a long time, they may become accustomed to that sensation and become unable to perceive the displacement of the tactile body. To avoid this, the displacement amount of the tactile body is large. Want to.

  However, if the displacement amount of the tactile body is to be increased, the deformation amount of the piezoelectric element or shape memory alloy that drives the tactile body must be increased, resulting in an increase in size of the actuator. Since the number of actuators required is at least the same as the number of tactile bodies, if one actuator is enlarged, the size of the information transmission device will be greatly affected, and the information transmission device cannot be reduced in size. For example, it becomes difficult to incorporate into a portable information terminal or other devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and the object of the present invention is to make the tactile body easy to feel even if the displacement of the tactile body in the advancing and retreating direction is small. The aim is to reduce the size of the information transmission device by downsizing the actuator for displacing in the forward and backward directions.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the tactile body is also displaced in the direction intersecting the advancing / retreating direction.

The first invention is an information transmission device for transmitting information using tactile human finger, is provided to be moved in the apparatus main body in the vertical direction, the skin of the belly of the finger in a state of advanced from the apparatus main body A tactile body configured to touch and give a tactile sensation, an advancing / retreating direction driving means for displacing the tactile body in the advancing / retreating direction, and a crossing direction driving means for displacing the tactile body in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction , is connected to the moving direction driving means and the cross-direction driving unit, and a control unit for controlling the both said driving means, said control unit, the tactile member by Rukoto actuates the moving direction driving means The crossing direction driving means is configured to operate after entering the advanced state, and the information transmission device includes a finger placing portion for placing a finger, and the upper surface of the finger placing portion is the tactile body. When viewed from the advancing direction. It has a pair of concave surfaces arranged so as to sandwich the body, one of the concave surfaces is in contact with the abdomen on the tip side of the finger, and the other concave surface is rooted more than the portion in contact with the one concave surface The finger is placed so that the belly of the finger on the side is in contact with it .

  According to this configuration, the tactile body touches the human skin in a state where the tactile body has advanced by the advancing / retreating direction driving means, and the tactile body is displaced in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction by the crossing direction driving means. Therefore, not only the stimulation in the advancing / retreating direction of the tactile body but also the stimulation in which the tactile body is displaced in the direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction simultaneously acts on the skin. In this way, by applying the stimulation in two directions to the skin, it is possible to easily sense the displaced tactile body even if the displacement amount of the tactile body in the advancing and retreating direction is small.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the cross-direction driving means reciprocates the tactile body.

  According to this configuration, the tactile body reciprocates in a direction intersecting the advancing / retreating direction, so that it becomes easier to sense the displaced tactile body.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, there are a plurality of sets of the tactile body and the advancing / retreating direction driving means, and the tactile body is fixed to the advancing / retreating direction driving means. The plurality of advancing / retreating direction driving means is displaced by a means in a direction intersecting the advancing / retreating direction of the tactile body.

According to this configuration, it is possible to displace a plurality of tactile bodies in a direction crossing the advance / retreat direction by one cross direction driving means .

  According to the first invention, the tactile body is displaced not only in the advancing / retreating direction but also in the direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction. This makes it easier to feel the wisdom. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the advancing / retreating direction driving means, and consequently to reduce the size of the information transmission device.

  According to the second invention, the tactile body is reciprocated in the direction crossing the advance / retreat direction, so that the displaced tactile body can be more easily felt.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the plurality of tactile bodies can be displaced by the single cross direction driving means, the information transmission device can be further reduced in size .

It is a perspective view of the braille display device concerning the reference example 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a braille display apparatus. It is a block diagram of a braille display device. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where the tactile pin is displaced to the right side together with the apparatus main body. It is a side view of the first advance / retreat actuator. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to Reference Example 2. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to Reference Example 3. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to Reference Example 4. It is 1 equivalent diagram according to an type state. Braille display according to the exemplary shape state is a partial sectional view from the side.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

( Reference Example 1)
FIG. 1 shows a braille display device 1 as an information transmission device according to a first reference example . The Braille display device 1 is used by being incorporated in, for example, a portable information terminal or a computer mouse, and is configured to transmit character information or the like in the form of Braille to a visually impaired person.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the braille display device 1 includes a device body 10, first to sixth tactile pins (tactile bodies) 11 to 16, and first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 11. First to sixth advance / retreat actuators (advance / retreat direction drive means) 21 to 26 that respectively displace 16 in the advance / retreat direction, first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16, and first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. Is provided with a cross-direction actuator (cross-direction drive means) 27 that displaces the pins 11-16 in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction of the pins 11 to 16, and a control device 28 (shown in FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 10 includes a substrate 30 and a case 31. As shown also in FIG. 2, the board | substrate 30 consists of a rectangular flat plate member extended substantially horizontally. The first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 are fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 30. The first to sixth advancing / retreating actuators 21 to 26 are arranged so as to be 2 columns × 3 rows according to the standard Braille standard in plan view. Here, the column direction is the left-right direction as viewed from the user, and the row direction is the front-rear direction (depth direction) as viewed from the user.

  First to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are attached to upper end portions of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. The lower end of the case 31 is open, and the lower end opening portion is closed by the substrate 30 in a state where the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 are accommodated therein.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper wall portion of the case 31 extends substantially horizontally, and the outer surface thereof serves as a placement surface 31 a on which a user places a finger. In the upper wall portion of the case 31, there are formed six through holes 31b, 31b,... That open to the placement surface 31a and penetrate the upper wall portion. These through holes 31b, 31b,... Are substantially circular and are arranged in accordance with the standard Braille standards corresponding to the positions of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. In the standard Braille standard, the distance between the centers of the through holes 31b and 31b adjacent in the column direction is 2.13 mm, and the distance between the centers of the through holes 31b and 31b adjacent in the row direction is 2.37 mm.

  These through holes 31b, 31b,... Have the same size and shape. The first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 move in the vertical direction in the through hole 31b. That is, the through hole 31b is a tactile body advancement hole for allowing the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 to advance from the apparatus main body 10 to the outside. 1 and 4 show a state in which only the first and second tactile pins 11 and 12 have advanced.

  The cross direction actuator 27 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 10, and the apparatus main body 10 is displaced in the horizontal direction together with the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 and the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. It is for making it happen. The cross direction actuator 27 is configured by a known linear actuator, and includes a base member 27a and a movable side member 27b attached to the base member 27a so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. The member 27b is configured to be driven in the horizontal direction with respect to the base member 27a. The base member 27 a is fixed to a portable information terminal or the like, and the movable member 27 b is fixed to the substrate 30 of the apparatus main body 10.

  The cross direction actuator 27 is arranged so as to displace the apparatus main body 10 in the left-right direction when viewed from the user. Accordingly, the apparatus main body 10 reciprocates in the left-right direction by the cross direction actuator 27. The maximum amount of leftward displacement and rightward displacement is about 3 mm. Therefore, when the apparatus main body 10 is displaced from the left end to the right end of the movable range, the displacement amount is about 6 mm in total.

  The cross direction actuator 27 is connected to the control device 28 and operates according to a control signal output from the control device 28. The operation amount of the cross direction actuator 27 can be arbitrarily set within the above-described range, and the cycle that is the number of reciprocations per second can also be arbitrarily set. Furthermore, the timing for starting the operation of the cross direction actuator 27 can be arbitrarily set.

  Next, the structure of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, since the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 are the same, the structure of the first advance / retreat actuator 21 will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first advance / retreat actuator 21 includes a laminated piezoelectric element 21a, a first coil spring 21b, a first mass body 21c, a second coil spring 21d, and a second mass body 21e. And. The piezoelectric element 21a is a well-known element that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy such as displacement or force by using a piezoelectric longitudinal effect generated by applying a voltage. In this reference example , the piezoelectric element 21a is AE0203D08F of a resin-encased actuator series manufactured by NEC / TOKIN. The piezoelectric element 21a is made of a high strain rate piezoelectric ceramic material and is small in size and can generate a large displacement at a low voltage. The piezoelectric element 21a has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction, the horizontal dimension is 2 mm, the depth dimension is 3 mm, and the height is 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower end surface of the piezoelectric element 21 a is bonded to the substrate 30.

  The first coil spring 21b is a compression coil spring manufactured by Accurate, and has an outer diameter of 2 mm or less in order to fit the six actuators 21 to 26 within the standard Braille standards. The spring constant of the first coil spring 21b is 25.2 N / mm. The center line of the first coil spring 21b coincides with the center of the piezoelectric element 21a in plan view.

  The 1st mass body 21c is made into the disk shape, and mass is 0.1083g.

  The second coil spring 21d is a compression coil spring manufactured by Tokai Spring Co., Ltd., and has an outer diameter of 2 mm or less for the reason described above. The spring constant of the second coil spring 21d is 6.551 N / mm.

  The mass of the second mass body 21e is set to be lighter than that of the first mass body 21c, and has a disk shape thinner than that of the first mass body 21c. The mass of the second mass body 21e is 0.0.0281g. The center line of the first mass body 21c, the center line of the second coil spring 21d, and the center line of the second mass body 21e coincide with the center line of the first coil spring 21b.

  The lower end portion of the first coil spring 21b is bonded to the upper end surface of the piezoelectric element 21a, and the upper end portion is bonded to the lower surface of the first mass body 21c.

  The lower end portion of the second coil spring 21d is bonded to the upper surface of the first mass body 21c, and the upper end portion is bonded to the lower surface of the second mass body 21e.

  The first tactile pin 11 is bonded to the upper surface of the second mass body 21e. The 1st tactile pin 11 is made into the substantially cylindrical shape extended in an up-down direction, The centerline corresponds with the centerline of the 2nd coiled spring 21d. The upper part of the first tactile pin 11 has a tapered shape with a smaller diameter as it approaches the upper end. By making the upper part of the first tactile pin 11 tapered, the upper part is caught by the fingerprint of the finger when the first tactile pin 11 is displaced in the left-right direction. The outer diameter of the lower part of the first tactile pin 11 is preferably 1.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.6 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less.

  In addition, the upper part of the 1st tactile pin 11 does not need to be a tapered shape, and may have the same outer diameter from a lower end to an upper end. Moreover, you may comprise the 1st tactile pin 11 using a cylindrical member.

  The vertical dimension of the first tactile pin 11 is set to be longer than the vertical dimension of the through hole 31b of the apparatus body 10, and the upper end of the first tactile pin 11 is located above the through hole 31b as shown in FIG. It is possible to advance to.

  Further, the maximum outer diameter of the first tactile pin 11 is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 31b of the apparatus body 10, and when the first tactile pin 11 is displaced in the advancing / retreating direction, It does not slidably contact the inner peripheral surface. This is to prevent the displacement of the first contact pin 11 from decreasing. Therefore, when the first tactile pin 11 advances and retreats, the first tactile pin 11 is guided in the vertical direction while being weakly slidably in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 31b. That is, the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 31 b is a guide means for the first tactile pin 11.

  The height of the first tactile pin 11 is such that when the first advancing / retreating actuator 21 is not operating (when no voltage is applied), the upper end of the first tactile pin 11 penetrates the apparatus body 10. It is set to fit in the hole 31b. Therefore, even if the finger is placed on the placement surface 31a of the apparatus main body 10 when the first advance / retreat actuator 21 is not operating, the presence of the first tactile pin 11 is not known to the user through the sense of touch. ing.

  The first advancing / retreating actuator 21 configured as described above amplifies the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element 21a using the inverse principle of the dynamic vibration absorber, and the first tactile sensor has a displacement amount larger than the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element 21a. The pin 11 can be displaced. That is, the principle of the dynamic vibration absorber is that the main vibration system has the same natural frequency as that of the main vibration system and has an auxiliary vibration system (dynamic vibration absorber) having a mass smaller than that of the object to be controlled. The principle is to absorb the vibration energy in the auxiliary vibration system and suppress the vibration of the main vibration system. The reverse principle is the excitation using the auxiliary vibration system that vibrates vigorously by absorbing the vibration energy of the main vibration system. Technology.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the main vibration system of the first advancing / retracting actuator 21 is composed of a first coil spring 21b and a first mass body 21c, and the auxiliary vibration system is composed of a second coil spring 21d and a second coil spring 21d. It is comprised with the mass body 21e. That is, the spring constants of the first coil spring 21b and the second coil spring 21d and the masses of the first mass body 21c and the second mass body 21e are set so that the auxiliary vibration system vibrates violently according to the principle of the dynamic vibration absorber. Has been. This can be set according to the dynamic vibration absorber principle.

  Since the first advance / retreat actuator 21 is extremely small and light, and the mass of the first coil spring 21b and the second coil spring 21d cannot be ignored, the spring constants of the springs 21b and 21d are also taken into account. The masses of the mass bodies 21c and 21e are set.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 are connected to the control device 28 and each operate independently according to a control signal output from the control device 28. The control device 28 is configured to apply a rectangular wave voltage to each piezoelectric element 21 a of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. Specifically, the voltage is 30 V, for example, and the frequency is 2 kHz or less.

  When a voltage is applied, the piezoelectric element 21a is deformed in the vertical direction, and the amount of deformation is 1.5 μm in the vertical direction. Which of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 is to be applied with the voltage is programmed in advance so that the braille corresponding to the character to be displayed can be represented. Specifically, a character information input means 40 for inputting characters displayed on the screen of the portable information terminal as character data to the control device 28 is connected to the control device 28 and is inputted to the control device 28. Character data is converted into Braille, and a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 21a of the corresponding advance / retreat actuators 21-26. When a character string is input, it is displayed in Braille in order from the left character of the string.

  Further, the control device 28 sends a control signal to the cross direction actuator 27 immediately after applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element 21a of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 in order to display a certain character. It is configured. As a result, the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are displaced in the left-right direction when braille is displayed by the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26.

Next, the case where the braille display device 1 configured as described above is used will be described. When character data is input from the character information input means 40 to the control device 28, the control device 28 selects which of the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 to display braille corresponding to the character data. It is determined whether the actuators 21 to 26 are to be operated. For example, when operating the first advance / retreat actuator 21, the control device 28 applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element 21 a of the first advance / retreat actuator 21. Since the voltage is applied as a rectangular wave, the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 21a vibrates in the vertical direction. The amplitude corresponds to the amount of displacement of the piezoelectric element 21a, and is 3 μm in this reference example . Further, the frequency of the applied voltage is set so that the frequency of the second mass body 21e is 1000 Hz or more when the auxiliary vibration system functions as a dynamic vibration absorber.

  The vibration of the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 21a is transmitted to the first mass body 21c via the first coil spring 21b. Then, the vibration of the first mass body 21c is transmitted to the second mass body 21e via the second coil spring 21d. At this time, since the spring constant and the mass are set as described above, the second coil spring 21d and the second mass body 21e function as a dynamic vibration absorber, and the second mass body 21e vibrates violently. At this time, the amplitude of the second mass body 21e is amplified to 100 times or more of the amplitude of the piezoelectric element 12a to be, for example, about 300 μm. Thereby, the front-end | tip of the 1st tactile pin 11 advances upwards rather than the through-hole 31b, and the finger currently mounted in the mounting surface 31a is pushed.

  At this time, the first tactile pin 11 vibrates at a frequency of 1000 Hz or more. That is, when a test is performed on a visually impaired person, if the frequency of the first tactile pin 11 is lower than 1000 Hz, the probability that the same character is displayed multiple times increases, but the frequency is 1000 Hz or more. If there is, the result that the probability of recognizing that one character is displayed once is increased. From this result, the frequency of the 1st tactile pin 11 is set to 1000 Hz or more.

  The control device 28 operates the cross direction actuator 27 after operating the first advance / retreat actuator 21. By operating the cross direction actuator 27, the first tactile pin 11 in the advanced state is displaced in the left-right direction.

  Therefore, not only the stimulation in the advancing / retreating direction of the first tactile pin 11 but also the stimulation in which the first tactile pin 11 is displaced in the left-right direction simultaneously acts on the skin. As described above, by applying the stimulation in two directions to the skin, it is possible to easily sense the displaced first tactile pin 11 even if the displacement amount of the first tactile pin 11 is small. The same applies to the second to sixth tactile pins 12 to 16.

  Thereby, size reduction of the 1st-6th advance / retreat actuators 21-26 can be achieved, and the size of the braille display device 1 can be reduced.

  In the present braille display device 1, the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are displaced in the left-right direction, so that the displacement amount of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 is about 150 μm. Even if it is made small, most users can feel the displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16.

  In addition, since the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 reciprocate in the left-right direction, the displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be more easily felt.

  In addition, since the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be displaced in the left-right direction at a time by one cross direction actuator 27, the braille display device 1 can be further downsized.

( Reference Example 2)
FIG. 6 shows a braille display device 1 according to Reference Example 2 of the present invention. The braille display device 1 of the reference example 2 differs from that of the reference example 1 in that the finger placement surface 50a is fixed and the through hole 50b has a long hole shape. Hereinafter, parts different from the reference example 1 will be described in detail.

In Reference Example 2, instead of the case 31 of Reference Example 1, an upper plate 50 and support plates 51 and 51 are provided. The upper plate 50 extends substantially horizontally above the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26. The upper surface of the upper plate 50 is a mounting surface 50a.

  The support plates 51 and 51 are disposed near both ends in the depth direction of the substrate 49 to which the first to sixth advance / retreat actuators 21 to 26 are attached, and extend in the vertical direction. The lower ends of the support plates 51 and 51 are fixed to the base member 27 a of the cross direction actuator 27. The both ends of the upper plate 50 in the depth direction are fixed to the upper ends of the support plates 51 and 51. Therefore, even if the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are displaced, the upper plate 50 is not displaced together with the pins 11 to 16.

  The through hole 50 b has a long hole shape that is long in the displacement direction (left and right direction) of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 by the cross direction actuator 27. The longitudinal dimension of the through hole 50b is set to be approximately the same as the amount of displacement in the left-right direction of the first to sixth tactile pins 11-16, and the left-right direction of the first to sixth tactile pins 11-16. The through hole 50b does not hinder the displacement.

In this reference example 2 as well, in the same way as in reference example 1, the skin can be stimulated in two directions, so even if the displacement amount of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 is small. The displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be easily felt.

  Thereby, size reduction of the 1st-6th advance / retreat actuators 21-26 can be achieved, and the size of the braille display device 1 can be reduced.

In the reference example 2, when the cross direction actuator 27 is operated, the placement surface 50a is not displaced, and the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are displaced in the left-right direction. As a result, it is possible to displace only the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 in a direction crossing the advance / retreat direction while placing a finger on the placement surface 50a. It can suppress that a finger | toe moves with the displacement of the knowledge pins 11-16. Therefore, the displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be more easily felt.

( Reference Example 3)
FIG. 7 shows a Braille display device 1 according to Reference Example 3 of the present invention. The Braille display device 1 of the reference example 3 is different from that of the reference example 2 in that a positioning unit 55 for positioning a finger is provided. Hereinafter, parts different from the reference example 2 will be described in detail.

  That is, the positioning portion 55 protrudes upward from the left edge portion of the upper plate 50 and extends in the depth direction. The positioning unit 55 is disposed so that the left side of the finger placed on the placement surface 50a comes into contact with the finger, and the finger is positioned at the Braille reading position in a state where the finger is brought into contact with the positioning unit 55.

In Reference Example 3, as in Reference Example 1, since the skin can be stimulated in two directions, even if the displacement amount of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 is small. The displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be easily felt. Thereby, size reduction of the 1st-6th advance / retreat actuators 21-26 can be achieved, and the size of the braille display device 1 can be reduced.

  Further, since the finger placed on the placement surface 50a is positioned by the positioning portion 55, when the first to sixth tactile pins 11-16 are displaced in the left-right direction, the tactile pins 11-16. It is possible to prevent the finger from moving due to the displacement of the tactile sensor, and it is possible to make the displaced tactile pins 11 to 16 feel even more easily.

( Reference Example 4)
FIG. 8 shows a Braille display device 1 according to Reference Example 4 of the present invention. The Braille display device 1 of the reference example 4 is different from that of the reference example 2 in that a finger placement part 56 for placing a finger is placed separately from the placement surface 50a. Hereinafter, parts different from the reference example 2 will be described in detail.

  That is, the finger placement portion 56 protrudes upward from the placement surface 50a from the front edge of the upper plate 50 and extends in the left-right direction. The finger placement part 56 is fixed so as not to be displaced together with the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16, and is supported from below in the vicinity of the joint between the distal interphalangeal joints of the finger placed on the placement surface 50a. Are arranged as follows. As a result, the finger can be supported by the finger placement unit 56 in a state where the finger is placed on the finger placement unit 56, so that the finger can be kept in weak contact with the placement surface 50a. Therefore, it can suppress that a finger | toe moves with the displacement of the 1st-6th tactile pins 11-16, and it can make it easier to feel the displaced tactile pins 11-16.

In Reference Example 4 as well, as in Reference Example 1, since the skin can be stimulated in two directions, even if the displacement amount of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 is small. The displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be easily felt. Thereby, size reduction of the 1st-6th advance / retreat actuators 21-26 can be achieved, and the size of the braille display device 1 can be reduced.

(Working-shaped state)
9 and FIG. 10 shows a Braille display device 1 according to the exemplary shaped state of the present invention. Braille display device 1 of this embodiment shaped condition, compared that of Example 1, with the difference providing the finger rest portion 60.

  The finger placement part 60 is a first connection that connects the columnar members 61, 61,... Arranged apart from each other so as to surround the case 31, and the upper ends of the columnar members 61, 61 arranged apart in the left-right direction. Member 62, 62 and second connecting members 63, 63 for connecting the upper ends of the columnar members 61, 61 arranged away from each other in the front-rear direction, and fixed so as not to move together with the case 31. Has been.

  The upper end portion of each columnar member 61 is located near the upper surface of the case 31. Further, the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting members 62 and 63 are located above the upper surface of the case 31.

  A concave surface 62 a is formed on the upper surface of each first connecting member 62. The concave surface 62a extends in the vicinity of both end portions in the left-right direction of the first connecting member 62, and is gently curved downward so that the center portion in the left-right direction is located at the lowest position. A finger fits into the concave surface 62a.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the finger is placed so that the belly of the finger contacts the concave surfaces 62a and 62a of the finger placing portion 60, the portion of the finger belly between the concave surfaces 62a and 62a is more than the concave surfaces 62a and 62a. Will also swell down. Thereby, since the skin of the belly of the finger is pulled, the user reacts sensitively to the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16.

Oite to the present type condition, similarly as in Reference Example 1, can be made to act in two directions stimulation to the skin, the amount of displacement of the moving direction of the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 small However, the displaced first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be easily felt. Furthermore, since the skin of the belly of the finger can be pulled by the finger placing portion 60, the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 can be more easily felt.

Second coupling members 63 and 63 of the above described type condition may be omitted.

In the above-described type state, but so as to displace the first to sixth sensing rod 11 to 16 in the lateral direction is not limited thereto, advance and retreat of the first to sixth sensing rods 11-16 It is not particularly limited in the left-right direction as long as it intersects with the direction, and for example, it may be displaced in the depth direction, may be displaced in the diagonally left direction, diagonally rightward, or diagonally up and down It may be displaced in the direction.

  Further, when the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are displaced in the direction intersecting the advance / retreat direction, it is not necessary to reciprocate.

  Further, after the first to sixth tactile pins 11 to 16 are completely displaced in the advancing / retreating direction, they may be displaced in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction, or crossing the advancing / retreating direction in the middle of the displacement in the advancing / retreating direction. It may be displaced in the direction.

  Moreover, it is preferable to set the displacement amount at the time of displacing the 1st-6th tactile pins 11-16 in the direction which crosses the advancing / retreating direction larger than the displacement amount in the advancing / retreating direction.

  In addition to displaying braille, the present invention can also display graphics and the like on a computer screen by increasing the number of tactile pins. The number of tactile pins can be set arbitrarily and may be six or less.

  Further, the Braille display device 1 can be used alone without being incorporated in various devices.

  As described above, the information transmission device according to the present invention can be used, for example, when displaying braille.

1 Braille display device (information transmission device)
10 Device main bodies 11-16 First to sixth tactile pins (tactile bodies)
21-26 First to sixth advance / retreat actuators (advance / retreat direction drive means)
27 Cross direction actuator (cross direction drive means)
28 Control device (control unit)
31a, 50a Placement surface 31b, 50b Through hole 55 Positioning portion 56 Finger placement portion

Claims (3)

In an information transmission device that transmits information using the sense of touch of human fingers ,
A tactile body that is provided in the apparatus main body so as to be able to advance and retreat in the vertical direction , and is configured to touch the skin of the belly of the finger in a state of being advanced from the apparatus main body;
Advancing / retreating direction driving means for displacing the tactile body in the advancing / retreating direction;
Cross direction driving means for displacing the tactile body in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction;
A controller connected to the advancing / retreating direction driving means and the crossing direction driving means and controlling the both driving means;
The control unit is configured to the tactile member by Rukoto actuates the moving direction driving means after the advanced state, to actuate the cross-direction driving means,
The information transmission device includes a finger placement unit for placing a finger,
The upper surface of the finger placement unit has a pair of concave surfaces arranged so as to sandwich the tactile body when the tactile body is viewed from the advancing direction. The finger is placed so that the belly of the finger is in contact with the other concave surface and the belly of the finger on the base side of the portion contacting the one concave surface is in contact with the other concave surface. Transmission device. The information transmission device according to claim 1,
The crossing direction driving means reciprocates the tactile body. The information transmission device according to claim 1 or 2,
There are a plurality of sets of the tactile body and the advancing / retreating direction driving means, and the tactile body is fixed to the advancing / retreating direction driving means,
An information transmission device characterized in that the plurality of forward / backward driving means are displaced in a direction crossing the forward / backward direction of the tactile body by a single crossing direction driving means.

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