JPH0643803A - Braille input key - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a Braille input key provided with a Braille display function. CONSTITUTION:In the Braille input key constituted of the keys 21 of the number of piece corresponding to the number of a unit dot and inputting a Braille by key input operation with a belonging fingure, a piezoelectric element 71 driven by an electric signal and imparting a sense to a fingure tip cushion is buried into each key 21. By providing a drive means on each piezoelectric element 71 and supplying a key input signal corresponding to the Braille, confirmation for the Braille inputted by the key or the Braille specified by a cursor, or display for the Braille inputted previously or the Braille transferred from the outside is performed on the Braille input key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Braille input key composed of a number of keys corresponding to a unit dot number, that is, a dot number of one square which is a unit block of Braille.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of Braille input key is attached to a Braille typewriter to print Braille for each square, or C
Used for inputting documents, calculation data, etc. in a braille processor equipped with PU.

[0003]

However, in this type of braille device, when the inputted braille is confirmed, it is confirmed on the printed paper or by a separately arranged braille indicator. Also, when checking the braille at the position specified by the cursor on the braille display with cursor, bring your finger to the display, check the cursor specified position with the cursor indication dots attached to each braille, and read the braille. Was there. In view of such a point, an object of the present invention is to provide a Braille input key also having a Braille display function.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a Braille input key which is composed of a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and which allows Braille to be input by a key input operation by a finger to which the user belongs.
In order to achieve this object, according to claim 1, a finger tip stimulating element that is driven by an electric signal to make the finger tip sensation of the finger sense is embedded in each key, and each finger tip stimulating element is associated with the finger tip accord. It is characterized in that a driving means for driving the stimulation element is attached.

In order to make the Braille input key confirm the inputted Braille, the key input signal generating means for generating the key input signal corresponding to the Braille inputted by the key input operation is provided in front of the driving means. Placed. In a braille device equipped with a braille display with a cursor for displaying the braille input with the braille input key, in order to make the braille input key confirm the braille of the braille display designated by the cursor, the driving means according to claim 3. Further, a key input signal generating means for generating a key input signal corresponding to the Braille signal of the Braille of the Braille display designated by the cursor is provided in front of the key input signal generator.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one unit of a Braille indicator is embedded in at least one key instead of one fingertip abdominal stimulation element embedded in each key, thereby achieving the above object. Can also be considered. In order for the Braille input key to confirm the entered Braille, at least one unit is embedded with at least one unit of the Braille indicator to which the Braille signal generated by the key input operation is supplied. In a braille device equipped with a braille indicator with a cursor for displaying the braille entered by the braille input key, in order for the braille input key to confirm the braille of the braille indicator with a cursor designated by the cursor, at least according to claim 6, The Braille indicator to which the Braille signal of the Braille indicator designated by the cursor is supplied is embedded in one key.

[0007]

According to the present invention, by supplying a key input signal corresponding to Braille to the driving means attached to the fingertip abdominal stimulation element, confirmation of Braille input by the Braille input key or Braille designated by the cursor, or Braille that has been input or has been transferred from the outside is displayed.

In Claim 4, by supplying a Braille signal to the Braille display embedded in the key, the input Braille or the Braille designated by the cursor is confirmed, or the Braille has been input or has been transferred from the outside. Is displayed.

[0009]

1 shows a Braille processing apparatus 1 having a document creating function and the like according to an embodiment of the present invention. A Braille printer 9 is attached and the panel surface 1a is composed of dots in 3 rows and 2 columns. The keys 21 to 26, the function keys 3, the braille display 4 for one line, and the like, which constitute the Braille input keys in the number corresponding to the Braille, are arranged. Braille display 4
As is well known per se, at least a part of 6 dots 4a per unit is projected in response to a Braille signal indicating a dot position to be projected, and two dots 4b for indicating a cursor are added below. Has been done. Each key 21-26
Is configured in the same manner as a key of a word processor or the like known per se, and as shown in FIG. 2, a piezoelectric element 71 sandwiched on both sides by electrodes 7a and 7b to which a drive voltage is applied as a fingertip abdominal stimulation element. ~ 76 are embedded in the same plane.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the circuit portion of this apparatus. The control section 1 includes a CPU having a ROM 11 storing an operation program and a RAM 12 having a work area.
0 is configured to send and receive signals to and from the keys 21 to 26, the function key 3, the braille display 4, the braille printer 9, the drive circuits 71a to 76a for the piezoelectric elements 71 to 76, the external memory 13, the external communication means, and the like. ing.

As a result, the control unit 10 operates in the operation mode set by the function keys 3, displays the documents input by the Braille input keys 21 to 26 line by line on the Braille display 4, and stores them in the RAM 12. Let The created document is printed out on the printer 9, displayed on the braille display 4, or the external memory 13 is used.
Can be stored in. Further, the Braille signal input from the external device is displayed on the Braille display 4.

Further, in order to correct / delete / insert an input document during or after the creation of a document, the cursor can be designated by the function key 3 for one square in the braille of one line displayed on the braille display 4. The dot 4b at the corresponding position indicates the cursor, and the specified document processing is performed for the braille. Further, it is also possible to perform document processing by specifying a range of a document extending over one line or a plurality of lines with a cursor on the Braille display 4.

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 4, the control unit 10 is designated by the key input signal generating means 10a for generating the key input signal in response to the input operation of the keys 21 to 26 and the cursor according to the present invention. The key input signal generating means 10b for generating a key input signal corresponding to the Braille signal of the Braille display 4 is constructed. That is, the key input signal generation means 10a takes in the Braille signal every time one key of Braille is input by the keys 21 to 26, generates a key input signal until the next key operation input, and belongs to the unit. Are supplied to the drive circuits 71a to 76a. The key input signal can be a short-time pulse signal that is generated and disappears momentarily, not only until the next braille input or function input operation. When Braille signals are transferred from a personal computer, etc.
Instead of or in addition to the Braille display 4, the key input signals corresponding to the Braille signal are sequentially generated so that the input keys 21 to 26 can display the cells one by one.

When the cursor is instructed by the function key 3, the key input signal generating means 10b takes in the Braille signal of the instructed Braille or the Braille at both ends of the range, and outputs the key input signal until the next key input. Drive circuit 7
1a to 76a. When reading a document with a specified range, key input signals corresponding to Braille signals are sequentially generated.

When a document is created in the Braille processing apparatus thus configured, the operation mode is set by the function key 3 and 6 by the input keys 21 to 26.
When the Braille dots are input, they are sequentially displayed on the display 4 and stored in the RAM 12, and the piezoelectric elements 71 to 76 at the corresponding key positions project each time to stimulate the fingertip pad,
You can check the Braille you entered for each square. For example, when the input keys 21 and 24 are operated, two dots at the corresponding positions of the associated unit display unit of the display unit 4 project and the associated piezoelectric elements 71 and 74 project. When correcting or reading the entered text, the Braille at the position designated by the cursor operation with the function keys 3 is displayed on the keys 21 to 2.
Even if the user does not move his / her finger to the position of the dot 4b added to the braille display 4 displayed on the screen 6, it can be confirmed by the Braille displayed on the keys 21 to 26 whether or not the cursor is set as intended. When checking the input sentence, instead of sliding the finger in the row direction on the display 4, it is possible to sequentially read the cells one by one with the finger placed on the keys 21 to 26. Similarly, an externally input Braille signal can be read on the keys 21 to 26.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a Braille input key in which the present invention is applied to a Braille typewriter. The key is provided at the tip of a lever 41 hinged to a pin 42 and biased to its original position by a spring 45. Six keys provided with the main body 40 are arranged. In each key body 40, the piezoelectric element 43 similar to that of the above-described embodiment is embedded. Further, the pressure-sensitive element 46 with an elastic body provided on the pin portion detects the rotation of the lever 41. And the belonging pressure-sensitive element 4
In response to the detection signal of No. 6, a key input signal generation circuit 48 that generates a key input signal during the detection period and a drive circuit 49 that drives the associated piezoelectric element 43 in response to the output signal thereof.
Is included. Accordingly, when the associated pressure-sensitive element 46 detects a key input operation, the associated piezoelectric element 43 embedded in the key body 40 is projected during that time.

As a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the above-mentioned embodiment, all the fingertip abdominal stimulation elements of the input keys 21 to 26 are abolished and, for example, the key 23 of the left index finger is used. Alternatively, it is also possible to attach a 6-dot Braille display 50 known per se for one unit, that is, one square. The Braille display is supplied with a Braille signal which is input by key operation and displayed on the Braille display 4, a Braille signal externally input, or a Braille signal of the Braille display of the Braille display 4 designated by the cursor. As a result, it is possible to confirm Braille input by key operation or externally or Braille designated by the cursor with one finger.

Further, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, the Braille display 5 for two squares is provided on both the right and left forefinger keys 23 and 24.
It is also possible to embed each 1 and read 4 characters at the same time without moving the finger pad. For example, when a key operation is input, four cells are displayed while being sequentially updated one by one, four cells from a designated position are displayed when the cursor is designated, and four cells are displayed in units of four cells when reading a document. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to embed the braille indicators 50 or 51 in the six keys 21 to 26, respectively.

As the fingertip abdominal stimulation element, a pin is projected by an electromagnetic solenoid, a piezoelectric element or the like like a well-known Braille indicator, or a vibration signal is supplied to the piezoelectric element to vibrate instead of the projection. Stimuli may be perceived, and in some cases, other types of stimuli may be considered. The present invention is similarly applied to the case where the Braille input key is composed of four right and left keys corresponding to four left and right fingers. In addition, the present invention can be diverted to realize a new Braille display in which not only the Braille input keys but also finger cusp stimulating elements are arranged corresponding to the finger positions by the number of dots without presupposing the input. .

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, with the finger placed on the braille input key, the braille immediately after the input, the already input braille or the braille document designated by the cursor, or the braille document transferred to the outside can be displayed. You will be able to read it.
Therefore, it is possible to confirm the input braille even with a braille device that does not have a braille display separately. Even with a braille device equipped with a braille display, it is possible to confirm the input braille or the designated position of the cursor or read the document with the finger placed on the braille input key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external structure of a braille processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a Braille input key of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a circuit portion of the device.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a main part of a circuit portion of the device.

5A and 5B show a Braille input key according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. A being a plan view and FIG. B being a side view.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a Braille input key according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Function keys 4, 50, 51 Braille indicator 9 Braille printer 21-26 key 43, 71-76 Piezoelectric element

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In a Braille input key which is composed of a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and which allows Braille to be input by a key input operation by a finger belonging to the finger, the fingertip pad which is driven by an electric signal to be perceived by the fingertip pad. A Braille input key, wherein a stimulating element is embedded in each key, and a driving means for driving the associated fingertip abdominal stimulation element is attached to each fingertip abdominal stimulation element. 2. A key input signal generating means for generating a key input signal corresponding to Braille input by a key input operation is provided in front of the driving means.
Braille input key. 3. A key input signal for a braille device provided with a braille display with a cursor, wherein the driving means generates a key input signal corresponding to a braille signal of the braille of the braille display designated by the cursor. The Braille input key according to claim 1, wherein the generating means is provided in front. 4. A braille input key which is composed of a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and which inputs braille by an operation of inputting a finger to which at least one unit is embedded with at least one unit of braille indicator. Braille input key that is characterized by. 5. A braille input key which is composed of a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and which inputs braille by a key input operation of a finger to which the operator belongs, wherein at least one key has a braille signal generated by the key input operation. The Braille input key is characterized in that at least one unit of the Braille display is supplied. 6. A braille input key which is composed of a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and which is used to input braille by the operation of inputting a finger belonging thereto, and a cursor for at least one line for displaying the braille input by this braille input key. In a braille device provided with a braille display, at least one key is embedded with at least one unit of a braille display to which a braille signal of the braille display with the cursor designated by the cursor is supplied. Characteristic Braille input key.