JPH1097185A - Braille information transmission input key - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute adjustment of a character display speed and character updating operation with a few keys and to read braille data without detaching a finger from an input key by outputting switching information and the resistance value and voltage corresponding to depression displacement. SOLUTION: To update the display character, a user completely depresses the input key. The signal accompanying general switching operation is then generated and a control signal, such as pulse, for changing the display character is formed in a waveform shaping circuit 11. On the other hand, only the signal of a lowpass filter 12 passes with respect to the displacement of the key input in the middle stage when the key is not completely depressed and, therefore, the voltage value via a variable resistor 9 is outputted according to the displacement of the input key and is usable as the signal to control the display speed of the braille. The switching function and the voltage meeting the depression displacement of the key are obtainable by one piece of the key in such a manner. Then, the adjustment of the braille display speed and the updating of the characters are made executable by operating the same 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 information transmission input key which can also serve as a data input device for a word processor, a personal computer, or various key input type information devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for a visually handicapped person to acquire information by electronic characters, a Braille information transmitting device comprising 30 to 40 Braille presenting mechanisms per line has been put to practical use. The tactile reader can read the characters sequentially in the right direction while moving the finger back and forth or left and right, and perform the tactile reading while line-feeding one line at a time.

Further, a Braille information transmission device (hereinafter referred to as a method 1) which presents Braille one character at a time using the one-character Braille presentation mechanism in the Braille information transmission device has been put to practical use. In this method, one word or all sentences are continuously presented one after another at a preset speed.

As another means for transmitting Braille information, a tactile stimulus element such as a piezoelectric element is embedded in an input key for a word processor for the visually impaired as described in JP-A-6-43803, and the function of key input and Braille presentation are provided. Combines functions,
There is a Braille key input device (hereinafter referred to as method 2) for confirming input characters with six input keys. In this method, character information input by six input keys is confirmed on the same input key.

[0005] In the Braille information transmitting devices of the methods 1 and 2, when presenting a character, a key operation for one character feed,
A plurality of other keys are provided for a key operation for changing the presentation speed or a re-presentation operation for reconfirming the already-presented characters, and the key input operation is performed according to each purpose. The input keys used for these operations have a general switching function. Also, the key in which the piezoelectric element of the method 2 is embedded is merely a general switch in which the piezoelectric element is embedded.

[0006]

In the conventional Braille information transmitting apparatus, in the methods 1 and 2, the braille is presented one character at a time in sequence automatically or in response to a key operation of character update. It is necessary for the touch reader to update the presentation speed of the automatic presentation of braille characters or the presented characters in advance. Therefore, to change the presentation state, it was necessary to operate another installed key. Especially 6 ~
In method 2, in which eight fingers are placed on the Braille presentation surface and tactilely read, the number of keys that can be operated with the remaining fingers is small, and unless there is a key that changes the presentation state within the range that can be operated with the remaining fingers. However, there is a problem in that the finger must be released from the Braille presentation surface during tactile reading. In addition, a change in the presentation state and a change in the presentation speed require a plurality of keys corresponding to the items to be controlled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art in a Braille information transmitting apparatus for converting digitized character information into Braille and transmitting the same through tactile sensation, such as television teletext, an electronic document, and a word processor. By having a general switching function and a key displacement detection function for controlling the presentation speed, etc. with one input key,
Small, portable and operable that allows you to adjust the character presentation speed and update characters with a few keys, and to read braille data without releasing your finger from the input keys by using a stimulus element embedded in the input keys To provide a good Braille information transmission device.

[0008]

In order to attain this object, the present invention provides a Braille information transmission input key comprising a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots, and for inputting Braille by a key input operation with a finger. In the transmission device, the information transmission input key includes switching means as original input means and pressing displacement detection means, and has a function of outputting a resistance value and a voltage corresponding to the switching information and the pressing displacement. It is a feature.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, a mechanism system for presenting Braille constituted by an actuator such as a piezoelectric element and a stimulating pin in an information transmission input key of a Braille information transmission device, and a key input to the mechanism system By providing an input key-shaped Braille reader with an element such as a switch and a variable resistor for generating a control signal such as a presentation speed, the key input and the braille reading of the Braille and the character presentation state at the time of the reading are performed. The control can be performed by an input key of the braille presenting unit or a key having the same function as the above-mentioned input key except for a presenting mechanism such as a stimulating pin installed near the presenting unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a Braille presentation mechanism in which a key input switch, a Braille presentation section, and an input function for controlling a presentation state are integrated. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of realizing a switching signal and an input key displacement signal by one key input according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a stimulation pin for stimulating tactile sensation, and reference numeral 2 denotes an actuator such as a piezoelectric element for driving the stimulation pin up and down. This actuator may be anything such as a voice coil motor or a stepping motor as long as it can move the stimulation pin up and down. Reference numeral 3 is a key input unit, reference numeral 4 is a semi-hollow cylindrical movable support bar fixed to the key input unit 3, and reference numeral 5 is a movable support bar 4.
, A coil spring for applying a force to return when the key input unit 3 is pressed down, reference numerals 6 and 7 are electrode portions of the switch, the electrode portion 6 is a curved electrode portion formed in an arc shape, and a reference numeral 8 is a movable support. The projections are fixed to the rod 4 and push and deform the curved portion of the curved electrode portion 6. Reference numerals 3 and 4 to 8 are general switch configurations, and any other type of switch may be used. Reference numeral 9 denotes a slide-type variable resistor having a movable portion fixed to the movable support bar 4.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 is a waveform shaping circuit, and reference numeral 12 is a low-pass filter for extracting an input key displacement amount, which can detect a DC voltage corresponding to the displacement of the input key 3.

Next, an operation of generating a switching signal and an input key displacement signal will be described with reference to FIGS. When the tactile reader updates the presented character, the input key is completely pressed to generate a signal associated with a general switching operation, and the waveform shaping circuit 11 generates a control signal such as a pulse for changing the presented character. I do. On the other hand, with respect to the displacement of the key input in the middle stage where the key is not completely pressed, only the low-pass filter 12 passes the signal, so that the voltage value via the variable resistor 9 is output according to the displacement of the input key, For example, it can be used as a signal for controlling the Braille presentation speed.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the input key according to the present invention, in which a differentiating circuit 10 is added to the basic configuration of FIG. When the key is not completely pressed, the switching operation is not performed and the voltage corresponding to the key pressing displacement is output, but when the pressing displacement is large, the key is accidentally completely pressed when the switching operation is not required. This prevents the switching operation. Only when the input key is pressed at a high speed, the differentiating circuit 10 generates a differential signal and outputs a switching signal only for an output voltage that changes rapidly with time. In this case, the output of the key pressing displacement and the switching output are separated by the differentiating circuit 10 and the low-pass filter 12.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a word processor input key type (method 2) information transmission device for the visually impaired using the present invention. Each of the input keys also serves as a Braille input, a Braille presentation unit, and an input unit for controlling the presentation state.
The tactile reader updates the displayed character by completely pressing the key using all or a part of the six input keys, and displaces the key without completely pressing the key, so that the presentation speed of the character is determined by the displacement of the key. Can be changed. FIG.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a changeover switch for switching between sending and receiving signals to and from an external interface according to an input mode used as a braille word processor and a tactile reading mode for performing operation control during tactile reading.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment provided with an input key (portion surrounded by a dotted line) of the present invention having a switching function and detection of a pressing displacement in the vicinity of a Braille presentation section. By the same key operation as described above, it is possible to change the Braille presentation state with the remaining fingers not related to Braille tactile reading, using the input keys provided near the Braille presentation section. In this example, the key may not have a stimulating pin or a drive unit for braille presentation.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which a single Braille display is provided with a mechanism comprising a movable support bar 4, a coil spring 5, a projection 8, and a variable resistor 9 shown in FIG. Things. Thus, the present invention may be applied to the entire frame.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. What is possible will be obvious.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, 1
Since the switching function and the voltage corresponding to the pressing displacement of the key can be obtained with the keys, the finger is put on the braille presentation unit by using this to form an integral structure with the input key of the key-shaped Braille reader. It can be used to adjust the Braille presentation speed and update the characters by operating the same input key while reading the document till. As a result, it is possible to realize a small-sized and low-cost key input integrated type Braille information transmission device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a configuration of a Braille information transmission input key according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a signal processing circuit relating to a key press displacement signal and a switching signal according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows another example of a signal processing circuit relating to the key press displacement signal and the switching signal of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a configuration example of a Braille information transmitting device using the input key of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another configuration example of the Braille information transmission device using the input key of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows another configuration example of the input key according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stimulation pin 2 Actuator 3 Key input part 4 Movable support rod 5 Coil spring 6 Curved electrode part 7 Electrode part 8 Projection part 9 Variable resistor 10 Differentiation circuit 11 Waveform shaping circuit 12 Low-pass filter 14 Switching switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A Braille information transmitting device comprising a number of keys corresponding to the number of unit dots and inputting Braille by a key input operation with a finger, wherein the information transmitting input key is provided with a switching means as an original input means. A Braille information transmission input key comprising: a pressing displacement amount detecting means; and a function capable of outputting a switching value and a resistance value or a voltage corresponding to the pressing displacement. 2. A Braille information transmission input key according to claim 1, wherein an element for stimulating a fingertip is buried in the input key. 3. The Braille information transmission input key according to claim 1, wherein said depression displacement amount detecting means has a low-pass filter.