Braille learning apparatus and braille learning method using the same

• US 10,453,359 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OHFA Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OHFA Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Hangsok, Cho, Jae Ryun, Lee, Kyounghwang, Son, Minsung
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Kesha
• Application Number:
  US15/396,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20170309203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,025 Days
• Field of Search: 434113
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/004 Details of particular tactile cells, e.g. electro-mechanical or mechanical layout
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users

Abstract

A braille learning apparatus includes a plurality of slave blocks for receiving braille from a learner, and a master station configured to: receive braille learning information from an external braille learning information terminal, when slave blocks corresponding to a specific braille inputted by the learner are mounted, determine whether the specific braille inputted to the slave blocks match a learning word, and transmit a determination result to the external braille learning information terminal.

Claims

1. A braille learning apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of slave blocks for receiving braille from a learner; and

a master station configured to;

receive braille learning information from an external braille learning information terminal, when the plurality of slave blocks corresponding to a specific braille inputted by the learner are mounted on the master station, determine whether the specific braille inputted to the plurality of slave blocks match a learning word,

wherein each of the plurality of slave blocks comprises;

a block body having a plurality of through holes provided on a front surface and a rear surface thereof, which are opposite to each other; and

a plurality of braille input pins accommodated in the block body, each of the plurality of braille input pins being configured to be pressed by an external force of the learner, wherein one end of each of the plurality of braille input pins are configured to protrude via a through hole at the front surface of the block body when the braille is not inputted, and another end of each of the plurality of braille input pins are configured to protrude via a through hole at the rear surface of the block body when the braille is inputted,

and

transmit a determination result to the external braille learning information terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of slave blocks further includes:

a braille input pin fixing member for fixing a braille input state or an uninput state so as not to change until the external force of the learner is applied to each of the braille input pins.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the braille input pin fixing member comprises:

a permanent magnet fixedly coupled to a predetermined position of the braille input pin; and

a pair of magnetic bodies spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so that the permanent magnet can move inside the block body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the master station comprises:

a block mount unit for providing a predetermined space in which the plurality of slave blocks are mounted; and

a sensing unit which is turned on by pressing a braille input pin protruding from a-the rear surface of each of the plurality of slave blocks when the plurality of slave blocks are mounted on the block mounting unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the master station further comprises:

a block fixing unit for applying a predetermined attractive force when the plurality of slave blocks are mounted on the block mounting unit to firmly fix the plurality of slave blocks.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the master station further comprises:

a communication unit for communicating with the external braille learning information terminal and receiving the braille learning information; and

a controller for checking the braille inputted to the plurality of slave blocks based on whether the sensing unit is turned on and controlling the driving of the master station.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication unit transmits the braille inputted to the slave blocks to the braille learning information terminal under the control of the controller, or compares the braille inputted to the plurality of slave blocks with the learning word corresponding to the braille learning information by the controller, and transmits the determination result based on the comparison to the braille learning information terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the master station further comprises an acoustic output unit for outputting a learning word corresponding to the braille learning information to a sound.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the master station further comprises a braille actuator for indicating the learning word corresponding to the braille learning information in braille.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the braille actuator comprises:

an electromagnet provided on a lower surface and whose polarity changes according to a current flow;

a rotary member having an inclined upper surface, a permanent magnet provided on a lower surface thereof, and rotated by an attractive force or a repulsive force acting on the electromagnet; and

a braille protrusion formed as an inclined surface such that a bottom surface thereof contacts the inclined surface of the rotary member, and is raised or lowered along the inclined surface of the rotary member when the rotary member is rotated.