REMOTE BRAILLE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE

• US 20120094257A1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronic Brailler, LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronic Brailler, LLC
• Inventors: Pillischer, David, Sullivan, Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US13/286,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/113
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/32 for printing in Braille or with keyboards specially adapted for use by blind or disabled persons

Abstract

A remote Braille education system and device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a remote Braille education system includes a first computer system at a first location, second computer systems associated with visually impaired individuals at a second location, and a server. The first computer system includes an input device, and a display device, and each of the second computer systems includes an electronic Braille device(s). The input device is configured for communicating a first set of characters to the electronic Braille device via the server. The electronic Braille device is configured for embossing the first set of characters on a printing medium. Furthermore, the electronic Braille device is configured for transmitting a second set of characters inputted by the visually impaired individual(s) via the server. The display device is configured for displaying the second set of characters received from said one or more of the second computer systems.

Claims

1. A remote Braille education system comprising:

a first computer system associated with an instructor at a first location comprising;

an input device; and

a display device;

a plurality of second computer systems associated with visually impaired individuals at a second location, wherein each of the plurality of second computer systems comprises;

an electronic Braille device; and

a server communicatively coupled to the first computer system and the plurality of second computer systems, wherein the first computer system is configured for communicating the first set of characters inputted by the instructor via the input device to the electronic Braille device of one or more of the plurality of second computer systems via the server, and wherein the electronic Braille device is configured for embossing the first set of characters on a printing medium at the second location in real time and for transmitting a second set of characters inputted by the respective one of the visually impaired individuals via the server, and wherein the display device is configured for displaying the second set of characters received from said one or more of the plurality of second computer systems.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of characters is in a text format.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said each of the plurality of second computer systems comprises:

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the electronic Braille device comprising;

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a first remote Braille education module for converting the first set of characters in text format into at least one of Braille format and speech format.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic Braille device comprises a Braille embosser for embossing the first set of characters on the printing medium, wherein the Braille embosser comprises at least one stepper motor, an eccentric shaft, and printing carriage with print heads for embossing the first set of characters in the Braille format.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the Braille device comprises a Braille keyboard for enabling the respective one of the visually impaired individuals to input the second set of characters in a Braille format, wherein the Braille keyboard comprises a supporting base and one or more key pivotally mounted on to the supporting base using a living hinge.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer system further comprises:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory includes a second remote Braille education module for translating the second set of characters received from the one or more of the plurality of second computer systems in a text format.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second remote Braille education module enables selection of the Braille device associated with the one or more of the visually impaired individuals for embossing the first set of characters.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second remote Braille education module is configured for displaying a list of visually impaired individuals in offline mode and online mode on the display device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first remote Braille education module is configured for enabling the instructor to communicate with one or more visually impaired individuals using speech.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second remote Braille education module is configured for enabling respective one of the visually impaired individuals to communicate with the instructor using speech.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said each of the plurality of second systems comprises a storage module for storing the second set of characters in the server.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising at least one universal serial bus (USB) port for communicatively connecting with a computer system.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a rechargeable battery for providing power to the Braille embosser.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a solar charger for recharging the rechargeable battery.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the stepper motors are configured to rotate the eccentric shaft such that raised pins on respective print heads mounted on the eccentric shaft are pressed into grooves of an anvil resulting in embossing the first set of Braille characters on the printing medium.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more keys comprises a magnet.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the Braille keyboard comprises one or more sensors located on a main circuit board and positioned with respect to the one or more keys.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more sensors are configured for sensing movement of the respective one or more keys corresponding to the second set of Braille characters inputted by the at least one visually impaired individual.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a remote Braille education module configured for;

converting the set of text characters into the set of Braille characters prior to embossing on the printing medium; and

enabling said at least one visually impaired individual to communicate with the instructor using speech.

12. A portable electronic Braille device comprising:

a Braille embosser for noise less embossing a first set of Braille characters corresponding to a set of text characters on a printing medium associated with at least one visually impaired individual; and

a Braille keyboard for enabling the at least one visually impaired individual to input a second set of Braille characters, wherein the Braille embosser comprises stepper motors, an eccentric shaft and a print carriage with print heads, and wherein the Braille keyboard comprises a supporting base and one or more keys pivotally mounted on the supporting base.