SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BRAILLE ASSISTANCE

• US 20160232817A1
• Filed: 02/10/2015
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Djugash, Joseph M.A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,490,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/002 Writing aids for blind persons devices for Braille writing G09B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/02 Devices for Braille writing typewriters for Braille B41J3/32

Abstract

A braille teaching/autocorrecting system includes a camera configured to detect image data corresponding to at least one braille character. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system also includes a processor coupled to the camera and configured to identify the at least one braille character based on the image data and determine feedback data based on the identification of the at least one braille character.

Claims

1. A braille teaching/autocorrecting system comprising:

a camera configured to detect image data corresponding to at least one braille character; and

a processor coupled to the camera and configured to identify the at least one braille character based on the image data and determine feedback data based on the identification of the at least one braille character.

2. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine a word to be written and the feedback data includes whether the at least one braille character corresponds to a correct spelling of the word.

3. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the at least one braille character corresponds to a misspelling of a word or an incorrectly-written braille character;

determine a correct spelling of the word or a correctly-written braille character; and

replace the at least one braille character with the correct spelling of the word or replace the incorrectly-written braille character with the correctly-written braille character in response to determining that the at least one braille character corresponds to the misspelling of the word or the incorrectly-written braille character.

4. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled to the processor and configured to transmit an input to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a potential word based on the at least one braille character; and

autocomplete the at least one braille character with remaining characters of the potential word in response to receiving a first input indicating that the potential word is a desired word.

5. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 further comprising two elongate members and wherein the camera is capable of detecting a position of the two elongate members and the processor is further configured to determine a size of a braille cell based on the position of the two elongate members.

6. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 wherein the image data includes at least one of hand positions of a user'"'"'s hand, stylus positions of a stylus or indentions on a substrate over a period of time and the processor is configured to identify the at least one braille character based on the hand positions, the stylus positions or the indentions.

7. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 wherein the at least one braille character is reverse-oriented.

8. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 7 wherein the at least one braille character is written in a reverse direction.

9. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 1 further comprising:

an upper portion having a first end and a second end and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s neck;

a first lower portion coupled to the first end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s first shoulder; and

a second lower portion coupled to the second end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s second shoulder,

wherein the camera is positioned on a front surface of the first lower portion or the second lower portion.

10. A braille teaching/autocorrecting system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect braille data corresponding to at least one reverse-oriented braille character; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to identify the at least one reverse-oriented braille character based on the braille data and determine feedback data based on the identification of the at least one reverse-oriented braille character.

11. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 10 further comprising two elongate members and wherein the sensor is a camera capable of detecting a position of the two elongate members and the processor is further configured to determine a size of a braille cell based on the position of the two elongate members.

12. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 10 wherein the sensor is a camera and the braille data includes at least one of a hand position of a user'"'"'s hand, a stylus position of a stylus or indentions on a substrate and the processor is configured to identify the at least one reverse-oriented braille character based on the hand position, the stylus position or the indentions.

13. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 10 wherein the at least one reverse-oriented braille character is written in a reverse direction.

14. The braille teaching/auto correcting system of claim 10 further comprising:

an upper portion having a first end and a second end and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s neck;

a first lower portion coupled to the first end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s first shoulder; and

a second lower portion coupled to the second end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s second shoulder,

wherein the sensor is positioned on a front surface of the first lower portion or the second lower portion.

15. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 10 further comprising:

an input/output port coupled to the processor; and

a computing device such that the processor and the input/output port are positioned on the computing device,

wherein the sensor is a camera positioned remote from the computing device and coupled to the computing device via the input/output port.

16. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 10 wherein the sensor is a touchscreen including six locations that correspond to a braille cell and the braille data includes selected locations of the six locations.

17. A braille teaching/autocorrecting system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect braille data corresponding to at least one braille character; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to;

determine a direction in which the at least one braille character is being written based on the braille data,

determine an orientation in which the at least one braille character is being written based on the braille data,

identify the at least one braille character based on the braille data, and

determine feedback data based on the direction, orientation and identification of the at least one braille character.

18. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 17 further comprising two elongate members and wherein the sensor is a camera capable of detecting a position of the two elongate members and the processor is further configured to determine a size of a braille cell based on the position of the two elongate members.

19. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 17 wherein the sensor is a camera and the braille data includes image data corresponding to at least one of a hand position of a user'"'"'s hand, a stylus position of a stylus or indentions on a substrate and the processor is configured to identify the at least one braille character based on the hand position, the stylus position or the indentions.

20. The braille teaching/autocorrecting system of claim 17 further comprising:

an upper portion having a first end and a second end and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s neck;

a first lower portion coupled to the first end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s first shoulder; and

a second lower portion coupled to the second end of the upper portion and configured to rest on a user'"'"'s second shoulder,

wherein the sensor is positioned on a front surface of the first lower portion or the second lower portion.