Non-verbal communication device

• US 4,406,998 A
• Filed: 03/20/1981
• Issued: 09/27/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda Willough
• Original Assignee: Linda Willough
• Inventors: Willough, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US06/246,009
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 340/378.1, 340/366 E, 340/802, 340/712, 340/286 R, 340/286 M, 340/524, 340/525, 340/709, 340/365 VL, 340/24, 340/711, 340/321, 340/756, 340/716, 340/796 , 340/803, 340/734, 340/815.01, 340/815.06, 340/815.12, 340/815.2, 340/815.14-815.16, 340/705, 340/717, 434/112, 434/118, 434/430, 400/87, 40/452, 40/572, 40/573, 40/575
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B

Abstract

A device for facilitating non-verbal communications between individuals. The device includes a two-sided panel containing a plurality of message blocks which are selectively illuminated by the individuals in a variety of modes. In a first mode, the message blocks are sequentially scanned in one of two patterns, with scan direction and termination being controlled by actuating a switch. In a second mode, a transparent, direct select keyboard is placed over the message blocks and individual message blocks are selected by touching the keyboard in front of the block to be selected. Finally, the position of the illuminated message block may be controlled by a job stick. The message blocks on the panel are printed on removable overlays which are specially adapted for various situations. The overlays carry identifying markings which are automatically read by the device so that the messages on the overlay, which are stored in non-volatile memory, can be correlated to their position on the panel. The overlays include a number of special function blocks which, when selected, cause the device to operate a wheelchair, sound an audio alarm, communicate with a computer or other device through a serial I/O port, or communicate ultrasonically with external devices. Each message block may include several different messages, with the message selected in that block being designated by a corresponding level-selection block. The messages may be either letters or words, and the combination of letters and words may be accumulated in an alphanumeric display or a printer.

Claims

1. A non-verbal communication device, comprising:

a plurality of optically isolated light cells arranged in a matrix, each of said cells having a first open end and an opposing second open end;

individually energizable, light-emitting means mounted in each of said cells for simultaneous transmission of light emitted to said first and second open ends;

a first light-transmissive panel covering the first open ends of said cells and a second light-transmissive panel covering the second open ends of said cells;

a removable overlay covering said first and second panels, said overlay having a first portion with messages arranged in a plurality of discrete message blocks which are superimposed on said first panel over respective cells of said matrix, and a second portion with identical messages arranged in a plurality of discrete message blocks which are superimposed on said second panel over respective and corresponding cells of said matrix to position the same message on the opposite sides of said cells;

a removable bracket having a first light-transparent side covering said first portion of said overlay, and a second light-transparent side covering said second portion of said overlay, said first and second sides being in opposing relationship and biased toward each other to hold said first portion of said overlay in place against said first panel, and second portion of said overlay in place against said second panel; and

means for allowing an individual to selectively energize each of said light-emitting means to communicate the message contained in a message block illuminated by said light-emitting means to a second party positioned to view said second position of said overlay while said individual is positioned to view said first portion of said overlay.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein each of several overlays are marked with an identification code which uniquely defines said overlay, said device further including:

a non-volatile memory for storing the messages, respective message block locations and identification code for each of said overlays;

code reader means for reading the identification markings on each overlay as it is placed on said panel in order to determine the identification code for such overlay; and

processor means for correlating the messages for said overlay stored in said non-volatile memory, with each cell having an energized light-emitting means to allow said processor means to determine the messages selected by said individual.

3. The communication device of claim 2, furtherincluding accumulator means to which said messages are transmitted by said processor means to allow a plurality of sequentially selected messages to be accumulated.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein said accumulator includes a random access meory addressable by said processor means for storing data corresponding to said messages.

5. The communication device of claim 4, further including serial input/output interface means comprising a clock for generating a plurality of clock pulses and a shift register receiving said data from said random access memory in parallel and sequentially outputting said data through a serial input/output port.

6. The communication device of claim 5, further including means for allowing said shift register to receive data in serial from an external device and for periodically transferring said data to said random access memory in parallel.

7. The communication device of claim 3 wherein said accumulator means includes buffer means for temporarily storing a plurality of messages, an alphanumeric display having a plurality of digits, each of which includes a plurality of individually energizable light-emitting segments adapted to form an alphanumeric character, and display driver means receiving the contents of said buffer means and sequentially energizing the segments of each display which correspond to each character of the messages stored in said buffer means.

8. The communication device of claim 3 wherein accumulator means includes printer means for printing said messages as they are selected.

9. The communication device of claim 1, further including means for adjusting the intensity of light from said light-emitting means in accordance with the intensity of the ambient light, comprising:

light-sensing means for providing an output indicative of the intensity of ambient light; and

processor means for periodically energizing the light-emitting means in the cells for selected messages, said light-emitting means being energized for a duration which is proportional to the intensity of ambient light.

10. The communication device of claim 1, further including means for generating an output to control an external device, said output being initiated by selecting a predetermined message block on said overlay.

11. The communication device of claim 10 wherein said output is an ultrasonic audio signal coded in accordance with the message block selected on said overlay.

12. The communication device of claim 10 wherein said overlay includes message blocks bearing respective wheelchair manipulation commands and wherein said output is adapted to operate a wheelchair in accordance with the commands selected on said overlay.

13. The communication device of claim 12 wherein said outputs are two in number, each of which is adapted to control one wheel of a two-wheeled wheelchair, said output being a predetermined frequency for a command which requires a respective wheel to be stopped, and said output being a frequency above or below said predetermined frequency responsive to a selected command which causes the respective wheel to move forwardly or rearwardly.

14. The communication device of claim 1 wherein each message on said overlay is positioned adajcent other messages which are most likely to be selected following the selection of such message.

15. The communication device of claim 1 wherein each message block contains a plurality of messages and said first and second panels of said overlay each further includes a plurality of identical message designating blocks, said message designating blocks corresponding in number to the number of messages in each message block and being superimposed over respective cells of said matrix, said message designating blocks being individually selectable by energizing a corresponding light-emitting means and correlated to one message of said plurality of messages contained in a message block to indicate which of said plurality of messages said individual desires to communicate when a message block is illuminated.

16. The communication device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of message blocks may be sequentially illuminated, said device further including means for removing energy from said energized light-emitting means when a predetermined message block is selected.

17. The communication device of claim 1, further including means for simultaneously energizing the light-emitting means in a plurality of cells in blocks, the number and arrangement of cells forming said blocks being manually adjustable.

18. The communication device of claim 1 wherein said message blocks are scanned in a plurality of patterns under control of a manually actuatable switch which is plugged into a plurality of jacks corresponding to respective scan patterns, said communication device further including processing means for determining in which jack said switch is plugged and for scanning said message blocks in the pattern corresponding to said jack.

19. The communication device of claim 18, further including a direct select keyboard for allowing specific message blocks to be selected, said keyboard comprising:

a transparent switch panel positioned in front of said overlay, said panel having a plurality of switch contacts corresponding in number and position to said message blocks; and

processor means for determining which switch contact has been closed and for illuminating the light-emitting means for the message block corresponding thereto.

20. The communication device of claim 15 wherein said overlay containing a plurality of messages in each message block is marked with an identification code comprised of a plurality of identification markings which uniquely defines said overlay, and each of said messages in a message block corresponds to a selectable message designating block, said device further including:

a non-volatile memory for storing each of said messges and its corresponding message designating block, respective message block and message designating block locations on said overlay, and said identification code for said overlay;

code reader means for reading said identification markings on said overlay as it is placed on said panel to determine the identification code for such overlay;

detection means for determining the message designating block and message block illuminated by said individual when selectively energizing said light-emitting means; and

processor means for correlating the messages for said overlay stored in said non-volatile memory with the message designating block and message block said detector means determines are illuminated by said individual to determine the message selected by said individual.

21. The communication device of claim 20, further including:

accumulator means to which said selected messages are sequentially transmitted by said processor means and temporarily stored to allow a plurality of selected messages to be accumulated in the order received; and

an alphanumeric display having a plurality of digits, each of which includes a plurality of individually energizable light-emitting segments adapted to form an alphanumeric character, and display driver means receiving the contents of said accumulator means and sequentially energizing the segments of each display which correspond to each character of the message stored in said accumulator means, whereby said individual may compose and simultaneously display sequentially selected messages.

22. The communication device of claim 15 wherein each of said message designating blocks is color coded, and each of said plurality of messages in said message blocks is color coded to correspond to the color coding of one of said message designating blocks.

23. A non-verbal communication device, comprising:

a plurality of optically isolated light cells arranged in a matrix, each of said cells having a first open end and an opposing second open end;

individually energizable, light-emitting means mounted in each of said cells for simultaneous transmission of light emitted to said first and second open ends;

a first light-transmissive panel covering the first open ends of said cells and a second light-transmissive panel covering the second open ends of said cells;

a removable overlay covering said first and second panels, said overlay having a first portion with a plurality of discrete message blocks which are superimposed on said first panel over resepctive cells of said matrix, each of said message blocks containing a plurality of messages, and a second portion with a plurality of discrete message blocks which are superimposed on said second panel over respective and corresponding cells of said matrix, each of said message blocks containing a plurality of messages identical to said messages contained in said message blocks of said first portion to position the same message on the opposite sides of said cells, said first and second portions each further including a plurality of identical message designating blocks which are superimposed on said first and second panels over respective cells of said matrix to position the same message designating block on opposite sides of said cells, said message designating blocks corresponding in number to the number of messages in each message block and each correlated to one message of said plurality of messages in a message block; and

means for allowing an individual to selectively energize each of said light-emitting means corresponding to said message blocks to illuminate the message block containing the plurality of messages including the message to be communicated to a second party positioned to view said second portion of said overlay while said individual is positioned to view said first portion of said overlay, and for allowing said individual to selectively energize each of said light-emitting means corresponding to said message designating blocks to indicate which of said plurality of messages in the illuminated message block said individual desires to communicate.

24. The communication device of claim 23 wherein said overlay is marked with an identification code comprised of a plurality of identification markings which uniquely defines said overlay, said device further including:

a non-volatile memory for storing each of said messages and its corresponding message designating block, respective message block and message designating block locations on said overlay, and said identification code for said overlay;

code reader means for reading said identification markings on said overlay as it is placed on said panel to determine the identification code for such overlay;

detection means for determining the message designating block and message block illuminated by said individual when selectivelya energizing said light-emitting means; and

processor means for automatically correlating the messges for said overlay stored in said non-volatile memory with the message designating block and message block said detector means determines are illuminated by said individual to determine the message selected by said individual;

accumulator means to which said selected messages are sequentially transmitted by said processor means and temporarily stored to allow a plurality of selected messages to be accumulated in the order received; and

display means to receive and visually display the contents of said accumulator means, whereby said individual may compose and simultaneously display sequentially selected messages.