Data entry method and apparatus for the disabled

• US 4,746,913 A
• Filed: 06/09/1986
• Issued: 05/24/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur C. Volta
• Original Assignee: Arthur C. Volta
• Inventors: Volta, Arthur C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Queen, Tyrone
• Application Number:
  US06/872,269
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407, 340/365 R, 340/706, 340/709, 340/825.19, 340/365 S, 400/87
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus allows a user to scan through a predetermined character set through the implementation of a continuously variable volitional signal, and for selecting a specific character. The scanning rate is proportional to the user controlled volitional signal.

Claims

1. An improved method of selecting an element of a group comprising steps of:

(a) serially scanning the elements of the group at a rate which is proportional to a user controlled continuously variable volitional signal;

(b) stopping said serial scanning step under an ambient condition.

(c) selecting the said element of the group by changing the user controlled volitional signal in a direction or magnitude different from that which is applied under scanning step (a).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an ambient condition forming step (b) adjusts the scanning step to a speed sufficiently slow to accommodate character selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the said user controlled continuously variable voltional signal comprises air vacuum which may be generated in the mouth of the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the change of said volitional signal (b) comprises air pressure which may be generated in the users mouth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the said user controlled continuously variable volitional signal comprises air pressure which may be generated in the mouth of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the change of said volitional signal (c) comprises air vacuum which may be generated in the user'"'"'s mouth.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the said element in step (c) is accomplished by means of a switch closure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user controlled continuously variable signal (a) may include discontinuities such as step responses.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a different group of elements to be scanned is selected when the magnitude of the said user controlled continuously variable volitional signal crosses a pre-selected threshold limit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a different group of elements to be scanned is selected by means of a switch closure.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of a said specific element according to step (c) is repeated if conditions comprising step (c) remain unaltered after an elapsed time duration.

12. A communication method, for use by handicapped individuals for selecting an element of any array, comprising steps of:

(a) serially scanning the elements of the group at a rate which is proportional to a user controlled continuously variable volitional signal;

(b) stopping said serial scanning step under an ambient condition.

(c) selecting the said element of the group by changing the user controlled volitional signal in a direction or magnitude different from that which is required for said scanning step (a).

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of selecting from a multiplicity of groups of elements to be scanned.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising a dual display such that a first display visually represents the array elements to be scanned and a second display visually represents a character which is instantaneously being scanned.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising a means of feedback to the user indicating that a character has been selected.

16. An apparatus for aiding handicapped persons in selecting an element of an array, comprising:

means for sequentially generating coded signals corresponding to the array elements;

means for serially scanning the elements of a group at a rate which is proportional to a user controlled continuously variable volitional signal;

means for selecting said element of an array upon signal threshold limits, switch closeure, or the combination of a multiplicity of applied control sources.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein ambient condition adjusts the scanning to a speed sufficiently slow to accommodate character selection.

18. An apparatus for aiding handicapped persons in selecting an element of an array of claim 16 further comprising two displays:

a first display showing the elements of the group to be scanned;

a second display showing the element of the array which is instantaneously being scanned.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a means of feedback to the user indicating that a character has been selected.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an ambient condition stops the scanning.