Braille display
First Claim
1. A Braille display for denoting characters by the positions of at least six movable projections arranged in two parallel columns with each column comprising at least three of said projections, each projection being movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, actuator means for selectively moving each of the projections between its said two positions, the actuator means comprising rotary means having different rotary positions, the rotary means being operatively coupled to the projections to as to effect movements of the said projections, the rotary means in said different rotary positions causing said projections to adopt different predetermined permutations of the elevated and lowered positions of the projections corresponding to respective characters to be denoted by the Braille display, the actuator means further including drive means for selectively rotating the rotary means between its different rotary positions, and wherein the rotary means comprises two cam members having cam profiles, each cam member being associated with a respective column of said projections so that rotation of each cam member effects movements of the associated projections between their elevated and lowered positions depending on the rotary position of the cam member, each cam member having an associated drive means for moving the cam member between its rotary positions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Braille display for denoting characters by the positions of six or eight movable projections or pins (10, 11, 12) arranged in two parallel columns. Each projection is movable between an elevated position and a lowered position by a rotary cam actuator (30) so that different rotary positions of the cam members (31) cause the projections to adopt different predetermined permutations of the elevated and lowered positions of the projections corresponding to respective characters to be denoted by the Braille display. There is one cam member (31) for each column of projections. Drive elements in the form of stepping motors (35) selectively rotate the cam members (31) between their different rotary positions. Each pin (10, 11, 12) preferentially adopts its lowered position, e.g. by action of biasing springs (20, 21, 22). Each pin has a head (33) in contact with the associated cam member (31), and each cam member has depressions (32) in its profile so that each head can enter a respective depression to effect movement of the respective pin from its elevated to its lowered position. The cam profiles (32) are shaped to ensure that only one projection (10, 11, 12) is ever being moved by the cam profiles at any instant.
33 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A Braille display for denoting characters by the positions of at least six movable projections arranged in two parallel columns with each column comprising at least three of said projections, each projection being movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, actuator means for selectively moving each of the projections between its said two positions, the actuator means comprising rotary means having different rotary positions, the rotary means being operatively coupled to the projections to as to effect movements of the said projections, the rotary means in said different rotary positions causing said projections to adopt different predetermined permutations of the elevated and lowered positions of the projections corresponding to respective characters to be denoted by the Braille display, the actuator means further including drive means for selectively rotating the rotary means between its different rotary positions, and wherein the rotary means comprises two cam members having cam profiles, each cam member being associated with a respective column of said projections so that rotation of each cam member effects movements of the associated projections between their elevated and lowered positions depending on the rotary position of the cam member, each cam member having an associated drive means for moving the cam member between its rotary positions.
Specification