Tactile display system

• US 6,734,785 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Petersen
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Petersen
• Inventors: Petersen, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/001,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/7.6, 340/825.19, 340/407.2, 345/31, 345/110, 345/427, 345/428, 345/108, 345/114, 345/156, 434/114, 434/115, 434/112, 434/113, 724/13, 724/73, 724/78, 72/71, 72/73, 72/310.1
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/004 Details of particular tactile cells, e.g. electro-mechanical or mechanical layout

Abstract

A tactile display system includes a housing containing a tactile pin movable axially transverse of a reference surface and an actuator mechanism engageable therewith for selective movement between raised and lowered positions. An elongated electromagnet distant from the reference surface is aligned with the tactile pin and has spaced poles of opposite, selectively reversible, polarity. A generally spherical rotatable positioning member being a permanent magnet having a peripheral surface which is partially a spherical surface and partially a truncated surface has an axis of rotation coaxial with the tactile pin and the electromagnet and is responsive to operation of the electromagnet, being movable between a first position at which the spherical surface faces the tactile pin, causing positioning of the tactile pin at the raised position and a second position at which the truncated surface faces the tactile pin causing positioning of the tactile pin at the lowered position.

Claims

1. A tactile display system comprising:

a reference surface;

a tactile pin having a longitudinal axis movable axially in directions transverse of the reference surface between raised and lowered positions; and

an actuator mechanism for selectively moving the tactile pin between the raised and lowered positions, the actuator mechanism including;

an elongated electromagnet distant from the reference surface having a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced poles of opposite, selectively reversible, polarity, the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and the electromagnet being mutually aligned; and

a generally spherical rotatable positioning member intermediate the reference surface and the electromagnet having an axis of rotation coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet, the rotatable positioning member being a permanent magnet having a peripheral surface which is partially a spherical surface and partially a truncated surface, the positioning member being biased into engagement with the tactile pin and rotatable in response to operation of the electromagnet between a first position at which the spherical surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the raised position and a second position at which the truncated surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the lowered position.

2. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 1,

a resilient member biasing the tactile pin into engagement with the rotatable positioning member.

3. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 1,

a housing including an upper panel having the reference surface thereon and a lower panel in a sandwich construction, the upper panel having a transverse bore communicating with the reference surface, the lower panel having a cavity for freely receiving the rotatable positioning member, the cavity being in communication with the transverse bore;

the tactile pin being received in the transverse bore for movement axially in directions transverse of the reference surface; and

at least one resilient member biasing the tactile pin into engagement with the rotatable positioning member.

4. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing away from the reference surface and wherein the tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

a compression spring encircling the tactile pin and extending between the first annular shoulder and the second annular shoulder.

5. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing the reference surface and wherein the tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

polymeric sealing material encircling the tactile pin and extending between the first annular shoulder and the second annular shoulder.

6. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 3,

a terminal board lying in a plane generally parallel to that of the reference surface and spaced from the lower panel and having a mounting bore therein for fittingly receiving the second pole of the electromagnet;

a data line pin fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, the data line pin being in electrical continuity with the electromagnet; and

a ground pin fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, the ground pin being in electrical continuity with the tactile pin;

whereby an electrical signal originating on the data line pin energizes the electromagnet to rotate the rotatable positioning member in a direction that corresponds to the polarity of the electrical signal, movement of the tactile pin being responsive to the positioning of the rotatable positioning member.

35. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the cavity has a first region which includes a cylindrical bore coaxial with the transverse bore and a second region which includes a regular annular beveled surface extending from a major diameter at its intersection with the cylindrical bore to a minor diameter, the minor diameter being smaller than the diameter of the rotatable positioning member received in the cavity, the rotatable positioning member being slidably engaged with the annular beveled surface.

36. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 35,

wherein the annular beveled surface lies in a plane of revolution angled 45°

from the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet.

7. A tactile display system comprising:

a reference surface;

a plurality of tactile pins in parallel spaced apart relationship, each tactile pin having a longitudinal axis movable axially in directions transverse of the reference surface between raised and lowered positions; and

an actuator mechanism for selectively moving each tactile pin between the raised and lowered positions, the actuator mechanism including;

an elongated electromagnet distant from the reference surface having a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced poles of opposite, selectively reversible, polarity, the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and the electromagnet being mutually aligned;

a generally spherical rotatable positioning member intermediate the reference surface and the electromagnet having an axis of rotation coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet, the rotatable positioning member being a permanent magnet having a peripheral surface which is partially a spherical surface and partially a truncated surface, the positioning member being biased into engagement with the tactile pin and rotatable in response to operation of the electromagnet between a first position at which the spherical surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the raised position and a second position at which the truncated surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the lowered position.

8. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 7,

a resilient member biasing each of the tactile pins into engagement with its associated rotatable positioning member.

9. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 7,

a housing including an upper panel having the reference surface thereon and a lower panel in a sandwich construction, the upper panel having a plurality of transverse bores communicating with the reference surface, the lower panel having a plurality of cavities for freely receiving a rotatable positioning member, each cavity being in communication with an associated one of the transverse bores;

each tactile pin being received in an associated one of the transverse bores for movement axially in directions transverse of the reference surface; and

a resilient member biasing each of the tactile pins into engagement with its associated rotatable positioning member.

10. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 9,

wherein each cavity has a first region which includes a cylindrical bore coaxial with the transverse bore and a second region which includes a regular annular beveled surface extending from a major diameter at its intersection with the cylindrical bore to a minor diameter, the minor diameter being smaller than the diameter of the rotatable positioning member received in the cavity, the rotatable positioning member being slidably engaged with the annular beveled surface.

11. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 10,

wherein the annular beveled surface lies in a plane of revolution angled 45°

from the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet.

12. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 9,

wherein each transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing away from the reference surface and wherein its associated tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

a compression spring encircling each tactile pin and extending between the first annular shoulder and the second annular shoulder.

13. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 9,

wherein each transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing away from the reference surface and wherein each tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder of its associated transverse bore;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

polymeric sealing material encircling each tactile pin within the first associated transverse bore adjacent the reference surface and engaged with the tactile pin and with the bore for biasing the tactile pin toward the lowered position.

14. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 9,

a terminal board lying in a plane generally parallel to that of the reference surface and spaced from the lower panel and having a plurality of mounting bores therein for fittingly receiving the second poles of the electromagnets;

a plurality of data line pins fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, each data line pin being in electrical continuity with an associated one of the electromagnets; and

at least one ground pin fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, the ground pin being in electrical continuity with each of the tactile pins;

whereby an electrical signal originating on each data line pin energizes the electromagnet associated therewith to rotate the associated rotatable positioning member in a direction that corresponds to the polarity of the electrical signal, movement of the associated tactile pin being responsive to the positioning of the rotatable positioning member.

15. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 7,

wherein the housing is composed of shielding material for electrically and magnetically isolating each actuator mechanism from its neighboring actuator mechanism.

16. A tactile display system comprising:

a housing having a reference surface and including an upper panel and a lower panel in a sandwich construction, the upper panel having a transverse bore communicating with the reference surface, the lower panel having a cavity for freely receiving a rotatable positioning member, the cavity being in communication with the transverse bore;

a tactile pin having a longitudinal axis received in the transverse bore movable axially in directions transverse of the reference surface between raised and lowered positions; and

an actuator mechanism for selectively moving the tactile pin between the raised and lowered positions, the actuator mechanism including;

an elongated electromagnet distant from the reference surface has a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced poles of opposite, selectively reversible, polarity, the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and the electromagnet being mutually aligned; and

a generally spherical rotatable positioning member received in the cavity intermediate the reference surface and the electromagnet having an axis of rotation coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet, the rotatable positioning member being a permanent magnet having a peripheral surface which is partially a spherical surface and partially a truncated surface, the positioning member being biased into engagement with the tactile pin and rotatable in response to operation of the electromagnet between a first position at which the spherical surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the raised position and a second position at which the truncated surface engages the tactile pin and moves it to the lowered position.

17. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 16,

wherein the cavity has a first region which includes a cylindrical bore coaxial with the transverse bore and a second region which includes a regular annular beveled surface extending from a major diameter at its intersection with the cylindrical bore to a minor diameter, the minor diameter being smaller than the diameter of the rotatable positioning member received in the cavity, the rotatable positioning member being slidably engaged with the annular beveled surface.

18. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 17,

wherein the annular beveled surface lies in a plane of revolution angled 45°

from the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet.

19. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 16,

including:

a first conductive member on the reference surface; and

a second conductive member extending to an electrical circuit for detecting the presence of a user'"'"'s finger resting on the first conductive member.

20. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 19,

wherein the upper panel has at least one mounting bore and the lower panel has at least one mounting bore, the mounting bores and being mutually aligned;

and

wherein the second conductive member includes a metallic stud received in the mounting bores for fastening the upper and lower panels together; and

wherein the first conductive member includes a head of the metallic stud engaged with the upper panel.

21. A tactile display system comprising:

a reference surface;

a tactile pin having a longitudinal axis movable axially in directions transverse of the reference surface between raised and lowered positions; and

an actuator mechanism engageable with the tactile pin for selectively moving the tactile pin between the raised and lowered positions, the actuator mechanism including;

an elongated electromagnet distant from the reference surface having a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced poles of opposite, selectively reversible, polarity, the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and the electromagnet being mutually aligned; and

a generally spherical rotatable positioning member having an axis of rotation coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet, the rotatable positioning member being a permanent magnet having a peripheral surface which is partially a spherical surface and partially a truncated surface, the positioning member being responsive to operation of the electromagnet and being movable between a first position at which the spherical surface faces the tactile pin and causes positioning of the tactile pin at the raised position and a second position at which the truncated surface faces the tactile pin and causes positioning of the tactile pin at the lowered position.

22. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the tactile pin is biased positioning the direction of the rotatable positioning member.

23. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the electromagnet includes a ferrous cylinder extending between a first end proximate the tactile pin and a second end proximate the rotatable positioning member, the ferrous cylinder supporting an electrically energizing wire coil contiguously wrapped therearound between the first and second ends;

and

wherein the actuator mechanism includes a ferrous core member axially slidable within the ferrous cylinder and extending between a first end engageable with the tactile pin and a second end engageable with the rotatable positioning member.

24. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the electromagnet is intermediate the tactile pin and the rotatable positioning member.

25. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the rotatable positioning member is intermediate the tactile pin and the electromagnet.

26. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the electromagnet includes a ferrous spool extending between a first end proximate the tactile pin and a second end proximate the rotatable positioning member, the ferrous spool including:

a central core member;

a proximal disk at the first end lying in a plane transverse of the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and having an electrically conductive outer peripheral surface;

a distal disk at the second end lying in a plane transverse of the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and having an electrically conductive outer peripheral surface; and

an electrically energizing wire coil contiguously wrapped around the central core member between the proximal disk and the distal disk and connected to the electrically conductive outer peripheral surfaces of the proximal disk and of the distal disk, respectively.

27. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 26,

wherein the ferrous spool is longitudinally movable upon movement of the rotatable positioning member between the first and second positions;

and

including;

a first contact member connected to an electrical circuit for energizing the electromagnet being engageable with the electrically conductive outer peripheral surfaces of the proximal disk; and

a second contact member connected to an electrical circuit for energizing the electromagnet being engageable with the electrically conductive outer peripheral surfaces of the distal disk;

the first and second contact members remaining in contact, respectively, with the electrically conductive outer peripheral surfaces of the proximal disk and of the distal disk throughout movement of the ferrous spool between the first and second positions.

28. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

including:

a resilient member biasing the tactile pin toward the lowered position.

29. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 21,

a housing including an upper panel having the reference surface thereon and a lower panel in a sandwich construction, the upper panel having a transverse bore communicating with the reference surface, the lower panel having a cavity for freely receiving the rotatable positioning member, the cavity being in communication with the transverse bore;

the tactile pin being received in the transverse bore for movement axially in directions transverse of the reference surface; and

a resilient member biasing the tactile pin toward the lowered position.

30. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 29,

wherein the cavity has a first region which includes a cylindrical bore coaxial with the transverse bore and a second region which includes a regular annular beveled surface extending from a major diameter at its intersection with the cylindrical bore to a minor diameter, the minor diameter being smaller than the diameter of the rotatable positioning member received in the cavity, the rotatable positioning member being slidably engaged with the annular beveled surface.

31. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 30,

wherein the annular beveled surface lies in a plane of revolution angled 45°

from the longitudinal axes of the tactile pin and of the electromagnet.

32. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 29,

wherein the transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing away from the reference surface and wherein the tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

a compression spring encircling the tactile pin and extending between the first annular shoulder and the second annular shoulder.

33. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 29,

wherein the transverse bore has a first annular shoulder facing away from the reference surface and wherein the tactile pin has a second annular shoulder facing and aligned with the first annular shoulder;

and

wherein the resilient member includes;

a resilient polymeric sealing material encircling the tactile pin and extending between the first annular shoulder and the second annular shoulder.

34. A tactile display system as set forth in claim 29,

a terminal board lying in a plane generally parallel to that of the reference surface and spaced from the lower panel and having a mounting bore therein for fittingly receiving the second pole of the electromagnet;

a data line pin fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, the data line pin being in electrical continuity with the electromagnet; and

a ground pin fixed to and projecting from the terminal board in a direction extending away from the reference surface, the ground pin being in electrical continuity with the tactile pin;

whereby an electrical signal originating on the data line pin energizes the electromagnet to rotate the rotatable positioning member in a direction that corresponds to the polarity of the electrical signal, movement of the tactile pin being responsive to the positioning of the rotatable positioning member.