Refreshable Braille display unit
First Claim
1. A refreshable display unit comprising,a housing;
- a plurality of refreshable cells housed in the housing, each cell comprising;
(i) a guide block having six holes, (ii) six DC motors (pager type), preferably with all the motors oriented in the same direction, (iii) each motor having a coupler which may be rotated by the motor, (iv) a pin fastened to each coupler and extending into engagement with one of the holes of the guide block, and (v) a stop bar mounted on each coupler for engaging stop pins mounted on the housing for limiting the rotation of the coupler, (vi) the placement of the stop pins on the housing being such that it controls the height extension of the pin fastened to the coupler with respect to the guide block, a safety bar mounted on the housing for protecting the pins, and means for connecting the display unit to the electronic means of a computer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refreshable display unit with a housing, a plurality of refreshable cells housed in the housing, the cells having a guide block with at least six holes, six motors each with a coupler which may be rotated by the motor, a pin fastened to each coupler and extending into engagement with one of the holes of the guide block, and a stop mounted on each coupler for engaging stop elements mounted on the housing for limiting the rotation of the coupler, the placement of the stop elements on the housing being such that it controls the height extension of the pin fastened to the coupler with respect to the guide block, the unit further having a connector for connecting the display unit to the electronic means of a computer. A unit may have a plurality of keys for inputting a character, including at least two sets of keys, a first set being used when the keyboard is oriented in a first direction and a second set being used when the keyboard is oriented in a second direction.
43 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A refreshable display unit comprising,
a housing; -
a plurality of refreshable cells housed in the housing, each cell comprising;
(i) a guide block having six holes, (ii) six DC motors (pager type), preferably with all the motors oriented in the same direction, (iii) each motor having a coupler which may be rotated by the motor, (iv) a pin fastened to each coupler and extending into engagement with one of the holes of the guide block, and (v) a stop bar mounted on each coupler for engaging stop pins mounted on the housing for limiting the rotation of the coupler, (vi) the placement of the stop pins on the housing being such that it controls the height extension of the pin fastened to the coupler with respect to the guide block, a safety bar mounted on the housing for protecting the pins, and means for connecting the display unit to the electronic means of a computer. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A refreshable computer display unit comprising:
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a) a housing;
b) a plurality of refreshable cells carried on said housing;
c) wherein each cell comprises a guide block having an upper surface and at least six apertures therein, a like number of motors corresponding to the number of apertures, a coupler provided on each motor to be rotated by said motor, a pin connected to each coupler and adapted to extend through one of the apertures, and stop means for limiting the rotation of each coupler to control the position of the pin extension relative to the guide block and regulate the pin position from a first position where the pin is positioned to extend above the guide block surface and a second position where the pin is lowered to a position below the guide block surface. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
a computer for processing information, means for transmitting an input in the form of an electrical signal from a keyboard to the computer to detect a striking of one or more keys of the keyboard, software for controlling the computer to read the input associated with the striking of one or more keys, wherein said processor compares a plurality of input signals associated with a plurality of key strikes with stored data to determine whether the keyboard is being used in a first orientation or a second orientation.
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18. The unit of claim 3, further comprising:
a keyboard for inputting Braille characters.
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19. The unit of claim 18,
the keyboard having a first set of a plurality of keys and a second set of a plurality of keys, wherein the first set of plurality of keys is arranged in a first predetermined location on the keyboard, and wherein the second set of plurality of keys is arranged in a second predetermined location on the keyboard, wherein the keyboard has a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein said first orientation presents the first set of plurality of keys proximate one side of the keyboard for use when the keyboard is in said first orientation, and wherein said second orientation presents the second set of plurality of keys proximate one side of the keyboard for use when the keyboard is in said second orientation, the keyboard further comprising a display for displaying a plurality of Braille characters, wherein said display is located on the keyboard below the area of said first set of plurality of keys when said keyboard is in said first orientation, and wherein said display is located on the keyboard above the area of said second set of plurality of keys when said keyboard is in said second orientation. -
20. The unit of claim 19, wherein said second set of plurality of keys has a key corresponding to the second set of plurality of keys of the first set.
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21. The unit of claim 20, wherein said first plurality of keys includes at least seven keys.
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22. The unit of claim 20, wherein said first plurality of keys includes at least seven keys and a plurality of function keys.
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23. The unit of claim 19, wherein said first set of plurality of keys includes at least six keys.
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24. The unit of claim 19, wherein said display includes a plurality of cells for displaying Braille characters.
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25. The unit of claim 19, comprising switching means for switching the orientation of the characters displayed on said display to correspond to one or the other of the first orientation or the second orientation.
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26. The unit of claim 25, wherein said switching means comprises a user actuated switch.
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27. The unit of claim 19, comprising
a computer for processing information, means for transmitting an input in the form of an electrical signal from the keyboard to the computer to detect a striking of one or more keys, software for controlling the computer to read and compare the input associated with the striking of one or more keys, wherein said processor compares a plurality of input signals associated with a plurality of key strikes with stored data to determine whether the keyboard is being used in a first orientation or a second orientation. -
28. The unit of claim 27, wherein said computer is controlled by software which displays on said keyboard display a plurality of Braille characters, wherein said display displays characters oriented to correspond to the orientation of the keyboard.
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29. The unit of claim 27, further comprising means for connecting the keyboard to the electronic means of a computer, and means for sensing the input of a keystroke.
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30. The unit of claim 19, further comprising refreshing means for actuating the refreshment of the display.
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31. The unit of claim 30, where the refreshing means comprises a user actuated switch.
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32. The unit of claim 30, wherein said cells are arranged in a bank having a first end and a second end, and wherein the refreshing means comprises a sensor disposed to sense the position of the user'"'"'s finger at at least one of the first bank end and the second bank end.
Specification