Method and system for autonomous teaching of braille

• US 9,105,196 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Proxtalker.com LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxtalker.com LLC
• Inventors: Dobbs, Glen, Miller, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Kesha
• Application Number:
  US12/982,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 434/113
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for autonomous learning of Braille by an unsighted user. The system allows the unsighted user to pass a card over an RFID reader so as to trigger an audible response that is indicative of an indicia (Braille word or character) embossed on the card. The embossed card further comprises an RFID tag and a series of raised indicia surfaces representative of a Braille-based word or character. The tag transmits a signal indicative of the word or character to the receiving (via receiver) micro-controller which will convert the signal to an audible tone to be transmitted through an output device. The system has a memory which holds a library of tones corresponding to a signal to be converted. An autonomous record mode allows the system user to record an audio input to be stored in the library, or utilize an interface port, or removable memory, for downloading an input.

Claims

1. A method for autonomous learning of Braille, by an unsighted user utilizing a micro-controller based system, said method further comprising the steps of:

(a) activating, by an activation device, said micro-controller-based system;

(b) selecting an embossed card from among a plurality of embossed tags, said embossed card further comprising;

(i) a series of raised surfaces, wherein said series of raised indicia surfaces is representative of a Braille-based word or character; and

(ii) an RFID tag which is capable of transmitting a signal indicative of said Braille-based word or character;

(c) passing said embossed card over an RFID reader of said micro-controller-based system, said passing step causing said RFID tag to be read by said reader;

(d) transmitting said reading as a coded signal from said reader to said micro-controller;

(e) converting by said micro-controller, under control of a Braille application, said coded signal to an audible tone;

(f) transmitting said audible tone through an audio output device for reception by said unsighted system user; and

(g) integrating, at said micro-controller-based system, an interface port, wherein said interface port enables flashing of a set of firmware and enables downloading a set of new audible tone files into a database of said micro-controller-based system,

wherein the plurality of embossed tags is expandable to include user created tags that are assignable to correspond to at least one of the new audible tone files.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of embossed cards comprises means for identifying said embossed tag from each one of said plurality of embossed cards.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said embossed card is a MODE tag, said MODE tag causing said Braille application to switch from one mode to another and wherein each of said modes associates a word or a phrase with a single RFID tag, so that multiple words or phrases are associated with each tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio output device is selected from the group comprising:

(a) an embedded speaker;

(b) at least one headphone;

(c) a remote speaker;

(d) a Bluetooth device; and

(e) at least one earbud.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said micro-controller based system further comprises a memory, said memory comprising a library of pre-recorded tones, each of said pre-recorded tones corresponding to a coded signal to be converted.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of activating a first mode within said micro-controller based system, said first mode for allowing said system user to record an audio input, said audio input being stored in said library as a pre-recorded tone.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of downloading an audio input, through an input port of said micro-controller based system, said audio input being stored in said library as a pre-recorded tone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said input port is an interface port.

9. A system for autonomous learning of Braille by an unsighted user, said system comprising:

(a) a micro-controller;

(b) a set of one or more embossed cards, wherein each one of said set of one or more embossed cards further comprises;

(i) a series of raised surfaces, wherein said series of raised surfaces is representative of a Braille-based word or character; and

(ii) an RFID tag which is capable of transmitting a signal indicative of said Braille-based word or character;

(c) an RFID reader, wherein passing said embossed card causes said RFID tag to be read by said reader;

(d) transmitting means for transmitting said reading of said RFID tag as a coded signal from said reader to said micro-controller;

(e) a Braille application, said Braille application for converting by said micro-controller, said coded signal to an audible tone; and

(f) an audio output device for transmitting said audible tone for reception by said unsighted system user;

(g) an activation device for activating said micro-controller; and

(h) at said micro-controller, an interface port, wherein said interface port is for flashing a set of firmware and for downloading a set of new audible tone files into said micro-controller

wherein the set of one or more embossed cards is expandable to include user created tags that are assignable to correspond to at least one of the new audible tone files.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each one of said plurality of embossed cards comprises means for identifying said embossed card from each one of said plurality of embossed cards;

and each one of said plurality of embossed cards further comprises Braille coding indicative of a word to be learned by said system user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said embossed card is a MODE card, said MODE card causing said Braille application to switch from one mode to another and wherein each of said modes associates a word or a phrase with a single RFID tag, so that multiple words or phrases are associated with each tag.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said audio output device is selected from the group comprising:

(a) an embedded speaker;

(b) at least one headphone;

(c) a remote speaker;

(d) a Bluetooth device; and

(e) at least one earbud.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said micro-controller based system further comprises a memory, said memory comprising a library of pre-recorded tones, each of said pre-recorded tones corresponding to a coded signal to be converted.

14. The system of claim 9, said system further comprising an audio input port, said audio input port for downloading an audio input, said audio input to be stored in said library as a pre-recorded tone.

15. A method for autonomous teaching of Braille utilizing a micro-controller based system, said method further comprising the steps of:

(a) activating, by an activation device, said micro-controller-based system;

(b) selecting an embossed card from among a plurality of embossed cards, said embossed card comprising an RFID tag which is capable of transmitting a signal indicative of a set of contents of said embossed card;

(c) passing said embossed card over an RFID reader of said micro-controller-based system, said passing step causing said RFID tag to be read by said reader;

(d) transmitting said reading as a coded signal from said reader to said micro-controller;

(e) converting by said micro-controller, under control of a Braille application, said coded signal to an audible tone;

(f) transmitting said audible tone through an audio output device for reception by a system user; and

(g) integrating, at said micro-controller-based system, an interface port, wherein said interface port enables flashing of a set of firmware and enables downloading a set of new audible tone files into a database of said micro-controller-based system,

wherein the plurality of embossed tags is expandable to include user created tags that are assignable to correspond to at least one of the new audible one files.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each one of said plurality of embossed cards comprises means for identifying said embossed card from each one of said plurality of embossed cards;

and each one of said plurality of embossed cards further comprises Braille coding indicative of a word to be learned by said system user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said audio output device is selected from the group comprising:

(a) an embedded speaker;

(b) at least one headphone;

(c) a remote speaker;

(d) a Bluetooth device; and

(e) at least one earbud.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said micro-controller based system further comprises a memory, said memory comprising a library of pre-recorded tones, each of said pre-recorded tones corresponding to a coded signal to be converted.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of activating a first mode within said micro-controller based system, said first mode for allowing said system user to record an audio input, said audio input being stored in said library as a pre-recorded tone.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of downloading an audio input, through an input port of said micro-controller based system, said audio input being stored in said library as a pre-recorded tone.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said input port is selected from the group comprising:

(a) an interface port; and

(b) a removable memory storage media.

22. The method of claim 15, said method further comprising the steps of:

(c) providing power management means within said micro-controller based system;

(d) interfacing said power management means with a power supply disposed within said micro-controller based system; and

(e) arranging said power management means to conserve power within said micro-controller based system so as to remain in a sleep mode until activated.