Tactile graphic display
First Claim
1. One or more frame assemblies of an apparatus for a graphic tactile display, the one or more frame assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of hollow actuator chambers;
a plurality of hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator chambers;
a plurality of actuators received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers;
a plurality of drive shafts received with the hollow shaft chambers; and
a plurality of cams operably connecting the actuators to the drive shafts;
wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position of the cam to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly;
wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position of the cam thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly; and
wherein each of the plurality of cams has a profile which maintains each drive shaft in its up position or down position without power from each actuator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile graphic display for providing a display representation of a graph or image generated by a graphic device for visually impaired users or other users who wish to access tactile information. The display includes one or more frame assemblies including hollow actuator chambers and hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator members. Actuators are received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers and drive shafts are received with the hollow shaft members. Cams operably connect the actuators to the drive shafts. Each actuator rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly, and each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly.
20 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. One or more frame assemblies of an apparatus for a graphic tactile display, the one or more frame assemblies comprising:
-
a plurality of hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of actuators received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of drive shafts received with the hollow shaft chambers; and a plurality of cams operably connecting the actuators to the drive shafts; wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position of the cam to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly; wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position of the cam thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly; and wherein each of the plurality of cams has a profile which maintains each drive shaft in its up position or down position without power from each actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
5. The one or more frame assemblies of 2, wherein the pins are operably connected to the drive shafts via a spring.
-
10. An apparatus for a graphic tactile display configured to communicate with a graphic device providing graphic output signals for a display representation, the apparatus comprising:
-
a control and interface module having an external interface to receive the graphic output signals;
a drive module for producing actuator drive signals; and
a control processor for processing the graphic output signals to produce the actuator drive signals; anda display assembly comprising a dot matrix, a top panel, and one or more frame assemblies comprising; a plurality of hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of actuators received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers; a plurality of drive shafts received with the hollow shaft chambers; a plurality of cams operably connecting the actuators to the drive shafts; and a plurality of pins operably connected to ends of the drive shafts opposite the plurality of cams, wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position of the cam to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly causing each pin to protrude a maximum distance from a top surface of the one or more frame assemblies, and wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position of the cam thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly causing each pin cap to retract from the maximum distance from the top surface of the one or more frame assemblies; wherein each of the plurality of cams has a profile which maintains each drive shaft in its up position or down position without power from each actuator the display assembly receiving the actuator drive signals, the plurality of actuators in contact with the control and interface module;
the top surface of the one or more frame assemblies providing a plurality of openings, the openings determining a size and shape for the dot matrix, wherein each pin corresponds in position to a respective opening, each opening sized to enable each respective pin free motion up and down for raising the pin above a top surface of the one or more frame assemblies to generate the display representation based on the graphic output signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification