Display device suited for a blind person

• US 20020024533A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbH (Allgeier SE)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Depta, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,712,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/729
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A display device which displays image information in a form perceivable by a blind person. For this purpose, the display device has a plurality of areally arranged elements (1), which are individually actuatable, and an actuation device for actuation of the elements (1), whereby through the elements (1), electronic image information (7) fed into the evaluation device (16) is tangibly represented through the elements (1). The actuator elements may be arranged areally on a flexible substrate (13), which are individually actuatable, whereby through the actuator elements (11), vibrations and/or heat and/or electrical impulses can be generated.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a plurality of areally arranged elements, which are individually actuatable; and

an actuation device configured to actuate the plurality of areally arranged elements whereby electronic image information is represented by the actuation device.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of areally arranged elements are arranged in a matrix.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device is configured to actuate selected of said elements in correspondence with electronic image information having signs and graphics.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device is configured to actuate the plurality of areally arranged elements with at least one of vibrations, electrical impulses and heat.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a frequency of vibrations and a frequency of electric impulses is controllable.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of areally arranged elements are separated from each other by an insulation frame.

7. The display device according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the display device is connected with at least one of a Braille input device and a function keypad.

8. The display device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of areally arranged sensor elements that are individually readable; and

an evaluation device configured to evaluate information from scanned ones of said sensor elements, wherein an image generated through mechanical contact with the plurality of sensor elements is convertible into electronic image information through evaluation.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of areally arranged sensor elements are formed by the plurality of areally arranged elements, which have additional sensorial properties.

16. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the material of the substrate is silicon.

10. A display device comprising a plurality of actuator elements, arranged areally on a flexible substrate, said actuator elements being individually actuatable to generate at least one of vibrations, heat, and electrical impulses upon actuation.

11. The display device according to claim 10, comprising an actuator device configured to actuate the plurality of actuator elements, whereby electrical image information is perceptibly representable for a sense of touch.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the actuator device is configured to receive electronic image information that describes a user'"'"'s surroundings.

13. The display device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of a frequency and amplitude of the vibrations and a frequency and amplitude of the electrical impulses are controllable.

14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of actuator elements are separated from each other by a casing.

15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of actuator elements has a suction cup-like casing for suction on a skin.

18. The display device according to claim 17, wherein the actuatable means is actuated with at least one of vibrations, electrical impulses and heat.

19. The display device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of a frequency of vibrations and a frequency of electric impulses is controllable.

17. A display device for displaying information, comprising:

actuatable means for representing an electronic image information, said actuatable means being areally arranged and individually actuatable; and

actuation means for actuating the actuatable means.

20. The display device according to claims 17, wherein the display means is connected with at least one of a Braille input means and a function keypad.

21. The display device according to claim 20, further comprising:

sensorial means areally arranged that are individually readable; and

evaluation means for evaluating an information from scanned ones of said sensorial means, wherein an image generated through mechanical contact with the sensorial means is convertible into electronic image information through evaluation.

22. A display device for displaying information, comprising

actuatable means for representing an electronic image information, arranged areally on a flexible substrate, said actuatable means being individually actuatable to generate at least one of vibrations, heat, and electrical impulses upon actuation;

and

support means for flexible supporting the actuatable means, wherein the actuable means are areally arranged on said support means.

23. The display device according to claim 22, further comprising actuator means for actuating the actuatable means, whereby an electrical image information is perceptibly representable for a sense of touch.

24. The display device according to claim 22, wherein at least one of a frequency and amplitude of a vibrations and a frequency and amplitude of the electrical impulses are controllable.

25. The display device according to claim 22, wherein the actuatable means has a suction cup-like casing means for suction on a skin.

27. The method according with claim 26, further comprising a step of controlling at least one of a frequency of vibrations and a frequency of electric impulses applied to said plurality of elements.

28. The method according with claim 27, further comprising:

scanning, through mechanical contact, a plurality of areally arranged sensor elements that are individually readable; and

converting a scanned information, having at least one of vibration, electric impulses and heat information components, from said plurality of sensor elements to another electronic image information.

26. A method for generating an image perceptibly representable for a sense of touch comprising:

generating, based on an electronic image information, a stream of signals carrying at least one of vibration, electrical impulses and heat information; and

actuating a plurality of areally arranged elements, which are individually actuatable, based on said stream of signals, so that said electronic image information is trasmitted through mechanical contact to a skin.