Tactile display and operating system therefor

摘要

A tactile display includes a base; movable pins having free ends for tactile sensing by a user, the pins arranged in rows and columns and movable between an extended position and retracted position with respect to the base so as to selectively display tactilely sensible data; a resilient element for supporting each pin in the extended position when at rest, and further operative to urge the pin from the retracted position to the extended position in the presence of an opposing force; one or more reset elements for lowering the pins from the extended position to the retracted position; row stoppers for lockably engaging rows of pins when in the second position.

主权项

1. A pin construction for use with a tactile display, said pin construction including:
a base; a movable pin having a free end for tactile sensing by a user; a resilient element for supporting said pin on said base between a first, extended position relative to said base and a second, retracted position, said resilient element being operative to support said pin in said first position when at rest, and being further operative to urge said pin from said second position to said first position in the presence of an opposing force; a selectably actuable stopper for lockably engaging said pin when in said second position; and a reset element for selectably forcing said pin from said first position to said second position by application to said pin of a variable force δ wherein X<δ≦Y, wherein said resilient element applies an urging force having an axial component equal to X, said pin being susceptible to move from said first position to said second position in the presence of an opposing force having an axial component Y, wherein Y>X.