TACTILE GRAPHIC DISPLAY

摘要

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 tactile graphic display includes a control and interface module in communication with a dot matrix, which is associated with pin nut assemblies including caps that serve as dots in the dot matrix. The control and interface module provides motor drive signals that raise selected dots above the top surface of a top panel to form the dot matrix display. Proximity sensors in or associated with the top panel sense touching of one or more dots and/or proximate presence of a finger or hand near the top surface of the top panel. The proximity sensors provide dot matrix engagement signals to the control and interface module for processing.

主权项

1. An apparatus for a graphic tactile display in communication with a graphic device providing graphic output signals for a display representation, the apparatus comprising:
a control and interface module having an external interface for receiving the graphic output signals, a drive module for producing motor drive signals; and a control processor for processing the graphic output signals to produce the motor drive signals; and a display assembly comprising a dot matrix, a top panel, a bottom panel, a plurality of drive motors, a plurality of lead screws, a plurality of pin nuts, and a plurality of dots, the display assembly receiving the motor drive signals, the top panel having a top panel top surface, the bottom panel supporting the drive motors in contact with the control and interface module, each drive motor having a drive shaft connecting to a lead screw, each lead screw connecting to a pin nut assembly, each pin nut assembly having one of the pin nuts and one of the dots; the top panel providing a plurality of pin openings, the pin openings determining a size and shape for the dot matrix, the bottom panel and the top panel aligned so that each pin nut assembly corresponds in position to a respective pin opening, each pin opening sized to enable each respective pin nut assembly free motion about an axis of each pin nut assembly for raising the dot of the pin nut assembly above the top panel top surface to generate the display representation based on the raised dots on the dot matrix based on the graphic output signals.