US3676938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reading device for the blind
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-01
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement to permit blind persons to ''''read'''' printed characters by converting such characters into audible analog signals. Means are included for detecting the presence or absence of characters, their size, shape and orientation, and their grouping into words, sentences or paragraphs. Each of these identifying parameters is translated by electro-optical responsive equipment into distinctive and audible tonal sounds which are associated by the ''''reader'''' with the corresponding printed materials, thus allowing continuous comprehension of the materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold Trehub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:01
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/006; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for converting graphic material into identifying audible signals comprising scanning means for viewing the field of said graphic material, means for transferring an image of said viewed graphic material from said scanning means to a converting position, means at said converting position for generating electrical signals which are analogs of said viewed graphic material and means responsive to said electrical signals for developing said audible signals corresponding to said viewed graphic material, said means at said converting position including at least one density wedge for receiving said image of said viewed graphic material and a first photocell responsive to the cumulative light intensity transmitted through said density wedge for generating a first voltage signal corresponding to the relative position and orientation of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for converting graphic material into identifying audible signals comprising scanning means for viewing the field of said graphic material, means for transferring an image of said viewed graphic material from said scanning means to a converting position, means at said converting position for generating electrical signals which are analogs of said viewed graphic material and means responsive to said electrical signals for developing said audible signals corresponding to said viewed graphic material, said means at said converting position including at least one density wedge for receiving said image of said viewed graphic material and a first photocell responsive to the cumulative light intensity transmitted through said density wedge for generating a first voltage signal corresponding to the relative position and orientation of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 including in addition a first tone generator responsive to the amplitude of said first voltage signal to generate a first tonal sequence which is an audible analog of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes a window defining a viewing slit, and wherein said density wedge has a varying optical contour and said transmitted cumulative light intensity corresponds to the quantity of light, attributable to said viewed graphic material within said viewing slit, which is optically passed by said optical contour of said density wedge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said viewing slit of said scanning means is adapted to be sequentially shifted with respect to said graphic material and the magnitude of said first voltage signal varies in response to said transmitted cumulative light intensity attributable to the portions of said viewed graphic material within said viewing slit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 including in addition a reference voltage source, a differential amplifier responsive to said first voltage signal and to said reference voltage source for generating a sensitive output signal corresponding to the light intensity difference between said image of said field of said viewed graphic material and said image of said field in the absence of said viewed graphic material, and a tone generator responsive to the amplitude of said sensitive output signal to generate a tonal sequence which is an audible analog of said viewed graphic material within said viewing slit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 including in addition a first tone generator responsive to the amplitude of said first voltage signal to generate a first tonal sequence which is an audible analog of said viewed graphic material within said viewing slit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means at said converting position includes in addition a second density wedge for receiving said image of said viewed graphic material, a second photocell responsive to the cumulative light intensity transmitted through said second density wedge for generating a second voltage signal corresponding to the relative position and orientation of said viewed graphic material and a second tone generator responsive to the amplitude of said second voltage signal to generate a second tonal sequence which is an audible analog of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second density wedge has a varying optical contour different from that of said first density wedge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said density wedges has upper and lower sensItivity regions and said optical contour of said first density wedge is constant and relatively less dense in its lower sensitivity region and increasingly more dense through its upper sensitivity region, and said optical contour of said second density wedge is constant and relatively more dense in its upper sensitivity region and decreasingly less dense through its lower sensitivity region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 including in addition detector means associated with said density wedge for defining at least two margins within said viewing slit for said image of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said detector means comprises top and bottom margin detectors each including photoelectric means, a first tone generator coupled to said top margin detector and a second tone generator coupled to said bottom margin detector, each of said tone generators including means for normally providing no output from said generators and means including said photoelectric means for energizing said first and second tone generators to provide respective first and second distinctive audible outputs in response to the optical intersection of said top and bottom margins respectively by any of said viewed graphic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said photoelectric means includes a plurality of photocells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 including in addition space detector means associated with said density wedge for defining a terminal border for said image of said viewed graphic material during the operation of said scanning means with respect to said graphic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said space detector means includes photoelectric means positioned for monitoring said image of said viewed graphic material and for generating a space output signal in response to the termination of said viewed graphic material, and a tone generator coupled to said photoelectric means for furnishing a distinctive audible signal in response to said space output signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said photoelectric means includes a plurality of photocells arrayed a said terminal border of said image presented to said density wedge, said distinctive audible signal comprising a repetitive tone provided at least as soon as said graph viewed graphic material has passed said terminal border during the operation of said scanning mean.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |