US3740446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Perception apparatus for the blind
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A perception apparatus to aid the blind is provided in the form of a scanning disc of the Nipkow type having a spiral pattern of apertures adapted to scan in sequence an optically formed image, the scanning pulses controlling a high-frequency pulse generating system with low power, high tension output in the form of pulses of Tesla character capable of creating tactile stimulation of the human skin, which pulses are supplied to contact pegs insulatedly embedded in, and flush with the surface of, the scanning disc or a member associated therewith, said pegs being oriented in a spiral pattern corresponding to that of the scanning apertures. The tactile pulses are delivered to a picture gate onto which the blind user places a finger tip to receive through said gate a tactile display of the scanned image. The arrangement of the generator system and the control system is such that the low power, high tension tactile pulses are only transmitted when the scanning apertures detect a change of illumination, from light to darkness or vice versa, or both.
Inventors
- 👤 B Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:32
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In a perception apparatus for the blind including: rotatable scanning disc having a series of apertures arranged in a spiral and adapted to scan an image which is optically formed of indicia, a high-frequency pulse generating system with low power, high tension output in the form of pulses capable of creating tactile stimulation of the human skin, said system including a controlling and amplifying unit, photosensitive means for receiving the light pulses from the scanning disc during the scanning operation and transmitting in response to said pulses signals to said controlling and amplifying unit, which in turn controls in response to the said signals said generator system, a rotatable member of insulating material fixed with respect to said scanning disc for rotation therewith and having a series of contact pegs embedded therein, said pegs having their points flush with the surface of the member, the output of said generator system being conducted to said pegs which are so oriented in the member as to form a pattern corresponding to and moving in synchronism with the spiral of apertures in the scanning disc, the improvement comprising: means in said controlling and amplifying unit responsive solely to a change in the level of illumination of said photosensitive means for determining the initiation and duration of a one of said low power, high tension pulses; whereby resolution of the tactile display is improved by reproducing only edges of said indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a perception apparatus for the blind including: rotatable scanning disc having a series of apertures arranged in a spiral and adapted to scan an image which is optically formed of indicia, a high-frequency pulse generating system with low power, high tension output in the form of pulses capable of creating tactile stimulation of the human skin, said system including a controlling and amplifying unit, photosensitive means for receiving the light pulses from the scanning disc during the scanning operation and transmitting in response to said pulses signals to said controlling and amplifying unit, which in turn controls in response to the said signals said generator system, a rotatable member of insulating material fixed with respect to said scanning disc for rotation therewith and having a series of contact pegs embedded therein, said pegs having their points flush with the surface of the member, the output of said generator system being conducted to said pegs which are so oriented in the member as to form a pattern corresponding to and moving in synchronism with the spiral of apertures in the scanning disc, the improvement comprising: means in said controlling and amplifying unit responsive solely to a change in the level of illumination of said photosensitive means for determining the initiation and duration of a one of said low power, high tension pulses; whereby resolution of the tactile display is improved by reproducing only edges of said indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a sensing area is provided in the form of a stationary picture gate or window onto which the user of the apparatus places his fingertip to receive the tactily stimulatIng pulses, said gate having the form of a screen or stencil member of insulating material with a plurality of parallel channels therethrough, said gate being located closely above said insulating member with the embedded pegs and in such a position in relation thereto that the pegs may emit their high tension, high frequency pulses to the underside of the gate to be transmitted through said channels to the user''s fingertip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the lower ends of said gate channels are closed by plug members of conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said change in level of illumination is a change from light to dark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said change in level of illumination is a change from dark to light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said change in level of illumination includes both changes from light to dark and from dark to light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
Perception apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said means responsive solely to a change includes differentiating means responsive to said signals from said photosensitive means for producing a differentiative pulse corresponding to an intensity shift in the light striking said photosensitive means, and gate pulse forming means responsive to said differentiative pulses for forming corresponding fixed duration gate pulses, said high frequency pulse generating system further including a high frequency oscillator, modulator means responsive to said oscillator and said gate pulse forming means for producing a high frequency signal of duration corresponding to said gate pulse and means for voltage amplifying successive ones of said high frequency signals to produce said low power, high tension pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
Perception apparatus according to claim 7 in which the fixed duration of said gate pulse and high tension pulse is about 0.1 millisecond and the latter corresponds to a point on the outline of an indicium scanned by said disk.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |