US3874097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reading aid for the blind
Assignee: United States, AS REPRESENTED BY VETERANS ADMINISTRATION OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
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Filing: 1973-01-08
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus which is particularly useful in producing a reading aid for the blind, provides means for scanning printed material or images thereof and for translating the same into audible sound. Each sound is distinctive as to each letter, number, symbol or other graphic information embodied in the pattern of the printed material scanned. It features a compact scanning probe having a wide range magnification system which is in focus at all settings. Also embodied in the probe is a unique light reflector device, the light from which is so directed as to provide a uniform illumination of the area scanned. Due to the nature of the illumination and the precision of focus, a true visual image of the scanned material is presented to included photo-sensing means forming part of an electronic read out system which converts the image into an audible stereophonic reproduction of its visual pattern. The nature of this reproduction is such as to distinctively present the respectively different portions of an image to the left and right ears of a user of the invention apparatus. This facilitates the training of a user and enables the user to achieve a relatively high reading speed in a relatively short period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans A Mauch
- 👤 Glendon C Smith
- 👤 Richard Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:07
CPC Classifications
B; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns, means connected with said observing means to product a signal or signals composed of a tone or tones, and combinations thereof, arranged to correspond to the shape of the visually perceptive pattern observed and to change in correspondence with changes in its observed shape, means defining two separate channels for separately receiving and transmitting the said tone or tones, or combinations thereof making up said signal or signals, means in at least one of said channels for modifying the amplitude of individual tones of said signal or signals by different proportions, volume conTrol means in at least one of said channels for modifying the amplitudes of all tones of said signal or signals in said channel by a common porportion, and output means connected to each of said channels to separately direct the output from one of said channels to one ear of a user of said apparatus and the output from the other of said channels to the other ear of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns, means connected with said observing means to product a signal or signals composed of a tone or tones, and combinations thereof, arranged to correspond to the shape of the visually perceptive pattern observed and to change in correspondence with changes in its observed shape, means defining two separate channels for separately receiving and transmitting the said tone or tones, or combinations thereof making up said signal or signals, means in at least one of said channels for modifying the amplitude of individual tones of said signal or signals by different proportions, volume conTrol means in at least one of said channels for modifying the amplitudes of all tones of said signal or signals in said channel by a common porportion, and output means connected to each of said channels to separately direct the output from one of said channels to one ear of a user of said apparatus and the output from the other of said channels to the other ear of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said scanner device including a lens unit directable to the visually perceptive pattern scanned, a photo-sensitive means for receiving the image of the visually perceptive pattern by way of said lens unit and means associated with said lens unit providing for the normalization of the various images as received by said photo-sensitive means so the size thereof presented to said photo-sensitive means will be uniform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said lens unit and photosensitive means are housed in a pair of tubular elements and said means associated with said lens unit is operatively related to said tubular elements to provide for the images of the patterns scanned to be rendered uniform as to their size in presentation thereof to said photosensitive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and means for transmitting a relatively precise image thereof, and means for converting said image into representative stereophonic tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, said scanner device being characterized by lens means directable to the visually perceptive patterns scanned, and photo-sensitive means for receiving the image of the visually perceptive patterns by way of said lens means, said lens means and photo-sensitive means being housed in a pair of tubular elements and said tubular elements having complementary slots and means in connection with said lens means movable in said slots to relatively adjust the spacing between the photo-sensitive means and said lens means and the spacing between said lens means and the object scanned to provide the desired presentation of images of the scanned patterns to said photosensitive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and means for transmitting a relatively precise image thereof, and means for converting said image into representative stereophonic tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, said scanner device being characterized by lens means directable to the visually perceptive patterns scanned, and photo-sensitive means for receiving the image of the visually perceptive patterns by way of said lens means, said lens means and photo-sensitive means being housed in a pair of tubular elements and said tubular elements having complementary slots and means in connection with said lens means movable in said slots to relatively adjust the spacing between the photo-sensitive means and said lens means and the spacing between said lens means and the object scanned to provide the desired presentation of images of the scanned patterns to said photosensitive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the said means in connection with said lens means is a control means and said slots are so formed and related that on movement of said control means said lens means will move therewith and one of said tubes will be moved relative the other in an axial sense.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said slots in said tubes are identical but one thereof is displaced 180* from the other in assembly of said tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
265 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and means for transmitting a relatively precise image thereof, and means for converting said image into representative stereophonic tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, said scanner device being in the nature of a probe having means for positioning it generally vertical to a surface scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to said surface to be scanned and a portion which mounts a single roller facilitating its movement over said surface, said base portion seating to said surface including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan and aligned with said observing means, means in said probe for directing light in angles to cause the same to be angularly directed to and through said aperture and concentrated on the particular area of said surface exposed to said aperture in movement of said probe, said light being arranged immediately adjacent said aperture, and a reflector shell for said light which has a clamp shape and an opening to said aperture at one edge portion thereof remote from said light, saiD opening being in line with the source of said light, and a reflective wall provided in said reflector, portions of which are disposed to either side of said line and arcuately formed to redirect light therefrom to angle the same back to the line of emission from said light source and to said opening from the reflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
265 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and means for transmitting a relatively precise image thereof, and means for converting said image into representative stereophonic tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, said scanner device being in the nature of a probe having means for positioning it generally vertical to a surface scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to said surface to be scanned and a portion which mounts a single roller facilitating its movement over said surface, said base portion seating to said surface including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan and aligned with said observing means, means in said probe for directing light in angles to cause the same to be angularly directed to and through said aperture and concentrated on the particular area of said surface exposed to said aperture in movement of said probe, said light being arranged immediately adjacent said aperture, and a reflector shell for said light which has a clamp shape and an opening to said aperture at one edge portion thereof remote from said light, saiD opening being in line with the source of said light, and a reflective wall provided in said reflector, portions of which are disposed to either side of said line and arcuately formed to redirect light therefrom to angle the same back to the line of emission from said light source and to said opening from the reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound comprising a scanner devicie embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and transmitting signals representing a relatively precise image thereof, means for convverting said signals into sound in the form of representative tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned and means for directing the output of constituent tones of said tonal patterns to the respective ears of the user of said apparatus at different amplitudes to produce a stereophonic effect, said means for converting said image signals and for directing the output of resulting tonal patterns to the ears of a user including means arranged to increase the amplitudes of tones in one ear of a user and decrease them in the other ear as tones progress from low to high pitch corresponding to lower or upper parts of the visually perceptive patterns scanned, where the visually perceptive patterns are letters, numbers and the like.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound comprising a scanner devicie embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and transmitting signals representing a relatively precise image thereof, means for convverting said signals into sound in the form of representative tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned and means for directing the output of constituent tones of said tonal patterns to the respective ears of the user of said apparatus at different amplitudes to produce a stereophonic effect, said means for converting said image signals and for directing the output of resulting tonal patterns to the ears of a user including means arranged to increase the amplitudes of tones in one ear of a user and decrease them in the other ear as tones progress from low to high pitch corresponding to lower or upper parts of the visually perceptive patterns scanned, where the visually perceptive patterns are letters, numbers and the like.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A sensing probe useful in scanning and transmitting signals indicative of the material scanned comprising a housing adapted to be positioned on the vertical to an area to be scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to a surface representing the area to be scanned, said base including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan, said housing embodying a lens unit in alignment with said aperture and in axially spaced relation thereto, means defining a column of photo-sensitive means and means included in said housing to provide for the relative adjustment of the spacing of said photo-sensitive means, said lens unit and said aperture in a manner to enable that the image of a visually perceptive pattern scanned will be presented to the photo-sensitive means in a uniform size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A sensing probe useful in scanning and transmitting signals indicative of the material scanned comprising a housing adapted to be positioned on the vertical to an area to be scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to a surface representing the area to be scanned, said base including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan, said housing embodying a lens unit in alignment with said aperture and in axially spaced relation thereto, means defining a column of photo-sensitive means and means included in said housing to provide for the relative adjustment of the spacing of said photo-sensitive means, said lens unit and said aperture in a manner to enable that the image of a visually perceptive pattern scanned will be presented to the photo-sensitive means in a uniform size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said lens unit and photo-sensitive means are housed in a pair of tubular elements having means interrelating them to provide for the images of the patterns scanned to be rendered uniform as to their size in presentation thereof to said photosensitive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 characterized by means including a single roller adjustably connected to said housing and adapted to seat on the surface representing the area being scanned in a manner to facilitate the movement of the probe over such surface in a direction to properly orient said aperture with reference to the visually perceptive patterns whereby to determine that said photosensitive means will move at a correct angle to the direction of scan of said patterns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 characterized by light emitting means contained in said housing and within said base immediately adjacent said aperture, said light emitting means being arranged to provide a concentration of emitted light to be directed through said aperture and to the visually perceptive pattern as presented at said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 characterized by said light emitting means including a light source contained in a reflector shell having a clam shape and a reflective surface embodied therein about said light source including an elliptical surface to the rear of said light source and beyond said elliptical surface and to either side of a line from the light source to said aperture a plurality of arcuate reflective wall surfaces at longitudinally spaced locations with respect to the line the center of which arcuately formed wall surface portions is generally coincident with the center of the light source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
165 words
A sensing probe useful in scanning And transmitting signals indicative of the material scanned comprising a housing adapted to be positioned on the vertical to an area to be scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to a surface representing the area to be scanned, said base including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan, said housing embodying a lens unit in alignment with said aperture and in axially spaced relation thereto, means defining a column of photo-sensitive means in spaced relation to said lens unit, said lens unit and said photo-sensitive means being further housed in a pair of tubular elements, said tubular elements having complementary slots, and means in connection with said lens unit movable in said slots to relatively adjust the spacing between the photo-sensitive means, said lens unit and said aperture to provide the desired presentation of the images of the scanned pattern to said photosensitive means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
165 words
A sensing probe useful in scanning And transmitting signals indicative of the material scanned comprising a housing adapted to be positioned on the vertical to an area to be scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to a surface representing the area to be scanned, said base including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan, said housing embodying a lens unit in alignment with said aperture and in axially spaced relation thereto, means defining a column of photo-sensitive means in spaced relation to said lens unit, said lens unit and said photo-sensitive means being further housed in a pair of tubular elements, said tubular elements having complementary slots, and means in connection with said lens unit movable in said slots to relatively adjust the spacing between the photo-sensitive means, said lens unit and said aperture to provide the desired presentation of the images of the scanned pattern to said photosensitive means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the said means in connection with said lens unit is a control means and said slots are so formed and related that on movement of said control means said lens unit will move therewith and one of said tubes will be moved relative the other in an axial sense.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said slots in said tubes are identical but one thereof is displaced 180* from the other in assembly of said tubes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
A light emitting device for use in scanning probes and like application comprising a housing having a generally clamp shape configuration at one edge portion of which is a slit-like aperture which is laterally extended and at an opposite interior portion of which is mounted a light source, the interior wall of said housing being of a generally reflective character and identically formed to either side of a plane including said light source and said aperture, opposite wall portions of said reflector to either side of said plane including arcuately formed spaced segments the center of the radius of which is coincident with said light source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
106 words
A light emitting device for use in scanning probes and like application comprising a housing having a generally clamp shape configuration at one edge portion of which is a slit-like aperture which is laterally extended and at an opposite interior portion of which is mounted a light source, the interior wall of said housing being of a generally reflective character and identically formed to either side of a plane including said light source and said aperture, opposite wall portions of said reflector to either side of said plane including arcuately formed spaced segments the center of the radius of which is coincident with said light source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as in claim 17 characterized by said housing having a fan-shape in plan view and the interior wall surface of which has sides which relatively diverge from adjacent and to the rear of the light source to the terminal points which define the lateral extent of said aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and transmitting a signal or signals representing a relatively precise image thereof, means for converting said signal or signals into sound in the form of representative tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, means for separately transmitting each constituent tone of said tonal patterns to each of two separate channels, means in said channels for modifying the amplitude of individual tones of said tonal patterns by different proportions to produce a sterephonic effect, volume control means in each of said channels for modifying the amplitudes of all the tones in a channel by a common proportion, and output means connected to each of said channels to separately direct the output from one of said channels to one ear of a user of said apparatus and the output from the other of said channels to the other ear of the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for use in scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns and transmitting a signal or signals representing a relatively precise image thereof, means for converting said signal or signals into sound in the form of representative tonal patterns specifically distinctive of each visual pattern scanned, means for separately transmitting each constituent tone of said tonal patterns to each of two separate channels, means in said channels for modifying the amplitude of individual tones of said tonal patterns by different proportions to produce a sterephonic effect, volume control means in each of said channels for modifying the amplitudes of all the tones in a channel by a common proportion, and output means connected to each of said channels to separately direct the output from one of said channels to one ear of a user of said apparatus and the output from the other of said channels to the other ear of the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 characterized by said converting and directing means being arranged to provide that the frequency content as well as the differing amplitudes of the tones in the tonal patterns received by the respective ears of the user are effective to create apparent spatial origins of the tones which are spread from one side of the user to the other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 20 characterized by means providing that said apparent spatial origins of tones in said tonal pattern correspond to the spatial arrangement of the visually perceptive patterns being scanned.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said observing means include means defining a wide range magnification system at all settings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 characterized by said scanner device being in the nature of a probe which has means positioning it generally vertical to a surface scanned which contains visually perceptive patterns, the base of said probe including a portion seating flat to said surface to be scanned and a portion which mounts a single roller facilitating its movement over said surface, said base portion seating to said surface including an elongated aperture with its elongation transverse to the direction of scan and aligned with said observing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 characterized by means in said probe for directing light in angles to cause the same to be angularly directed to and through said aperture and concentrated on the particular area of said surface exposed to said aperture in movement of said probe, the source of said light being arranged immediately adjacent said aperture.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said observing means includes lens means and an array of photo cells arranged in a single column, said array being axially aligned with said lens means and means which interconnect said lens means and said photo cells for movement thereof, one relative the other, to determine that the size of the visually perceptive patterns observed will be uniform as presented to said array of photo cells.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as in claim 25 characterized in that each of said photo cells has in connection therewith electrical comparator means, switching circuit means and tone generator means, said comparator means comparing the electrical signal from the connected photo cell with a reference electrical signal and whenever the results of this comparison are indicative of the associated photo cell being sufficiently covered by a letter portion said comparator means transmitting a control signal to said switching circuit means which thereupon activates said tone generator means which thereupon produces a tone which is transmitted into both of said channels.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns, means connected with said observing means to produce a signal or signals, composed of tones or combinations thereof, arranged to correspond to the shape of the visually perceptive pattern observed and to change in correspondence with changes in its observed shape, and means for directing the same said signal or signals into separate channels at least one of which is directed to the left ear of the user and at least one of which is directed to theright ear of the user, and at least one of said channels including means to change the amplitudes of said tone or tones individually in movement therethrough to provide that the respective ears of the user receive different acoustic signals corresponding to the same visually perceptive pattern, and volume control means included in the channels directed to at least one ear of the user to balance the loudnesses of said acoustic signals without changing the relative amplitudes of tones within each acoustic signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for scanning and translating objects scanned into audible sound, comprising a scanner device embodying means for observing visually perceptive patterns, means connected with said observing means to produce a signal or signals, composed of tones or combinations thereof, arranged to correspond to the shape of the visually perceptive pattern observed and to change in correspondence with changes in its observed shape, and means for directing the same said signal or signals into separate channels at least one of which is directed to the left ear of the user and at least one of which is directed to theright ear of the user, and at least one of said channels including means to change the amplitudes of said tone or tones individually in movement therethrough to provide that the respective ears of the user receive different acoustic signals corresponding to the same visually perceptive pattern, and volume control means included in the channels directed to at least one ear of the user to balance the loudnesses of said acoustic signals without changing the relative amplitudes of tones within each acoustic signal.
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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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |