US3876052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Braille communications terminal
Assignee: TRIFORMATION SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-22
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A braille communications terminal described herein includes a plurality of platens disposed in a row with each of the platens actuable to move forward to an extended position against the back of an embossable sheet on which braille codes may be formed, a predetermined number of individually actuable parallelly and adjacently disposed code bars, each bar having a plurality of protruding embossing tips, and a circuitry having means responsive to a series train of binary coded braille signal characters, means for actuating the plurality of platens, one at a time, in succession in response to the counts of the braille signal characters, and means actuating a combination of the braille bars simultaneously in response to each of the characters in synchronization with the actuation of each of the platens, thereby forming a row of the braille codes. The typewriter includes means for advancing automatically the embossable sheet upon completion of a row of braille codes. The typewriter may also include means enabling it to receive other types of binary coded signals such as ASCII coded signals from a remote station and in response print out corresponding braille codes.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy P Carbonneau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:38
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for embossing braille codes on a deformable sheet, comprising: a plurality of individually actuable platens disposed for movement between extended positions upon actuation and retracted positions upon deactuation, a predetermined number of individually actuable braille code bars, each bar having a row of protruding and spacedly positioned embossing tips, said bars being disposed so that the embossing tips of the actuated combination of said code bars form a braille code, a plurality of actuating means for said plurality of platens, a predetermined number of actuating means for said predetermined number of code bars, means for receiving code character signals in the form of a series train of binary coded digital signals, means for generating a train of count signals representing the count of the incoming binary coded digital signals, means responsive to the successive character count signals for generating enabling signals to enable the plurality of platen actuating means to actuate said plurality of platens in a sequence, decoding means responsive to each of the binary coded signal characters for deriving actuating signals for enabling different combinations of said code bar actuating means at the same time in synchronization with the actuation of each of the platens, whereby a row of braille codes are embossed on the deformable sheet interposed between the actuated platens and code bars corresponding to the incoming braille signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for embossing braille codes on a deformable sheet, comprising: a plurality of individually actuable platens disposed for movement between extended positions upon actuation and retracted positions upon deactuation, a predetermined number of individually actuable braille code bars, each bar having a row of protruding and spacedly positioned embossing tips, said bars being disposed so that the embossing tips of the actuated combination of said code bars form a braille code, a plurality of actuating means for said plurality of platens, a predetermined number of actuating means for said predetermined number of code bars, means for receiving code character signals in the form of a series train of binary coded digital signals, means for generating a train of count signals representing the count of the incoming binary coded digital signals, means responsive to the successive character count signals for generating enabling signals to enable the plurality of platen actuating means to actuate said plurality of platens in a sequence, decoding means responsive to each of the binary coded signal characters for deriving actuating signals for enabling different combinations of said code bar actuating means at the same time in synchronization with the actuation of each of the platens, whereby a row of braille codes are embossed on the deformable sheet interposed between the actuated platens and code bars corresponding to the incoming braille signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including means for generating the enabling signal for each of said platen actuating means comprising timing means for applying said enabling signal to corresponding platen actuating means for a predetermined time interval in response to each of the character signals and means for generating the actuating signals comprises means for applying said decoded signal for a time interval falling within and less than said predetermined time interval during which said enabling signal is applied to a platen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including said braille signal receiving means includes a register for receiving a binary coded digital signal one at a time, said actuating signal generating means for enabling the code bar actuating means includes an input buffer for temporarily storing the received binary coded signal character from said register means, converting means responsive to the output of said input buffer for deriving a combination of the braille code bar actuating signals, and means for gating the braille code bar actuating signals to the code bar actuating means simultaneously in synchronization with the actuation of a corresponding platen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, said input register means is adapted to receive braille signals from a keyboard means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, including gating means disposed between said input register means and input buffer for receiving incoming code signals in a serial data form from a communications line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gating means, input buffer and converting means are adapted to receive an incoming signal in the form of a series train of coded data and converting said coded data into a combination of the braille code bar actuating signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the incoming signals are in the form of a series train of bits in frames, each frame including a starting bit, a predetermined number bit positions, said braille signal counting means including: a clock generating clock pulses from said clock until said register stores the binary coded digital signals which make up a character, first decoder responsive to the output of said first counter for providing a first output having a predetermined number of output pulses corresponding to the number of bits in said register, second counter responsive to said predetermined number of output pulses from said first output for generating a count signal timed to occur at the last pulse of the predetermined number of pulses, and means for applying the successive output pulses of said second counter to the plurality of said platen actuating means in a sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, including a third counter for receiving the count signals from said second counter, second decoding means connected to said third counter for generating said platen actuating signals, a plurality of gating means, said second decoder means being interposed between said third counter, and timing means responsive to the count signals from said second counter for enabling said gating means in succession, each for a predetermined time interval after the time position corresponding to the last bit of the character bits being received by said input buffer register.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said braille code bar actuating means, said gating means includes a predetermined number of gates for gating the output of said converting means, said first decoder providing a second output pulse timed to occur at the last bit position of the braille code bits, coincidence gating means disposed between said gate means and said second output of said first decoding means and responsive to said second output and the start bit of the braille code applied to said input buffer for generating an enabling signal to said gates to channel the output of said converting means therethrough, an output buffer for receiving and storing the signal from said converting means channeled through said gates, timing means responsive to the output of said coincidence gating means and enabling said buffer means to output said stored signals to the braille bar actuating means during a time interval intermediate between the start and stop of the platen actuating signal applied to the corresponding platen actuating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, including means for setting the typewriter to terminate each row of braille codes when a particular number of codes are embossed, and means for generating a signal for advancing the embossable sheet in response to the completion of said particular number of codes, and means responsive to said advancing signal for advancing said embossable sheet by a predetermined distance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said converting means comprises a pair of read only memories, and means for enabling different ones of said memories for converting upper and lower case characters stored in said register.
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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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |