US3987438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tactile indicating device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-06-24
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Granted: 1976-10-19
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Expires: 1995-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for representing a tactile character, wherein for each touch button there are provided two magnets arranged at least substantially axially behind each other, of which at least one is an electromagnet, and which magnets by electrical excitation produce a force in the axial direction of the touch button, which force raises or lowers the touch button by means of a magnet core in accordance with the excitation direction. There is coordinated to each touch button, a mechanical, magnetically actuatable locking device, which locking device is operative only on the touch button.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Peter Lindenmueller
- 👤 Klaus-Peter Schoenherr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:55
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/003; G09B21/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A device for representing at least one tactile character, comprising at least one touch member, two magnets for each of said at least one touch member, said two magnets arranged at least substantially axially behind one another, at least one of said magnets constituting an electromagnet, a magnetic core means for raising and lowering said touch member when said core means is actuated, said touch member and said magnets being oriented such that by electrical excitation, said magnets produce a force in an axial direction of said touch member, said core means for being actuated by said force for said raising and lowering, respectively, of said touch member corresponding to a direction of said electrical excitation, and a mechanical, magnetically actuatable locking means operatively coordinated to each of said at least one touch member, said locking means for being operative only on said at least one touch member, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A device for representing at least one tactile character, comprising at least one touch member, two magnets for each of said at least one touch member, said two magnets arranged at least substantially axially behind one another, at least one of said magnets constituting an electromagnet, a magnetic core means for raising and lowering said touch member when said core means is actuated, said touch member and said magnets being oriented such that by electrical excitation, said magnets produce a force in an axial direction of said touch member, said core means for being actuated by said force for said raising and lowering, respectively, of said touch member corresponding to a direction of said electrical excitation, and a mechanical, magnetically actuatable locking means operatively coordinated to each of said at least one touch member, said locking means for being operative only on said at least one touch member, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device as in claim 1, wherein said locking means includes at least one part to be actuated, at least said least one part is disposed in the magnetic field of said magnets, and said at least one part is moveable between an unlocking position thereof and a locking position thereof by means of said force exerted over said field on said at least one part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The device as in claim 1 further comprising a guide forming a track, the latter has at least one component radial to a direction of movement of said touch member, said locking means includes at least one mechanically actuatable locking body, the latter moveably disposed in said guide, and said magnetic field has at least one component running in a direction of said track, said magnetic field operatively actuating said locking body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The device as in claim 3 wherein said locking means includes a plurality of said locking bodies, the latter disposed in said guide moveably singly and successively by a respective impulse excitation of said magnetic field between an unlocking position and a locking position, said magnetic field operatively actuating said locking bodies, said locking bodies constitute means by which said touch member is lockable in different stroke positions corresponding to the number of said locking bodies in said locking position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes at least one magnetically actuatable locking body, said touch member defines a longitudinal axis, said at least one locking body is rotatably disposed in the magnetic field of said magnets about an axis at least parallel to said longitudinal axis, and said magnetic field has at least one component action on said at least one locking body in a tangential direction relative thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as in claim 5 wherein said axis at least parallel to said longitudinal axis constitutes said longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The device as in claim 5 wherein said locking means includes two of said locking bodies, the latter rotatable relative to each other about said axis at least parallel to said longitudinal axis as well as displaceable in a direction of said axis at least parallel to said longitudinal axis, and one of said locking bodies is integrally connected with said touch member and the other of said locking bodies is stationarily disposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as in claim 7 wherein said axis at least parallel to said longitudinal axis constitutes said longitudinal axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
The device as in claim 7 wherein said one of said locking bodies is formed as an axial projection with sector shaped cross-section on an end of said magnetic core means, said end pointing away from said touch member, a stationary magnetic core has an axial projection forming said other of said locking bodies, said two locking bodies comprise in peripheral direction adjacent each other first parts, respectively, of magnetic material and second parts, respectively, of nonmagnetic material, said two locking bodies are arranged in peripheral direction adjacent each other such that said first parts are disposed adjacent one another, and one of said second parts of one of said locking bodies is formed with at least one step having a reduced height on a side pointing to another of said locking bodies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one touch member comprises a plurality of touch members, each having operatively coordinated thereto said two magnets, respectively, and one of said locking means, respectively, all assembled to a matrix for producing a tactile picture, each of said locking means comprises a number constituting at least one locking body, said number being one if a tactile picture with an absense of grey tonal values is to be produced and being greater than one if a tactile picture with grey tonal values is to be produced, respectively, and means for controlling said matrix operatively connected thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device as in claim 10 wherein said control means includes a photoelectric transformer means for converting an optical picture to be represented in tactile form into electrical signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein said device constitutes a mechanical flip-flop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein said touch member constitutes a touch pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device in claim 1, wherein said locking means is a circularly shaped body.
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) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |