US4033053A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital segment display to braille converter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-14
•
Granted: 1977-07-05
•
Expires: 1996-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A converter having an electro-optical sensing head for viewing an alpha-numeric light emitting display, generally of the type having multiple segments selectively energized to display different characters, the converter including decoder means for accepting from the head information as to which segments are illuminated and delivering an output signal representing the character presently being displayed, the converter having a Braille presentation including dot and bar means which can be raised to represent said character but in Braille form, and the converter including electrical circuit means operative in response to one of said output signals to actuate appropriate dot and bar means in the Braille presentation.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore T. Engler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:32
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/02; G09B21/001; G09B21/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A converter for reading displays having a predetermined arrangement of light emitting segments for representing alpha-numeric characters and delivering a Braille pattern of raised dot and/or bar members readable by a blind person as a tactile presentation, comprising: (a) reading head means having multiple light-responsive means each corresponding with a different one of said segments and respectively disposed to face toward and respond to one associated character segment when emitting light, whereby said reading head means determines which of said segments are illuminated; (b) electric decoder means having multiple inputs respectively coupled with said multiple light responsive means, and having outputs responsive to said inputs and representing when activated decoded alpha-numeric characters; (c) Braille means including a pattern with raiseable tactile members, and actuator means each connected to one of said members and operative when energized to raise the associated member in the pattern; and (d) electrical circuit means connected to the outputs of the decoder means and to said individual actuator means, and operative in response to activation of said outputs representing characters to energize appropriate actuator means to present in said pattern Braille presentations of the same characters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A converter for reading displays having a predetermined arrangement of light emitting segments for representing alpha-numeric characters and delivering a Braille pattern of raised dot and/or bar members readable by a blind person as a tactile presentation, comprising: (a) reading head means having multiple light-responsive means each corresponding with a different one of said segments and respectively disposed to face toward and respond to one associated character segment when emitting light, whereby said reading head means determines which of said segments are illuminated; (b) electric decoder means having multiple inputs respectively coupled with said multiple light responsive means, and having outputs responsive to said inputs and representing when activated decoded alpha-numeric characters; (c) Braille means including a pattern with raiseable tactile members, and actuator means each connected to one of said members and operative when energized to raise the associated member in the pattern; and (d) electrical circuit means connected to the outputs of the decoder means and to said individual actuator means, and operative in response to activation of said outputs representing characters to energize appropriate actuator means to present in said pattern Braille presentations of the same characters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reading head comprises said light responsive means each located to intercept light from a different character segment, and barrier means extending between said light responsive means and disposed to restrict each light responsive means to accepting light from only one segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said decoder means comprises a source of power; an output corresponding with each character which will be represented by said segments; multi-path switching means connected between said power source and said outputs, the switching means each being switchable between a conductive and a non-conductive condition and said decoder inputs being coupled to the switching means to control the conductive condition of each and thereby determine which ones of said multi-paths are conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said decoder means comprises a source of power; an output corresponding with each character which will be represented by said segments; multiple relay means, each having a winding connected to be energized by one of said inputs and said relays having contacts connected with said power source and with said outputs and forming multiple different paths therebetween depending upon which of the relay windings are energized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said Braille means comprises a board having a pattern of holes therein; a tactile member at each hole having a raised position in which it extends through a hole above the board, and having a retracted position; said actuator means comprising a solenoid coupled to each tactile means and operative when energized to raise the member, and spring means coupled with each member and operative to urge it toward retracted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein each output of said decoder means represents a different alpha-numeric character which will be represented by said segments; and said electrical circuit means comprising diode means connecting each of said decoder outputs with selected actuator means, whereby when an output is activated to represent a character said diode means will energize those actuator means which are appropriate to present the same character in a Braille pattern of raised tactile members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2907833A
Cited
US3045364A
Cited
US3175038A
Cited
US3230644A
Cited
US3229387A
Cited
US3289327A
Cited
US3594787A
Cited
US3932869A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |