Patent · US Expired

Tactile pin holding apparatus, tactile pin display apparatus and braille display member

US7097457B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
10References
57Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 2003
Grant dateAug 29, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09B21/004
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Rotational member (310) with plural tactile pins (301) movable up-and-down for displaying characters is rotated by rotation driving means. Elastic O-rings (370) are provided in the rotational member (310) for pressing and holding the pins (301). Actuators (320) brought to contact the pins (301) are provided nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at desired heights from a tactile surface. Cam (330) brought to contact with the pins (301) is provided also nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at the reset position or height. Furthermore, selectively actuating means is provided for selectively actuating the actuators (320). Owing to such arrangement, a continuous tactile pin display apparatus can be reduced in size, weight and cost.By providing at least the pins (301) or the rotational member (310) with a photocatalyst, it becomes possible to decompose contaminants, such as bacteria, sweat, oil of the hand and food particles, deposited on the pins or their peripheral portions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.