DE3042390A1 - Device for displaying tactile information - has dusts moved out or in by electromagnets, for use on magnetic screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The tactile display, for Braille lettering, has a soft-magnetic iron core with a tactile head held by a permanent magnet of variable coercivity either against the force of a spring in its depressed position (where it cannot be felt) or pushed up by the spring into its ot position where it proects above the surfae and can be felt. The position of the iron core is determined solely by the magneti state of the permanent magnet, no mechanical arresting devices are required. A coil encircles the permanent magnet and is used to vary its magnetic field.

Description

The invention relates to a device for representation

a point of tactile information that is appropriate in the ordinary Braille grid dimensions for individual Braille characters, entire Braille lines or to be arranged in large tactile picture panels.

For example from U.S. Patent 3,987,438 and also from German Applications P 2707 362, and P 23 64 542.7 devices of this type are known, which, however, have disadvantages. For example, none of the above Solutions to realize a single point with reasonable effort, the one that is usual in Braille Grid could be arranged. This grid can only be adhered to for modules that can represent a whole Braille character. Also be at all The solutions proposed above mechanically move the stylus, at least in the palpable Held position, so they present themselves to the reading person's finger as rigid, mostly metallic bumps above the touch surface, which is especially important when used for a long time is perceived as uncomfortable. Also occurs with various of the above solutions a mutual influence of the individual points when setting or deleting on, so that only serially or at worst partially parallel information in one line can be enrolled, creating long pauses for the reader between reading consecutive lines occur. In addition, at least for some of the The above solutions errors occur if the groping The finger of the person reading rests on the touch surface.

The invention described below eliminates these disadvantages avoided. At the same time, an easy to manufacture, pluggable solution with very low number of parts suggested.

Fig. 1 a shows an enlarged longitudinal section of an embodiment, Fig. 2b shows the electrical signals necessary for control.

The permanent magnet 10 (Fig. La), from it one in its magnetic force Changeable material is made, about half immersed in the-concentric Coil 8, which is wound onto the bobbin 7, which is preferably made of brass is. The magnet 10 is made in a suitable manner, for example by clamping or gluing fixed in the bobbin7. It has a flat surface C on its upper side.

The coil body 7 is through the ring 6 and the slotted, magnetic and electrically conductive ring 11 fixed concentrically in the tubular screen 9, for example by beads or punch marks. This also becomes an electric Conductive connection created between the bobbin and the screen.

One connection of the coil 8 is electrically conductive with the E at E Coil body 7 connected, for example by soldering, with which this coil end also is connected to the screen 9 at the same time. The second connection of the coil 8 is down through the slot in the ring 11 and at S with the contact pin 13 conductively connected, which is fastened concentrically in the shield 9 with the insulating piece 12 is.

The lower end of the screen 9 and the connector pin 13 are thus the axial electrical connection of the device.

The soft magnetic iron core dips into the bobbin 7 from above 5, which has the flat surface B on its lower side and on its upper side the probe tip A.

On the iron core 5, the locking ring 3 is attached, so that the Spring 4, which is on the one hand on the ring 6 and on the other hand on the locking ring 3 supports the core 5 upwards against the terminating piece which is also fastened in the screen 9 1 presses. As a result, the (pasty tip A appears above the locking surface D-D and can be felt.

To lower the iron core 5, causing the probe tip A under the touch surface D-D comes to rest, the coil 8 is excited by a voltage pulse U1 so that that the Permanent magnet 10 saturates and becomes magnetic.

The iron core 5 is against the spring force of the spring 4 in the coil 8 is drawn in until the surface B of the iron core 5 to the surface C of the Permanent magnet 8 starts up. The probe tip of the iron core 5 is then in the position A2 under the touch level D-D and is not palpable.

After switching off the electrical signal, the remanent magnetic force is sufficient of the magnet 10 to hold the core 5 securely in the lowered position, too when mechanical shocks or vibrations try to tear off the core. Also any magnetic interference fields from the outside cannot change the state of the magnet 10, since they are shielded by the screen 9.

If the coil 8 is now excited with a second voltage pulse U2, which is directed in the opposite direction to the first pulse U1 and which is significantly smaller in terms of magnitude is, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 10 is reduced so far that the spring force the spring 4 exceeds the holding force of the magnet 10, whereby the iron core 5 is raised and its probe tip is raised above the touch surface.

The pen is thus palpable, and if the fact pressure is too strong, it can be felt can evade below, in order to return to its target position when this force subsides to return.

Since the remanent magnetic force of the magnet 10 is now almost zero, the iron core can be pressed down until surfaces B and C touch, without the risk of the iron core remaining in this position. as well the finger of a reading person can open the outlet opening during the "setting" process of the probe tip without writing incorrect information will. The information - tactile pen or non-palpable pen - is only dependent of whether the magnet was magnetized by a pulse U1 or whether it was through a pulse U2 was demagnetized. One who is currently disabled in his movement The iron core automatically takes the position corresponding to the state of the magnet as soon as it can move freely again. A demagnetized magnet can be controlled again with a demagnetizing pulse U2 an-2 or a magnetized one Solenoid repeats with a pulse U1, without resulting in incorrect information, dli. the new information can be overwritten over the existing one.

In order to prevent the iron core 5 from sticking to the end piece 1 by magnetically c Power effect and the associated gI Oße ß buiicj when moving de; Iron core To avoid this, a sleeve 2 made of non-magnetic material is expediently inserted into the end piece 1 Material with good sliding properties such as brass or plastic inserted, or the part of the iron core 5 protruding into the end piece 1 is coated with non-magnetic material or made entirely of non-magnetic material Material made.

By inserting the end piece 1 in simple, in the desired Grid drilled cover plates can be made from the tactile individual points Braille modules put together with, for example, 4, 5, 6 or 8 points where the electrical connection from the bottom of the module.

Larger panels drilled in a grid can also be used to create picture panels and realize Braille displays of any configuration.

Claims (10)

Device for displaying current information. Claims 1.) Device for displaying a tactile point, gekennzei.chnet by the fact that a soft magnetic iron core with a probe tip by a permanent magnet with variable coercive force either against a spring force is held in the lowered position and cannot be felt, or is lifted above the touch surface by the spring force and can thus be felt. 2.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that di.e The iron core is only determined by the magnetic state of the permanent magnet and no form-fitting or force-fitting mechanical locking is required is. 3.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic force-des Permanent magnets changed in size by a coil concentrically surrounding them can be. 4.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the location of the iron core (5) not due to mechanical influences such as vibrations, but only can be changed by changing the magnetic state of the permanent magnet can, whereby a possibly touching finger does not influence the process. 5.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the iron core in the raised, actuatable state. is not rigidly locked but resiliently mounted. 6.) Device still claim 1, characterized in that made of tactile Single dots Braille characters with any number of dots in the usual grid size can be built up, which in turn can be put together to form any number of braille lines can be. 7.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that from tactile Individual points, arranged flat in the usual grid, picture panels built up become a relief-like, tactile representation of geometric structures. 8.) Device according to claims 1 - 7, thereby gekennzei.chnet, that the tactile single point has a magnetic screen. 9.) Device according to claim 1 r 8, characterized in that the individual points E.g. in a Braille character, they can be controlled both serially and in parallel can. 10.) Device according to claim 1-9, characterized in that the lower end of the single point is designed as a coaxial plug-in device.