JP3741900B2 - Wearable braille data input / output device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wearable braille data input / output device that is attached to a finger to input / output braille data.
[0002]
More specifically, the present invention relates to a wearable braille data input / output device capable of inputting and outputting data in combination with a digital broadcast receiver, personal computer, word processor or various character input / output type information devices. .
[0003]
[Prior art]
Conventionally known Braille data input / output devices can be broadly classified into the following three types.
[0004]
(1) There is a braille input key as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-43803 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1). This prior art 1 is a word processor for the visually impaired, which enables 6-point braille input by 6-point contact input keys that move up and down, and a stimulating element that is driven by a piezoelectric element in each of the 6-point input keys. A Braille input / output system that realizes a Braille presentation function by embedding is provided.
[0005]
(2) There is a finger-mounted Braille information input / output device as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-307530 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 2). This prior art 2 realizes the function of inputting braille data by keying the pressure detecting element attached to the tip of the finger, and realizes the presentation function by attaching the stimulus generating element attached to the ring to the finger. It is a device to do. In addition, in the device disclosed as the prior art 2, for example, the presence or absence of contact between a ring attached to the index finger and a ring attached to the ring attached to the middle finger is detected to control the presentation state of Braille. It also has a function.
[0006]
(3) There are a permanent wearing type input system, a permanent wearing type intention transmission system, a permanent wearing type music keyboard system, and a permanent wearing type Braille input / output system as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-121294 (hereinafter, referred to as JP-A-7-121294). , Called prior art 3). This prior art 3 detects the acceleration generated when a finger is pressed by an acceleration sensor attached to a finger, the impact sound generated when the key is pressed, and the change in myoelectric potential generated when the key is pressed, thereby providing a computer keyboard, a music keyboard, and a Braille keyboard system. A portable input device is realized.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the prior art 1 is a stationary braille input key like a keyboard conventionally used in a computer, so that there is a disadvantage that the overall outer shape of the apparatus becomes large. Moreover, since it is a stationary device, it has a drawback that it is not portable so that it can be used anywhere.
[0008]
Further, in the above-described conventional technique 2, since the stimulus generating element is attached to the tip of the finger, there is an inconvenience that the tip of the finger is restrained at the time of wearing. Further, when the device of the prior art 2 is mounted on a finger, there is a disadvantage that work other than the keystroke operation becomes difficult.
[0009]
Furthermore, the prior art 3 described above is a device that detects keystroke operation information by various detection elements attached to a finger and inputs input data to the information device, and presents Braille information from the information device to the user. However, specific examples are not disclosed.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable wearable braille data input / output device having both an input function and a presentation function without restraining a fingertip during wearing in view of the above points.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is an apparatus for inputting / outputting braille data by being attached to a finger, in response to input information supplied from the outside. comprising a presentation means for providing a linear movement skin irritation table surface directed toward, the presentation means and being integrally formed, and a pressure detecting means for supplying data corresponding to the movement of the finger to the outside, The presenting means is a movable member that linearly moves upward away from the skin surface in the longitudinal direction of the finger in response to the input information, and a rotary tactile stimulator that moves together with the movable member. A rotation-type tactile stimulator that applies a different tactile stimulus to the finger by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise along the longitudinal direction of the finger according to the moving direction of the movable member. It is characterized by.
The present invention according to claim 2 is an apparatus for inputting / outputting Braille data by being attached to a finger, and a plurality of elements arranged along the longitudinal direction of the finger in response to input information supplied from the outside. It is formed integrally with the presenting means, which provides the apparent movement that the skin of the finger is directly stroked by bringing the stimulator into contact with the skin surface in order, and responds to the movement of the finger Pressure detecting means for supplying the measured data to the outside, and the presenting means attaches a plurality of spring members provided corresponding to each of the stimulators over time in response to the input information. It is characterized by comprising a plurality of electromagnets .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wearable braille data input / output device according to the first or second aspect , in addition, an external force is directly applied to the pressure detecting means due to deformation of a ring shape to be worn on a finger. By providing a buffer member between the ring and the pressure detection means for preventing the addition, it is possible to prevent a keystroke operation detection area of the pressure detection element from becoming narrow.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The wearable Braille data input / output device to which the present invention is applied uses a pressure detection element to detect a keystroke operation, and uses a tactile stimulation element to realize a presentation function. In addition, a tactile stimulation element is installed on the pressure detection element in order to efficiently transmit the six-point braille data to which the key is input to the pressure detection element. With this integrated structure, it is possible to efficiently cause a change in acceleration that occurs during a keystroke operation to be applied to the pressure detection element.
[0014]
The pressure detecting element attached to the finger may erroneously detect a finger operation other than the keystroke as a keystroke operation. Therefore, in order to separate a keystroke operation detection signal (including a high frequency component) and an erroneous detection signal (including a low frequency component), the keystroke operation detection signal output from the pressure detection element is passed through a high-pass filter.
[0015]
In addition, in order to flexibly cope with individual differences in the finger size to be worn, when using a ring with a notch shape, the ring shape of the worn ring changes according to the size of the user's finger. Become. As a result, when the pressure detection element is directly attached to the ring, an external force is applied to the pressure detection element due to the deformation of the ring shape, and this external force causes the disadvantage of narrowing the keystroke operation detection area of the pressure detection element. There is. Therefore, in the wearable Braille data input / output device to which the present invention is applied, a buffer material for removing external force is provided between the ring and the pressure detection element in order to stabilize the keystroke operation detection area.
[0016]
Furthermore, in order to reduce misrecognition of the presentation information, it is possible to use a tactile stimulation element that gives a linear stimulus to the skin of the attached finger. A tactile stimulation device that gives a stimulus such as stroking directly on the skin of a finger enables stable reading of 6-braille data compared to vibration stimulation by a vibration motor or the like.
[0017]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a bird's-eye view of a state in which a six-point braille data input / output device to which the present invention is applied is worn on both hands. This apparatus performs data processing such as 6 Braille data input / output units 1A to 1F attached to a finger, erroneous operation elimination processing, and other data processing / transmission / reception units 2A and 2B for transmitting / receiving data to / from external information devices. , 6 Braille data input / output units 1A to 1F and data processing / transmission / reception units 2A and 2B are included. Here, the data processing / transmission / reception units 2A and 2B are attached to positions such as wrists that do not affect the keystroke operation, and are connected to external information devices wirelessly or by wire.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows an example of 6-point braille data input / output units 1A to 1F using the vibration stimulation element 6 as the tactile stimulation element. The 6 braille data input / output units 1A to 1F to be worn on the finger include a ring 4 for wearing on the finger, a pressure detecting element 5 for detecting a keystroke operation, a vibration stimulating element 6, and stabilization of a keystroke operation detection area. The buffer material 7 for realizing the above is integrally configured. Instead of the vibration stimulation element 6, a linear tactile stimulation element that gives a finger-like stimulus to the finger as described in detail in the second embodiment, or a finger touch as described in detail in the third embodiment later. An apparent movement stimulating element that provides an apparent movement such that the skin is stroked linearly can be used.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a false detection removal circuit of the pressure detection element 5 provided to prevent malfunctions other than during the key-pressing operation. The detection signal obtained from the pressure detection element 5 becomes a keystroke operation detection signal via the detection circuit 8 that functions as a buffer circuit. This keystroke operation detection signal is passed through the high-pass filter 9 in order to remove an erroneous detection signal due to finger movements other than keystroke. The analog signal output from the high-pass filter 9 is converted into a keystroke signal (TTL signal) by the analog / TTL conversion circuit 10 and then supplied to an external information device.
[0021]
Embodiment 2
FIG. 4 shows the structure of a linear tactile stimulation device that gives a stimulus such as stroking linearly. In this figure, a shaft 11 having a rotating spiral groove is supported by a bearing portion 12, and the tactile stimulation portion 13 performs a linear reciprocation 14 by changing the rotation direction of the shaft 11. Further, the bearing 15 and the ring 15 attached to the finger are integrated with the pressure detecting element 5 and the buffer material 7.
[0022]
A stimulator 17 for stimulating a finger rotates around a fulcrum 16. Since the degree of freedom of rotation of the stimulator 17 varies depending on the traveling direction of the tactile stimulation unit 13, the intensity of stimulation applied to the finger changes. In the example of FIG. 4, when the stimulator 17 moves in a direction away from the bearing portion 12 (left direction in the figure), the stimulator 17 rotates counterclockwise 18 and is weak against the skin of the finger that touches it. Give a stimulus. On the other hand, when moving in a direction approaching the bearing portion 12 (right direction in the figure), the stimulator 17 is constrained from rotating in the clockwise direction, and gives strong stimulation to the skin of the finger that is in contact. As described above, it is possible to give a different tactile stimulus to the finger by giving a constraint condition to the rotation direction of the stimulator 17 due to the difference in the moving direction of the tactile stimulus unit 13.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the stimulus varies depending on the moving direction of the stimulator 17, it is possible to give a tactile stimulus with less misrecognition.
[0024]
Embodiment 3
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the apparent motion stimulation element 19. As shown in the figure, the temporary movement stimulating element 19 places a plurality of stimulators 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> C that move up and down (the number is not limited to three) to give a temporary movement to the finger. Here, the extension springs 21 </ b> A to 21 </ b> C always apply a force to the stimulators 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> C in a direction of pressing down. The electromagnets 22 </ b> A to 22 </ b> C when energized push the stimulators 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> C upward to be fixed by electromagnetic force generated when a current flows through a coil (not shown). When the electromagnets 22A to 22C lose the electromagnetic force, the stimulators 20A to 20C constantly receiving the force in the direction of being pushed downward by the force of the extension springs 21A to 21C stimulate the finger by the spring force. The stimulators 20A to 20C are separated from the finger by flowing current again through the electromagnets 22A to 22C.
[0025]
Each stimulator 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> C causes an apparent motion to act on a finger to be stimulated by a cooperative operation that gives a time difference stimulus. The finger stimulated by the cooperative operation of the plurality of stimulators 20A to 20C feels a tactile stimulus moving in the 25 or 26 moving direction.
[0026]
The apparent motion stimulating element 19, the pressure detecting element 5, and the buffer material 7 are integrally formed and are attached to the finger by a ring 27.
[0027]
Effects of the embodiments According to each of the above-described embodiments, finger-worn 6 braille data having both an input function for a visually handicapped person or a deafblind person to access an information device such as a computer and a presentation function at the same time. An input / output device can be realized.
[0028]
That is, in order to realize the function of inputting 6 Braille data to an information device, a small pressure detection element is attached to a finger, and a force generated with an input keystroke operation is detected and used as a keystroke operation detection signal. On the other hand, in order to realize the function of presenting data, a tactile stimulation element is attached to the finger, and a tactile stimulation is applied directly or indirectly to the finger skin corresponding to the output data. It is possible to provide a 6-point braille type data input / output device that has both a mounting function and a data input / output function and is excellent in portability.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a portable information device can be realized by mounting the apparatus having an input function and an output function on a finger. In addition, it is possible to present Braille data with few misrecognitions by giving a linear stimulus to the finger wearing the apparatus.
[0030]
Furthermore, by using this device for visually handicapped and deafblind people, Braille information can be obtained and transmitted to information devices such as digital broadcast receivers, personal computers and word processors anytime and anywhere. .
[0031]
When using a vibration stimulation element, depending on the stimulation conditions, the finger receiving the stimulus may not be identified or the finger receiving the stimulus may be misrecognized, but the linear tactile stimulation element or the apparent motion stimulation element By using, a stimulus on a finger skin to be stimulated is linearly stimulated, so that stable stimulation can be recognized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overhead view when a wearable braille data input / output device according to a first embodiment is worn on a finger;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a wearable braille data input / output device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an erroneous detection removal circuit of a pressure detecting element for detecting a key pressing operation caused by a movement other than a key pressing operation.
FIG. 4 is an external view showing a wearable Braille data input / output device including a linear tactile stimulation device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a wearable braille data input / output device including an apparent motion stimulation element according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1A to 1F 6 Braille data input / output units 2A, 2B Data processing / transmission / reception units 3A, 3B Signal line 4 Ring 5 Pressure detection element 6 for detecting keystroke operation Vibration stimulation element 7 Buffer material 8 Detection circuit 9 High-pass filter 10 Analog / TTL conversion circuit 11 Shaft 12 Bearing portion 13 Tactile stimulation portion 14 Reciprocating movement 15 Ring 16 Support point 17 Stimulator 18 Counterclockwise direction 19 Temporary motion stimulating element 20A-20C Stimulator 21A-21C Extension spring 22A-22C Electromagnet 25, 26 Moving direction 27 Ring

Claims (3)

A device that is attached to a finger to input / output Braille data,
In response to the input information supplied from the outside, and a presentation means for providing a linear movement skin irritation table surface toward the longitudinal direction of the finger,
A pressure detecting means which is formed integrally with the presenting means and supplies data corresponding to the movement of the finger to the outside;
The presenting means is
In response to the input information, a movable member that linearly moves upward away from the skin surface in the longitudinal direction of the finger;
A rotary tactile stimulator that moves together with the movable member, wherein different tactile stimuli are produced by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise along the longitudinal direction of the finger according to the moving direction of the movable member. A rotational tactile stimulator to be applied to the finger;
Wearable Braille data input / output device characterized by that. A device that is attached to a finger to input / output Braille data,
In response to input information supplied from the outside, a plurality of stimulators arranged along the longitudinal direction of the finger are sequentially brought into contact with the skin surface, so that the finger skin is directly boiled. A presentation means for providing exercise;
A pressure detecting means which is formed integrally with the presenting means and supplies data corresponding to the movement of the finger to the outside;
The presenting means is
In response to the input information, comprising a plurality of electromagnets for urging a plurality of spring members provided corresponding to each of the stimulators over time,
Wearable Braille data input / output device characterized by that. In the wearable braille data input / output device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
By providing a buffer member between the ring and the pressure detection means for preventing external force from being directly applied to the pressure detection means due to deformation of the shape of the ring attached to the finger, the pressure detection element A wearable braille data input / output device characterized by preventing the keystroke operation detection area of the device from becoming narrow.

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