Tactile interface for visually impaired

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10096264-B2
Application number	US-201414276020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 13, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a touch-sensitive display operatively coupled to the processor; and a tactile braille panel operatively coupled to the processor where the tactile braille panel overlays at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor;
memory operatively coupled to the processor;
a touch-sensitive display operatively coupled to the processor;
a tactile braille panel operatively coupled to the processor wherein the tactile braille panel overlays at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display; and
braille rendering circuitry that, in a braille mode, renders braille characters to the tactile braille panel, that receives touch input for sensed touches of the rendered braille characters, that determines a touch rate based at least in part on the touch input, and that controls a rendering rate of braille characters to the tactile braille panel based at least in part on the determined touch rate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising circuitry that renders characters to the touch-sensitive display and that renders corresponding braille characters to the tactile braille panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the braille characters rendered to the tactile braille panel overlays a corresponding one of the characters rendered to the touch-sensitive display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising circuitry that selectively operates the apparatus in one of a touch-sensitive display render mode, a tactile braille panel render mode and a touch-sensitive display and tactile braille panel render mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to eye-tracking circuitry that outputs eye position information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising circuitry that selectively operates the apparatus in one of a touch-sensitive display render mode, a tactile braille panel render mode and a touch-sensitive display and tactile braille panel render mode based at least in part on eye position information output by the eye-tracking circuitry.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising audio circuitry that generates audio signals responsive to sensed touch of one or more rendered braille characters.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the audio circuitry generates audio signals based at least in part on the determined touch rate associated with sensed touch of a plurality of rendered braille characters.

9. A method comprising:
rendering information to a touch-sensitive display;
in a braille mode, rendering braille characters to a tactile panel that overlays at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display;
determining a touch rate based on receiving touch input for sensed touches of at least some of the rendered braille characters; and
based at least in part on the touch rate, rendering additional braille characters to the tactile panel.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving touch input via the touch-sensitive display and, responsive to the touch input, refreshing the tactile panel.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the rendering braille characters renders braille dots that comprise an elevation of at least approximately 0.5 mm.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising rendering a tactile control to the tactile panel.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving an actuation signal associated with the tactile control and issuing a command that launches an application.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the application comprises a media player and further comprising rendering tactile controls to the tactile panel for controlling the media player.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Robinson Douglas Warren

Classifications

• G09B21/004 Primary

  Details of particular tactile cells, e.g. electro-mechanical or mechanical layout · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F2203/04809

  Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title