# US 2017/0287359 A1 · Device and methods for continuosly refreshing a tactile display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0287359 A1 - Document ID: US20170287359A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/371,095 - Filed: 2016-12-06 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Inventors: Moslem Azamfar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287359A1 ## CPC - G09B 21/004: {Details of particular tactile cells, e.g. electro-mechanical or mechanical layout} - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract A tactile display apparatus renders information to a user, and comprises multiple braille cells attached adjacent to each other along a predefined path, a set of pins housed within the braille cells, and a set of pin holders inserted on the braille cells. The braille cells are moved periodically at a predefined speed via a driving assembly. The pins are selectively actuated by actuators, where the linear motion of the braille cells allow the user to contact the pins to read the information represented by the arrangement of the pins. The pin holders are moved along a defined path to contact the pins, and each pin holder comprises a rigid body and multiple elastic rings attached along the rigid body. The number of elastic rings is equal to the number of pins to allow the pin holder to selectively hold or release a pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tactile display apparatus configured to render information to a user, the tactile display apparatus comprising; a plurality of braille cells attached adjacent to each other along a predefined path, wherein the braille cells are configured to be moved periodically at a predefined speed via a driving assembly; a set of pins housed within first slots positioned on an upper surface of each of the braille cells, the pins configured to be selectively actuated by one or more actuators in contact with each of the pins, wherein the motion of the braille cells allow the user to contact the pins via cutaneous senses of the user's fingers to read the information represented by the arrangement of the pins; and a set of pin holders inserted along second slots positioned on the braille cells, wherein the pin holders are moved along a defined path to contact the pins, each pin holder comprising; a rigid body; and a plurality of elastic rings attached along the rigid body, wherein the number of elastic rings is equal to a predefined number of the pins, wherein the pins are contacted and held with the elastic rings prior to the pins leaving a surface of each actuator, wherein an axial movement of each pin is prevented to allow each pin to move underneath the user's finger, wherein the touched pins continuously leave a reading area of the braille cells, and wherein the pins are released via moving the assigned pin holders in a reverse direction until the elastic rings of the pin holders are decompressed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tactile display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving assembly is a belt drive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tactile display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predefined path is along the belt drive, wherein a belt is driven around at least two pulleys disposed at a distance from each other, and one of the pulleys is driven by an electric motor to drive the belt across the two pulleys. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tactile display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the braille cells are attached to the belt, and the movement of the belt driven by the pulleys allow the pins to be in continuous contact with the cutaneous senses of the user's fingers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tactile display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a body comprising a plurality of bumps, wherein each bump is configured to induce movement of each pin holder along a defined path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tactile display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the movement of each pin holder causes the elastic rings of each pin holder to be compressed to fix the pins in their status-quo. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tactile display apparatus of claim 5, wherein one of the bumps is configured to push each pin holder in an opposite direction, wherein the elastic rings regain initial decompression status and the pins are configured for linear motion along their central axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tactile display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the movement of each pin holder through the second slot is one or combination of a linear motion, a sliding motion, and a rotary motion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tactile display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the braille cells are mounted on a circular disc, wherein the pins are positioned in each braille cell in a radially disposed orientation across the circular disc. ### Claim 10 A method for selectively adjusting pins on a tactile display apparatus, the method comprising; providing the tactile display apparatus comprising; a plurality of braille cells attached adjacent to each other along a predefined path, wherein the braille cells are configured to be moved periodically at a predefined speed via a driving assembly; a set of pins housed within first slots positioned on an upper surface of each of the braille cells, the pins configured to be selectively actuated by one or more actuators in contact with each of the pins, wherein the motion of the braille cells allow the user to contact the pins via cutaneous senses of the user's fingers to read the information represented by the arrangement of the pins; and a set of pin holders inserted along second slots positioned on the braille cells, wherein the pin holders are configured to be moved along a defined path to contact the pins, each pin holder comprising; a rigid body; and a plurality of elastic rings attached along the rigid body, wherein the number of elastic rings is equal to a predefined number of the pins; positioning the pins and the pin holders in the braille cells through their respective slots, wherein the total number of the actuators is proportional to the number of rows in a braille character; providing a flat member comprising a sloping surface; moving the braille cells in a predefined direction, wherein the set of pins of the braille cells are moved upward via the sloping surface; deciding via a micro controller whether a pin is to be raised or not to be raised; selectively allowing the actuator to sustain the pin in the raised position, wherein the actuator moves upward and prevents the pin from dropping, or remains stationary to allow the pin to drop down via gravity; contacting and holding the pin with the elastic ring prior to the pin leaving the surface of the actuator; preventing an axial movement of the pin and allowing the pins to move underneath the user's finger, wherein the touched pins continuously leave a reading area of the braille cells; and releasing the pins via moving the assigned pin holders in a reverse direction until the elastic rings of the pin holders are decompressed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the total number of the actuators is equal to the number of rows in a braille character. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the total number of the actuators is equal to two times the number of rows in a braille character. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the driving assembly is a belt drive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined path is along the belt drive, wherein a belt is driven around at least two pulleys disposed at a distance from each other, and one of the pulleys is driven by an electric motor to drive the belt across the two pulleys. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the braille cells are attached to the belt, and the movement of the belt driven by the pulleys allows the pins to be in continuous contact with the cutaneous senses of the user's fingers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a body comprising a plurality of bumps, wherein each bump is configured to induce movement of each pin holder along the defined path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the movement of each pin holder causes the elastic rings of each pin holder to be compressed to fix the pins in their status-quo. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein one of the bumps is configured to push each holder in an opposite direction, wherein the elastic rings regain initial decompression status and the pins can have linear motion along their central axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the movement of each pin holder through the slot is one or combination of a linear motion, a sliding motion, and a rotary motion.