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US 8,132,733 B2Granted
Light-activated assistive reading device for visually impaired individuals
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorChristopher A Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assistive reading device for visually impaired users comprises a sheet-like member containing a photo-active material. The sheet-like member responds to light patterns representing data from a patterned light source to form tactile shapes on its surface. The visually impaired user obtains information by touching the tactile shapes. Preferably, the photo-active material is a layer of cross linked azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymers. The assistive reading device preferably is an output device for a computer.
Claims9
A data output apparatus, comprising:
- a light source for selectively illuminating locations in a matrix of locations behind a reading surface to represent output data;
- and
- a reading surface mounted in a fixed location with respect to said light source, said reading surface comprising a smooth, uniform sheet member of a photo-active polymeric material which receives illumination at selective locations thereof by said light source, said photo-active polymeric material forming deformations at selective locations of said reading surface responsive to illumination in each respective selective location by said light source, said deformations being tactile perceptible to a human user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.