Patents Assigned to Perkins School For The Blind
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Patent number: 9994041Abstract: The present disclosure describes, among other things, a device. The device includes a plurality of sensors, an output system, a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors and the output system, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a signal from the plurality of sensors, interpret the signal as a first Braille cell, and send a signal corresponding to the first Braille cell to the output system.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: David Morgan, David A. Carhart, Michael C. Garrett, Stephen Lingle, Frank Pistorio, Jackson Wilson
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Patent number: 9707787Abstract: An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Patent number: 9375947Abstract: An electrically-assisted mechanical Braille writer includes a main solenoid to apply force to emboss Braille onto a printing medium, and advance an embossing mechanism to the next cell. A second solenoid engages a mechanical stop to prevent one or more embossing keys from being fully depressed, to prevent kickback from the keys mechanically coupling to the main solenoid. In unpowered operation, the mechanical stop is disengaged, and the embossing keys may be fully depressed to apply force to emboss Braille and advance the embossing mechanism. Accordingly, with electrical power, the user may supply a lesser amount of force and still fully emboss Braille cells, while without electrical power, the Braille writer remains fully operational.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLINDInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Patent number: 9358823Abstract: An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Patent number: 9050825Abstract: The present disclosure describes, among other things, a device. The device includes a plurality of sensors, an output system, a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors and the output system, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a signal from the plurality of sensors, interpret the signal as a first Braille cell, and send a signal corresponding to the first Braille cell to the output system.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: David Morgan, David A. Carhart, Michael C. Garrett, Stephen Lingle, Frank Pistorio, Jackson Wilson
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Patent number: 8821049Abstract: An electrically-assisted mechanical Braille writer includes a main solenoid to apply force to emboss Braille onto a printing medium, and advance an embossing mechanism to the next cell. A second solenoid engages a mechanical stop to prevent one or more embossing keys from being fully depressed, to prevent kickback from the keys mechanically coupling to the main solenoid. In unpowered operation, the mechanical stop is disengaged, and the embossing keys may be fully depressed to apply force to emboss Braille and advance the embossing mechanism. Accordingly, with electrical power, the user may supply a lesser amount of force and still fully emboss Braille cells, while without electrical power, the Braille writer remains fully operational.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Perkins School For the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Publication number: 20140126946Abstract: An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Publication number: 20140065579Abstract: An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Patent number: 8602787Abstract: An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Perkins School for the BlindInventors: Michael Schmidt, Jude Jonas
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Publication number: 20130157230Abstract: A user interface system for entry of Braille input to electronic devices comprises a module with a single set of six tactile keys arranged in a 6 dot Braille configuration. The user interface system is configured to recognize data entered therein by user contact with one or more of the tactile keys as Braille input and to transmit said Braille input to an electronic device for display or further transmission. The interface further includes function keys which allow the user to manipulate, modify, or otherwise control the data entered and how the data is transmitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2012Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: Perkins School for the BlindInventor: Perkins School for the Blind
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Patent number: D617369Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Perkins School For The BlindInventors: David S. Morgan, Sona Patadia, Linda Pulik, Lisa Yanz