Investigation of tactile characteristics of the piezoelectric bimorph type actuators

Simple and effective new type of tactile device is presented and investigated, which transfers 2D graphic information to the visually impaired people. It consists of piezoelectric bimorph cantilever, acting as an oscillating probe, and, when changing operational signal, could transfer information to visually impaired people, e.g. by crossing the lines/contours on the screen of tablet PC or determining the color of them. Determining the amplitude of tip’s oscillation, attached to bimorph PZT cantilever and contacting with finger, is presented. It is established that tactile device’s body and integrated bimorph cantilever oscillations and their effect on the human finger are different. The visually impaired people better percept the oscillations of Braille pins, which are attached to cantilever tip; maximum perception of tip’s oscillations are achieved, when bimorph tip generates approximately 0.5 N force

R&D of the device for blind to conceive 2D graphical information

Miniature piezoelectric thimble is described and investigated, based on friction control between PC screen and thimble’s contacting surface. The contours of the image on PC screen switch on and off harmonic or non-harmonic electric signals, connected to the electrodes of bimorph piezoelectric transducer, generating bending deformations, affecting friction coefficient. While scanning the PC screen in two directions, these periodic variations of friction coefficient result in oscillations of the fingertip, related to the color or intensity of the image components on the screen. Another three cases of pin’s oscillations normal to finger contacting surface are described

Investigation of tactile characteristics of the piezoelectric bimorph type actuators

Simple and effective new type of tactile device is presented and investigated, which transfers 2D graphic information to the visually impaired people. It consists of piezoelectric bimorph cantilever, acting as an oscillating probe, and, when changing operational signal, could transfer information to visually impaired people, e.g. by crossing the lines/contours on the screen of tablet PC or determining the color of them. Determining the amplitude of tip’s oscillation, attached to bimorph PZT cantilever and contacting with finger, is presented. It is established that tactile device’s body and integrated bimorph cantilever oscillations and their effect on the human finger are different. The visually impaired people better percept the oscillations of Braille pins, which are attached to cantilever tip; maximum perception of tip’s oscillations are achieved, when bimorph tip generates approximately 0.5 N force

R&D of the device for blind to conceive 2D graphical information

Miniature piezoelectric thimble is described and investigated, based on friction control between PC screen and thimble’s contacting surface. The contours of the image on PC screen switch on and off harmonic or non-harmonic electric signals, connected to the electrodes of bimorph piezoelectric transducer, generating bending deformations, affecting friction coefficient. While scanning the PC screen in two directions, these periodic variations of friction coefficient result in oscillations of the fingertip, related to the color or intensity of the image components on the screen. Another three cases of pin’s oscillations normal to finger contacting surface are described