MEMS Three-Way Microvalve Modules for Braille Display

用于盲文显示器的 MEMS 三通微阀模块

• 批准号: 7108949
• 负责人: FREDERICK J LISY
• 金额: $ 56.59万
• 依托单位: ORBITAL RESEARCH, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-09-30 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7108949
• 关键词: bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical equipment development; blind aid; clinical biomedical equipment; cost effectiveness; electrotactile communication

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Orbital Research Inc. has developed unique Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microvalve actuator technology that will enable the production of low-cost refreshable Braille displays. A low-cost Braille display will dramatically improve the quality of life of more than 1.3 million blind Americans. Refreshable Braille displays are the technology of choice for the blind since it provides tactile output of electronic information (e.g. e-mails, word documents, spread sheets, books, magazines, etc.). Yet current Braille displays are prohibitively expensive (e.g. $4,000 - $16,000 per display) and represent a serious accessibility barrier for blind individuals. Alternatively, Orbital Research's MEMS based Braille technology has been recognized as the enabler of the next generation and low-cost refreshable Braille displays. The uniqueness of Orbital Research's approach is in the use of MEMS technology to develop robust and low-cost microvalves which are used to modulate air pressure applied to an inflatable flexible polymer surface in order to raise and lower individual tactile dots. The goal of this Phase II program is to bring Orbital Research's MEMS microvalve Braille display technology to the next and final level toward commercialization and therefore support the completion of a multi-line refreshable Braille display system, and more specifically a portable Braille display with 4 lines of 32 Braille characters (total 128 Braille characters) for under $2,000. An equivalent Braille display in today's market which relies on the expensive piezoelectric technology would cost more than $15,000.

描述（由申请人提供）：Orbital Research Inc.已开发了独特的微电机机电系统（MEMS）微脱离子执行器技术，该技术将使低成本的刷新盲文显示器能够生产。低成本的盲文显示器将大大改善超过130万盲人的生活质量。刷新的盲文显示器是盲人的首选技术，因为它提供了电子信息的触觉输出（例如，电子邮件，文档文档，传播纸，书籍，书籍，杂志等）。然而，当前的盲文显示器非常昂贵（例如，每次显示$ 4,000- $ 16,000），代表了盲人的严重可访问性障碍。另外，轨道研究的基于MEMS的盲文技术已被认为是下一代和低成本刷新盲文显示器的推动者。轨道研究方法的独特性在于使用MEMS技术开发可健壮和低成本的微欧洲植物，这些微牛仔可用于调节可充气柔性聚合物表面施加的气压，以提高和降低单个触觉点。该II阶段计划的目的是将轨道研究的MEMS微毛线盲文显示技术提升到下一个和最终水平，因此可以支持完成多行的可刷新盲文显示系统，更具体地说，更具体地说是便携式盲文显示器，其中4行的32个Braille角色（总计128 Braille tarne）（总计128美元）。当今市场上的同等盲文显示器依赖于昂贵的压电技术的成本将超过15,000美元。