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: 6665032
• 负责人: FREDERICK J LISY
• 金额: $ 25万
• 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 2005-09-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6665032
• 关键词: bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical equipment development; blind aid; clinical biomedical equipment; cost effectiveness; electrotactile communication

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The digital revolution has placed a wealth of electronic information literally at the touch of a button to the average individual. Unfortunately blind people have been left behind by the revolution due to the lack of efficient, low-cost display systems. Existing commercial Braille displays utilize piezoelectric actuators to deploy mechanical pins which form Braille text. In order to reduce the cost of Braille Displays a fresh approach is necessary .Orbital Research has developed a pneumatically actuated Braille Display concept that utilizes low-cost, small, and efficient MEMS microvalves. The microvalves control air pressure delivered to each Braille dot to control deployment. Orbital Research has developed and tested prototypes of these displays validating the approach using two-way MEMS valves. However, based on feedback from blind people, the Braille displays had inherent drawbacks, including a slow refresh rate and soft tactile feel. To overcome these drawbacks this proposed program will design, fabricate and test a three-way MEMS microvalve that will be integrated into actuator arrays, which will be packaged using automated techniques into modules that can be joined together to form either low-cost entry-Ievel or larger multi-line Braille display systems.

描述（由申请人提供）：数字革命将大量的电子信息从字面上触摸按钮向普通个人触摸。不幸的是，由于缺乏高效，低成本的显示系统，盲人被革命抛弃了。现有的商用盲文显示使用压电执行器来部署形成盲文文本的机械销。为了降低盲文的成本，必须采用新的方法。轨道研究开发了一种气动驱动的盲文显示概念，该概念利用了低成本，小型和高效的MEMS微库。 Microverves控制了输送到每个盲文点以控制部署的气压。轨道研究已经开发并测试了这些显示的原型，并使用双向MEMS阀验证了该方法。但是，根据盲人的反馈，盲文显示器具有固有的缺点，包括缓慢的刷新速度和柔和的触觉感觉。为了克服这些缺点，该提出的程序将设计，制造和测试三向MEMS微脱离子，该微离心阀将集成到执行器阵列中，该阵列将使用自动化技术包装到模块中，这些模块可以连接在一起，以形成低成本的入门型或大型多线盲文盲文显示系统。