SBIR Phase I: Affordable Braille Display Using Novel Microactuators

轨道研究公司的这项小型企业创新研究第一阶段计划将提高用于可刷新盲文显示系统(RBDS)的微电化学(MEMS)设备的良率。MEMS技术有可能以与当前单行显示器相同的价格提供10行盲文文本。由于MEMS器件是显示器的主要成本，器件成品率成为产品最终成本中最重要的因素。该计划将评估几种设计和制造技术，以降低可刷新盲文显示系统的总体成本。需要这些改进的驱动机构来为每个显示器提供更多的盲文单元，以模拟盲文文本和/或计算机监视器。这一设备将更有效地获取基于计算机的信息，增加视障人士以及视障和听力障碍人士的教育和研究机会。预期的盲文点阵列将使计算机屏幕信息的整页可以从计算机电子表格、互联网或CD-ROM中以最合适的盲文代码获得。该设备将允许视障用户浏览文档并访问链接，例如在网上冲浪时遇到的链接。拟议的可刷新盲文显示系统(RBDS)技术旨在与任何386计算机单元兼容，它将包括使系统与所有盲文代码兼容的软件。未来无纸化社会的趋势将使可刷新的盲文显示系统成为美国50多万视障人士的必备条件。最后，其他衍生的微致动器技术还有很大的市场，如微卫星推进系统、飞机的智能表面、耳环香水分配器、汽车燃料添加剂系统、带有气味的电视(嗅觉-视觉)和带有嗅觉输入的虚拟现实护目镜。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I program from Orbital Research, Inc. will improve the yield on microelectrochemical (MEMS) devices for a Refreshable Braille Display System (RBDS). MEMS technology has the potential to provide ten rows of Braille text for the same price as the current cost of a single row display. As the MEMS devices are the major cost of the display, device yield becomes the most important factor in the ultimate cost of the product. This program will evaluate several designs and fabrication techniques to reduce the overall cost of the Refreshable Braille Display System. These improved actuation mechanisms are required to provide more Braille cells per display to emulate a sheet of Braille text and/or the computer monitor. This device will more effectively access computer based information, enhancing educational and research opportunities for visually impaired and also visually and hearing impaired individuals. The anticipated array of Braille dots will make available an entire page of computer screen information either from a computer spreadsheet, the Internet, or CD-ROM in the most appropriate Braille code. This device will allow visually impaired users to skim documents and access links such as those encountered while surfing the Internet. The proposed Refreshable Braille Display System (RBDS) technology is designed to be compatible with any 386 computer unit, and it will include software which will make the system compatible with all Braille codes. Future trends toward a paperless society will make refreshable Braille display systems imperative for the over 500,000 visually impaired individuals in the United States. Finally, a large market exists for other spin-off microactuator technologies such as microsatellite propulsion systems, smart surfaces for aircraft, earring perfume dispensers, automotive fuel additive systems, televisions with odorants (smell-o-vision), and virtual reality goggles with olfactory inputs.