Braille refreshable display using lead screw actuation

Abstract

The paper presents a low cost method of actuation which is called lead-screw actuation for braille refreshable display. An array of six small sized independent motors are arranged in an array of 3×2 matrix. The shaft is coupled with a lead screw. Another internally threaded hexagonal nut is fitted on the lead screw which is constrained to move only in axial direction which actuates the pins. The device requires very low voltage and its operation is independent of temperature. The actuation of the pins can be achieved within 0.08 seconds as compared to 50 seconds in electrothermal braille refreshable display and 0.5 seconds in ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators. Moreover, no continuous power supply is required to retain the pins in the position once they have been actuated.