Touching force response of the piezoelectric Braille cell.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to investigate dynamic responses of the piezoelectric Braille cell when it is subjected to both electrical signal and touching force.


METHODS
Physical behavior of the piezoelectric actuator inside the piezoelectric Braille cell is analyzed. The mathematical model of the piezoelectric Braille system is presented. Then, data of visually impaired people using a Braille Note is studied as design information and a reference input for calculation of the piezoelectric Braille response under the touching force.


RESULTS
The results show dynamic responses of the piezoelectric Braille cell. The designed piezoelectric bimorph has a settling time of 0.15 second. The relationship between the Braille dot height and applied voltage is linear. The behavior of the piezoelectric Braille dot when it is touched during operation shows that the dot height is decreased as the force increases.


CONCLUSIONS
The result provides understanding of the piezoelectric Braille cell behavior under both touching force and electrical excitation simultaneously. This is the important issue for the design and development of piezoelectric Braille cells in senses of controlling Braille dot displacement or force-feedback in the future.
Smithmaitrie
Pruittikorn
P
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hatyai, Thailand. spruitti@me.psu.ac.th
Kanjantoe
Jinda
J
Tandayya
Pichaya
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness; D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011932:Reading; D012682:Sensory Aids; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013785:Thailand; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014159:Transducers; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities; D055815:Young Adult