Tactile Graphic Display

Abstract

A tactile graphic display for providing a display representation of a graph or image generated by a graphic device for visually impaired users or other users who wish to access tactile information. The display includes one or more frame assemblies including hollow actuator chambers and hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator members. Actuators are received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers and drive shafts are received with the hollow shaft members. Cams operably connect the actuators to the drive shafts. Each actuator rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly, and each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly.

1 . One or more frame assemblies of an apparatus for a graphic tactile display, the one or more frame assemblies comprising:
 a plurality of hollow actuator chambers;   a plurality of hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator members;   a plurality of actuators received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers;   a plurality of drive shafts received with the hollow shaft members; and   a plurality of cams operably connecting the actuators to the drive shafts;   wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position of the cam to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly, and   wherein each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position of the cam thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly.