WO2019138423A1

WO2019138423A1 - Direct braille slate with slate base, slate frame and line guide unit

Info

Publication number: WO2019138423A1
Application number: PCT/IN2019/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anupam KUMAR GARG
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-01-09
Filing date: 2019-01-07
Publication date: 2019-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-09

Abstract

In an embodiment, a direct-braille-slate(300;500) includes a slate-base(302;502), a slate-frame(306), and a line-guide-unit(334). The slate-base(302;502) includes rows(324a), each row includes cells(332), each cell includes fixed number of protruded pins(331) to create embossed bump impressions on braille-paper(326) when pressed using stylus(316). The slate-frame(306) is hingedly coupled with slate-base(302;502) on one end, and open at other end for inserting braille-paper(326) in between slate-frame(306) and slate-base(302;502). A line-guide-unit(334) includes line-guides(400), each line guide hingedly coupled with an edge portion(321) of slate-frame(306) to move between a closed position and a flipped-open position. Each line-guide(400) includes an elongated body(402) including grooved cell-guides(404) aligned over cells(332) of a row of rows(324a) in closed position for creating embossed impressions on the braille-paper(326), and the row is accessible for reading embossed impressions in flipped-open position. Each line-guide(400) is braille-numbered(338) and has plurality of embossed marking(406) at a fixed interval to locate row-column of braille-cells on the braille-paper(326).

Description

DIRECT BRAILLE SLATE WITH SLATE BASE, SLATE FRAME

AND LINE GUIDE UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to braille slates and, more particularly, to the direct braille slates that facilitate manual braille writing.

BACKGROUND

[002] Braille is a script of 6-dot cells (in 2 x 3 matrix) or 8-dot cells (in 2 x 4 matrix) used by visually challenged (VC) and visually impaired (VI) person to read and write. A traditional braille slate allows VC or VI person to make dots by pressing a round pin pointed stylus on a paper, aided by grooved guides depicting each braille cell. However, to read the same, VC or VI person needs to reverse the page and feel raised dots formed in each cell in response to pressing of the paper by the stylus. The traditional braille approach, unfortunately, demands the VC or VI persons to write from right-to-left in a mirror image format, so that the mirror image (in intended script) of each braille cell is created on the reverse side of the page. This process of writing using the traditional braille slate is called“Indirect Braille” writing.

[003] There are many disadvantages of“Indirect Braille” writing. The major disadvantage is that VC or VI users have to learn braille twice - one for reading and another (a mirror image) for writing. Learning braille twice is confusing as well as cumbersome, especially for little children who have just started learning the braille. Furthermore, in a traditional braille slate, if a dot is wrongly pressed by the VC or VI user, then locating and erasing the dot that was pressed wrongly is complicated (since locating the wrongly pressed dot has to be done on reverse side of the paper that has no row/column grid to guide the VC/VI user), therefore resulting in added anxiety in the VC or VI user’s mind while writing on the traditional braille slate. Moreover, many VC or VI people may have difficulty writing backwards due to dyslexia or any other learning or writing disabilities. Another disadvantage of“Indirect Braille” writing is that the braille users face extreme difficulty in all those writing activities that need back- referring (the need for referring to what the braille user has written previously). The back- referring is needed in the most of common writings, such as drafting a Note, doing Creative Writing, solving any Math problem whether arithmetic (simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division), algebra (solving a simple equation or simply placing values in variables), and the like. The difficulty is that, every time a braille slate user needs to refer to what the braille user has written above, the braille user has to take the paper out of the braille slate, flip the paper, locate the row and column on the reverse side of the paper, read, and again flip the paper, put it back onto the braille slate, re-align the paper perfectly as was earlier (which is highly error-prone when done by a VC/VI user), and then proceed.

[004] Figure 1 illustrates a traditional braille slate (100), according to an example scenario. The traditional braille slate (100) includes two plates (l06a, l06b) hinged at one end. The plates (l06a, l06b) are open at the other end for inserting a paper (104) in between them. The top plate (l06a) of the traditional braille slate has rectangular openings (called‘guides’) that fit a braille cell each and the bottom plate (l06b) has corresponding round depressions aligned below each guide. The guides will facilitate a stylus (108) to form uniform braille cells on the paper (104). The traditional braille slate (100) also includes guide pins (102) that grip the paper in place while writing. Unfortunately, the traditional braille slate has all the disadvantages of “Indirect Braille” writing.

[005] There are mainly three products on the market that allow“Direct Braille” writing. Figure 2 A illustrates an“Electronic Brailler” (200), according to an example scenario. The Electronic Brailler (200) is the most popular“Direct Braille” writer and it is like a small typewriter. It has a keypad (202) that includes eight keys for each eight-dot braille cell, a space key, a backspace key, and a newline key. Major limitation with Electronic Brailler is that, it is bulky, heavy, and expensive. Moreover, it is not allowed in any test centre due to security reasons.

[006] Figure 2B illustrates“Hawk’s Braille Slate” (230), according to an example scenario. Hawk’s Braille Slate (230) constitutes a full-page size base plate (232) with a punching clamp (234) at the top to grip and align the paper. For writing, it has a 6-row wide plate-pair (236a, 236b) that can be placed at 4 pre-defined slots on the base plate (232). The top plate of plate- pair (236a), kept above the paper, has the guides depicting each braille cell, while the bottom plate (236b), attached to top plate (236a) with a hinge and kept below the paper, has hemispherical pins corresponding to each braille dot. A hollow-tip stylus (238) is provided to create bumps in paper instead of depressions. The major limitation with Hawk’s Braille Slate is that, it is not quite suitable for back-referring. Moreover, the motion of plate -pair is jerky and tends to tear the page.

[007] Figure 2C illustrates “Braille Upwriter” (260), according to an example scenario. Braille Upwriter (260) is a small handy typewriter roller like device, that allows writing one row at a time. The paper (266) passes through a roller (262), which has hemispherical pins corresponding to each braille dot, while the top of the roller (264) has the guides depicting each braille cell. A concave-tip stylus (268) is provided to create bumps in paper. The major limitation with Braille Upwriter is that, it is also not suitable for back-referring. Moreover, it doesn’t provide a slate-like experience that the braille users are used to.

[008] Based on the foregoing, there are disadvantages and limitations in the existing braille slates. While the traditional“Indirect Braille Slate” needs flipping of the braille paper while back-referring and provides the cumbersome process of making corrections, the existing “Direct Braille Slates” are limited in back-referring too, in addition to having not the very user- friendly constructions. Hence, there is a need for a Direct Braille Slate with simplistic design and slate-like experience, which can enable locating and reading of the Braille cells anywhere on the braille page easily, thus making it suitable for back-referring.

SUMMARY

[009] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements or delineate the scope of the specification. Its sole purpose is to present a selection of concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0010] In an embodiment, apparatus for visually challenged (VC) or visually impaired (VI) users for reading and writing braille is disclosed. The apparatus comprising: a slate base, a slate frame and a line guide unit. The slate base including a plurality of rows, each row including a plurality of cells, each cell including protruded pins, and the plurality of protruded pins adapted to create embossed impressions of braille text on a braille paper aligned with the slate base. The slate frame is hingedly coupled with the slate base at an edge portion of the slate base for securing the braille paper on the slate base. The line guide unit including a plurality of line guides, each line guide hingedly coupled with an edge portion of the slate frame to move between a closed position and a flipped-open position, each line guide including an elongated body that includes a plurality of grooved cell guides. The plurality of grooved cell guides of a line guide is aligned over the plurality of cells of a row of the plurality of rows in the closed position for creating the embossed impressions on the braille paper, and wherein the row is accessible for reading the embossed impressions in the flipped-open position.

[0011] In another embodiment, the apparatus is modified to facilitate writing of braille in duplex mode. The slate base includes additional tactile markings for aligning the braille paper after turning the braille paper on its back side. In the example embodiment, a notch and an embossed line are used as the tactile markings. In a non-limiting manner, the gap between each row is increased and kept more than the height of braille cell.

[0012] Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The disclosure itself, together with further features and attended advantages, will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are now described, by way of example only wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a traditional braille slate as prior art, according to an example scenario;

[0015] Figure 2A illustrates an Electronic Brailler as prior art, according to an example scenario;

[0016] Figure 2B illustrates a Hawk’s direct braille slate as prior art, according to an example scenario;

[0017] Figure 2C illustrates a Braille Upwriter as prior art, according to an example scenario; [0018] Figure 3A illustrates the slate base, slate frame, and line guide unit of the direct braille slate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 3B illustrates the direct braille slate with line guides in flipped-open mode, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3C illustrates a direct braille slate in normal closed mode, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 illustrates a multiplication operation performed by a braille user using the direct braille slate shown in Figures 3A, 3B & 3C, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 5 illustrates structure of the slate base of the direct braille slate that includes tactile markings, according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate placement of both sides of the braille paper on the slate base as shown in Figure 5, according to example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 7 illustrates braille paper with English text written on both sides of the braille paper using the direct braille slate shown in Figure 5, according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0025] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a stylus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature. The coloured drawings, if provided along with this description are only meant to make the details of invention clear and have no effect whatsoever on the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.

[0028] The terms“comprises”,“comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by“comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.

[0029] Various embodiments disclosed herein provide a direct braille slate for reading, writing or any such purposes for the VC and/or VI person. The direct braille slate includes a slate base, a slate frame, and a line guide unit. While the slate base provides the grid of braille pins and the slate frame aligns and secures a braille paper, the line guide unit facilitates the reading and writing of braille cells with easy back-referring. Various embodiments of the direct braille slate thereof are described herein reference to Figures 3A-3C to 8. For the better understanding of this disclosure, reference would now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures and description below. Further, in the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in various views.

[0030] Figure 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate views of a direct braille slate (300), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The direct braille slate (300) includes a slate base (302), a slate frame (306), and a line guide unit (334). The slate base (302) acts as a plate on which a braille paper (326) can be placed for writing, reading or any such purposes. In an example, the slate base (302) includes a plurality of rows (324a) and columns (324b) of hemispherical pins in a grid form (324) to create embossed bump impressions on the braille paper (326) (shown in Figure 4), when the braille paper (326) is placed on the slate base (302).

[0031] In an example, the plurality of rows (324a) and columns and (324b) including a plurality of cells (332) including a fixed number of a plurality of hemispherical pins (331) arranged in 2x3 or 2x4 grid - so as to create embossed bump impression on the braille paper (326) when the braille paper (326) is pressed using suitable means against the hemispherical pins (331). The plurality of hemispherical pins provides a plurality of braille text lines on the page, each braille text line provided by each row of the plurality of braille cells (332). In an example, the direct braille slate (300) includes suitable means such as a braille stylus (316), to create the embossed impressions on the braille paper (326) aligned with the slate base (302). The braille stylus (316) is a hollow or concave tip stylus, which is described in detail with reference to Figure 8.

[0032] The at least one punch pin (304) or punch pin hole (340) disposed near the margins of the slate base (302), and the at least one margin (322) elevated from the base is provided for aligning and securing the braille paper (326) onto the slate base (302). The at least one punch pin (304) on the slate base (302) is adapted to be punched through the braille paper (326) placed onto the slate base (302) and inserted through the punch pin hole (340) on the slate frame (306) aligned with punch pin (304) on the slate base (302). Alternatively, the at least one punch pin (304) (not shown in Figure) on the slate frame (306) is adapted to be punched through the braille paper (326) placed onto the slate base (302) and inserted through the one punch pin hole (340) (not shown in Figure) on the slate base (302) aligned with punch pin (304) on the slate frame (306). In one form, at least one punch pin (304) or punch pin hole (340) are disposed near the top margin of the slate base (302), and the top and left margins are elevated from the base of slate base (302). In another form, the one punch pin (304) is disposed near the top left margin of the slate base (302) and left margin is elevated from the base of slate base (302). In still another form, the two punch pins similar to the punch pin (304) are disposed near the right margin and the two punch pin holes similar to the punch pin hole (340) are disposed near the left margin, and top and left margins are elevated from the base of slate base (302). It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when the punch pins punch through the braille paper (326), such arrangement helps in precluding unintentional movement of the braille paper (326). Further, the slate base (302) has an indent cut (308) at its edge to facilitate the handing of braille paper (326) placed over it. It should be noted that the indent cut (308) may be of any shape and size, and may be placed at any of the open edge of the slate base (302).

[0033] The slate frame (306) is frame like structure that is hingedly coupled with the slate base (302) by a hinge (320) on one side which is an edge portion (319) of the slate base (302). The slate frame (306) is open at the opposite side of the edge portion (319) for inserting the braille paper (326) in between the slate frame (306) and the slate base (302). The braille paper (326) is aligned and secured using at least one punch pin (304) or at least one punch pin hole (340) and at least one elevated margin (322).

[0034] The slate frame (306) is hingedly coupled with the line guide unit (334) by a hinge (312) on one side. On the opposite side, the slate frame (306) includes a plurality of engagement members (314) for aligning and gripping a plurality of line guides (400) of the line guide unit (334).

[0035] The line guide unit (334), includes the plurality of line guides (400), where each line guide (400) is coupled with the slate frame (306) by a hinge (312) of the plurality of hinges (410) on one end. A line guide (400) corresponds to a line of braille text. Each line guide (400) includes an elongated body (402) including a plurality of grooved cell guides (404) depicting each braille cell, aligned over the hemispherical pin braille grid (324) on the slate base (302). In an example, there are 30 braille cells in a row of hemispherical pin braille grid (324) on the slate base (302). In a non-limiting manner, the line guide (400) also has 30 grooved cell guides (404), where each grooved cell guide (404) aligns over a braille cell in the row. It will be understood that suitable means such as the stylus (316) can be used through a given grooved cell guide (404) to create embossed bump impressions on a section of the braille paper (326) covering the hemispherical pin braille cell (332) directly below the given grooved cell guide (404).

[0036] The line guide (400) has a mount (408) on the other end opposite to the one end which is hingedly coupled with the slate frame (306), the mount (408) includes an engagement member (414) that engages with the engagement member (314) disposed on the slate frame (306), and provides alignment and grip to the line guide (400) so as to secure it directly above the corresponding row in the hemispherical pin braille grid (324) on the slate base (302). In an example, the line guide (400) includes a portion of the hinge (312) on the left end and the mount (408) on the right end that has a magnetic member (414), used as the engagement member, disposed on the bottom side of the mount (408). This magnetic member (414) magnetically engages with another magnetic member (314) disposed on the slate frame (306), thus magnetically aligning and holding the line guide (400) to the slate frame (306) by the magnetic attraction between the two magnetic members. It may be noted that the engagement members here may be configured by using any other suitable means as well. [0037] A line guide (400) corresponds to a line of braille text on the braille paper (326) and correspondingly braille-numbered. The corresponding line number (338) in braille is embossed on the mount (408) of each line guide (400). Further, a plurality of embossed marking (406) at a fixed interval disposed on top of each line guide (400) as well as on the top margin (310) and bottom margin (311) of the slate frame (306) helps to locate the column number of the braille cell on the braille paper (326). This would facilitate a braille use to correctly mark and back- refer a braille cell on the braille paper (326).

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates an example representation (480) of the direct braille slate (300) used for multiplication of numbers 683 and 4.

[0039] Figure 4 depicts a braille paper (326) placed on a direct braille slate (300) for the purpose of writing or reading according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The braille paper (326) is aligned and secured in between the slate frame (306) and the slate base (302), using at least one punch pin (304) or at least one punch pin hole (340) and at least one elevated margin (322) on the slate base (302).

[0040] As shown is Figure 4, the numbers 683 and 4, and a line below number 4 is written in braille in three consecutive rows ( e.g ., n, n+l, n+2) using the braille slate. For example, reference numeral (412) represents a braille script for 683, and reference numeral (414) represents a braille script for 4, and the reference numeral (416) represents a line drawn in braille script. Further, the line guides (418) and (422) are placed over the rows meant for writing carry-overs (e.g., n-l) and result (e.g., n+3) during multiplication respectively. The position of the line guides (418) and (422) as shown in Figure 4 is a closed position. The line guides (419, 420, 421) corresponds to rows ‘n’, ‘n+l’, and ‘n+2’ are flipped-open. The position of the line guides (419, 420, 421) in Figure 4 is a flipped-open position. The braille user may easily flip-open and place-back any line guide using the hinge (312, 410). The grooved cell guides (404) of the line guides (418) and (422) are aligned with corresponding cells (332) of rows’n-l’ and 'n+3' of the slate base (302). The braille user can read the numbers 683 and 4, and do the multiplication, and while multiplication, the braille user can write the carry-overs 1 and 3 over the numbers 8 and 6 respectively in the row 'h-I', as well as read these carry-overs by flipping-open and placing -back the line guide (418) periodically. Similarly, the braille user can write the result of '2732' in the row 'n+3' using line guide (422). Thus, the braille user can easily do the multiplication operation on the braille paper (326) itself using the direct braille slate.

[0041] Figure 5 illustrates view of direct braille slate (500), in accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure, modified to support duplex braille writing on a braille paper (326) which implies writing on both sides of the braille paper (326). The gap between each row (324a) is kept more than the height of braille cell (332). The slate base (502) includes additional tactile markings for aligning the braille paper after turning the braille paper on its back side.

[0042] It should be understood that Figure 5 illustrates only one form of the additional tactile markings of the slate base (502) which should not limit the scope of the embodiments. The additional tactile markings, in a non-limiting manner, include a notch (570) and an embossed line (572) for purpose of alignment of braille paper (326) when the braille paper (326) is reversed on its back side. The notch (570) and the embossed line (572) can be configured in a variety of ways to serve as a guiding means for placing the braille paper (326) onto the slate base (502) for supporting duplex writing, and their one example configuration is shown in illustrated embodiment of Figure 5, and it should not be construed as limiting to the scope of present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch (570) is a hollow opening at the top left side of the slate base (502) which provides tactile experience to the braille user for alignment of the braille paper (326). The embossed line (572) is a thin straight line formed below the elevated margin (522) and above the first hemispherical pin row. The notch (570) and the embossed line (572) collectively help in proper alignment of the braille paper (326) for duplex writing arrangement. In a non-limiting manner, the notch (570) is positioned at a corner portion of the slate base (502) abutting the elevated margin (322), and the embossed line (572) is positioned between the elevated margin (322) and a top row of the plurality of rows (324a) of the slate base (502).

[0043] In a non-limiting example, the direct braille slate (500) is used for optimally utilizing the braille paper (326) by way of duplex writing, and can be used for writing in multiple lines by a braille user, for example without limiting the scope of the embodiment, writing in 27 lines in a 14-line braille slate including 2x4 grid or writing in 35 lines in an 18-line braille slate including 2x3 grid. For instance, the braille paper (326) can be kept onto the slate base (502) such that embossed impressions are created on a first side (e.g., a front side) of the braille paper (326). Once writing on the first side is completed, the braille paper (326) can be reversed (or flipped) and kept onto the slate base (502) such that embossed impressions are created on a second side (e.g., a back side) of the braille paper (326). These arrangements are described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B.

[0044] Figure 6A illustrates an example representation (600) of placement of the front side (326a) of the braille paper (326) on the slate base (502). The braille paper (326) is aligned with the elevated margin (322) of the slate base (502) and can be secured by the punch pin (304) on the slate base (502). Then the braille paper (326) is further secured between the slate frame (306) and the slate base (502) using the punch pin hole (340). The line guides (400) can be placed on the slate frame (306) and the open ends of the line guides (400) can be engaged with the plurality of engagement members (314) of the slate frame (306). Accordingly, the line guides (400) are placed over the braille paper (326) in the closed position for writing on the front side (326a) of the braille paper (326).

[0045] Figure 6B illustrates another example representation (602) of placement of back side (326b) of the braille paper (326) on the slate base (502). After reversing the braille paper (326) on its back side, the braille paper (326) is aligned with the embossed line (572) with the help of the notch (570) for correct alignment. The line guides (400) can be placed on the slate frame (306) and the open ends of the line guides (400) can be engaged with the plurality of engagement members (314) of the slate frame (306). Accordingly, the line guides (400) are placed over the braille paper (326) in the closed position for writing on the back side (326b) of the braille paper (326).

[0046] Figure 7 illustrates a view (700) of front side (326a) of the braille paper 326 with braille text written using the direct braille plate (500), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure 7, braille scripts (70 la and 702a) are embossed impressions created by placing the braille paper (326) on the direct braille slate (500) according to the configuration shown in Figure 6A and the braille scripts (70la and 702a) are printed on the front side (326a) of the braille paper (326). The braille scripts (70lb and 702b) are embossed impressions created by placing the braille paper (326) on the direct braille slate (500) according to the configuration shown in Figure 6B and the braille scripts (70lb and 702b) are printed on the back side (326b) of the braille paper (326).

[0047] Figure 8 illustrates an exploded view of the stylus (316), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The stylus (316) includes a hollow or concave tip (330) and at least one magnetic member, for example magnetic members (344a, 344b). The hollow or concave tip (330) helps in creating the embossed bump like impressions on the braille paper (326) by pressing against the hemispherical pins (331) disposed on the slate base (302;502).

[0048] The direct braille slate (300;500) may include a grip member (318) to hold the braille stylus (316) when the braille stylus (316) is not in use. In an example, the grip member includes two ferromagnetic members (318a, 318b) (shown in Fig. 3B) and an elastic member (336) connected through a hole to hold the braille stylus (316) on the slate frame (306). In an implementation, the grip member (318) may include at least one ferromagnetic member (318a). It should be noted that the grip member (318) may be at any place on the direct braille slate (300;500) and grip member may be configured by using any other suitable means as well.

[0049] Various embodiments of the present disclosure, among others, offer benefit to the braille users in reading, writing, and particularly in back-referring the braille text. Present disclosure provides direct braille slate onto which the braille paper can be secured by the punch pins and the elevated margins. It would be understood that the punch pins would also facilitate braille users to re-align the braille paper after removal easily. Further, each line guide is braille- numbered and column-marked that helps in locating a braille cell on the page easily both for reading and writing. Moreover, any part of the braille text on the braille paper can be easily read and written without the need to remove the paper from the braille slate. This benefit to back-refer is particularly useful to the braille users in performing mathematical operations such as multiplications and divisions easily on braille paper itself. Furthermore, the direct braille slate in the embodiment supports duplex writing resulting in optimum utilization of the braille paper.

[0050] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims

Claims: I/We Claim:

1. An apparatus (300;500) for visually challenged (VC) or visually impaired (VI) users for reading and writing braille, the apparatus (300;500) comprising:

a slate base (302;502) including a plurality of rows (324a), each row includes a plurality of cells (332), each cell including protruded pins (331), and the plurality of protruded pins (331) adapted to create embossed impressions of braille text on a braille paper (326) aligned with the slate base (302;502);

a slate frame (306) hingedly coupled with the slate base (302;502) at an edge portion (319) of the slate base (302;502) for securing the braille paper (326) on the slate base (302;502); and a line guide unit (334) including a plurality of line guides (400), each line guide hingedly coupled with an edge portion (321) of the slate frame (306) to move between a closed position and a flipped-open position, each line guide includes an elongated body (402) including a plurality of grooved cell guides (404),

wherein the plurality of grooved cell guides (404) of a line guide is aligned over the plurality of cells (332) of a row of the plurality of rows (324a) in the closed position for creating the embossed impressions on the braille paper (326), and

wherein the row is accessible for reading the embossed impressions in the flipped-open position.

2. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slate base (302;502) including a top elevated margin (322) for aligning the braille paper (326) for writing on a front side (326a) of the braille paper (326).

3. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slate base (302;502) including tactile markings for aligning the braille paper (326) after turning the braille paper (326) for creating embossed impressions on a back side (326b) of the braille paper (326) in a duplex mode.

4. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tactile markings include a notch (570) and an embossed line (572).

5. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a gap between each row of the plurality of rows (324a) is greater than a height of each cell of the plurality of cells (332).

6. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 1, including a stylus (316) including a hollow or concave tip (330) for creating the embossed bump impressions on the braille paper (326).

7. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an open end of each of the plurality of line guides (400) including a mounted surface (408) that includes corresponding line number (338) embossed in the braille text for identifying row numbers of the plurality of cells on the slate base (302;502).

8. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mounted surface (408) of each line guide including a third engagement member (414) adapted to be engaged with a fourth engagement member of a plurality of engagement members (314) of the slate frame (306).

9. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each line guide of the plurality of line guides (400), a top margin (310) of the slate frame (306) and a bottom margin of the slate frame (306) including a plurality of embossed markings (406) for identifying column numbers of the plurality of cells on the slate base (302;502).

10. The apparatus (300;500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slate base (302;502) includes a first engagement member (304) adapted to be engaged with a second engagement member (340) of the slate frame (306) for securing the braille paper (326).