Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
The South Korean company Dot Incorporation has invented a beautifully designed smartwatch, specifically intended for the blind and sight-impaired. Using the company’s magnetically controlled touch sensor technology, corresponding to four 3x2 braille cells, the smartwatch displays time in refreshable braille, as well as other smartwatch functions such as date, temperature, social networking, news and callerID on incoming calls. The watch is Bluetooth connected to a smartphone. It has a battery charge that lasts 7 days. It is made of super lightweight aluminum and is both dustproof and waterproof.
Certain aspects of the Dotwatch invention, the casing in particular, are recited the US utility patent application, US2021072816A1, titled Information output device. The application was published on March 11, 2021. The inventors on record are Ju Yoon Kim, Ju Ho Kim and Hycon Cheol Park.
Below the patent cover sheet drawing, together with an image of the stylish Dotwatch, embodying the invention on the market. The cover sheet drawing shows a plan view of an embodiment of the information output device (1), according to the invention.
Specifically, the information output device (1) is intended to be portable and wearable, for example as a wrist watch. Although undepicted, the portable and wearable output device is designed to communicate wirelessly with a nearby computing device, such as a smartphone, portable computer or tablet via near field communication, WIFI or Bluetooth. The portable and wearable output device comprises a casing 10, protrusions 12, and an expression surface 13.
Inside the casing, a sealed internal space comprises driving modules, which may include electrically-driven actuators. The protrusions 12 are driven to protrude through expression holes for tactile sensing, and to pull-back within the casing 10. The casing 10 also comprises a film surface module 13 to protect the expression surface 11 with protrusions 12 and expression holes, from external moisture, humidity, and/or contaminants, thereby enhancing the durability of the wearable and portable output device.
The Roman numerals II-II depict the crossection line for the patent Figure 2. The Roman numerals III-III depict the crosssection line for the patent Figures 3, 4 and 5.
The absrtract of the DotWatch patent is also included below.
This application relates to an information output apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a casing including an expression surface and an expression hole formed in the expression surface. The apparatus also includes a protrusion provided to reciprocate such that at least a part thereof protrudes out of the expression hole and information is expressed on the expression surface. The apparatus also includes a driving module located inside the casing and connected to the protrusion to move the protrusion. [Abstract US2021072816A1]
References
Dot Incorporation
https://www.dotincorp.com/
Dotwatch
https://www.dotincorp.com/page/31?gbn2=DotWatch
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