Wafer-Level Packaged Microvalve for Braille Display

Information

  • Research Project
  • 6735799
  • ApplicationId
    6735799
  • Core Project Number
    R43EY015326
  • Full Project Number
    1R43EY015326-01
  • Serial Number
    15326
  • FOA Number
    RFA-EY-02-02
  • Sub Project Id
  • Project Start Date
    9/1/2004 - 19 years ago
  • Project End Date
    8/31/2006 - 17 years ago
  • Program Officer Name
    HELMSEN, RALPH J
  • Budget Start Date
    9/1/2004 - 19 years ago
  • Budget End Date
    8/31/2005 - 18 years ago
  • Fiscal Year
    2004
  • Support Year
    1
  • Suffix
  • Award Notice Date
    8/27/2004 - 19 years ago
Organizations

Wafer-Level Packaged Microvalve for Braille Display

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): To function effectively, people require the ability to read, write and share information in a variety of educational, employment and daily living environments. Blind people are increasingly bypassed in the digital revolution because a majority of electronic information is simply inaccessible to them (technically or financially). So, despite the digital revolution providing the average person the ability to access immense amounts of information on demand, traditional assistive technology has not kept pace or addressed the needs of blind individuals. Existing commercial Braille displays utilize piezoelectric actuators to deploy mechanical pins which form Braille text but they are expense and limited in size. In order to reduce the cost of Braille Displays a fresh approach is required. Orbital Research has developed a pneumatically actuated Braille Display concept that utilizes low-cost, small, and efficient MEMS microvalves. The microvalves control air pressure delivered to each Braille dot to control deployment. However, based on feedback from blind people, the Braille displays had inherent drawbacks, including a slow refresh rate and soft tactile feel. To overcome these drawbacks this proposed program will design, fabricate and test a new MEMS microvalve with improved functional capabilities that allow for greater system efficiencies and advanced packaging concept to reduce overall system cost. The resulting microvalve will be integrated into actuator arrays and packaged using automated techniques into modules that can be joined together to form either low-cost entry-level or larger multi-line Braille display systems.

IC Name
NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
  • Activity
    R43
  • Administering IC
    EY
  • Application Type
    1
  • Direct Cost Amount
  • Indirect Cost Amount
  • Total Cost
    250000
  • Sub Project Total Cost
  • ARRA Funded
  • CFDA Code
    867
  • Ed Inst. Type
  • Funding ICs
    NEI:250000\
  • Funding Mechanism
  • Study Section
    ZEY1
  • Study Section Name
    Special Emphasis Panel
  • Organization Name
    ORBITAL RESEARCH, INC.
  • Organization Department
  • Organization DUNS
    557510336
  • Organization City
    CLEVELAND
  • Organization State
    OH
  • Organization Country
    UNITED STATES
  • Organization Zip Code
    441033757
  • Organization District
    UNITED STATES