Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 49

X

AnaIysis and Design of
PiezoeIectric BraiIIe DispIay

Iruillikorn Snilhnailrie
Dcpar|mcn| cf Mccnanica| |nginccring, |acu||q cf |nginccring,
Princc cf Scng||a Unitcrsi|q
Tnai|an

1. Introduction

raiIIe aIphalel syslen vas crealed ly Louis raiIIe in 1821 for visuaIIy inpaired or lIind
peopIe lo vrile and read via louching. A raiIIe characler consisls of six or eighl dols in a
reclanguIar array 32 or 42 (Tiresias, 2OO9). The dol nay rise al any posilion lased on a
characler napping code. The characler nappings are coded differenlIy depended on
Ianguages. No naller vhal lhe Ianguage is, nosl of vrillen connunicalion loday lrends lo
le in eIeclronic forns, for exanpIes, reporl, nanuscripl, enaiI, SMS, lIog or velsile.
RefreshalIe eIeclronic raiIIe dispIay is designed for dispIay lhose eIeclronic nedia in lhe
raiIIe fornal. This aIIovs lIind users lo read ly louching as aIlernalive lo Iislening lo lhe
screen reading or lexl-lo-speech soflvare, such as, WelAnyvhere for LngIish Ianguage and
IIA Talip for Thai Ianguage (ighan el aI., 2OO8, IIA, 2OO9).

Iig. 1. IorlalIe raiIIe Nole.

4
Rehabilitation Engineering 50

The raiIIe dispIay is an eIeclronic device lhal dispIays refreshalIe raiIIe characlers. Heighl
of lhe raiIIe dol is conlroIIed ly a piezoeIeclric linorph undernealh. LIeclricaI signaIs
slinuIale lhe piezoeIeclric linorphs lo lend up or dovn, consequenlIy causing lhe dols lo
rise or faII, forning lhe raiIIe characlers. The piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay unil is an
eIeclricaI conlroI syslen. Thus, il can le connecled lo a conpuler, noliIe phone or raiIIe
Nole, as shovn in Iig. 1, lo lransforn on-screen infornalion inlo lhe raiIIe characler forn
(raiIIe and Assislive lechnoIogy, 2OO9). This provides access lo lIind users for reading or
checking lhe eIeclronic nedia ly louching lhe raiIIe dispIay.
RefreshalIe raiIIe ceII is a singIe unil of a raiIIe characler lhal can le dispIay and refresh
ilseIf lo any raiIIe characler depended on a connand inpul. The refreshalIe raiIIe ceIIs
have leen conlinuousIy deveIoped for severaI decades. eginning in lhe 198Os, soIenoids
vere used as aclualors lo conlroI novenenl of lhe raiIIe dols (Irisken-Cilson el aI., 1987,
Iukuda el aI., 1997). Laler, in lhe 199Os, reIay-conlroI raiIIe ceIIs vere proposed
(Sriskanlhan & Sulrananian, 199O). MeanvhiIe, piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceIIs vere aIso
proposed (LinviII & Iiss, 1966, LinviII, 1969) and conlinuousIy deveIoped. Al presenl, lhe
piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII (Iig. 2.) is a connon lype of refreshalIe raiIIe ceIIs and
connerciaIIy avaiIalIe (HunanWare, 2OO9) lecause il has reIaliveIy Iighlveighl and a snaII
size. In addilion, lhere are sone aclualors lhal can le appIied lo conlroI lhe raiIIe dols such
as pneunalic (Yolas el aI., 2OO1, Yolas el aI., 2OO3), piezoeIeclric poIyner (LinviII, 1986),
shape nenory aIIoy (TayIor el aI., 1998, VeIazquez el aI. 2OO6, VeIazquez & IissaIoux, 2OO6),
uIlrasonic nolor (Shinohara el aI., 1998, Cho el aI., 2OO6) and eIeclrorheoIogicaI (LR) fIuid
(TayIor el aI., 1998), lul nosl of lhen are nol connerciaIIy avaiIalIe due lo lheir Iinilalions.


Iig. 2. The piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII.

The ain of lhis sludy vas lo inpIenenl lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor for designing lhe raiIIe
dispIay. The resuIls of lhis vork vouId faciIilale producl designers or engineers lo appIy lhe
design procedure and paranelers lo achieve a suilalIe eIeclronic raiIIe dispIay lhal uses
lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor as a driving nechanisn. The piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay has
nany advanlages, i.e., conpacl size, Iighlveighl and direcl-eIeclricaI conlroI.
In lhis chapler, physicaI lehaviour of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph inside lhe piezoeIeclric
raiIIe dispIay is anaIyzed. The governing equalion of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe syslen is
presenled. Then, survey dala of visuaIIy inpaired peopIe using a raiIIe Nole is reporled as
design infornalion and a reference inpul for caIcuIalion of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe response
Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 51

under lhe louching force. ased on lhe nalhenalicaI nodeI, reIalionship lelveens lhe key
design paranelers (free Ienglh of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph, dol heighl and appIied voIlage)
are sludied. The resuIl gives veII underslanding of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII lehaviour
under lolh louching force and eIeclricaI excilalion sinuIlaneousIy. This is lhe inporlanl
issue for deveIopnenl of piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay in senses of conlroIIing raiIIe dol
dispIacenenl or force-feedlack dispIay unil in lhe fulure.

2. Design of the PiezoeIectric BraiIIe DispIay

The piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay consisls of a slrucluraI lase, piezoeIeclric linorphs, a
prinled circuil loard (IC), a cap and pins as iIIuslraled in Iig. 3. A raiIIe dol is a parl of
lhe pin vhich is conlroIIed ly lhe piezoeIeclric linorph undernealh. The aclive dol rises up
vhen lhe corresponding piezoeIeclric linorph is exciled ly lhe eIeclricaI conlroI signaI. The
heighl of lhe dol is an inporlanl paraneler lhal nusl le designed lo rise up lo a specific
sensilIe heighl alove lhe reference surface or lhe cap.


Iig. 3. AssenlIy draving of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII.

As shovn in lhe driving nechanisn (Iig. 4.), lhe pin is supporled and conlroIIed ly lhe
piezoeIeclric linorph, and lhe olher end of lhe linorph is fixed lo lhe lase. The free Ienglh
of lhe linorph is L. The lip dispIacenenl is d. The linorph is a slraighl lean vhen lhere is
no eIeclricaI excilalion (nornaI posilion). If lhere is an eIeclricaI signaI causing lhe linorph
lo lend up, lhe dol viII le raised up. This rise posilion is used vhen lhe dol is aclive. On lhe
olher hand, if lhere is an eIeclricaI signaI causing lhe linorph lo lend dovn, lhe dol viII faII
dovn under lhe reference surface. This faII posilion is used vhen lhe dol is inaclive. Thus,
lhe lolaI pin novenenl (fuII slroke) is lvo lines of lhe lip dispIacenenl. ecause of lhis
lvo-slale aclion, i.e., lending up and dovn, il is so caIIed lhe linorph.

Rehabilitation Engineering 52

a) Normal position c) Fall position b) Rise position
ReIerence surIace
Piezoelectric domain
Pin
9

9
G
G
/ /

Iig. 4. Aclualion nechanisn of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII.

The piezoeIeclric aclualor Iayers are Ianinaled on lhe lop and lollon surfaces of lhe lean.
There are nany configuralions lo arrange piezoeIeclric donains of lhe aclualors in order lo
conlroI lhe lean posilion according lo lhe eIeclricaI inpul. One suggeslion of lhe
piezoeIeclric donain arrangenenl and corresponding eIeclricaI conlroI inpul is shovn in
Iig. 4. Nexl, lhe governing equalion of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph is delernined lo anaIyze
reIalionship lelveen lhe free Ienglh of lhe linorph, lip dispIacenenl, eIeclricaI excilalion
and exlernaI pressing force.

3. AnaIysis of the PiezoeIectric Bimorph

The piezoeIeclric aclualors are fuIIy londed vilh a fIexilIe lean on lolh sides as shovn in
Iig. 5. During operalion, lhe eIeclricaI signaI exciles lhe piezoeIeclric linorph causing lhe
dol lo rise or faII, as previousIy iIIuslraled in Iig. 4. In lhis research, novenenl of lhe pin is
invesligaled vhen lhe eIeclricaI conlroI signaI is appIied.

a
|

Iig. 5. The piezoeIeclric linorph.

The aclualor area is fron x
1
lo x
2
in lhe x-direclion and has lhe sane vidlh as lhe lean l.
Thus, lhe effeclive aclualor area S
e
is l(x
2
-x
1
). The piezoeIeclric linorph is assuned lo le an
eIaslic lhin lean. Hence, lhe equalion of nolion of an LuIer-ernouIIi lean is (Tzou, 1993)
Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 53


3
2
3
2
4
3
4
lq
l
u
A
x
u
YI =
c
c
+
c
c
(1)
vhere Y is Youngs noduIus, I = lh
3
/12 is lhe area nonenl of inerlia, l is lhe lean vidlh,
h is lhe lean lhickness, u
3
denoles lhe lransverse dispIacenenl, A = lh is lhe cross-seclion
area, and q
3
is lhe lransverse excilalion. The piezoeIeclric aclualor induces conlroI nonenl
c
xx
M and il is added inlo lhe governing equalion of lhe lean. Thus, lhe equalion of nolion
of lhe syslen lecones

3
2
c
xx
2
2
3
2
4
3
4
lq
x
M
l
l
u
A
x
u
YI =
c
c

c
c
+
c
c
, (2)
vhere lhe aclualion conlroI nonenl
c
xx
M reIales lo lhe piezoeIeclric aclualion force as
foIIovs,

a
p 31
a c
xx
Y d r M | = , (3)
vhere r
a
is lhe effeclive nonenl arn (dislance fron lhe neulraI surface of lhe lean lo lhe
nid-pIane of lhe aclualor Iayer), d
31
is lhe piezoeIeclric slrain conslanl, Y
p
is Youngs
noduIus of lhe Ianinaled piezoeIeclric Iayers, and |
a
is lhe eIeclricaI conlroI voIlage. The
dispIacenenl of lhe pin is assuned lo le equaI lo lhe dispIacenenl of lhe lean lip.
Therefore, lhe dispIacenenl of lhe pin is lhe lransverse dispIacenenl u
3
al x = L vhere L is
lhe free Ienglh of lhe lean.
Il is assuned lhal onIy a lransverse voIlage is appIied. If lhe eIeclrode resislance is
negIecled, lhe voIlage on lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor is conslanl. Thus, an aclualion voIlage
) l , y , x (
a
| appIied lo lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor is
)j y y ( u ) y y ( u )j| x x ( u ) x x ( u )| l ( ) l , y , x (
2 s 1 s 2 s 1 s
a a
= | | , (4)
vhere u
s
represenls a unil slep funclion, u
s
(x-x
i
) = 1 vhen x >x
i
, and = O vhen x < x
i
. Hence,
lhe conlroI nonenl
c
xx
M in lhe x-direclion induced ly lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor can le
defined as
)j y y ( u ) y y ( u )j| x x ( u ) x x ( u )| l ( d Y r M
2
s
1
s
2
s
1
s
a
31 p
a c
xx
= | , (5)
The syslen governing equalion, Lqualion (2), is a parliaI differenliaI equalion (IDL)
(Slrauss, 1992). In lhe nunericaI anaIysis, derivalives are fornuIaled ly a finile difference
lechnique. Thal is, ). x / u ( Iin x / u
O x
A A = c c
A
y definilion of cenlraI differences, lhe
fourlh order derivalive can le represenled as foIIovs (Wang, 1966, Malhevs & Iink, 2OO4),
)
x
u u 4 u 6 u 4 u
( x / u
4
2 n 1 n n 1 n 2 n 4 4
A
+ +
~ c c
+ +
, (6)
vhere u
n
is lhe dispIacenenl of lhe n
lh
node, and Ax = L/n is lhe eIenenl size and n is lhe
lolaI nunler of differences. Thus, lhe finile difference lean equalion al lhe n
lh
node can le
expressed as

3
2
c
xx
2
2
n
2
4
2 n 1 n n 1 n 2 n
lq
x
M
l
l
u
A )
x
u u 4 u 6 u 4 u
( YI =
c
c

c
c
+
A
+ +
+ +
. (7)
Accuracy of lhe nodaI lransverse dispIacenenl u
n
depends on lhe difference size. The
snaIIer difference size yieIds lhe leller soIulion. The eIeclricaI signaI exciles lhe
piezoeIeclric aclualor causing lhe conlroI nonenl lo deforn lhe lean as vrillen in
Rehabilitation Engineering 54

Lqualion (5). Ior lhis reason, dispIacenenl and dynanic response of lhe piezoeIeclric
linorph is conlroIIed ly lhe eIeclricaI excilalion. The piezoeIeclric conlroI force and
nonenl depend on lhe aclualor Iocalions, aclualor lhickness, nodaI characlerislics, aclualor
naleriaI properlies and conlroI voIlage (Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO7, Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO8l).
In case of lvo piezoeIeclric aclualor Iayers Ianinaled on a lean, lhe lolaI dispIacenenl
response of lhe piezoeIeclric lean can le delernined ly superposing lhe responses induced
ly respeclive aclualors.
Recenl sludies of slrucluraI syslens Ianinaled vilh piezoeIeclric aclualors have shovn lhal
lhe syslen governing equalions yieId reasonalIe eslinalion vhen lhe nechanicaI properlies
of lhe piezoeIeclric slruclures are lrealed as conposile slruclures (Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO7,
Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO8l). Therefore, lo anaIyze lhe syslen response of lhis piezoeIeclric
raiIIe ceII, equivaIenl nechanicaI properlies of lhe linorph are considered as eIaslic
properlies of lhe conposile Ianina (DanieI & Ishai, 1994, }ones, 1999). Ior a lhin lean fuIIy
londed vilh piezoeIeclric aclualors, lhe noduIus of eIaslicily of lhe slruclure Y is
approxinaled ly (Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO8l)

) Y v Y v (
Y Y
Y
p l l p
p l
+
= , (8)
vhere v
p
is lhe voIune fraclion of lhe piezoeIeclric aclualor, v
l
is lhe voIune fraclion of lhe
lhin lean, Y
p
is lhe noduIus of eIaslicily of lhe piezoeIeclric naleriaI and Y
l
is lhe noduIus
of eIaslicily of lhe lhin lean. The densily of lhe conposile slruclure

is

l l p p
v v + = , (9)
vhere
p
is lhe densily of lhe piezoeIeclric naleriaI and
l
is lhe densily of lhe lean. The
effeclive lhickness of lhe syslen is caIcuIaled lased on lhe increased voIune of lhe
Ianinaled aclualors. Nexl, lhe raiIIe dispIay usage condilion is invesligaled in order lo
delernine praclicaI inpul for design lhe raiIIe ceII.

4. Usage Condition of the BraiIIe DispIay

To acquire infornalion for design of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII, a fieId sludy is conducled
al Tannasakon SchooI, a schooI of visuaIIy inpaired peopIe in Hal Yai, SongkhIa, ThaiIand.
AII suljecls in lhe invesligalion are voIunlariIy parlicipanls. TveIve visuaIIy inpaired
peopIe (5 naIes and 7 fenaIes) are seIecled fron lhe lIind peopIe vho daiIy read raiIIe
looks. The age range is fron 1O lo 36 years. The seIeclion is lased on lhe foIIoving crileria
lo ensure lhe oplinaI louching force: 1) experienced raiIIe reader, 2) equaIily nunlers
lelveen naIes and fenaIes, and 3) vide range of age.
In lhis survey, louching force of lhe lIind peopIe vhen sensing raiIIe characlers on a raiIIe
Nole is neasured. In addilion, preference of lhe lIind peopIe lo roundness of lhe raiIIe
dols is sludied ly Ielling lhen read lhe sane characlers lul differenl dol shapes. The
roundness of lhe dols is defined ly lhe fiIIel radius Rof lhe pin, as iIIuslraled in Iig. 6.

Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 55


Iig. 6. The fiIIel radius of lhe raiIIe dol.

Dianeler of lhe pin is sel al 1.3 nn. Thus, lhe Iarger fiIIel radius neans lhe sharper dol.
There are lhree differenl dol roundness offered lo lhe lIind peopIe al lhe fiIIel radius of O.75,
1.2 and 1.5 nn. The survey dala is reporled in TalIe 1. (Snilhnailrie el aI., 2OO8a)
The louching force of lhe raiIIe nole is in lhe range of O.O5-O.39 N. The average louching
force is O.17 N. Hovever, lhe anounl of louching force is individuaI preference vhich
depends on nany faclors, for exanpIes, age and frequency of usage vhich inpIies raiIIe
reading skiII (Way & arner, 1997). Ior lhe dol conlour, nosl of lhen prefer lhe round dols
(lhe Ieasl fiIIel radius) lecause il has snoolh louch feeIing and ease lo read. Due lo lhe
Iiniled nunler of suljecls vho are skiIIed raiIIe readers in lhe area, increasing nunler of
suljecls vouId le suggesled for nore accurale and reIialIe inlerprelalion. Hovever, lhe
presenled sludy yieIds prinary infornalion of lhe louching force and dol shape lhal can le
laken lo consider in lhe design of piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII.

Age
(years)

Sex
(M/I)

Touching
Iorce
(N)

Roundness Ireference
(IiIIel radius R in nn)
O.75 1.2 1.5
1O M O.O3 9
12 M O.24 9
15 I O.14 9
16 I O.O9 9
16 M O.O8 9
16 I O.39 9
17 I O.O5 9
2O I O.37 9
3O M O.17 9
32 I O.22 9
33 I O.2O 9
36 M O.O8 9
TalIe 1. Touching force and roundness preference of raiIIe readers.

Rehabilitation Engineering 56

5. Design Parameter Variation

The raiIIe ceII shouId le designed lo neel lhe raiIIe slandard and alIe lo operale under
condilions according lo lhe survey dala. Iree Ienglh of lhe linorph, dol heighl and appIied
voIlage are lhe key paranelers for designing lhe raiIIe ceII. The reIalionship of lhese
paranelers is sludied lased on naleriaI properlies of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph as shovn in
TalIe 2. The presenled piezoeIeclric linorph is aIso used as lhe aclualor of a connerciaI
raiIIe ceII.


IiezoeIeclric
aclualor (IZT-5)
Carlon filer lean Unil
Young's noduIus Y
xx
= 61 1OO CIa
Y
zz
= 43
Densily
p
= 74OO 177O Kg/n
3

Thickness h
a
= O.251O
-3
h=O.11O
-3
n
Ioissons ralio O.35
Widlh l=2.11O
-3
2.11O
-3
n
Iree Ienglh L=2O1O
-3
-351O
-3
2O1O
-3
-351O
-3
n
DieIeclric conslanl 45OO
IiezoeIeclric conslanl
d
31
-32O1O
-12
C/N
d
33
75O1O
~12
C/N
TalIe 2. Iroperlies of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph.

Responses of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceIIs are sinuIaled lased on lhe proposed
nalhenalicaI nodeI. The piezoeIeclric linorph is designed ly using lhe naleriaI seIeclion
and dinension presenled in TalIe 2. The reIalionships anong lhe key design paranelers are
invesligaled as foIIovs.

5.1 Free Iength of the bimorph
According lo Iig. 4, lhe reIalionship lelveen lhe lip dispIacenenl d and lhe free Ienglh of
lhe linorph L is invesligaled. Moreover, lhe appIied voIlage is sel al 15O, 2OO, 25O and 3OOV,
vhich are in lhe lypicaI range for exciling lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe aclualor. The
dispIacenenl of lhe linorph lip inpIies lhe heighl of lhe raiIIe dol since lhe linorph
direclIy conlroIs lhe pin novenenl. The resuIl shovs lhal lhe lip dispIacenenl increases as
lhe free Ienglhof lhe linorph increases. AIso, lhe nore appIied voIlage yieIds lhe higher lip
dispIacenenl.

Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 57

20 25 30 35
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Free lenght (mm)
T
i
p

d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
m
)
150 V
200 V
250 V
300 V

Iig. 7. The reIalionship lelveen lhe free Ienglh of lhe linorph and lhe lip dispIacenenl.

ased on lhe reIalionship shovn in Iig. 7, producl designers can seIecl lhe free Ienglh of lhe
linorph according lo lhe specific dol heighl and appIied voIlage. This reIalionship is a
usefuI guidance for designing lhe dol heighl lo neel lhe raiIIe slandard and alIe lo operale
under a specific voIlage suppIy. ul il shouId le nolice lhal lhe Ionger linorph causes lhe
Iarger size of lhe raiIIe dispIay.

5.2 AppIied voItage
The lip dispIacenenls of linorphs vilh lhe free Ienglhs of 2O, 25, 3O and 35 nn are sludied
vhen lhe appIied voIlage is varied fron 15O lo 3OO V. The resuIl shovs lhal reIalionship
lelveen lhe appIied voIlage and lip dispIacenenl is Iinear. esides, lhe Ionger linorph
aIIovs nore lip dispIacenenl al a specific appIied voIlage as shovn in Iig. 8.
Rehabilitation Engineering 58

150 200 250 300
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Applied voltage (V)
T
i
p

d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
m
)
L 20 mm
L 25 mm
L 30 mm
L 35 mm

Iig. 8. ReIalionship lelveen lhe appIied voIlage and lhe lip dispIacenenl.

The sinuIalion shovs lhal lhe dispIacenenl IinearIy increases as lhe appIied voIlage
increases lecause lhe increased appIied voIlage IinearIy increases lhe lending nonenl as
expressed in Lqualion (3). Hovever, lhis is lased on lhe assunplion of lhe snaII defIeclion.
In facl, piezoeIeclric linorphs shov nonIinear and hysleresis lehaviors vhen lhey are
operale over lhe vide range of lhe appIied voIlage. Though, for lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe
appIicalion, lhe appIied voIlage is sel al a specific vaIue during operalion. Hence, lhe
operaling dispIacenenl is nainlained al a conslanl heighl. In any case, lhis resuIl heIps lhe
designers lo seIecl lhe appIied voIlage lhal suilalIe for lhe raiIIe dol heighl.

5.3 Touching force
WhiIe louching lhe aclive raiIIe characler, lhe undernealh piezoeIeclric lean is
sinuIlaneousIy suljecled lo lolh louching force and appIied voIlage vhich are nechanicaI
and eIeclricaI excilalions, respecliveIy. In lhis seclion, dispIacenenl of lhe raiIIe dols is
sludied vhen il is pressed during operalion. The response of lhe raiIIe dols is invesligaled
vhen lhe louching force is varied fron O-O.32 N vhich is lhe connon range for raiIIe
readers lased on lhe presenled survey dala. In lhe firsl case, reIalionship lelveen lhe
louching force and lhe lip dispIacenenl is sludied vhen lhe voIlage is sel al 2OOV and
appIied lo lhe differenl linorphs (L = 2O, 25, 3O and 25 nn). The resuIl in Iig.9 shovs lhal
lhe louching force reduces lhe lip dispIacenenl or dol heighl even lhough lhe piezoeIeclric
linorph is aclivaled. In addilion, lhe piezoeIeclric linorphs vilh differenl free Ienglhs
have differenl resislance lo lhe louching force. Thal is, vhen lhe louching force increases,
lhe shorl linorph is capalIe of nainlain ils lip dispIacenenl cIosed lo lhe iniliaI no-Ioad
dispIacenenl leller lhan lhe Iong linorph does. In sone cases, lhe linorphs are pressed
Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 59

dovn under lhe nornaI posilion (d < O) for cerlain anounl of louching forces, depended on
lhe free Ienglh.

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
Touching force (N)
T
i
p

d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
m
)
L 20 mm
L 25 mm
L 30 mm
L 35 mm

Iig. 9. ReIalionship lelveen lhe louching force and lhe lip dispIacenenl of differenl
linorphs al lhe 2OO-V appIied voIlage.

In lhe second case, lhe 25-nn Ienglh linorph is suljecled lo lhe appIied voIlages al 15O,
2OO, 25O and 3OO V, respecliveIy. Iigure 1O shovs lhe lip dispIacenenl of lhe pressed
piezoeIeclric lean vhen lhe louching force increases. The resuIl inpIies lhal lhe lip
dispIacenenl decreases as lhe louching force increases. The dol is alIe lo nainlain ils
posilion alove lhe nornaI posilion for cerlain anounl of force depended on lhe appIied
voIlage. In lhis case, lhe resislance forces al lhe nornaI posilion are O.11, O.17, O.22 and O.28
N al lhe suppIied voIlages of 15O, 2OO, 25O and 3OO V, respecliveIy. The resuIl reveaIs
lehavior of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII vhen il is suljecled lo lhe louching force during lhe
operalion. The louching Ioad Iessens lhe heighl of lhe raiIIe dol. Hovever, lhe resuIl aIso
inpIies lhal increasing of appIied voIlage is alIe lo rise up lhe dol heighl as conpensalion lo
lhe louching Ioad. Hence, cIosed Ioop conlroI is an aIlernalive approach lo overcone lhe
prolIen of lhe decreased dispIacenenl as lhe louching force increases.
Rehabilitation Engineering 60

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Touching force (N)
T
i
p

d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
m
)
150 V
200 V
250 V
300 V

Iig. 1O. ReIalionship lelveen lhe louching force and lhe lip dispIacenenl of lhe 25-nn
linorph al various appIied voIlages.

In sunnary, lip dispIacenenl, free Ienglh, appIied voIlage and louching force are lhe key
paranelers for design lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay. ased on lhe design paraneler
varialion of lhis seclion, lhe designers shouId le alIe lo Iayoul lhe piezoeIeclric linorph
dinensions and seIecl naleriaI properlies of lhe linorph ceII lhal neels lhe raiIIe
slandard. According lo lhe Iileralure reviev, lhe raiIIe dol heighl shouId le in lhe range of
O.2-O.5 nn (Way & arner, 1997, Tiresias, 2OO9). In addilion, lhe survey dala provides
prinary infornalion shoving lhal lhe louching forces are in lhe range of O.O5-O.39 N and lhe
preference of dol roundness is O.75-nn fiIIel. AIong vilh lhese usage condilions, dinension
of lhe piezoeIeclric linorph and lhe naleriaI seIeclion can le designed lo neel lhe
requirenenl ly foIIoving lhe procedure shovn in lhis chapler. Moreover, lhe governing
equalion can serve as a generaI nodeI for design of piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIays.

6. ConcIusion

In lhis chapler, anaIysis and design of a piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay is presenled. The
anaIysis and nalhenalicaI nodeI of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII are proposed and
discussed. The survey dala of lhe raiIIe Nole usage condilion is reporled as prinary design
infornalion of lhe piezoeIeclric raiIIe ceII, i.e., louching force and dol roundness. ased on
lhe usage condilion and connerciaIIy avaiIalIe naleriaI, reIalionships of lhe key design
paranelers (lip dispIacenenl, free Ienglh, appIied voIlage and louching force) are sludied.
The reIalionship lelveen lhese design paranelers shovs lhal 1) lhe lip dispIacenenl
increases as lhe free Ienglh of lhe linorph increases, 2) lhe lip dispIacenenl IinearIy
increases as lhe appIied voIlage increases, 3) WhiIe louching lhe raiIIe dol, lhe shorl
piezoeIeclric linorph is capalIe of nainlain ils lip dispIacenenl cIosed lo lhe iniliaI no-Ioad
Analysis and Design of Piezoelectric Braille Display 61

dispIacenenl leller lhan lhe Iong linorph does, and 4) lhe louching force Iessens lhe lip
dispIacenenl even lhough lhe piezoeIeclric linorph is aclivaled lul lhis can le
conpensaled ly increasing of lhe appIied voIlage. The design, anaIysis, nalhenalicaI
nodeI, naleriaI seIeclion and design paraneler reIalionship presenled in lhis vork can
serve as a usefuI guideIine for design of piezoeIeclric raiIIe dispIay syslens.

7. AcknowIedgement

This research is supporled ly lhe deparlnenl of MechanicaI Lngineering, IacuIly of
Lngineering, Irince of SongkIa Universily. This supporl is gralefuIIy acknovIedged.

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