Refreshable Braille Display System Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Dielectric Elastomer

The blind mainly relies on Braille books to obtain text information. However, Braille books with invariable content are ponderous and inconvenient to read. Hence, it is essential to find a safe, simple and effective method to develop new Braille devices. This advanced method promises to be the next generation Braille book that is refreshable, flexible, and portable. Therefore, a safe dielectric elastomer Braille device actuated by a triboelectric nanogenerator is designed. It is easy to fabricate, inexpensive, and safe without any potential hazard for blind people. For triboelectric nanogenerators, the friction between two thin films can generate a voltage over 3 kV with a current of just 2 μA to deliver a shape change of the dielectric elastomer membrane. In the meantime, with the support of the pressor air in the chamber, the membrane will be raised up to be a touchable Braille dot. In addition, a programmed switch matrix is designed to control the Braille device with multiple dielectric elastomer dots to realize complicated refreshable display, providing a possibility of a page-size and portable braille e-book for the blind in the near future.

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