The present invention is directed to a braille display device in which braille pins are selectively protruded using an electrorheological fluid phenomenon.
The present invention is also directed to a method for manufacturing a braille display device in which braille pins are selectively protruded using an electrorheological fluid phenomenon.
An aspect of the present invention provides a braille display device using an electrorheological fluid, comprising: a base body in which a plurality of insulating reception grooves are formed; a first electrode arranged below the base body; an electrorheological fluid received in the reception groove; a microcapsule having an electrophoresis particle which is dispersed in the electrorheological fluid; a second electrode arranged above the microcapsule; a braille pin installed above the second electrode; and a braille pin protection film arranged above the braille pin.
The braille display device may further comprise an upper body which is formed above the base body and has a reception groove which communicates with the insulating reception groove formed in the base body. The first and second electrodes may be disposed in a pixel form on areas corresponding to the reception grooves. The braille display device may further comprise a first electrode protection film which is formed between the first electrode and the insulating reception groove to protect the first electrode, and a second electrode protection film which is formed between the second electrode and the insulating reception groove to protect the second electrode. The electrophoresis particle and a dielectric fluid may be included in the microcapsule together. The electrophoresis particle and the dielectric fluid may be made of materials having the same specific gravity.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a braille display device using an electrorheological fluid, comprising the steps of: preparing a base body having a plurality of insulating reception grooves formed therein; installing a first electrode having a first electrode protection film formed thereon below the base body; injecting an electrorheological fluid in which a plurality of microcapsules are dispersed into each of the reception grooves; installing a second electrode having a second electrode protection film formed thereon and contacting the electrorheological fluid in the reception groove having the electrorheological fluid injected therein; forming a braille pin above the second electrode in the reception groove; and forming a braille pin protection film above the braille pin.
A volume weight of the microcapsule may range from about 10 to about 50 volume percent of the total volume weight of the electrorheological fluid. A volume weight of an insulating dielectric fluid which constitutes the electrorheological fluid having the microcapsules dispersed therein may range from about 50 to about 90 volume percent of the total volume weight of the electrorheological fluid. A thickness of a polymer film which surrounds the microcapsule may range from about 0.1 to about 0.3 μm. The microcapsule may contain an electrophoresis particle and a dielectric fluid therein. A size of the electrophoresis particle may range from about 10 to about 500 nm.