Re: Optacon R1D and Optacon 2 documentation
- From: "Mary Emerson" <maryemerson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 21:41:19 -0700
Karen,
Attached is the R1D optacon documentation. All the R1 machines are designed
the same way, so this manual works with any R1 model.
Mary Emerson
E-mail: maryemerson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Skype name: mkemerson
Podcast web site: http://www.emerson.libsyn.com
Podcast feed: emerson.libsyn.com/rss
OPTACON
Owner's
Manual
Model R1D
TELESENSORY
SYSTEMS,
INC.
OPTACON OWNER?S MANUAL
This manual contains procedures for the care and use of the Optacon. Further information about
the Optacon may be obtained from:
Telesensory Systems, Inc.
455 North Bernardo Avenue
P. O. Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039 U.S.A.
Telephone: (415) 960-0920
Toll Free: (800) 227-8418 Customer Service Dept.
Telex: 278838 TSI UR
Cable: Telesen Mountain View
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict
accordance with the manufactuer?s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been
type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in
Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a
residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
? Reorient the receiving antenna
? Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
? Move the computer away from the receiver
? Plug the computer into a different outlet so that computer and receiver are
on different branch circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/ television technician for additional
suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful:
?How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems.? This book is available from the US Government
Printing Office, Washington D.C., 20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.
© Telesensory Systems, Inc. 1978
All Rights ReserVed
2/TSI
Contents
1. Introduction 5
2. Training Requirements 7
3. Care of the Optacon 8
4. Basic Controls 21
5. Operating Instructions 25
6. Examples of Type Sizes Appropriate for Optacon Reading 27
7. Charging the Battery 29
8. Troubleshooting 31
9. Associated Equipment 34
10. Specifications 37
Warranty on page 39
FIGURES
1. Detaching the Optacon Lens Module 10
2. Use of the Optacon Camera Holder 13
3. Procedure for storing the Optacon Camera 14
4. Optacon Vinyl Soft-Pack 19
5. Optacon Front Panel 22
6. Optacon Camera 23
7. Optacon Back Panel 24
Repeater Cable Operating Modes 33
TSI/3
4/TSI
1 INTRODUCTION
The Optacon (OPtical-to-TActile-CONverter) is a compact, portable reading aid for the blind. It
is about the size of a textbook, and weighs less than four pounds. It works by converting a printed
image into a tactile image that a blind person can feel with one finger. After a period of training
and practice, a blind person can use the Optacon to read ordinary books, magazines, newspapers,
and other printed materials.
The design of the Optacon is the result of intensive research and development efforts conducted
for more than six years at Stanford University and the Stanford Research Institute International,
including field testing with blind individuals.
The Optacon has three main sections: (1) a miniature camera, (2) an electronics section, and (3) a
tactile stimulator array. The miniature camera, about the size of a pocket knife, is mounted in a
housing that has rollers for easy movement along a line of print. The camera is connected to the
electronics section by a lightweight cable.
The electronics section and the tactile stimulator array are in the main chassis. The array consists
of 144 tiny metal rods arranged in six vertical columns and 24 horizontal rows. Each of the rods
can vibrate independently. The tips of these rods protrude through holes in a concave finger plate
where the index finger is placed flat in order to read.
These three components act together to convert the image of
TSI/5
a printed letter or other shape into a pattern of vibrating rods, a tactile image of the letter or
shape. The letter shape is tactually perceived as an image that moves from right to left on the
finger, showing the left (or leading) edge of the letter first. Letters are felt sequentially rather
than all at once, and the image should be kept moving. The Optacon converts a printed ?O? into a
tactile form that resembles a crater with a vibrating rim ? a completed circle. ?C? would have a
gap or opening on the right side of the curve. The letter ?F? would be felt, sequentially, as a
vertical line with two trailing horizontal lines.
Because it can convert any ordinary printed image into a corresponding tactile image, the
Optacon is not restricted to any special typestyle or language. The camera has a zoom lens that
compensates for differences in the size of type. The standard Optacon lens can accomodate type
sizes from 6 point to
20 point. With the optional F4A magnifier lens, type sizes as small as 4 point can be read.
The Optacon is powered by a rechargeable battery, and comes with its own battery charger. The
battery is contained within the main chassis, and is not removable by the user.
The Optacon is housed in a leather case with an adjustable shoulder strap. It also comes with a
padded vinyl soft-pack which has space for the battery charger, papers and accessories. The soft-
pack may be hand carried, worn over the shoulder, or worn as a backpack. The Optacon is
shipped in the soft-pack inside a padded cardboard carton. The leather case, soft-pack and
shipping carton are supplied as standard equipment.
6/TSI
2. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Tactile sensitivity and good language skills are important factors in developing reading skills with the
Optacon. To read with the Optacon the user must (1) learn the letter shapes and other language symbols
tactually, (2) learn to move the camera smoothly along a line of print and from line to line, and (3) become
fluent in perceiving letter shapes combined into units of words and sentences. Once these skills are
developed the user can explore the wide variety of printed formats and gain independence with the Optacon.
Typically, a blind person in an Optacon training program is able to learn the first two of these skills in
approximately fifty hours of instruction. Through practice over a period of months, a blind person may gain
proficiency in the third skill and increase his reading speed to as much as eighty words per minute.
Telesensory Systems, Inc. has a staff of trained teachers and offers a regularly scheduled nine-day training
program. The nine-day program is not only for students, but also for teacher trainees. TSI provides training
manuals for instructional use, and it cooperates with schools and agencies in establishing their own Optacon
training programs.
TSI/7
3 CARE OF THE OPTACON
The Optacon is a carefully made piece of electronic equipment and should be treated with the
same respect as an expensive camera or microscope. With proper care, the Optacon will give
many years of troublefree service. It is designed to need little maintenance other than normal
recharging of the battery. The service contract includes an annual array cleaning to remove any
accumulation clogging the opening in the array. The following are suggestions for care of your
Optacon. If a problem doesoccur,seeTroubleshooting(p.31). Do not attempt to make any repairs
yourself! Any tampering with Optacon internal assemblies or electronics will void your warranty.
DROPPING OR ROUGH HANDLING the Optacon may damage it. Be sure it is secured on a
table when in use, carried and protected in the soft-pack, and shipped secure in the carton
provided.
EXTREMES IN TEMPERATURE may damage the Optacon. Do not place the Optacon where
it may become warmer than
122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 C), or the battery and the tactile stimulator may be damaged. The
Optacon may be operated at temperatures ranging from 0° C to 50 C (32 F to 122 F) or stored
at temperatures ranging from -50 C to 65 C (-58 F to 149 F) with no ill effects.
CIRCUIT BREAKER. The circuit breaker protrudes from the side wall of the stimulator array
compartment. In the case of a
8/TSI
malfunction within the Optacon, this device will inhibit any large electrical current which might
damage other parts of the Optacon. When the circuit breaker has been tripped due to excessive
current, the small button will pop out horizontally to the left. The Optacon will be inoperative
with the circuit breaker out when used without the battery charger. You should never operate
your Optacon with the circuit breaker out. To re-engage your circuit breaker, push the button
horizontally to the right and hold for 1-2 seconds until it stays in.
THE TACTILE STIMULATOR ARRAY is located on the far right side of the chassis
compartment. When the Optacon is operating, the tips of the stimulator rods protrude through the
finger plate. The array is the most delicate part of the Optacon and the most difficult to repair.
Protect it from dirt or other materials that may fall into the holes in the finger plate and inhibit
the action of stimulator rods. In particular, be sure that the finger used for reading is clean and
free from lotion or hand cream. Do not wipe the finger plate with a cloth as it may catch on the
stimulator rods and bend them.
THE INPUT/OUTPUT CONNECTOR is located at the rear left side of the chassis. It contains
many pin sockets. Use care when connecting or disconnecting a plug here, as when using the
Visual Display, connecting two Optacons by means of the Repeater Cable, or connecting your
Optacon to the Speech Accessory (contact TSI for information on availability of the Speech
Accessory).
THE CAMERA
FORE IGN OBJECTS. The parts in the camera are quite small. Take care to prevent foreign
objects from entering the camera, either into the lens system between the lamp bulbs in the
TSI/9
Hold the lens module barrel with the left hand and grasp the retina module
with thumb and forefinger.
The lens module removed from the retina module.
FIGURE 1 DETACHING THEOPTACON LENS MODULE
10/TSI
opening at the bottom side of the camera or between the retina module and
the rest of the camera.
DETACHING THE LENS MODULE. (See Figure 1)The lens module can be detached from
the retina module when using accessory lenses, or reversed when the camera must be held in
unusual positions, such as reading in a card catalogue or card file where the camera must be held
upside down.
NOTE: Turn off the Optacon when detaching the lens module to avoid accidentally
short-
circuiting the camera and damaging the Optacon circuits.
1. Hold the lens module barrel in your left hand with the magnification adjustment button toward
you and grasp the end of the retina module by the knurled edge with the thumb and forefinger of
your right hand (Figure 1a).
2. The mounting pins on the retina module slide within ?L? shaped slots in the barrel of the lens
module. Push the two modules together, then slowly turn the retina module counterclockwise
about 30 degrees until you feel the mounting pins release. Pull the retina module away from the lens
module (Figure 1b).
The retina module can now be attached to lens modules for a typewriter, a CRT, a calculator or
image magnification. Refer to seperate instructions for these accessory lens modules.
To reverse the camera position for upside down use, reassemble the camera unit as described
below with the cord attachment point on the same side as the magnification ?zoom? button. For
normal position use, the cord attachment point should be on the same side as the rollers.
To reassemble the camera unit:
1. Gently slide the retina module into the barrel of the lens module with the cord in the desired
position.
TSI/11
2. Align the pins on the retina module with the slots in the lens module barrel. The module
should slide into position readily.
3. Lock the retina module into place by pushing in and gently turning it clockwise until the
mounting pins click into place. Check the module for side-to-side movement; it will not move if
properly in place.
THE CABLE connected to the base of the camera at the retina module contains more than forty
wires. Safeguard the cable from sharp bends, twisting or straining. The cable should be
straightened periodically to avoid kinking and cumulative twisting. Straighten the cable by first
letting the camera hang free over a table edge or another unobstructed space, and then gently
massaging the cable between thumb and index finger from the end where it attaches to the
Optacon down to where it attaches to the camera, never pulling on the cable.
Take care not to add an extra kink in the cable when you rotate the camera holder from its
storage position within the chassis compartment to its position clipped on the top of the Optacon.
Be sure to avoid stressing the cable when storing the camera in the holder inside the chassis
compartment ?rewind the cable around the clip, and be sure the cable is between the intensity
and threshold control knobs on the front panel of the Optacon. Also check to be sure that the
cable is not caught under the holder at any time. (See Use of Camera Holder for proper
procedures.)
USE OF THE CAMERA HOLDER TO SAFEGUARD CAMERA AND CABLE. The
camera holder allows the user to store the camera easily inside the Optacon, and provides a
convenient and safe temporary camera rest on top of the Optacon during interruptions of reading.
Proper use of the holder will also prevent twists and kinks in the cable.
12/TSI
(a)
The camera holder in
storage position.
(b)
The camera holder in
resting position.
(c)
Placing the camera in resting position on the camera holder. The zoom button on the camera is aligned with
the flange notch.
FIGURE 2 USE OF THE OPTACON CAMERA HOLDER
TSI/13
(a)
Aligning the camera
in the holder.
(b)
Winding the cable
around the
camera holder.
NOTE: The first
wind is toward
notch.
FIGURE 3 PROCEDURE FOR STORING THE OPTACON CAMERA
14/TSI
The camera holder has an upper side which is an open trough to hold the camera, and a lower side which
has a clip with a turned back edge. The holder has two flanges on each side of the trough which form
channels for winding the cable. In the storage position, the camera holder is placed inside the tactile array
compartment, clip side up, with the clip slipped onto the top edge of the tactile array compartment. In the
rest position, the camera holder sits on top of the Optacon, clip side down, with the clip slipped onto the top
edge of the tactile array compartment. In the rest position the holder?s top flange on the front channel has a
notch 5/8 inch (16 mm) long. The zoom button on the camera should be aligned with this notch. The
Optacon is shipped with the camera and holder in the ^storage position (Figure 2a).
NOTE: The three parts of the camera to which we refer below are: (1) the ?nose??the rectangular end of
the camera which contains the camera opening; (2) the zoom button (magnification adjustment button)?the
movable button on the top of the camera which controls the position of the lens and magnifies letters; and
(3) the ?barrel? end?the rounded end of the camera module which contains the retina module to which the
cable is attached.
TO REMOVE THE CAMERA HOLDER from the storage position:
1. Unclip the camera holder from the Optacon by pulling the camera holder
toward you.
2. Unwind the cable by turning the camera holder end-overend.
3. Straighten any bends in the cable by gently massaging the cable with two fingers from the end where it
attaches to the Optacon to the camera end, while the camera in the holder hangs loosely from your other
hand.
TSI/15
4. Turn the camera holder so that the channel containing the camera faces up. Center the camera holder over
the chassis compartment, then clip the holder to the Optacon. The holder is now in the rest position (Figure
2b).
NOTE: Sometimes the flange catches on the leather case before the holder is securely attached. To avoid
this, tilt the camera holder slightly towards you as you slide the clip onto the Optacon.
5. Slide the camera out of the holder by pushing against the end of the camera opposite the cable (the
?nose? of the camera).
TO REST THE CAMERA during pauses/interruptions in reading:
1. Slide the camera into the holder with the zoom button toward you. Align the zoom button on the camera
with flange notch, or
2. Snap the camera into the holder by pressing on the barrel end with zoom button aligned to flange notch
(Figure 2c).
TO STORE THE CAMERA
1. Place the camera in the holder making sure the zoom button is aligned with the flange notch. In this
position the cable should be to the right and the end of the camera flush with the end of the holder. Remove
the camera holder from the top of the Optacon (Figure 3a).
2. Wind the cable within the channel formed by the flanges in the following manner: Place your index finger
on the cable end of the camera. Wind the first turn of the cable over your finger, preventing a sharp
backwards bend where the cable attaches to the retina module (Figure 3b). Wind the cord between the
rounded flange corners toward the notch. Turn
16/TSI
attaches to the retina module (Figure 3b). Turn the camera holder end-over-end for about four turns. You
should have just enough cable to do this without strain or excess. If you have too much or too little cable,
check whether the zoom button is toward you when the holder is in the rest position and whether the camera
is flush with the end of the holder.
3. Turn the camera holder so that the clip is up and the open end of the clip is away from you. Place the
camera holder on the far right side of the tactile array compartment. (This avoids snagging the cable on the
hold-down screw on the left side of the compartment.) Push away from you until the clip grips the top of the
Optacon. Place the cable between the threshold and the intensity knobs (as shown in Figure 2a).
CARRYING AND SHIPPING THE OPTACON
THE LEATHER CASE does not require special care, but it will look better and last longer if it is treated
occasionally with a high quality leather preservative.
THE VINYL SOFT-PACK is both padded and weather resistant and provides protection and carrying
convenience. As extra insurance against damage, carry or store the Optacon in the soft-pack whenever
practical.(See Figure 4.)
TWO POCKETS, one inside and one outside the vinyl softpack can be used to carry books and
accessories. The outside pocket is large enough for a paperback book or calculator. The inside pocket,
which is formed by a reinforced flap with an elastic closing strap, can be used to keep papers flat and out of
the way against the back wall of the soft-pack.
TO PACK THE VINYL SOFT-PACK, put the charger in first, and then the Optacon, winding the leather
strap loosely on top. The soft-pack is roomy enough for accessory lens modules as well.
TSI/17
THREE CARRYING METHODS make the soft-pack very adaptable. (1) The hand carrying
strap is permanently attached to the top of the soft-pack. (2) The shoulder strap is attached with
snap hooks to two D-rings on the sides of the soft-pack near the top. The shoulder strap has an
adjustable buckle.
(3) The shoulder strap can be made into back-pack straps in the following way: clip the strap end
with the double thickness onto a D-ring at the bottom of the case; thread the other snap hook
through the loop in the top center back of the case (the rectangular ends of the hook must be
angled through the loop one at a time); clip the free snap hook to the other D-ring on the bottom
of the pack. Two optional strap pads can be threaded onto the shoulder strap to make the back-
pack more comfortable. Thread the first pad on, so the knit side will be toward you, before you
put the snap hook through the loop; thread the second pad on after. (See Figure 4b.)
THE SHIPPING CARTON suspends the soft-pack inside for shock resistance. Always use the
soft-pack plus the shipping carton for shipping the Optacon or for traveling with it. Hand carry
the Optacon on aircraft; it will not be harmed by x-ray checking procedures.
18/TSI
(a)
Front of the Optacon
Vinyl Soft-Pack.
(b)
Back view of the Vinyl Soft-Pack showing the straps arranged for back-pack use.
FIGURE 4
OPTACON
VINYL SOFT-PACK
TSI/19
4 BASIC CONTROLS
There are four basic controls on the Optacon: the Magnification Adjustment (zoom) button
located on the camera section on the side opposite the rollers (see Figure 6); and the On-Off
switch, the Stimulator Intensity Adjustment knob, and the Threshold Adjustment knob located on
the right side of the front panel (see Figure 5). The Circuit Breaker protrudes from the right-hand
wall inside the chassis compartment. From left to right when the back panel is facing you, are
located: the jack for connecting the battery charger; the Battery Check button; the Normal-Invert
switch; and the Input/Output (I/O) connector for use with the Visual Display, when using the
Repeater Cable to connect two Optacons to one another or with other accessories. (See Figure 7.)
NOTE: Figure 7 shows the Optacon removed from the protective leather case for photo clarity.
The Optacon should not be removed from the leather case during normal operation.
ON-OFF SWITCH. The On-Off switch is slide switch located on the right side of the front
panel (see Figure 5). It slides up and snaps into place in the ?on? position. Be sure the switch is
fully ?on? or ?off?. The Optacon should always be turned off before connecting any Optacon
accessory. (See Associated Equipment And Accessories.)
20/TSI TSI/21
Circuit Breaker Stimulator Intensity
(shown in the closed position) . Adjustment Knob
On-Off Switch
Finger Threshold Adjustment
Plate Knob
FIGURE 5 OPTACON FRONT PANEL
STIMULATOR INTENSITY KNOB. The Stimulator Intensity Adjustment knob is the upper
knob on the right side of the front panel. A raised line on the front face of the knob serves as a
tactile reference point. The thumb of the left hand controls this knob, as well as the Threshold
Adjustment knob, while the left index finger remains flat on the finger plate.
THRESHOLD ADJUSTMENT KNOB. The Threshold Adjustment knob is just below the
Stimulator Intensity Adjustment knob. It also has a raised line as a tactile reference point.
The Threshold Adjustment knob compensates for variation in the size of letter strokes in various
print styles and the degree of contrast between paper and print. It controls the thickness of the
letter strokes as they appear on the array. In normal mode, a clockwise turn will increase the
width of the strokes until the letter shape loses definition and all the stimulator rods begin to
vibrate. A counterclockwise turn will decrease the width of the stokes until gaps appear and
finally the image disappears.
22/TSI
NOTE: If the Normal-Invert switch is in the invert position for reading white letters on a black
background, the effect of turning the Threshold Adjustment knob is reversed.
CAMERA
MAGNIFICATION ADJUSTMENT BUTTON. The Magnification Adjustment (zoom) button
is located on the top of the camera section, as shown in Figure 6. This control has a ?zoom?
effect?sliding the button away from you increases the size of a given image. The size can be
adjusted through a range from the largest setting, when the button is all the way forward to the
smallest when the button is all the way back. The magnification adjustment helps to compensate
for differences in the size of letters. At maximum magnification, a 6-point type letter will be
discernible in the tactile stimulator display. At minimum magnification, a 20-point type letter
will fill the array vertically.
Usually, the magnification is set so that an uppercase letter will fill the upper twenty of the
twenty-four rows of the array. (Then lower case letters that have descenders, such as ?p?,
Retina Module
Barrel
Adjustment
Indicator
Ridges
Cable in
Normal
Position
Rollers
Magnification Lens Adjustment Module
(Zoom) Button /
Lens Alignment Indicator Ridge
FIGURE 6 OPTACON CAMERA
TSI/23
Serial Number
r i
(in print) (in braille)
Charger Jack
FIGURE 7 OPTACON BACK PANEL
will fill the lower rows.) The magnification adjustment interacts with the threshold adjustment,
as explained in the operating instructions that follow, and the threshold must be changed after
each large change in the magnification.
NORMAL-INVERT SWITCH. The Normal-Invert switch is a slide switch located on the back
panel of the Optacon between the Battery Check button (on the right, when you are facing the
front panel of the Optacon), and the Input/Output connector (on the left). This control allows the
Optacon to be used with white-on-black printing as well as the more usual black-on-white. When
the switch is in the ?normal? position, pushed to the left, black portions of an image are
converted into vibrations in the tactile stimulator display. When the switch is to the right in the
?invert? position, white portions of the image are converted into vibrations. (See Figure 7.)
In the ?invert? position the operation of the Threshold control is reversed. If the switch is not
fully on ?invert? or ?normal?, the Optacon will emit a ?fluttering? sound.
24/TSI
5 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Remove the camera holder from the storage position and place it in the rest position on top of the Optacon (see
camera holder instructions, p.15).
2. Preliminary checks:
a. Be sure the Circuit Breaker is pushed in. If fully out, it will click into place when pressed in. There will be a slight
play to the button when engaged.
b. Be sure that the Normal-Invert switch (see Figure 7, page 24) is in the proper position for the material to be read
(?normal? toward the I/O connector, for black print on white paper, and ?invert? toward the Battery Check button,for
white on black).
c. Remove the camera from the camera holder.
d. Be sure the camera cable is in the appropriate position for normal reading?cable down, on the same side as the
camera rollers. If the cable is up, with its attachment point on the same side as the Magnification button, the image will
be upside down. This should be checked particularly if you have detached the lens module for use with other Optacon
accessories when you last used the Optacon. Also, be sure the retina module is firmly in place.
3. Preliminary controls settings:
a. Slide the Magnification button to align with the middle ridge on the top of
the camera.
TSI/25
b. Adjust the Intensity knob clockwise to its maximum setting.
c. Adjust the Threshold knob by placing the camera on an entirely white portion of the page and turn the
knob clockwise until some stimulators turn on. Then turn the knob counterclockwise until all the
stimulators are just turned off. For sharp, clean print, a slight additional counterclockwise turn is advisable.
The average threshold setting is at 8:30.
4. Battery Check: Slide the On-Off switch up until it snaps into place in the full on position. Check the
battery charge by pressing the button on the back of the Optacon next to the battery jack. If the battery is
not fully charged, turn off the Optacon, connect the charger to power, and connect the battery jack to the
Optacon (for full instructions on the battery check, see Charging the Battery on p. 29).
5. Align the camera perpendicularly to the line of print to be read, rollers down. Your index finger must be
flat on the finger plate and the image must be properly centered by the camera.
6. Adjust the Magnification button on the top of the camera so that an uppercase letter fills about the top
4/5 of the array (the top twenty of the twenty-four rows).
7. Adjust the Threshold Adjustment knob so that ideal letter thickness is achieved. For example, the
letter ?E? should have one single column vibrating on the vertical, and 2 rows vibrating on the horizontal lines.
Any changes in magnification will require threshold adjustments to compensate.
You now have the appropriate adjustments for reading.
NOTE: The Optacon should be used with the battery charger in operation during its first use. Be sure to
charge the Optacon for 10 hours before operating it on battery power alone, (see Charging the Battery, p.
29).
26/TSI
6 EXAMPLES OF TYPE SIZES APPROPRIATE FOR
OPTACON READING
The Optacon with the magnifier lens reads 4 point type.
The Optacon reads as small as 6 point type.
The Optacon reads 12 point type.
The Optacon reads up to 20 point type.
TSI/27
EXAMPLES OF TYPE SIZES APPROPRIATE FOR
OPTACON READING
The Optacon reads as small as 6 point type.
The Optacon reads 12 point type.
The Optacon reads up to 20 point type
28/TSI
7 CHARGING THE BATTERY
The Optacon contains a 5 volt nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery. When fully charged, it
powers theOptacon for at least
4 hours of continuous operation.
To determine when the battery needs recharging, use the Battery Check button located on the far
right side of the back panel (front panel is facing you). For a view of the back panel, see Figure 7.
Use the button when the Optacon is turned on with the stimulators clearly audible. Depress the
button: if the pitch rises or remains the same, the battery is well charged; if the pitch falls, the
battery requires charging.
The Optacon is sold with its own charger. USE ONLY THE TSI OPTACON CHARGER. ANY
OTHER CHARGER MAY DAMAGE THE OPTACON OR THE CHARGER, AND VOIDS
THE WARRANTY. Plug the battery charger into any standard rated 110 volt outlet (or 220-240
volts for the international model battery charger) and connect the other end to the charger jack.
Be sure power is turned on at the outlet?in some cases a wall switch controls the room outlets.
The charger will become warm during use.
If the Optacon battery is only slightly discharged,the Optacon can be operated satisfactorily as
soon as it is connected to the charger. If the battery is deeply discharged, the charger should be
allowed to charge for some time before the Optacon is used
TSI/29
again. The charger can be left plugged in the wall outlet when not in use. Although you will need
to recharge the battery after it has run down, you do not need to establish any rigid charging
patterns.
The high-quality battery used is sufficiently reliable to be soldered in place. The battery should
only be replaced with a factory-authorized equivalent by a TSI-approved service representative.
NOTE: Before traveling in other countries, consult TSI about battery chargers and power plugs
appropriate for different voltages.
30/TSI
8 TROUBLESHOOTING
A number of simple procedures that can be followed to correct problems in the functioning of the
Optacon are listed below. However, if a problem persists, the user should contact either TSI at
the address given on page 2 of this manual or a TSI-authorized service representative where
available. A telephone call may speed the correction of a problem. Before you phone your
service center, be sure to have the serial number of the Optacon. It is printed on the back panel.
The serial number has also been reproduced in braille directly above the Input/ Output (I/O)
connector. Do not attempt any remedy beyond those given here unless it has been specifically
recommended by TSI. Do not ship your Optacon to be repaired until advised to do so.
WHAT TO DO IF:
NO STIMULATORS TURN ON. Check the stimulator intensity adjustment, which may be
turned down too far. If this adjustment is proper, check the threshold control; if it is too low, the
image will not register. Check to see if the circuit breaker is pushed in. It is possible that the
lamps in the camera are below normal brightness, in which case the battery may need charging.
The problem may also be caused by a disconnected circuit card or battery, and it will be
necessary to contact TSI.
A deeply discharged battery may require up to 14 hours to become fully charged while the
Optacon is turned off. If the
TSI/31
battery is kept properly charged, it should last for several years. It is normal for the battery to
become discharged when the Optacon is not used for a period of several weeks.
It is natural for nickel-cadmium batteries to vary in performance. If your operating time on
battery decreases significantly from the usual 4 hours, allow the battery to discharge completely
by turning it on for about 5 hours. Then charge it for
14 hours. This will build the ability of the battery to retain the charge.
CERTAIN STIMULATORS ARE NEVER ON. Check the threshold adjustment. If it is too
low, there may be gaps in the array. There may also be some problem with the stimulators or the
circuitry; consult TSI.
ALL STIMULATORS ON AT VERY LOW THRESHOLD SETTING. Check the camera
lights. If they are off, make sure the retina module is properly connected to the lens module. If it
is, and the problem persists, there may be some problem with the lens, the retina module, or the
circuitry; refer the problem to TSI.
CERTAIN STIMULATORS ARE ALWAYS ON AT NORMAL INTENSITY AND
LOWEST THRESHOLD. Stimulators are defective. Notify TSI.
CERTAIN STIMULATORS ARE ALWAYS ON AT NORMAL
THRESHOLDSETTINGS. Check the camera for dirt or foreign particles on the mirror or retina
window. (If there is no foreign object, the circuitry is probably faulty. Consult TSI.)
BATTERY CANNOT BE CHARGED. Examine the circuit breaker. If it has tripped, reset it.
(If it trips again, the cause is within the Optacon circuitry; consult TSI.) Feel the charger to see if
it is warm. If the charger is cold, verify that the wall socket or extension cord is supplying power
to the charger (plug in a radio or other appliance). If so, the charger may be defective; check with
TSI for replacement.
32/TSI
STIMULATOR INTENSITY VARIES. Check the battery, which may need to be charged.
Otherwise, refer the problem to TSI.
NOTE: Certain areas have TSI-authorized service agencies. Contact TSI for the
one nearest you.
TSI/33
9 ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
Various teaching devices are available for use in association with the Optacon: the Repeater
Cable, the Visual Display unit, several models of portable Tracking Aids, and the Portable Line
Scanner.
THE REPEATER CABLE enables two Optacons to be connected so that both the tactile
stimulator arrays present the image from one of the cameras. The cable is V-shaped. The
connector at the base of the V is plugged into the Input/Output (I/O) connector on the rear panel
of the sender Optacon. The two branches of the V are of varying lengths: the long one is plugged
into the receiver Optacon that will duplicate the image from the sender Optacon; the short one
may be left unconnected or it may receive either the connector from a Visual Display unit or a
male connector from another Repeater Cable. The cable makes it possible for a teacher who is
blind to work with a student.
Figure 8 on page 35 explains the operating modes possible with Repeater Cable combinations of
Model R1B, R1C, and R1D Optacons.
THE VISUAL DISPLAY unit is an electronic monitoring system with 144 lights arranged in the
same format as the tiny metal rods in the Tactile Stimulator Array. The unit is connected to an
Optacon by a cable from the unit to the I/O connector of the Optacon. When in operation, the
unit displays in lights the
34/TSI
Receiver Optacon
Sender Optacon
Model R1B
Model R1C
Model R1D
Model R1B
N/I
N/I
N/I
Model R1C
N
N
N/I
Model R1D
N
N
N/I
N/I?Optacons may be simultaneously operated in either the normal
mode or the invert mode.
N?Optacons may be simultaneously operated only in the normal mode.
N/I?Although Optacons may be simultaneously operated in both normal and invert modes, the R1B Optacon prevents
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) reading capability.
FIGURE 8 REPEATER CABLE OPERATING MODES
same pattern that is being presented as vibration in the Tactile Stimulator array, and thus a
sighted teacher can see the pattern being felt by a blind student. The Visual Display unit must be
plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet (a220/240-voltmodel is also available). The unit has its
own ON/OFF switch. A replacement fuse is located on the back of the Visual Display.
SEVERAL MODELS OF TRACKING AIDS are available which
help the beginning student to maintain the camera in a proper vertical and horizontal alignment
along a line of print.
THE PORTABLE LINE SCANNER is a portable pacing device operated by a spring drive.
The camera moves at a set rate along the line. The speed can be adjusted and controlled by
teacher or student. Line changes are made manually. Standard training materials can be used or
lessons can be prepared on a typewriter.
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES are available for using the Optacon with electronic
calculators, video displays and selected
TSI/35
movable and fixed carraige typewriters. Another accessory provides greater magnification than
the standard camera, for reading print smaller than 21 miLs. All of these accessories are attached
directly to the Optacon via the retina module. Price lists of accessories are available from TSI
upon request.
36/TSI
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum overall weight {including carrying case): 4.0 lbs. (1.8 kg.)
Shipping weight (without instructional manuals): 15.0 lbs. (6.8 kg.)
Maximum overall size (not including carrying case): 8x6x2 in. (20 x 15 x 5 cm.)
Weight of camera section: 1.4 oz. (39 g.)
Power source: one 5-volt, sealed NiCd battery, not user serviceable
Power consumption: 2 watts
Number of photo/tactile elements: 144, arranged in a 24-row,
6-column format
Tactile stimulator format: rods spaced 46.5 mils (1.18 mm) vertically, 90 mils (2.29 mm) horizontally, with
an overall area 1.07 x 0.45 in. (2.72 x 1.14 cm)
Nominal stimulation frequency : 230 Hz. PLUS OR MINUS 2 Hz
Magnification range: 2.5:1
Field of view range: 225 to 90 mils (5.72 to 2.29 mm) vertically, 113 to 45 mils (2.87 to 1.14 mm)
horizontally
U.S. Patent No.3,229,387
TSI/37
38/TSI
WARRANTY
For one year from the date of delivery, Telesensory Systems, Inc. (?TSI?) warrants that its Optacon (and accessories)
will be free from defects in material or workmanship. TSI?s obligation under this warranty is limited to the exclusive
remedies of repair or replacement of defective parts or refunding the purchase price as TSI may elect.
During the first year after delivery, TSI will conduct one inspection of the Optacon at TSI or a designated TSI Service
Center, and will repair damage, once during the year, caused by accidental misuse, unless TSI determines that the
damage to the Optacon is so extensive that it is not economically practical to repair it.
This warranty shall not apply to any part of the product or accessory which has been abused or misused physically or
electrically except in the case of accidental misuse as described above. This warranty shall not apply to any part of the
product which has been damaged by use of parts and service not authorized by TSI.
To obtain warranty service contact Telesensory Systems, Inc., 455 North Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, California
94043, U.S.A., or TSI?s authorized service center for your area for shipping instructions. The address of the service
center for your area can always be obtained by writing to TSI at the above address or by telephoning (800) 227-8418.
TSI will pay all shipping costs for warranty service.
ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE LIMITED TO A DURATION OF
ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
IN NO EVENT SHALL TSI BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Some states do
not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may
not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.
TSI/39
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