Playing Card Scanner for Visually Impaired

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blind assistive devices fail to provide a scanner to read a single playing card and deliver an auditory reading of the card suit and number through an earpiece to a visually impaired player.

Innovation Solution

A portable device with a housing that includes a scanner, a central processing unit programmed with text-to-speech software, and a rechargeable battery, which reads a standard playing card and provides an auditory announcement of the card's number and suit through an earpiece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing blind assistive devices are used, then they can read and verify playing cards, but they require special cards or are integrated into a specific game

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with standard playing cardsVSAvoiddevice integration requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanner is designed to read standard playing cards through a transparent housing, making it universally compatible with any standard deck without requiring special cards or game-specific integration. The device functions independently of specific game rules or card variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If existing blind assistive devices are used, then they can verify cards, but they fail to provide auditory reading through an earpiece

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauditory feedback deliveryVSAvoidindependent card identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

An earpiece serves as an intermediary device to deliver auditory feedback directly to the user's ear, enabling independent card identification without requiring visual confirmation or assistance from other players.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a portable scanner device is created, then it can read standard playing cards, but it requires power supply components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability for card readingVSAvoidpower supply integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanner, CPU, text-to-speech software, rechargeable battery, and charging port are merged into a single integrated portable device housed in a compact transparent housing, enabling card reading functionality while containing all necessary power supply components in one unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12236799B2Playing card scanner apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 NOVAK TIMOTHY

AI summary

A playing card scanner apparatus for helping the visually impaired play card games includes a housing having a transparent housing top side dimensioned to be larger than a standard playing card. A scanner, a central processing unit (CPU), and a rechargeable battery are coupled within the housing. A charging port is coupled to the housing and is in operational communication with the rechargeable battery. A speaker port is coupled to the housing and is in operational communication with the CPU to receive an earpiece or headphone. A scan button is coupled to the housing to activate the scanner and produce a reading of the number and suit of the standard playing card through the speaker port.