Pin Array

A grid of individually controllable pins used in refreshable tactile displays to create tactile images and text. Each pin can be raised or lowered electronically, and in some displays raised to multiple heights, allowing the representation of graphical content through touch. Pin arrays are the most common mechanism in refreshable tactile displays, with pin spacing, density, and height range being key factors affecting the resolution and usability of the displayed content. Current commercial pin array displays range from small single-line braille displays to larger graphics-capable displays with thousands of pins.