Patent ID: 8552883

Claim:
An electronic three-dimensional (3D) surface device comprising: (a) a base having an open top and an inner cavity; (b) a plurality of hydraulic cylinders disposed in the inner cavity of the base, wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a first end with an opening that opens into a cavity of the hydraulic cylinder; (c) fiber optic rods, each rod having a first lit end, the fiber optic rods slidably disposed in each hydraulic cylinder in the base, the hydraulic cylinders utilize a hydraulic mechanism to move the respective fiber optic rod upwardly and downwardly inside the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the fiber optic rod comprises a colored light source for adjusting color of the fiber optic rod, each of the first lit ends of the fiber optic rods moves away from and towards the first end of the hydraulic cylinder as each of the fiber optic rods slides in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the first lit end of the fiber optic rod is enveloped by the first end of the hydraulic cylinder when in a completely collapsed position; (d) a microprocessor operatively connected to each hydraulic cylinder and each colored light source; and (e) a device independent bitmap (DIB) file format and a computer software system configured to read the DIB file format, the DIB file format represents a tactile physical 3D image, the computer software system is operatively connected to the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive input signals from the computer software system based on the DIB file format, wherein upon receipt of the input signals from the computer software system the microprocessor sends output commands to corresponding hydraulic cylinders and corresponding colored light sources so as to modify height and color of the respective fiber optic rods based on the DIB file format to create the tactile physical 3D image.