Patent Document ID: 10083633
Application ID: 14537287
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A three-dimensional topography representation generating hardware device, comprising: a frame; a plurality of movable pins within the frame; a converting logic for converting a topographic map of a first region of a physical topography into a set of commands to individually control each of the plurality of movable pins, wherein the topographic map comprises contour lines that represent changes in elevation within the first region of the physical topography, wherein each of the plurality of movable pins is selectively movable based on distances between contour lines in a pair of contour lines from the contour lines in order to create a three-dimensional representation of the first region of the physical topography based on the topographic map; a flexible membrane, wherein the plurality of movable pins press against the flexible membrane to create the three-dimensional representation of the first region of the physical topography based on the topographic map, and wherein the flexible membrane is returnable to a planar shape in response to the plurality of movable pins no longer pressing against the flexible membrane; a matrix of light emitting devices on the flexible membrane, wherein each of the movable pins contacts a different light emitting device from the matrix; and a light signal generator, wherein the light signal generator transmits a signal from one or more of the movable pins to a corresponding one or more of the light emitting devices in the flexible membrane to create a light pattern on the flexible membrane.