JP3337828B2 - Braille document reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Braille document reading apparatus for reading Braille text from a Braille document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a blind person or a sighted person who has difficulty in reading Braille texts well is required to read Braille texts such as Braille mail, Braille documents are read on behalf of these persons. Readers have been developed and put into practical use. As this Braille document reading device, there is a device for reading Braille text written on paper line by line using an optical scanner.

[0003]

By the way, there are various sizes of paper width of a Braille document. However, in the conventional Braille document reading device, since the same reading process is performed regardless of the paper width size, when reading a Braille document with a paper width size smaller than the maximum paper width size that the Braille document reading device can read. Also, unnecessary data without paper is read to generate unnecessary data. For this reason, there is a problem in that data processing takes time. In addition, there is a problem that reading a useless portion without paper may cause erroneous recognition such as recognizing a non-Braille portion as a Braille point.

In a facsimile apparatus or the like, a detecting means for detecting a paper width size is provided. In this detecting means, a sensor provided separately from an optical sensor for reading characters is used. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of parts increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to eliminate unnecessary data generated by reading a wasteful portion without paper, thereby shortening a processing time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a Braille document reading device capable of preventing erroneous recognition.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a Braille document reading apparatus capable of achieving the first object without providing a new sensor for detecting the paper width size.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems] Braille document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflection obtained by irradiating light to the Braille documents
An optical sensor that converts light into an electric signal and a light sensor in front of the optical sensor
A point that can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor
A pinch roller for transporting text documents and crossing over the optical sensor
Pinch rows arranged before and after the optical sensor
And a connecting member for connecting the rollers to each other.
And slide the pinch roller to fit the paper width of the Braille document.
Lever and the signal obtained by the optical sensor
Braille by recognizing the position of the connecting member based on
Paper width size recognition means for recognizing the paper width size of the document;
A feature information generating means for generating, based on a signal obtained by the optical sensor, feature information of points constituting braille for an area corresponding to the paper width size recognized by the paper width size recognition means in the Braille document; A braille recognizing means for recognizing braille based on the feature information generated by the feature information generating means.

In this Braille document reading apparatus, the lever is
Operate the pinch roller according to the paper width of the Braille document.
When riding, the connecting member connecting the pinch rollers
On the sensor in the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor. So
Then, the paper width size recognition means is obtained by the optical sensor.
By recognizing the position of the connecting member based on the
To recognize the size of the paper width of the Braille document. In addition, the light sensor converts reflected light obtained by irradiating the Braille document with light, and converts the reflected light into an electric signal. The characteristic information generating unit outputs a region of the Braille document corresponding to the paper width size recognized by the paper width size recognition unit. Is generated based on the signal obtained by the optical sensor. Then, based on the characteristic information, the braille recognition unit recognizes the braille.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Braille document reading apparatus.
2. The Braille document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is a linear optical sensor that converts reflected light obtained by irradiating the Braille document with light into an electric signal for each line.

In this Braille document reading apparatus, reflected light obtained by irradiating the Braille document with light is converted into an electric signal for each line by a linear optical sensor.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a Braille document reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, a Braille document reading device includes a Braille scanner unit 11, a Braille recognition unit 12, a communication line 13 for performing data communication between the two, and a display connected to the Braille recognition unit 12. 14 is provided.

The Braille scanner unit 11 detects a paper insertion unit 17 for inserting a paper (Braille document) 16 with Braille written on one or both sides, and detects that the paper 16 is set in the paper insertion unit 17. Sensor 18, a fixed guide 19 to which the left end of the paper 16 abuts, and four pairs of pinch rollers 21 a, 2 for conveying the paper 16 inserted from the paper insertion unit 17.
1b; 22a, 22b; 23a, 23b; 24a, 24
b and the paper 16 conveyed by these pinch rollers
And a pair of pinch rollers 23a, 23b; 2 corresponding to the width of the paper 16 and a linear optical sensor 20 for irradiating the lower surface of the paper with light and converting the obtained reflected light into an electric signal for each line.
And a lever 25 for sliding the 4a and 24b. The lever 25 contacts the right end of the paper 16 and also serves as a paper guide for guiding the paper 16.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the pinch roller in FIG. As shown in this figure, a pair of pinch rollers 21 a and 21 b are disposed on the front side of the optical sensor 20 on the left side when viewed from the front of the Braille scanner unit 11, and a pair of pinch rollers 22 a on the rear side of the optical sensor 20. 22b is arranged. On the right side when viewed from the front of the Braille scanner unit 11, a pair of pinch rollers 23a and 23b are disposed in front of the optical sensor 20, and a pair of pinch rollers 24a and 24b are disposed behind the optical sensor 20. I have. The pinch roller 21 on the front side of the optical sensor 20 and on the upper side
a, 23a are mounted on the same shaft 26, and similarly, the pinch rollers 21 in front of and below the optical sensor 20.
b, 23b are on the same shaft 27, the pinch rollers 22a, 24a on the rear side of the optical sensor 20 are on the same shaft 28, and the pinch rollers 22b, 24b on the rear side of the optical sensor 20 are on the same side. , Respectively. Further, toothed belt pulleys 31 and 32 are attached to the shaft 27 and the shaft 29, respectively, and a toothed belt 33 is stretched between the pulleys 31 and 32 for the toothed belt. Furthermore, shaft 2
9 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 34. By rotating the motor 34 in such a configuration, the shafts 27 and 29 rotate in the same direction at the same speed, and the four pairs of pinch rollers 21a, 21b; 22a, 22b;
a, 23b; 24a, 24b rotate to convey the paper 16;

In this embodiment, two pairs of pinch rollers 23a, 23b;
4 a and 24 b are slidable in the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor 20 in accordance with the paper width size of the paper 16. Here, two pairs of pinch rollers 23 will be described with reference to FIGS.
a, 23b; A configuration for sliding 24a, 24b will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the pinch rollers 23a in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing 23b, 24a, 24b and the lever 25, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA 'of FIG. As shown in these figures, the pinch rollers 23a, 23b, 24a,
24b, via the one-way clutch 36,
It is slidably mounted on the shafts 26, 27, 28, 29. In addition, each one-way clutch 3
6 are pinch rollers 23a, 23
b, 24a, disk-shaped flange portion 3 smaller in diameter than 24b
7a, 37b, 38a and 38b are provided. On the other hand, the lever 25 is connected to a plate-shaped connecting member 41 which is disposed so as to cross over the optical sensor 20 and connects the pinch rollers 23a, 23b, 24a and 24b disposed before and after the optical sensor 20 to each other. Have been. This connecting member 41
Is formed of a material having a high light reflectance. A holding member 42 for holding the flanges 37a and 37b and a holding member 43 for holding the flanges 38a and 38b are attached to the connecting member 41. The holding member 42 has grooves 42a, 42 into which the flanges 37a, 37b are loosely fitted.
The flanges 37a and 37b are rotatably held by the grooves 42a and 42b. Similarly, the holding member 43 has grooves 43a and 43b into which the flanges 38a and 38b are loosely fitted, and the grooves 43a and 43b rotatably hold the flanges 38a and 38b. With such a configuration, when the lever 25 is slid according to the width size of the paper 16, the connecting member 41 slides on the optical sensor 20 in the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor 20, and the holding members 42 and 43, the flange 37 a, 37b,
38a, 38b, the pinch rollers 23a, 23
b, 24a and 24b slide in the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, a glass 45 is provided above the optical sensor 20, and the paper 16 is transported on the glass 45. Optical sensor 20
Is provided with a light source 46 for irradiating the lower surface of the paper 16 with light, and a light receiving element 47 for converting reflected light reflected by the paper 16 into an electric signal for each line. The light receiving element 47 is configured such that a large number of light receiving elements for each pixel are arranged in a line.
The light source 46 is disposed so that the emitted light is obliquely incident on the surface of the paper 16.
Reference numeral 7 is arranged such that the emitted light and the reflected light form a predetermined angle.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the Braille scanner unit 11. As shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the Braille scanner unit 11 includes an optical sensor driving circuit 51 that drives the optical sensor 20, and a quantizing unit that quantizes the level of the output signal of the optical sensor 20 into three discrete levels. A signal processing unit 52, a memory 53 for storing output data of the signal processing unit 52, a data transfer unit 54 for transferring data stored in the memory 53 to the braille recognizing unit 12, and various units in the braille scanner unit 11 And a controller 55 for controlling the operation of

The signal processing section 52 includes an amplifier 61 for amplifying an output signal of the optical sensor 20 and a light receiving element 4 stored in a ROM 63 in advance for the output signal of the amplifier 61.
7, a shading correction circuit 62 for performing shading correction based on a correction amount for correcting the variation of the photoelectric conversion sensitivity, and an output signal corrected by the shading correction circuit 62 is converted into two threshold values TH ₁ and TH _2.
And an A / D converter 65 for performing an analog-to-digital conversion (hereinafter, referred to as an A / D conversion) of an output signal of the comparator 64.

The controller 55 includes a paper width size recognizing means 66 for recognizing the paper width size of the paper 16,
Among them, a memory control unit 67 for storing output data of the signal processing unit 52 in the memory 53 for an area corresponding to the paper width size recognized by the paper width size recognition unit 66. Signal processing unit 52, memory 53, data transfer unit 54, and memory control means 67 of controller 55
Constitute the feature information generating means in the present invention. The controller 55 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer.

The Braille recognizing unit 12 is constituted by a computer, restores the data transmitted from the Braille scanner unit 11, and based on the data, determines the points of the convex state and the points of the concave state on the paper 16. Based on the arrangement of the recognized points in the convex state and the points in the concave state, the Braille composed of the points in the convex state and the Braille composed of the points in the concave state are distinguished and recognized. , And the braille code is converted to a kana character code.

Next, the operation of the Braille document reading apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the braille document reading apparatus according to this embodiment. A user of the Braille document reading apparatus inserts the paper 16 on which Braille is written on one side or both sides into the paper insertion unit 17 of the Braille scanner unit 11. At this time, the user slides the lever 25 so that the left end of the paper 16 contacts the fixed guide 19 and the right end of the paper 16 contacts the lever 25. When the paper 16 is inserted into the paper insertion unit 17 of the Braille scanner unit 11, the start sensor 18 detects that the paper 16 has been inserted, and sends a start signal 70 as shown in FIG.
Send. In response, the controller 55 sends a drive signal 71 to the optical sensor drive circuit 51, and the optical sensor drive circuit 51 sends a sensor-on signal 72 to the optical sensor 20. Thereby, the optical sensor 20 is driven (step S10).
1). That is, the light source 46 emits light and the light receiving element 47
Are in a state of taking in reflected light. A line pulse which is a drive timing for each line of the optical sensor 20 is shown in FIG.
FIG. 8C shows the sample pulse shown in FIG. 8B, which is the data fetch timing for each pixel of the optical sensor 20.

The controller 55 includes a memory 53
8D, a write enable signal 73 as shown in FIG. 8D is sent to put the memory 53 into a write enable state. At this stage, the drive command is not yet sent from the controller 55 to the motor 34, and the pinch rollers 21a to 24b are not driven. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
6 is not on the light receiving element 47, and the light L ₁ emitted from the light source 46 is not reflected by the paper 16 and does not enter the light receiving element 47. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the pinch rollers 23a, 23b, 24a,
The light-receiving element 47 at the bottom of the connecting member 41 for connecting the 4b, reflected light L ₂ reflected by the connecting member 41 is incident.

Next, a one-line signal 74 photoelectrically converted by the light receiving element 47 of the optical sensor 20 is input to a signal processing unit 52, and the one-line data processed by the signal processing unit 52 is stored in a memory. 53 (step S1).
02). Thereafter, the controller 55 receives a pulse signal (line pulse of the second line) 77 for ending one line from the optical sensor driving circuit 51, and in accordance with the pulse signal 77, as shown in FIG. The write enable signal 73 that has been output is stopped. Thereby, the writing of data to the memory 53 is stopped (step S
103). As shown in FIG. 8, the time during which the first writable signal 73 is output is one line of data fetch time T1. Next, the controller 55
The paper width size recognition processing is performed by the paper width size recognition means 66 (step S104).

Here, referring to FIG. 11 and FIG.
An outline of the paper width size detection processing will be described. FIG. 11 shows FIG.
4 shows the state of the optical sensor 20 and the connecting member 41 when the optical sensor 20 is driven in step S101, and also shows the output signal level of the optical sensor 20 at this time. As shown in this drawing, in a portion where the connecting member 41 is present, the light L ₁ emitted from the light source 46 is reflected by the connecting member 41, and the reflected light L ₂ enters the light receiving element 47.
The output signal level of the optical sensor 20 increases, and the output signal level of the optical sensor 20 decreases in other portions. In FIG. 11, W indicates the width of the connecting member 41.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the address space of the memory 53. Here, steps S101 to S1 in FIG.
It is assumed that data is stored at addresses 00 to 0F of the memory 53 by the operation of 03. The position indicated by the address 00 in the memory 53 is such that the paper 16 is
It is assumed that the position of the left end of the paper 16 when it is on 0 is shown. As shown in FIG.
The data stored at 0 to address 0F is FF, which is the highest level in a portion where the connecting member 41 is present, and is 00, which is the lowest level in other portions. Connecting member 4
The position 1 corresponds to the position of the lever 25, that is, the position of the right end of the paper 16. Therefore, the paper width size of the paper 16 can be determined from the position of the connecting member 41. Therefore, in this embodiment,
At addresses 00 to 0F of the memory 53, the paper width size of the paper 16 is detected based on the address of the area where the data is FF.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the paper width size detection processing in step S104 in FIG. In this paper width size detection process, first, the address is set to address 00 (step S201), and the data at that address is obtained (step S202). Next, it is determined whether the data stored at that address is FF (step S203). If the data is not FF (N), the address is advanced by one address (step S204), and it is determined whether or not the address is 0F (step S205). If the address is 0F (Y), the process ends, and if the address is 0F
If it is not F (N), the process returns to step S202.

In step S203, the data is FF
In the case of (Y), the current address is stored as A1 (step S206). This address A1 is the address at the left end of the area where the data is FF, as shown in FIG. Next, the address is advanced by one (step S207), and the data of the address is obtained (step S208). Next, it is determined whether the data stored at that address is 00 (step S209). If the data is not 00 (N), the process returns to step S207. If the data is 00 (Y), the current address is set to A2
(Step S210). This address A
2 is the next address at the right end of the area where the data is FF, as shown in FIG. Next, address A2
The address difference A2-A1 between the address and the address A1 is obtained and set to W0 (step S211). Next, this address difference W0
Is determined to match with the address difference W1 corresponding to the width of the connecting member 41 (step S212). If they do not match (N), the process proceeds to step S204, where the address is advanced, and the same processing is performed up to the address 0F. If they match (Y), the process ends.

The address A1 detected by the above-described paper width size detection processing indicates the position of the connecting member 41, and the address difference between the address A1 and the address 00 becomes the paper width size information P representing the paper width size. Controller 5
5 is a writable signal 73 such that output data of the signal processing circuit 52 is stored in the memory 53 only in an area corresponding to the detected paper width size of the paper 16 based on the paper width size information P. Is recreated.

Returning to FIG. 6, when the paper width size detection processing (step S104) is completed, the controller 55 returns to FIG.
A restart signal 78 as shown in (e) is sent to the motor 34 to drive the motor 34 (step S105). As a result, the pinch rollers 21a to 24b are driven, the paper 16 passes over the optical sensor 20, and the optical sensor 20
A state of capture reflected light L ₂ by 6. As shown in FIG. 8, the time from when the first writable signal 73 is stopped to when the restart signal 78 is output is the paper width size detection time T2. The time from when the start signal 70 is output to when the restart signal 78 is output is the time T3 from when the paper 16 is set to when the paper width size is recognized.

The controller 55 includes a memory control means 67
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8D, the newly re-writable signal 73 is sent to the memory 53, and
Is set in a writable state (step S106). At this time, it is assumed that data is written from the head address 00 of the memory 53. Next, after a predetermined time corresponding to the detected paper width size has elapsed, the controller 55 turns off the writable signal 73 and stops writing data to the memory 53 (step S107).
As shown in FIG. 8, the time during which the newly rewritten writable signal 73 is ON is the effective data time T4 for one line. Further, the time when the newly rewritten writable signal 73 is off is the invalid data time T5 for one line.

Next, the controller 55 determines whether or not reading of all the lines for the paper 16 has been completed (step S108). If not completed (N), the process proceeds to the next line (step S109), and
Return to 106. By repeating the operations of steps S106 to S109, only the data of the effective area corresponding to the detected paper width size can be loaded into the memory 53. The completion of the reading of all the lines for the paper 16 can be determined by, for example, recognizing that a predetermined time has elapsed after the start sensor 18 detects the rear end of the paper 16. When the reading of all the lines is completed (Y), the controller 55
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8E, the start signal 7
At 0, the restart signal 78 is turned off, and the data transfer unit 54 is controlled to transfer the data stored in the memory 53 to the Braille recognition unit 12 (step S110), and the process ends. At this time, by adding the paper width size information P to the data stored in the memory 53 and transferring the data,
The Braille recognizing unit 12 can perform optimal recognition processing, that is, recognition processing only for an area corresponding to the paper width size indicated by the paper width size information P. As shown in FIG. 8, the time from when the restart signal 78 is turned on to when the start signal 70 and the restart signal 78 are turned off is the time T6 when braille text is actually read.

Here, the outline of the Braille recognition processing in the Braille document reading apparatus of this embodiment will be described. At the point of the convex state and the point of the concave state constituting Braille,
0 of the light source 46 and due to the arrangement of the light receiving element 47, a strong portion and a weak intensity of the reflected light L ₂ is is formed by the convex or concave curved surface. In the signal processing unit 52, the threshold value TH
_1, the TH _2, to 3 binarizes the output signal of the optical sensor 20 into three levels. Since the level change pattern of each pixel is different between the point in the convex state and the point in the concave state, the output data of the signal processing unit 52 is feature information indicating the characteristics of the points constituting Braille. The output data of the signal processing unit 52 is transferred to the Braille recognition unit 12 via the memory 53 and the data transfer unit 54.

The Braille recognizing unit 12 restores the transferred data, recognizes the coordinates of the point, and determines whether the point is a convex point or a concave state based on a level change pattern for each pixel. Then, the coordinates of the points constituting the Braille are recognized separately for the front and back sides of the paper, that is, for the points in the convex state and the points in the concave state. The Braille recognizing unit 12 further distinguishes Braille composed of points in the convex state and Braille composed of points in the concave state based on the arrangement of the points in the convex state and the points in the concave state. In other words, Braille is recognized separately for the front and back sides of the paper 16. Then, the recognized Braille information is converted into a Braille code. When recognizing the braille on the back side of the paper 16, the braille is recognized based on the mirror image of the arrangement of the dots in the concave state. The Braille recognizing unit 12 further converts the Braille code into a Kana character code separately for the front and back sides of the paper 16. The kana characters thus obtained can be displayed on the display 14 as needed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the paper width size of the paper 16 is recognized, and only the output data of the signal processing unit 52 for the effective area corresponding to the recognized paper width size is fetched into the memory 53. Since the data is transferred to the braille recognizing unit 12, the braille recognizing unit 12 does not need to process a useless portion without the paper 16, and the processing time is shortened. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition caused by performing processing of a useless portion. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the paper width size is recognized based on the output of the optical sensor 20, so there is no need to provide a new sensor for detecting the paper width size, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
For example, as the paper width size recognizing means, after detecting that the paper 16 is set by the start sensor 15, the paper 16 is conveyed by a predetermined amount so that the leading end of the paper 16 is on the optical sensor 20, and Once stopped, in this state,
A configuration in which the paper width size of the paper 16 is detected based on the output of the optical sensor 20 may be employed.

[0044]

As described above, claim 1 or claim 1
According to the Braille document reading device described in the item 2 , the paper width size of the Braille document is recognized, and for a valid area corresponding to the recognized paper width size, a dot that constitutes Braille based on a signal obtained by the optical sensor. Character information is generated, and Braille is recognized based on this characteristic information. Therefore, unnecessary data generated by reading a wasteful portion without paper can be omitted, processing time can be reduced, and erroneous data can be obtained. There is an effect that recognition can be prevented.

[0045] Also, than was to recognize the sheet width size based on the output of the optical sensor, it is not necessary to provide a new sensor for detecting the sheet width size, the effect that it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of parts There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a Braille document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a periphery of a pinch roller in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a pinch roller and a lever on the right side in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a Braille scanner unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the braille document reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a paper width size detection process in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operation of the Braille document reading device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of detecting a paper width in the braille document reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of detecting a paper width in the braille document reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a position of a connecting member and an output signal level of an optical sensor in the Braille document reading device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an address space of a memory in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 Braille scanner unit 12 Braille recognition unit 16 Paper 20 Optical sensor 21a to 24b Pinch roller 25 Lever 41 Connecting member 52 Signal processing unit 53 Memory 54 Data transfer unit 55 Controller 66 Paper width size recognition unit 67 Memory control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-268430 (JP, A) JP-A-2-56589 (JP, A) JP-A-5-35906 (JP, A) JP-A-51- 224 (JP, A) JP-A-53-38933 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 51-85625 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06K 9 / 00-9 / 82 G09B 21/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reflected light obtained by irradiating a Braille document with light.
An optical sensor for converting into an electric signal, is disposed before and after the optical sensor, the longitudinal direction of the optical sensor
A pinch roller for conveying a Braille document slidable in the direction, and the optical sensor
Connect the pinch rollers arranged before and after
A connecting member and connected to this connecting member,
A lever for sliding the pinch roller, and the connection based on a signal obtained by the optical sensor.
By recognizing the position of members, the paper width
Paper width size recognizing means for recognizing the size, and, for a region of the Braille document corresponding to the paper width size recognized by the paper width size recognizing means, a point of a point constituting braille based on a signal obtained by the optical sensor. A Braille document reading apparatus comprising: a feature information generating unit that generates feature information; and a Braille recognizing unit that recognizes Braille based on the feature information generated by the feature information generating unit. 2. The Braille device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is a linear optical sensor that converts reflected light obtained by irradiating the Braille document with light to an electric signal for each line. Document reader.