> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/nvaccess/nvda/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Braille Displays

> Supported braille display devices and drivers in NVDA

NVDA supports a wide range of braille displays, providing tactile output for blind and deafblind users. NVDA includes built-in drivers for numerous braille display manufacturers and models.

## Overview

Braille displays provide a tactile representation of text through raised pins that form braille characters. NVDA can automatically detect most USB and Bluetooth braille displays and supports manual configuration when needed.

<Note>
  NVDA supports automatic detection for most modern braille displays when connected via USB or Bluetooth. Simply connect your display and NVDA will recognize it.
</Note>

## Supported Manufacturers

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Freedom Scientific" icon="braille">
    Focus and PAC Mate display series with full feature support
  </Card>

  <Card title="Handy Tech" icon="hand">
    Active, Basic, Connect, and Modular series displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="ALVA" icon="square">
    BC640, BC680 and other ALVA braille controllers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Baum/HumanWare" icon="circle-dot">
    VarioUltra, Pronto, and SuperVario displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="HIMS" icon="braille">
    Braille Sense, Braille Edge, and SyncBraille
  </Card>

  <Card title="Papenmeier" icon="display">
    BRAILLEX EL, Trio, and Live series
  </Card>

  <Card title="Eurobraille" icon="eu">
    Esys, Esytime, Iris and b.book displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="Seika" icon="square-dot">
    Seika braille displays (versions 3, 4, 5, 80 and Mini)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Freedom Scientific Displays

Freedom Scientific produces the Focus and PAC Mate display lines with excellent NVDA support.

### Supported Models

<Accordion title="Focus Series">
  * **Focus 14**: 14 braille cells
  * **Focus 40**: 40 braille cells
  * **Focus 44**: 44 braille cells (1st generation)
  * **Focus 70**: 70 braille cells (1st generation)
  * **Focus 80**: 80 braille cells
  * **Focus 84**: 84 braille cells (1st generation)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="PAC Mate Series">
  * **PAC Mate Display 20**: 20 braille cells
  * **PAC Mate Display 40**: 40 braille cells
</Accordion>

### Connection

* **USB**: Automatic detection at 57600 baud
* **Bluetooth**: Automatic pairing and connection
* **Serial**: Manual configuration available

### Features

* Full keyboard input support
* Routing buttons for cursor positioning
* Navigation keys (NAV rockers, GDF buttons)
* Panning buttons for scrolling
* Whiz wheels on older models
* Extended key mode for advanced functionality

### First Generation Focus Displays

First generation Focus displays (44, 70, 84 cells) use three cells at each end as status cells with a separator cell, requiring special translation tables for proper cell mapping.

<Note>
  Freedom Scientific displays are widely used and fully supported with automatic detection. Connect your Focus display via USB or Bluetooth and NVDA will configure it automatically.
</Note>

## Handy Tech Displays

Handy Tech manufactures a comprehensive range of braille displays with excellent NVDA integration.

### Supported Series

<Accordion title="Active Series">
  * Active Braille (various sizes)
  * Active Star 40
  * Actilino (compact portable display)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Basic Series">
  * Basic Braille 16, 20, 32, 40, 48, 64, 80, 84, 160
  * Basic Braille Plus (enhanced models)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Connect Series">
  * Connect Braille
  * Modular Connect 88
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Evolution Series">
  * Modular Evolution 64
  * Modular Evolution 88
  * Braille Wave (older model)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Other Models">
  * Easy Braille
  * Braille Star 40/80
</Accordion>

### Connection

* **USB**: 19200 baud with automatic detection
* **Bluetooth**: Wireless pairing support
* **Serial**: ODD parity configuration
* **HID Converter**: Some older models use USB-HID adapter

### Special Features

* Sleep mode integration (driver handles sleep/wake events)
* Shared window messaging for multi-instance coordination
* Triple-action keys on some models
* Joystick navigation on selected displays
* Braille input keyboard

<Note type="info">
  Handy Tech displays using USB-HID converters (VID\_1FE4\&PID\_0003, PID\_0074, PID\_0044) require additional initialization data for proper communication.
</Note>

## HID Braille Standard

NVDA supports displays conforming to the HID Braille Standard specification.

### Features

* **Universal Protocol**: Works with any HID Braille compliant display
* **Automatic Detection**: No manual driver installation needed
* **Standard Commands**: Unified gesture set across devices
* **USB Native**: Uses standard USB HID protocol

### Supported Features

* Braille cell output
* Routing buttons
* Directional navigation
* Space + dot combinations
* Standard braille input

<Note>
  The HID Braille standard allows any compliant display to work with NVDA without requiring a specific driver. This is the future of braille display connectivity.
</Note>

## ALVA Displays

ALVA braille controllers (BC series) are well-supported by NVDA.

### Supported Models

* BC640 (40 cells)
* BC680 (80 cells)
* Other ALVA BC series displays

### Features

* USB and Bluetooth connectivity
* Etouch keys for navigation
* Smartpad for input
* Status cells for display information

## HIMS Displays

HIMS produces several popular braille display lines.

### Supported Models

* Braille Sense series (Polaris, QBrailleXL)
* Braille Edge series
* SyncBraille displays
* Smart Beetle

### Connection Methods

* USB connection
* Bluetooth pairing
* Serial connectivity (older models)

## Baum/HumanWare Displays

Baum (now part of HumanWare) displays are well-supported.

### Models

* VarioUltra (20, 32, 40 cells)
* Pronto! (18, 40 cells)
* SuperVario / Brailliant series
* Conny (integrated display)
* DM80 Plus

## Papenmeier Displays

Papenmeier BRAILLEX displays offer premium quality braille output.

### Series

* **BRAILLEX EL**: Compact models (40, 66, 80 cells)
* **BRAILLEX Trio**: Three-line displays
* **BRAILLEX Live**: Modern USB/Bluetooth displays
* **BRAILLEX 2D**: Graphic braille displays

### Features

* Easy Access Bar (EAB) for quick navigation
* Multiple routing button rows
* Vertical navigation keys
* Status display cells

## Eurobraille Displays

French manufacturer Eurobraille produces several display lines.

### Models

* Esys (40, 64 cells)
* Esytime (32, 40 cells)
* Iris (20, 40 cells)
* b.book (20, 40 cells)
* b.note (for note-taking)

## Seika Displays

Seika produces compact Japanese braille displays.

### Versions

* Seika Version 3, 4, 5
* Seika80 (80 cells)
* Seika Mini (16 cells)

## Additional Supported Displays

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Humanware Brailliant" icon="b">
    BI series displays with keyboard input
  </Card>

  <Card title="BrailleNote" icon="note">
    HumanWare note-takers with braille
  </Card>

  <Card title="EcoBraille" icon="leaf">
    Eco-friendly braille displays (20, 40, 80 cells)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Hedo" icon="h">
    ProfiLine and MobilLine series
  </Card>

  <Card title="SuperBraille" icon="s">
    Large-format braille displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="Nattiq" icon="n">
    Nattiq nBraille displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="NLSE Zoomax" icon="z">
    Reader Zoomax braille devices
  </Card>

  <Card title="DotPad" icon="circle">
    Graphic braille display technology
  </Card>

  <Card title="Lilli" icon="flower">
    Compact braille displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="Albatross" icon="bird">
    Albatross braille displays
  </Card>

  <Card title="BRLTTY" icon="terminal">
    Generic BRLTTY protocol support
  </Card>

  <Card title="No Braille" icon="ban">
    Disable braille output (testing/demo mode)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Automatic Detection

NVDA can automatically detect braille displays connected via:

* **USB**: Immediate detection when plugged in
* **Bluetooth**: Automatic pairing and connection
* **Serial COM Ports**: Background scanning (may be slower)

### Enabling Automatic Detection

1. Open NVDA Settings → Braille
2. Set "Braille Display" to "Automatic"
3. Connect your display
4. NVDA will detect and configure it

<Note>
  Automatic detection works best with USB and Bluetooth connections. Serial connections may require manual configuration.
</Note>

## Manual Configuration

If automatic detection fails:

1. Open NVDA menu → Preferences → Settings → Braille
2. Select your display manufacturer/model from the list
3. Choose connection method (USB, Bluetooth, Serial)
4. For serial: specify COM port and settings
5. Click OK to connect

## Braille Input

Many displays support braille input using:

* **Perkins-style keyboards**: 6 or 8 dot input
* **Braille keyboard mode**: Type in contracted or uncontracted braille
* **Chord input**: Simultaneous dot combinations
* **PC keyboard emulation**: Some displays can simulate keyboard input

### Configuring Input

* **Input Table**: Select braille code (Grade 1, Grade 2, Computer braille)
* **Output Table**: Display braille code
* **Expand to Computer Braille**: Show full 8-dot characters
* **Show Cursor**: Display cursor position

## Braille Settings

NVDA provides extensive braille configuration:

<Accordion title="Display Settings">
  * Output braille table
  * Input braille table
  * Expand to computer braille for cursor word
  * Show cursor
  * Cursor blink rate
  * Cursor shape (block, underline)
  * Show messages timeout
  * Message priority
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Reading Settings">
  * Tether braille to focus or review cursor
  * Paragraph navigation with braille
  * Read by paragraph
  * Word wrap
  * Show selection
  * Show status cells
</Accordion>

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Display Not Detected">
  * Ensure display is powered on
  * Check USB/Bluetooth connection
  * Try different USB port
  * Update display firmware
  * Disable automatic detection and select manually
  * Check Windows Device Manager for driver issues
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Incorrect Output">
  * Verify braille table settings
  * Check output table matches display capabilities
  * Ensure display firmware is current
  * Try different braille code tables
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Connection Drops">
  * Check for USB power saving settings
  * Disable USB selective suspend in Windows
  * For Bluetooth: re-pair the device
  * Check display battery level
</Accordion>

## Developer Information

Braille display drivers are located in:

```
source/brailleDisplayDrivers/
├── freedomScientific.py    # Freedom Scientific Focus/PAC Mate
├── handyTech.py            # Handy Tech displays
├── alva.py                 # ALVA BC series
├── baum.py                 # Baum/HumanWare
├── hims.py                 # HIMS displays  
├── papenmeier.py           # Papenmeier BRAILLEX
├── eurobraille/            # Eurobraille displays
├── seika.py                # Seika displays
├── hidBrailleStandard.py   # HID Braille protocol
└── noBraille.py            # Disable braille
```

Each driver implements the braille display interface defined in `braille.py`.

## Related Topics

* [Speech Synthesis](/features/speech-synthesis) - Audio output configuration
* [Browse Mode](/features/browse-mode) - Document navigation
* [Add-ons](/features/add-ons) - Extend braille functionality