DE102020005107A1 - Orientation aid device for blind and partially sighted people - Google Patents

Abstract

Main claim: Orientation aid device (6) for blind and visually impaired people, comprising a housing (2) for receiving or carrying components (2,5,1,3) of the orientation aid device (6), a handle (5) is preferably designed in such a way that the housing can be held by a user in a defined orientation, a sensor arrangement with a number (1) of sensors for determining environmental data, the sensor arrangement having at least one front-side sensor (1) selected from the following group:
- a light sensor for detecting visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation;
- A sound sensor for detecting sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves;
- A metal detector for determining the presence of metallic objects, characterized in that ready by individual sound sensor or light sensor, the location, distance and type of objects can be determined.

Description

The invention relates to an orientation aid device for blind and visually impaired people and the use of such an orientation aid device.

There are many devices of the type mentioned are particularly suitable for replacing the conventional cane. Devices of this type can help a visually impaired person to detect the presence of objects in the area and, if necessary, to determine a distance from the objects.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved by an orientation aid device for visually impaired people, in particular blind people, comprising a housing (2) for receiving or carrying components of the orientation aid device (6), a handle (5), at least one front-side sensor (1 ) for determining environmental data, an information processing unit for generating environmental information based on the determined environmental data, an output unit for outputting, in particular for non-visual output, environmental information to a user.

• - ein Lichtsensor zur Erfassung von sichtbarem Licht, Infrarot- oder Ultraviolettstrahlung;
• - ein Schallsensor zur Erfassung von Schallwellen, insbesondere Ultraschallwellen;
• - einen Metalldetektor zur Ermittlung der Anwesenheit von metallischen Gegenständen.

The orientation aid device according to the invention is characterized in that
that the sensors are selected from the following group:

• - a light sensor for detecting visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation;
• - A sound sensor for detecting sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves;
• - a metal detector to detect the presence of metal objects.

An ultrasonic sensor can also have a transmitter for ultrasonic waves, in which case the actual sensor will then pick up the ultrasonic waves which it itself has emitted and which are reflected by an object.

In principle, the housing can be rod-shaped and thus imitated a cane for the blind. However, other shapes of the housing are also conceivable. The handle is preferably designed in such a way that the housing can be held by a user in a defined orientation.

The position of the object, in particular the position of the object relative to the orientation aid device, can already be determined by individual sound sensors or light sensors alone.

In combination with the device described above, the sensor arrangement can have an image recording unit, which in particular can generate a photographic image of a part of the environment. This can be a photo camera and/or a film camera. Recorded images can be compared with stored images in order to generate information about the location and type of location or objects in the area.

A sound sensor on the front and/or a light sensor and/or a metal detector are preferably attached to an end of the housing facing away from the handle. By arranging preferably two or more different sensors on the front, not only the position but also the type of objects that are in front of the user in the direction of movement can be detected. Essentially, front-facing sensors can replace the tip of the traditional white cane.

The information processing unit is preferably designed in such a way as to generate linguistic environmental information which can be output acoustically by the output unit. The user can be provided with extensive information about the environment through the acoustic spoken output of environmental information, which information can be very detailed and can be easily understood by the user. Specific algorithms are provided for this purpose, which are used to process the environmental data into the environmental information.

The information processing unit is preferably designed in such a way that it can generate environmental information that includes information about the type, distance and location of objects in the area. Reference is made to the advantages described.

The invention further relates to the use of an orientation aid device for visually impaired people, the orientation aid device comprising: a housing for accommodating or carrying components of the orientation aid device and a handle. The method has the following method steps: determining surroundings data using a number of sensors or an image recording unit, generating surroundings information based on the surroundings data, outputting the surroundings information to a user.

The inventive method is characterized in that the environmental data are processed into environmental information that Includes information about the type and location of objects in the area.

Environmental data from the sensors are preferably processed to form environmental information, which includes information about the surface quality, in particular about light refraction properties and/or sound absorption properties, of an object in the area. Such information can be useful for improved orientation of a visually impaired person.

With regard to the method according to the invention, the same advantages and further features result, as far as possible, that have already been described with regard to the orientation aid device.

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Orientierungshilfevorrichtung in Seitenansicht;

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figure. Herein shows:

• 1 an orientation aid device according to the invention in side view;

The orientation aid device 6 comprises a rod-shaped housing 2 which has a handle 5 at one end. At one end of the housing 2, which faces away from the handle 5, front sensors 1 are attached, which can emit infrared rays and ultrasonic waves. These rays or waves are reflected by an object and strike the sensors 1 on the front again. Depending on the type of object, the infrared rays and the ultrasonic waves are reflected differently. A light refraction index and/or sound-absorbing properties of the surface of the object also play a role here.

reference list

6

orientation aid device

2

housing

5

handle

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front sensors

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handle

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Claims (8)

Orientation aid device (6) for blind and visually impaired people, comprising housing (2) for receiving or carrying components (2,5,1,3) of the orientation aid device (6), a handle (5) is preferably designed in such a way that housing can be held in a defined orientation by a user, a sensor arrangement with a number (1) of sensors for determining environmental data, the sensor arrangement having at least one front sensor (1) selected from the following group: - a light sensor for detecting visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation; - A sound sensor for detecting sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves; - A metal detector for determining the presence of metallic objects, characterized in that ready by individual sound sensor or light sensor, the location, distance and type of objects can be determined. Orientation aid device (6) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sensor arrangement has an image recording unit. Orientation aid device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a front sound sensor (1) is arranged on an end of the housing (2) remote from the handle (6). Orientation aid device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a front light sensor (1) is arranged on an end of the housing (2) remote from the handle (5). Orientation aid device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a metal detector is arranged on an end of the housing (2) remote from the handle (6). Orientation aid device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information processing unit can generate verbal environmental information which can be output by the output unit acoustically and/or by vibration. Orientation aid device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environmental information is output verbally and/or by vibration. Orientation aid device according to one of the preceding claims , characterized in that to determine the type of object in the environment, environmental data from at least one different sensor (1) selected from the following group are used: - a light sensor for detecting visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation, - a sound sensor for detecting sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves, - a metal detector to detect the presence of metal objects.

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