ES2316222B1 - COMPUTER ACCESS DEVICE FOR REDUCED MOBILITY PEOPLE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Computer access device for people with reduced mobility.

Specially designed to access any computer that is operational, in the vicinity of the device and that has a signal receiver module Bluetooth®, and in order to allow people with disabilities engines perform the same operations that can be performed at through a conventional mouse, with less effort on the part of the same, the device is constituted from a circuit printed on which a charger module (2) of batteries (6) associated with a voltage generating module of power (3), which feeds a joystick module or interface (4) and to a Bluetooth® module (5), so that through a microcontroller (16) associated with said joystick interface (4), the device sends the information supplied by said joystick to the computer wirelessly through the Bluetooth® module (5).

Description

Computer access device for people with reduced mobility.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device that has been specially designed to facilitate the use of computers for people with reduced mobility, specifically for those who are trained and used to handle the command of an electric wheelchair.

The object of the invention is to provide a device that allows these people to access any computer that is operational and that has a Bluetooth® signal receiving device, allowing to perform the same operations that can be performed through a mouse conventional, by means of a control or joystick, all with a minimal physical effort

Background of the invention

Conventional mice are known wireless that through a Bluetooth® module installed in the within it, and a complementary module installed in the computer to use through one of its connection ports, allow you to move the cursor through the monitor or screen of the computer, as well as perform the various functions of the mouse, without the discomfort involved in having to depend on a cable that hinders and limits your movements.

While these types of devices comply perfectly the function for which they have been conceived, their use not suitable or suitable for some people with disabilities motor, due to the wide surface by which it must be moved the mouse for handling and, consequently, the hand and forearm of the user, since sometimes disabled people do not have full mobility of the hand and / or forearm, reducing its mobility in some cases to one or more fingers of the hand, mobility that in many occasions is not enough to move, or to do so comfortably and effectively, the aforementioned mouse.

Description of the invention

The computer access device for people with reduced mobility that the invention proposes, resolves in a fully satisfactory way the problem previously exposed, providing a device that can be used comfortably even with just one finger of the user's hand.

To do this, and more specifically, the device that is recommended is constituted from a printed circuit divided into four modules or main blocks; a battery charger, a generator of supply voltages, a joystick interface and a Bluetooth® module.

The battery charge module or controller is examines the temperature and voltage of the batteries in device power and determine when to activate a source of constant current incorporated to it that injects current at the batteries, which can be connected through their corresponding transformer to a conventional outlet, or to the same power supply of the wheelchair. Said device incorporates an integrated circuit responsible for deactivating the electronic power once the minimum level of discharge of the batteries, so as not to damage them when it occurs said discharge, the circuit under test also being designed against the wrong arrangement of the batteries and the charge of the same.

The charge controller is associated electrically to a generator of supply voltages which It is responsible for generating the different voltage levels needed to feed the various electronic components that make up the device.

Thus, the voltage generator feeds a joystick interface, whose joystick position reading as well as of a series of external buttons, it is done through a microcontroller, so that the transfer of information from this to the Bluetooth® module is carried out through a line series, the latter being responsible for transmitting said information from wirelessly to the receiver compatible with said module e installed on the computer.

The Bluetooth® module, as is conventional, will be able to search for different complementary receiver devices associated with different computers, in order to allow its use in different teams.

The aforementioned microprocessor communicates to the module Bluetooth® when you want to put in discoverable mode, that is, in mode so that it can be detected by the computer, or in mode connected based on specific signals associated with joystick movement

The circuit described is complemented by a indicator light designed to provide information through the circuit, of the state of the batteries, as well as of the state of the Bluetooth® module depending on the on, off or flashing of the same.

Finally, it should be noted that, as is evident, the aforementioned joystick will have formal characteristics and ergonomically suitable dimensions to be managed in comfortable and simple way for people with disabilities motors to which its use is intended, being able to drive Easily said device.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization of it, is accompanied as part member of that description, a set of drawings where with illustrative and non-limiting nature, what has been represented next:

Figure 1.- Shows a representation schematic of the different modules that participate in the computer access device for people with mobility reduced object of the present invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a schematic view in plan of the device of the previous figure.

Figure 3.- Shows an example of embodiment how the circuit corresponding to the Battery charge modules and voltage generator.

Figure 4.- Shows an example of embodiment how the circuit corresponding to the Joystick interface and Bluetooth® module.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the figures outlined, and in special figure 1, can be seen as the device of access to computers for people with reduced mobility who advocates, it is constituted from a housing (1), of small dimensions, in which a plate of printed circuit, in which four main modules are defined: A module (2) battery charger, a module (3) generator supply voltages, a joystick interface (4) and a module Bluetooth® (5).

In the first module (2) the batteries (6) power the device, which in the present The chosen embodiment is two, associated with a controller (7) battery charging, which is responsible for sensing the temperature and battery voltage to decide when activate a constant current source (8) that injects current to the batteries (6) through its connection, through the corresponding transformer to a power supply like it can be the one of the wheelchair, or in its case a shot of conventional current. The sensorization of the batteries (6) is performed through an NTC thermistor (9), so that the batteries they must work in a temperature range between 15ºC and 50 ° C

In order not to damage the batteries (6) by exceeding the minimum discharge threshold, said module (1) incorporates an integrated circuit (10) that deactivates all electronics once reached the minimum threshold set for the batteries (3). Meanwhile, recovery does not occur until a tension is reached reference (hysteresis).

It is planned that said batteries (6) be arrange in a practicable accommodation, in order to be manipulated by the user, for which the circuit associated with said module (2) has been designed fail-safe such as the placing and / or charging the batteries upside down, whether or not they are rechargeable, as well as for the disabling of the load of non-rechargeable batteries

As previously mentioned, the battery charger module (2) is associated with a generator module of supply voltages (3) of the different components electronic devices that integrate the device. Said generator module of supply voltages is basically constituted by a integrated circuit (11), capable of generating the different levels of voltage required for the aforementioned components.

The structure described is complemented by a joystick interface (4) that incorporates a joystick (12) properly said as well as a series of external buttons (13) and (14) for cursor operation on the computer screen as a mouse, buttons that emerge through the module housing (1), together with a connector (15) for inserting the charger cable in charge of feeding the batteries.

Reading the joystick position (12) as well how the activation of buttons (13) and (14) is done by a microcontroller (16), which transmits the information received to the Bluetooth® module (5) through a serial line. Saying microcontroller is programmed so that the Bluetooth® module is put in discoverable or connected mode depending on the joystick positioning (12) over a period of time settled down. On the other hand, the Bluetooth® module asks for a interrupt line when you want to read the control position (12) and external buttons (13) and (14).

In the exemplary embodiment, recourse has been made to Bluetooth® class 2 for having sufficient range to establish communication between the device and a computer located in the vicinity of the same, said class presenting a reduced electrical consumption

The Bluetooth® module program (5) must meet the HID profile intended to connect interface devices human

The circuit described is complemented by a indicator light (17) that provides information to the user concerning the battery level (6) and the module status Bluetooth® (5) depending on the flashing rate, so that, it is expected that when the batteries are in the process of charging the indicator light is activated continuously, when the batteries reach a low level, present a weak flicker as well as when the Bluetooth® module is in discoverable / connected mode, the indicator light (17) increase the flashing frequency.

The procedure to follow for the connection of the Device to computer would be as follows.

Once the device is activated through the by pressing the switch (15), the discoverable mode will be Bluetooth® module (5) by pulling the joystick (12) down during 3 seconds The indicator light (17) will start to flash over a period of time.

Said module (5) will search for the device complementary to the computer and will establish a communication to through its antenna (18), connecting to it.

Once the connection is made, you can start to use the device through its joystick (12) and its buttons (13) and (14), as if it were a mouse conventional.

The device (1) has been designed to be able to store the addresses of the last three devices to which it was connected, so that to make a connection to one of these devices, it is necessary to push the joystick (12) towards forward for 3 seconds, after which the indicator light It will start to flash.

Link disconnection device-computer is done by the Bluetooth® interface of the computer itself. In case you get lost the connection for any reason, the device will try Reset the link.

If once the connection is established, a certain preset period of inactivity, the device will cut the connection in order to save energy, from so that to reestablish the link it will only be necessary to move the joystick in any direction for at least half a second.

Claims (4)

1. Device for accessing computers for people with reduced mobility, specially designed to allow these people to access any computer that is operational, in the vicinity of it and that has a Bluetooth® signal receiving device, in order to allow perform the same operations that can be performed through a conventional mouse or a wireless mouse, characterized in that it is constituted from a printed circuit in which four main modules are established; a battery charger module (2) (6) associated with a supply voltage generator module (3), which feeds a joystick module or interface (4) and a Bluetooth® module (5), as well as the different electronic components that make up the device, the control (12) of the joystick interface being provided to have ergonomically adequate formal and dimensional characteristics so that it can be handled comfortably and easily by people with motor disabilities for whom it is intended for use, being the movement of said control (12), as well as the actuation of a series of control buttons (13), (14), established in said joystick interface (4), assisted by a microcontroller (16) that transmits the information concerning the their status to the Bluetooth® module (5) through a serial line for the transmission of said information via said Bluetooth® module (5) wirelessly to the corresponding device or computer 2. Computer access device for people with reduced mobility, according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery charger module (2) (6) incorporates a constant current source (8) for recharging the batteries (6) by means of its connection to an external power supply through a connector (15), as well as an integrated circuit responsible for deactivating the electronic power once the minimum discharge level of the batteries has been reached, said module (2) being programmed to fail in the installation of the batteries (6) as well as in the recharging of the batteries. 3. Device for accessing computers for people with reduced mobility, according to previous claims, characterized in that the Bluetooth® module (5) is of class 2. 4. Computer access device for people with reduced mobility, according to previous claims, characterized in that it incorporates a luminous device (17) associated with its internal circuit, to provide information to the user about the level of charge of the batteries (6), thus as the status of the Bluetooth® module (5) depending on the on, off or flashing of it.