ES2367059A1 - Tactile space decoder for inviders. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

The tactile spatial decoder for the blind is a portable device equipped with an interface that transmits information about the distance objects are from the user in the form of vibrations on the skin. The blind person is trained by means of a glove containing a distance sensor on the index finger (1), with which he extends and moves the arm around himself, obtaining a record of the distance at which the element that marks the hand at every moment. The registers are transmitted to a microcontroller (2), which transforms each set of distance values at a certain frequency, which in turn is transmitted to vibrating devices attached to the glove at different points (3), resulting in a different vibration for each distance record. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Touch space decoder for blind.

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Technical sector

The invention falls within the technical sector of the prosthetic devices used to relate the blind with its environment.

State of the art

So far, the techniques most used by the blind person to move through space are the cane (combined with the rhythmic detection technique), which allows detect objects at ground level and at a maximum distance of meter and a half, and the guide dog.

Also, there are systems that deal with mobility through waves, such as the " Automatic orientation device for blind people " (EP0304419) that through the vector sum of the user's steps is capable to record the route taken to return to a previous point where we have been. There is also the " Laser device for guiding blind people " ( Laser device for guiding blind people , WO 2003/032889, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization), which transmits distances in the form of sound.

Proposed technical problem and Technical solutions

Given the deficiencies of all systems current, such as the poor sweep of the cane, which obliges the blind to approach something to feel it, to depend on the guide dog, or to saturate the ears with auditory information about the distances of the environment making it difficult to receive other auditory stimuli, in the case of the current distance detectors, the present invention aims to transmit a constant distance record to which is the element that indicates the hand of the blind, Translated into a tactile language.

The invented device introduces an interface tactile space, whose importance and novelty lies in employ the great development and precision of the sense of touch in the hands of the blind and take advantage of the only sense that is not stimulated when walking.

The proposed design enables the user, through a glove that includes a distance sensor, vibrating devices and a microcontroller. This last device coordinates them by establishing certain distance intervals, to which they are assigned a specific tactile sensation (a vibration). For example, when the device detects an object that is at a distance between 0.15 and 0.4 meters, it vibrates with a frequency of H hz, and if it is between 0.4 and 0.7 meters, it does so at h hz, being h < H . The intuitive proposal is to vibrate more as the distance between the objects is reduced.

Two sets of distance intervals are established: one of short distances consisting of seven intervals between 0 and 2.1 m, designed for the domestic environment (Fig. 1), and another of long distances , consisting of another seven more intervals wide ranging from 2.1 to 19.6 m, for open spaces (Fig. 2).

Explanation of the figures

The first two figures explain the device operation through user relationship With its surroundings.

Figure 1

This drawing represents the blind person in a domestic environment, moving the arm in a vertical plane, sweeping adjacent objects. Below is a list of the different sensations depending on the distance.

S1

Sensation 1_Frequency 1 / 0-0.15 m

S2

Sensation 2_Frequency 2 / 0.15-0.4 m

S3

Sensation 3_Frequency 3 / 0.4-0.66 m

S4

Sensation 4_Frequency 4 / 0.66-0.98 m

S5

Sensation 5_Frequency 5 / 0.98-1.17 m

S6

Sensation 6_Frequency 6 / 1.17-1.61 m

S7

Sensation 7_Frequency 7 / 1.61-2.1 m

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Figure 2

This drawing simulates the perception of a blind in any urban environment. For the example represented, perceives 49 different sensations, which are exposed in detail, taking the form:

sensation x / degrees comprising / frequency / interval associated distance

one

sensation 1 / 0-4º (4º) / Frequency 7 / 1.61-2.1 m

2

sensation 2 / 4-29º (25º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

3

sensation 3 / 29-30º (21º) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m

4

sensation 4 / 30-43º (13º) / Frequency 7 / 1.61 -2.1 m

5

feeling 5 / 43-44º (1º) / Frequency 10 / 9.1-12.1 m

6

sensation 6 / 44-45º (1º) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

7

sensation 7 / 45-53º (8º) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m

8

sensation 8 / 53-60º (7º) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

9

sensation 9 / 60-62º (2nd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

10

sensation 10 / 62-73º (11º) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

eleven

sensation 11 / 73-76º (3rd) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

12

sensation 12 / 76-79º (3rd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

13

sensation 13 / 79-81º (2nd) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m

14

sensation 14 / 81-82º (1º) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m

fifteen

sensation 15 / 82-85º (31º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

16

sensation 16 / 85-86º (1º) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m

17

sensation 17 / 86-88º (2º) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

18

sensation 18 / 88-90º (2nd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

19

sensation 19 / 90-103º (13º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

twenty

feeling 20 / 103-125º (22º) / Frequency 5 / 0.98-1.17 m

twenty-one

sensation 21 / 125-131º (6th) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

22

feeling 22 / 131-153º (23º) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

2. 3

feeling 23 / 153-155º (2nd) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

24

sensation 24 / 155-163º (8th) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

25

sensation 25 / 163-169º (6th) / Frequency 9 / 3.1-4.6 m

26

feeling 26 / 169-182º (23º) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

27

sensation 27 / 182-184º (2nd) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

28

sensation 28 / 219-224º (5th) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

29

feeling 29 / 192-216º (24º) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

30

sensation 30 / 216-219º (3rd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

31

sensation 31 / 219-224º (5th) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

32

sensation 32 / 224-232º (8th) / Frequency 9 / 3.1-4.6 m

33

sensation 33 / 232-237º (5th) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

3. 4

feeling 34 / 237-240º (3rd) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m

35

sensation 35 / 240-254º (14º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

36

sensation 36 / 254-255º (1st) / Frequency 11 / 6.6, -9.1

37

sensation 37 / 255-256º (1º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

38

sensation 38 / 256-258º (2nd) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

39

sensation 39 / 258-263º (5th) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

40

sensation 40 / 263-264º (1st) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m

41

sensation 41 / 264-266º (2nd) / Frequency 13 / 12,1-15,6 m

42

feeling 42 / 266-269º (3rd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

43

feeling 43 / 269-273º (4th) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

44

feeling 44 / 273-280º (7th) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

Four. Five

sensation 45 / 280-292º (12th) / Frequency 9 / 3.1-4.6 m

46

feeling 46 / 292-313º (21º) / Frequency 8 / 2,1-3,1 m

47

sensation 47 / 313-328º (15º) / Frequency 7 / 1.61-2.1 m

48

sensation 48 / 328-333º (5th) / Frequency 8 / 2,1-3,1 m

49

sensation 49 / 333-360º (27º) / Outside frequency / + 19.6 m

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Figure 3

This drawing corresponds to the physical form of the glove according to the description.

one-

distance sensor

2-

microcontroller

3-

vibrating devices

4-

drums

5-

glove

6-

cabling

Claims (2)

1. Touch space decoder for blind, as a prosthesis that facilitates the blind person the movement through public space, which comprises a device laptop equipped with an interface that transmits information about the distance at which objects are in relation to the user in shape of tactile sensations. 2. Tactile spatial decoder for the blind, according to claim 1, characterized by having a glove shape and being provided with a series of electronic devices. A distance sensor is incorporated in the index finger of said glove, so that when the user extends and moves the arm around himself, the device obtains a record of the distance at which the hand pointing element is located. every moment. These distances are transmitted from the distance sensor through a cable to a microcontroller, which transforms each set of distance values into a given frequency. The frequencies are transmitted through cables from the microcontroller to vibrating devices attached to the glove at different points, and in contact with the surface of the skin of the hand, resulting in a different vibration for each distance record. The set comprising distance sensor, microcontroller, vibration devices and wiring, is connected to a battery as a portable power supply; All these components are attached to the glove.