ES2367059B1 - TOUCH SPACE DECODER FOR INVIDENTS. - 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. It enables the blind with a glove that contains a distance sensor on the index finger (1), with which it extends and moves the arm around itself, obtaining a record of the distance at which the element that indicates the hand in every moment. The records are transmitted to a microcontroller (2), which transforms each set of distance values into 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 log

Description

Touchscreen decoder for the blind Technical sector

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

1 O State of the art

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

15 Also, there are systems that deal with mobility through waves, such as the "Automatic orientation device for walkers and blind people" (Automatic orientation of vice for blind people, EP0304419), which through the vector sum of the steps of the User is able to record the route taken to be able to return to a previous point where we have been. There is also the

20 "Laser device for guiding blind people" (WO 2003/032889, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization), which transmits distances in the form of sound.

25 Proposed technical problem and technical solutions

Given the deficiencies of all current systems, 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

In the case of current distance detectors, the present invention aims to transmit a constant record of the distance at which the element pointing the hand of the blind is located, translated into a tactile language.

The invented device introduces a space-touch interface, whose importance and novelty lies in using 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

40 specific tactile sensation (a vibration). For example, when the device detects an object that is between 0.15 and 0.4 meters away, it vibrates with a frequency of H hz, and if it is between 0.4 and 0.7 meters, it does so ah hz , being / 1 <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 O 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 19.6m, for open spaces (Fig. 2).

Explanation of the Figures

The first two figures explain the operation of the device through the user's relationship with its environment.

Figure 1 This drawing depicts 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

Figure 2 This drawing simulates the perception of a blind person in any urban environment. For the example shown, it perceives 49 different sensations, which are set out in detail, taking the form:

sensation x / degrees comprising / frequency intelYalo of associated distance

1 sensation 1 / 0-4 ° (4 °) / Frequency 7 / 1.61-2.1 m 2 sensation 2 / 4-29 ° (25 °) / Out of frequency / +19.6 m 3 sensation 3 / 29-30 ° (21 °) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m 4 sensation 4 / 30-43 ° (13 °) / Frequency 7 / 1.61-2.1 m 5 sensation 5 / 43- 44 ° (1 °) / Frequency 10 / 9.1-12.1 m 6 sensation 6 / 44-45 ° (1 °) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m 7 sensation 7 / 45-53 ° (8 °) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m 8 sensation 8 / 53-60 ° (7 °) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m 9 sensation 9 / 60-62 ° (2 °) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m 10 sensation 10 / 62-73 ° (11 °) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m 11 sensation 11 / 73-76 ° (3 °) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m 12 sensation 12 / 76-79 ° (3rd) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m 13 sensation 13 / 79-81 ° (2 °) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m 14 sensation 14 / 81-82 ° (1 °) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m 15 sensation 15 / 82-85 ° (31 °) / Out of frequency +19.6 m 16 sensation 16 / 85-86 ° (10) / Frequency 13 / 12.1-15.6 m 17 sensation 17 / 86-88 ° (2 °) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12, 1 m 18 sensation 18 / 88-90 ° (2 °) / Fre count 12 / 9.1-12.1 m 1 19 sensation 19 / 90-103 ° (13 °) / Out of frequency / +19.6 m

20 sensation 20 / 103-125 ° (22 °) / Frequency 5 / 0.98-1.17 m

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

22 sensation 22 / 131-153 ° (23 °) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

23 sensation 23 / 153-155 ° (2 °) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

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

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

26 sensation 26 / 169-182 ° (23 °) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

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

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

29 sensation 29 / 192-216 ° (24 °) / Frequency 11 / 6.6-9.1 m

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

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

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

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

34 sensation 34 / 237-240 ° (3 °) / Frequency 14 / 15.6-19.6 m

35 sensation 35 / 240-254 ° (14 °) / Out of frequency / +19.6 m

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

37 sensation 37 / 255-256 ° (1 °) / Out of frequency / +19.6 m

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

39 sensation 39 / 258-263 ° (5 °) / Out of frequency / +19.6 m

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

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

42 sensation 42 / 266-269 ° (3 °) / Frequency 12 / 9.1-12.1 m

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

44 sensation 44 / 273-280 ° (7 °) / Frequency 10 / 4.6-6.6 m

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

46 feeling 46 / 292-313 ° (21 °) / Frequency 8 / 2.1-3.1 m

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

48 sensation 48 / 328-333 ° (5 °) / Frequency 8 / 2.1-3.1 m

49 sensation 49 / 333-360 ° (27 °) / Out of frequency / + 19.6m

Figure 3 This drawing corresponds to the physical shape of the glove according to the description.

1-distance sensor

2-microcontroller

3-vibrating devices

4-battery

5-glove

6-wiring

Claims (3)

one.

Tactile spatial decoder for the blind, as a prosthesis that makes it easier for the blind person to move through the public space, which includes a portable device with an interface that transmits information about the distance at which objects are located with respect to the user in the form 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 by 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.

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