FR2836628A1 - Ultrasonic device for aiding the visually handicapped to judge distances to obstacles comprises ultrasonic transducers, an analysis circuit and haptic indicators or electrodes for conveying distance information to the wearer - Google Patents

Abstract

Ultrasonic device for the visually handicapped comprises one or more ultrasonic transducers (1-3) connected to an electronic circuit (4) which generates transmission impulses, processes received signals and transmits information to the user relating to distances to obstacles, either by sensitive indicators (5-7) or by electrodes. A rechargeable battery (8) supplies energy. The device is worn on the head.

Description

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 The present invention relates to a device enabling visually impaired or blind people to feel the distances between them and the obstacles, as well as the variations in height from the ground, whether on the move or not.

 Most people who are blind or partially sighted use a hand-held white cane, which they sweep in front of them to identify obstacles.

More sophisticated systems are starting to emerge, but they require the use of the hand, which is not available for anything else, and generate sounds to give information, which impairs the auditory perception of the environment.

 The device according to the invention leaves the hands free, does not harm the hearing capacity, and makes it possible to explore a larger volume and this more precision and speed.

 The device according to the invention comprises one or more ultrasonic transducers (1,2, 3) connected to an electronic circuit (4) which generates the transmission pulses, processes the reception signals, and transmits the information to the user. of distances between it and the obstacles, by means of sensitive indicators (5,6, 7), or according to the variants, by vibrators, by sounds or by electrode. A rechargeable battery provides energy (8).

 The whole device can be fixed around the skull (Fig A, B), either by a strip fitted with housings or integrated in a headgear, which allows the user, by a movement of the head, to '' increase information about their environment, while keeping their hands free.

 The device according to the invention can comprise three ultrasonic transducers: the first (1) explores the space in front of slightly to the left, the second (2) in front of slightly to the right, with an overlapping zone, they thus make it possible to give information in stereo, the

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 third (3) look just in front of the user's feet and give the relative distance from the ground, so it indicates the variations in height of the ground: curb, low wall, staircase etc.

 This information can be transmitted to the user by sensitive indicators articulated so as to match the shape of the head or body area where they are placed, they operate close to Braille displays and that of bar graphs.

 The sensitive indicators can be placed as follows: One on each side of the skull horizontally, the one on the left (5) giving the information coming from front to left, the one on the right (6) the one from front to right, a third (7) vertically above the forehead indicates the unevenness of the ground.

 Depending on the variants, the device may include fewer translators and therefore give less information.

 It can also be equipped with transducers mounted on servomotors so as to scan the space with more precision.

 It can transmit information to the user either by sensitive indicators, or by sounds, or by vibrators, or by electrodes.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: Figure A in side view and Figure B in front view show the device according to the invention on the head of a user, in (1) and (2) the transducers looking in front , in (3) the transducer scanning the ground, in (4) the electronic circuit, in (5) and (6) the horizontal sensitive indicators, in (7) the vertical indicator and in (8) the rechargeable battery.

Figure C shows a side view and Figure D a top view of the volumes explored by the device.

Claims (5)

claims 1) Device allowing visually impaired or blind people to feel the distances between them and obstacles as well as the variations in height of the ground, whether moving or not, characterized in that it is composed of one or more ultrasonic transducers (1,2, 3) connected to an electronic circuit (4) which generates the transmission pulses, processes the reception signals, and transmits to the user the information of distances between him and the obstacles, via 'sensitive indicators (5,6, 7), either by vibrators or by electrodes; a rechargeable battery (8) supplies energy.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises three ultrasonic transducers: the first (l) explores the space in front slightly to the left, the second (2) in front slightly to the right, with an overlapping area, they thus allow information to be given in stereo; the third (3) looks right in front of the user and gives the relative distance from the ground, so it indicates the variations in height of the ground.  3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that this information is transmitted to the user by sensitive indicators (5, 6, 7) articulated so as to follow the shape of the area of the head or of the body where they are placed .  4) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the sensitive indicators have an operation close to braille displays and that of bar graphs.  5) The device according to claim number 2 characterized in that the sensitive indicators are placed as follows: <Desc / Clms Page number 4>  One on each side of the skull horizontally, the one (5) on the left giving the information coming from the front slightly to the left, the one (6) on the right those from the front slightly to the right, a third (7) vertically above the forehead indicates the uneven ground.