FR3033650A1 - VISUAL ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for assisting a person suffering from a visual impairment, comprising a support (2) adapted to be fixed on the head of a user, characterized in that said support (2) is associated with at least three transmitters ( 3) of electromagnetic radiation capable of emitting said radiation in the form of a point beam, arranged so that all the beams are directed towards a common point of convergence (4), and in that it comprises at least a receiver (6) capable of recording the position of the point of impact of said electromagnetic radiation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention belongs to the field of visual assistance devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device implementing at least two convergent point beams associated with a receiver for recreating an artificial line of sight.

PRIOR ART People with total or near total visual impairments must use devices enabling them to detect the presence of obstacles in their perimeter of movement.

The cane is the most basic device and remains the most used because it is cheap and easy to use. However, the development of electronics and automatic obstacle detection devices has made it possible to implement new visual assistance devices. Existing methods use infrared diodes or ultrasound emitters placed on the user's head via a spectacle frame. These components operate with a detection angle of at least 200, resulting in a lack of precision. Therefore, the principles used on this type of glasses are focused on the passive detection of obstacles through distance measurements. In order to artificially reconstruct the entire landscape, the devices of the prior art will implement several detectors whose beams are directed to different areas. The user equipped with this tool moves in a space, when one of the emitted beams is returned or cut by a body, the electronics transforms this information into a tactile indication or sound that informs the person about the presence of this obstacle in his environment. All of these technologies lack finesse and remain difficult to implement for full integration. In addition, the information provided lacks precision and therefore it is impossible to retranscribe to the user a precise modeling of the observed environment. This kind of system works from static detections of which the user remains a totally passive actor. The present invention relates to a new type of visual assistance device which offers the user the possibility of actively scanning the landscape and transcribing it accurately. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presented invention utilizes the judicious association of survey information with at least three convergent beams. The entire device embodies the line of sight of a person and the information collected is analyzed and modeled before being communicated to the user. Unlike the devices of the prior art, the device according to the invention does not try to reconstruct the whole landscape but the important aspects of the environment in which the person evolves. The user has an active tool that allows him to have a real and accurate view of the space in the direction of his choice. This gives him instant assistance in understanding his environment. Thus, the user with blindness is the actor who uses the invention dynamically, like a real glance. He initiates an observation of the environment in a direction that he chooses, then he receives information about this examination, from then on he constructs a concrete image of the elements that surround him.

Thus, the present invention relates to an assistive device for a person suffering from a visual impairment, comprising a support adapted to be fixed on the head of a remarkable user in that said support is associated with at least two radiation emitters. electromagnetic device adapted to emit said radiation in the form of a point beam, arranged such that the set of beams is directed towards a common point of convergence, and in that it comprises at least one receiver capable of recording the position the point of impact 20 of said electromagnetic radiation. In the context of the present invention the term "emitters of electromagnetic radiation" means all radiation sources and preferably the wavelength rays 25 belonging to the spectrum of visible light or of the infrared .Preferentially, said length of wave is between 525 and 535 nm or between 625 and 630 nm or between 800 and 940 nm. In the context of the present invention, the term "point beam" designates a beam whose emission or working angle is less than 5 ° and preferably less than 30. In the context of the present invention, the term "angle" "job" means the angle formed by the portion of the beam that is analyzed by the receiver. Thus, said beam may have an emission angle greater than 5 ° provided that only the portion of this beam belonging to an angle of less than 5 ° is analyzed by the receiver. In the context of the present invention the term "receiver" means any acquisition means capable of recording an image of the point of impact of the electromagnetic radiation on an obstacle and / or the distance separating said point of impact from the transmitter. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device comprises at least three transmitters. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said transmitter is a laser transmitter.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said receiver is a video camera. Said camera will be able to record in real time the image of the points of impact of the laser beams on the obstacles placed vis-à-vis the transmitters. The position of these points of impact relative to each other makes it possible to deduce the position of the obstacles and their distance from the user. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said video camera is placed equidistant from the different emitters and its optical axis passes through the point of convergence of said emitters. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said transmitter and said receiver are range finders preferably of the laser rangefinder type.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said transmitter and said receiver are PSD (position sensor device) type distance sensors coupled to an infra-red diode. This type of sensor is well known to those skilled in the art, including the sensors GP2Y0A6OSZOF / GP2Y0A6OSZLF of SHARP® brand. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support adapted to be fixed on the head of a user is a pair of glasses. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device further comprises a means of processing the information collected by said receiver.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device further comprises a power source capable of supplying the entire device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device further comprises means 15 for transmitting the information. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said means for transmitting information is a means capable of generating vibrations. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said transmission means is a sound diffusion means. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said transmission means is integral with said support. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device further comprises at least one accelerometer. Brief Description of the Drawings - Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the operation of the device presented in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 presents a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 4 schematically show a coding mode (Figure 4a) and retranscription to the user 5 (Figure 4b) used in the context of the implementation _ of a device according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The device according to the invention makes it possible to acquire information on the environment of the wearer of the device and transmits this information to the wearer. Acquisition of the environment: According to a first embodiment, the device 15 according to the invention 1 takes the form of a pair of glasses 2 integrally associated with three laser emitters 3 ideally disposed on each vertex of an equilateral triangle. These emitters 3 are oriented so that their beam converges at a single point 4.

According to a preferred embodiment, two laser emitters 3 are placed at the ends of the glasses constituting the base of said triangle. The top of this triangle is equipped with a third Laser transmitter 3 positioned above the glasses 2.

Furthermore, the device 1 according to the invention also comprises a video camera 6 placed in such a way that its optical axis passes through the center of said equilateral triangle and through the point of convergence 4 of the Lasers 3 beams.

The beams 3 all converge towards the same point which constitutes the line of sight of the carrier of the device 1. The distance away from this point with respect to the camera 6 is known. and serves as a reference for the calculations performed. Advantageously, the distance away from the convergence point 4 relative to the device 1 is adjustable by the user. The cone created by the beams crosses the observed space and converges to the reference point 4. From this point, the projections are inverted and deviate from each other. When transmitting in an infinite space, no return appears at the receiver level. On the other hand, in a finite space that corresponds to the monitored area, each of the recovered images will display the spots that are reflected by elements that serve as their screen. In the absence of an obstacle, no point is visualized by the camera 6. If an obstacle is present before this convergence point 4, the image captured by the camera 6 will comprise three luminous points forming a triangle oriented in such a way that 3 alternatively, if an obstacle is present after this convergence point 4, the image captured by the camera will comprise three luminous points forming an inverted triangle with respect to that formed by the emitters 3. The presences and the positions of the spots displayed in each of these images correspond to a signature of the illuminated area. The analysis of this information informs about the existence of obstacles, their distance and their nature. The cone made of Laser 3 beams converging on a point 4 located on the line of sight work in exactly the same way. Indeed, any disturbance generated on one of its beams is immediately visualized and processed. Whether the fault is located in the periphery or directly on the line of sight, it modifies the display and the position of the spots played on the video image collected. The monitoring thus carried out is carried out through the appearance of each of the spots. This occurrence can occur as soon as the beam enters the field of the camera and remains possible throughout the course of the ray, as long as it has not emerged from the field of the camera. According to a second embodiment, the device 1 according to the invention takes the form of a pair of glasses 2 equipped with three rangefinders 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, said rangefinders are laser time transmitters / receivers. flight. These rangefinders 7 are ideally located on each vertex of an equilateral triangle inscribed in the plane of the glasses 5 of said pair of glasses 2. The beams of the rangefinders 7 are directed in the direction of observation of the user. They all converge to the same point 4 located on this line of sight. The distance away from this point with respect to the origin serves as a reference for the calculations made by the device 1 according to the invention.

When measuring in an infinite space, no distance is observed in the observation axis. No beam meets a screen that causes any reflection allowing a return to the measuring device. On the other hand, in a finite space corresponding to the area monitored by the system, each of the retrieved readings provides the distances at which obstacles are located. Presences and values of these measurements correspond to the signature of the area observed. Analysis of this information provides information on the existence of obstacles, their distance, their nature and their form. The validity of the information is established as soon as one or more beams provide a measurement which places an obstacle in the observed field. This starts at about ten centimeters and remains possible up to the maximum of each rangefinder. The precision of these two types of technology is of the order of degree. The device 1 according to the invention 5 constitutes a system that projects and works identically with a real look. The wearer of the device controls this look, moving his head, he changes the direction of his line of sight, he "looks" where he wants.

Return of information to the user: The information collected in the form of video images or distances are processed by the information processing means included in the device according to the invention. This information processing means 15 is advantageously a microprocessor which will calculate, as a function of the information collected, the distance and the position of the obstacles. These calculations and the algorithms used are within the abilities of those skilled in the art and derive directly from the laws of trigonometry, tools used in applied geometry and comparison methods such as those of percentages. The microprocessor and the various components of the device according to the invention are advantageously powered by a source of energy associated with the rest of the device. This energy source can advantageously be a battery, it can also take the form of a photovoltaic sensor.

Principle of restitution: Thus, the device 1 according to the invention is capable of indicating to the user the distance and the direction of the obstacle detected in the line of sight. GUYOT1-EN-1T_TEXTE DEPOSE_SO / GE 3033650 - 10 - Concerning distance, the user's environment is shared in concentric circles (figure 4a). These circles mark out areas that represent different interests for the user. On an area of 5 cm around the user extends a first so-called privacy zone (corresponding to the area accessible to the user's breath) and then from 30 cm to 80 cm is a so-called proximity zone ( corresponding to the area accessible to the "Touch"). Then ranging from 80 cm to 2 m a zone of 10 user-friendliness, finally beyond 2 m of the user extends the so-called public area ("out of reach"). Concerning the direction, it is divided into three zones . A first frontal zone (in the axis of the device according to the invention), a zone to the left of the frontal zone and a zone to the right of the frontal zone. In order to encode this information, the space in the user's line of sight is represented in the form of a keypad (FIG. 4a) where the 0 corresponds to the position of the device 1 according to the invention. The zone of intimacy is associated with the keys 1,2,3,; the zone of proximity to the keys 4,5,6,; the zone of user-friendliness with the keys 7,8,9. In the same way, the frontal zone is associated with the keys 2, 5, 8; the left zone at the keys 1, 4, 7; and the right zone at the keys 3, 6, 9.

Thus, an obstacle present frontally at 50 cm will be associated with the number "5". Each zone is thus coded in depth and in direction and is retranscribed to the user through four means 8 each equipped with active actuators, able to generate vibrations distributed on the branches of the glasses 2 of the device 1. The implementation of FIG. vibration of these active actuators, shown in Figure 4b in the form of a star, one by one or in combination can provide GUYOT1-FR-1T_TEXTE DEPOSE_SO / GE 3033650 the coded information as indicated by way of example, in the figure 4b. The person skilled in the art is well acquainted with the various means capable of vibrating on command. Among these, mention may be made of motors with off-center weights, electromagnetic coils with a core or moving frame, loudspeakers, piezoelectric devices and electrodes driven by a voltage or frequency. According to a preferred embodiment, the device 1 10 according to the invention may also comprise an accelerometer. The latter makes it possible to indicate by means of information processing whether the user is mobile or stationary. Indeed, when using the device 1, several distinct phases of operation can be implemented. The needs of the user are not the same depending on what he does when he is at a fixed location or when he decides to move. For example, if he sits at a table, the user 20 looks for the presence of a bottle on the table, or a dish, a glass or the position of a guest around him. In this case, he must identify the direction and distance of the target obstacle. On the other hand, when the user gets up and decides to change parts, he needs to know instantly the direction he must take to avoid hitting this obstacle. These two modes of operation are distinct and require different information processing. For example, when the user is stationary, it may be envisaged to share the space into more precise directional and distance areas and limited to the near environment so as to create a zoom effect. GUYOT1-EN-1T_TEXTE DEPOSE_SO / GE 3033650 - 12 - The user can also switch from one operating mode to another via one or more control buttons (9), ideally placed at the base of each of the branches of the glasses .

5 In the event of a malfunction leading to the loss of one or two beams, in order to continue assisting the user safely, different monitoring algorithms take over. The implementation of these security functions is signaled to the user by specific information. The latter can then identify the faulty beam or beams and continue knowingly to take into account the limited but still consistent indications of the system.

Other types of coding of distance and direction information are of course conceivable. In addition, other means of transmitting information are possible. Among these, mention may be made of sound transmission means such as audio headphones.

It is also possible to envisage a means for transmitting the information in the form of a wireless communication to another device making it possible to broadcast said information. Thus, a bluetooth® communication to a smartphone broadcasting the information is possible.

25 GUYOT1-EN-1T_TEXT DEPOSE_SO / GE

Claims (14)

CLAIMS1 - Device (1) for assisting a person suffering from a visual impairment, comprising a support (2) adapted to be fixed on the head of a user, characterized in that said support (2) is associated with at least two emitters (3) for electromagnetic radiation capable of emitting said radiation in the form of a point beam, arranged in such a way that all the beams are directed towards a common point of convergence (4), and in that it comprises at least one receiver (6) capable of recording the position of the point of impact of said electromagnetic radiation. 2 - Device (1) for assistance to a person suffering from a visual impairment according to claim M previous, characterized in that each transmitter (3) is a laser transmitter. 3 - Device (1) for assisting visually impaired persons according to the preceding claim 20, characterized in that said receiver (6) is a video camera. 4 - Device (1) for assistance to a person suffering from a visual impairment, according to the preceding claim characterized in that said video camera (6) is placed equidistant from the various transmitters (3) and in that its optical axis passes through the convergence point (4) of said transmitters (3). 30 5 - Device (1) for assisting a person suffering from a visual impairment according to Claim 1, characterized in that each transmitter (3) and said receiver (6) are rangefinders (7). 6 - Device (1) for assistance to a person 5 suffering from a visual impairment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) is a pair of glasses. 7 - A device (1) for assisting a person 10 suffering from a visual impairment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a means for processing the information collected by said receiver (6, 7). 8 - Device (1) for assistance to a person suffering from a visual impairment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a power source capable of supplying the entire device (1) . 9 - Device (1) of assistance for visually impaired person according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a means for transmitting the information to said person. 10 - Device (1) for assisting visually impaired persons according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means of transmitting the information is a vibrating means (8). GUYOT1-EN-1T_TEXT SUITE NOTIF_SO / GE 3033650 - 15 - 11 - Device (1) for assisting a person suffering from a visual impairment, according to claim 9, characterized in that said transmission means is a means of sound diffusion. 5 12 - Device (1) for assistance to a person suffering from a visual impairment according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said transmission means is integral with said support (2). 10 13 - Device (1) for assisting a person suffering from a visual impairment according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that said device (1) further comprises at least one accelerometer 15 which makes it possible to indicate to the means of information processing If the user is mobile or stationary and / or the position of the device relative to the user. 20 14 - A device (1) for assistance to a person suffering from a visual impairment according to claim 10 and claim 6, characterized in that the space in the user's line of sight is represented in the form of a keypad where the 0 corresponds to the position of the user, the zone of intimacy is associated with the keys 1, 2, 3, the proximity zone with the keys 4, 5, 6, the zone of user-friendliness with the keys 7 8, 9, and the front zone is associated with the keys 2, 5, 8, the left zone with the keys 1, 4, 7 and the right zone with the keys 3, 6, 9, each zone being transcribed to the user. through the vibrating means (8) consisting of active actuators distributed on the branches of the support GUYOT1-FR-1T_TEXTE SUITE NOTIF_SO / GE 3033650 - 16 - (2), vibrating one by one or in combination to provide the coded information to the user. GUYOT1-EN-1T_TEXT SUITE NOTIF_SO / GE