JP2000290944A - Textured paving block for the blind - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the safety of the blind who are not totally blind and the safety from pedestrians in ordinary health. SOLUTION: This textured paving block for the blind has built therein a light emitting diode 3 and solar batteries 2 for generating electric power for light emission, both of which are located immediately below a translucent portion 1A at the top of a block main body 1. The textured paving block has also built therein an electric double layer capacitor 4 for accumulating electric power and a lighting control circuit for intermittently turning on the light emitting diode 3 to automatically blink the textured paving block during the night. Since the textured paving block readily draws the attention of pedestrians, the fear of stumbling is eliminated for increased safety. Also, since the textured paving block is provided with self-generating and feeding functions, work at work execution and maintenance after work execution are facilitated, with the textured paving block kept luminous even during power outages so that it can cope with emergencies.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Braille block for the blind embedded and installed in a road or a platform, and more particularly to a technique for improving safety for a blind or a healthy person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, on a road or a platform, a Braille block used for registering when a blind person walks is embedded and installed. A Braille block for the blind (hereinafter abbreviated as “Braille block” as appropriate) is embedded with the top of the block protruding from the installation surface, and the tip of the blind touches the top of the block to detect the Braille block. This is a guide for blind people to walk. Specifically, for example, several braille blocks are installed side by side along the direction in which the road extends in a state where they are side by side, and blind people can walk safely on the road by traveling through the braille blocks Can be. Therefore, Braille blocks are even essential to the lives of blind people.

[0003]

It is a reality that the proportion of blind people who are totally blind is not so large, and that a large number of people can distinguish between light and dark. Nevertheless, the current Braille blocks are merely composed of protrusions, so that consideration for blind persons who are not completely blind is insufficient.

[0004] The conventional Braille blocks for the blind cannot be said to be sufficiently safe for healthy persons. At night, there is a danger that healthy people may trip or slip. In the daytime, the Braille blocks are easily seen by healthy people, so it is unlikely that they will trip.But at night, the Braille blocks are difficult to see, so especially those with weak legs such as the elderly or children can easily trip or slip. . In addition, when the road is unfamiliar to pedestrians, there are many cases where a braille block is not in mind and even the presence of a block is not noticed, and even a non-elderly person or a child has a considerable risk of tripping. Also, a Braille block on a rainy day becomes more slippery.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a blind braille block for a blind person, which fully considers safety for a blind person who is not completely blind and furthermore has sufficient safety for a healthy person.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a blind braille block according to the first aspect of the present invention is installed by being embedded with the top of the block protruding from an installation surface, and is mounted on the top of the block. In a blind person's Braille block, which is used as a guide when a blind person walks by touching the toes of the blind person, light source means for emitting light toward the top of the block is provided in the block, and light from the light source means is provided. Is provided at the top of the block to transmit light out of the block.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the Braille block for the blind according to the first aspect, wherein the solar cell receives sunlight incident from the light transmitting portion at the top of the block to generate an electromotive force, An electric double layer capacitor for storing electric power generated in a battery, and lighting control means for turning on the light source means by the stored electric power of the electric double layer capacitor when the ambient illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined set illuminance. It is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the blind braille block according to the second aspect, the lighting control means is configured such that an ambient illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined set illuminance based on an electromotive force of the solar cell. Is configured to be detected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the braille block for the blind according to the second or third aspect, the lighting control means is configured to make the lighting of the light source means intermittent lighting.

[0010] The invention of claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
In the Braille block for the blind according to any one of the above, the top of the block is a convex light transmitting portion whose surface gradually lowers from the center to the periphery, and the light source means is directly below the light transmitting portion. It is arranged in.

Further, the invention of claim 6 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 5
In the Braille block for the blind according to any one of the above, the top surface of the block is subjected to anti-slip processing.

[0012]

A description will now be given of the safety improving operation of the blind braille block according to the present invention. In the case of the braille block for the blind of claim 1, in use, the braille block embedded with the top of the block protruding from the installation surface touches the top of the block with the toe of the blind to detect the presence of the block. Therefore, it can be used as a guide when a blind person walks. In the Braille block for the blind in claim 1, the light source means incorporated in the Braille block of the present invention is lit at night, although it does not particularly show a behavior different from the conventional one in the daytime. The light emitted from the illuminated light source means travels to the top of the block and is emitted outside the block through the light transmitting portion at the top of the block. In other words, the Braille block of the present invention emits light at night and its presence is very conspicuous, so that a blind person who is not completely blind and can distinguish between light and dark can easily know its position. . In addition, as a result of being easily noticeable by a healthy person and alerting a pedestrian, it is possible to prevent a stumbling or slipping in a Braille block.

[0013] In the Braille block for the blind according to the second aspect, during the daytime, the solar cell receives sunlight incident from the light transmitting portion at the top of the block to generate an electromotive force, and the electric power of the solar cell is stored in the electric double layer capacitor. Is accumulated. Then, in the evening, when the ambient illuminance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance after darkening in the evening, the power stored in the electric double layer capacitor is supplied to the light source means by the lighting control means, and the light source means is automatically turned on. That is, in this case, a power generation / power supply function is provided in the block, and the Braille block automatically emits light at night.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the lighting control means detects that the ambient illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance based on the electromotive force of the solar cell. The solar cell is an optical sensor, and the electromotive force is proportional to the illuminance and can be used as an illuminance detection signal. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to separately provide an illuminance detection element.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the built-in light source is intermittently turned on at night and the braille block performs a flashing light emission operation, so that the braille block becomes more noticeable to the pedestrian.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the light transmitting portion, which is the top of the block, has a convex shape whose surface gradually lowers from the center to the periphery, so that the braille block is swelled gently. Since it only protrudes from the installation surface, it is more difficult for people to trip, and the light source means is located in the immediate vicinity of the light transmitting part which is the top of the block, so that the light of the light source means can be seen well from outside the block,
Braille blocks are more visible from the viewpoint of a pedestrian.

In the Braille block for the blind in claim 6, since the top surface of the block is subjected to anti-slip processing, it becomes more difficult for pedestrians to slip.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a Braille block for the blind according to an embodiment is viewed from above, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the internal configuration of the Braille block of the embodiment, and FIG.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the Braille block of the embodiment is viewed obliquely from above, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a situation after the construction of the Braille block of the embodiment, and Fig. 5 is an electric circuit of the Braille block of the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the braille block of the embodiment includes a colorless and transparent block body 1 having a short cylindrical shape, and the entire top of the block body 1 is a light transmitting portion 1A.
The light transmitting portion 1A has a spherical convex shape with a gentle downward slope, the surface of which gradually lowers from the center toward the peripheral edge.
B is provided and the lid 1C is attached and closed. In addition, components necessary for performing a light emitting function are stored in the inner space S of the block main body 1.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a solar cell 2 for generating electric power necessary for light emission, a light emitting diode 3 for a light source, an electric double layer capacitor 4 for power storage, and a lighting control of the light emitting diode 3 A printed circuit board 5 on which a lighting control circuit or the like is mounted is housed in the inner space S. In the daytime when sunlight falls, the electric power generated by the solar cell 2 is stored in the electric double layer capacitor 4, and when the sun goes down and the surroundings become dark, the electric power stored in the electric double layer capacitor 4 is transferred to the light emitting diode 3. When supplied, the light emitting diode 3 is automatically turned on and the Braille block is set to emit light. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part of the braille block of the embodiment will be described in detail.

In the case of the embodiment, the inner space S of the block main body 1 is filled with the components necessary for the light emitting function from the opening 1B and then sealed with a water-resistant resin PS.
C is attached with a countersunk screw 1D and the opening 1B is closed, so that it has a completely waterproof structure. Therefore, even when the braille block of the embodiment is buried in the ground, the components housed in the inner space S of the block main body 1 are reliably protected from moisture and moisture.

Although the block body 1 itself is formed using a colorless transparent resin material or a colorless transparent glass material, the solar cell 2 can sufficiently receive sunlight and the light of the light emitting diode 3 Only the light transmitting portion 1A may be made colorless and transparent so that the surroundings can be sufficiently irradiated, and the other portions may be formed of a non-transmissive resin. In the case where a completely waterproof structure is not required, the resin sealing treatment may be omitted.

In the case of the Braille block of the embodiment, the solar cell 2 which must receive sunlight and the light emitting diode 3 which has to emit light to the outside of the block are arranged immediately below the light transmitting portion 1A. The electric double layer capacitor 4 and the printed circuit board 5, which are not directly related to the outside of the block,
It is arranged below the solar cell 2 and the light emitting diode 3.

In the Braille block of the embodiment, since the surface of the light transmitting portion 1A, which is the top of the block, is subjected to satin finish as a non-slip treatment, the Braille block is harder for pedestrians to slide. . The anti-slip treatment is
In addition to the satin finish, there is also a treatment for forming fine irregularities on the top surface of the block.

In the inner space S of the block body 1, four solar cells 2 and one light emitting diode 3 are placed on the support plate 6 such that the two solar cells 2 are separately arranged on both sides of the light emitting diode 3. Are attached to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, four solar cells 2 are connected in series, and each of the solar cells 2 simultaneously receives sunlight passing through the light transmitting portion 1A to generate an electromotive force at the same time. With this configuration, electric power is stored in the electric double layer capacitor 4 with a charging voltage having a voltage value obtained by adding the voltages generated in the four solar cells 2.

The number of electric double layer capacitors 4 for power storage is not limited to one as shown in FIG. 5, and a plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel according to required capacitance. It may be. Further, the solar cell 2 may include a parallel structure as necessary.

In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Between the solar cell 2 and the electric double layer capacitor 4, an overvoltage protection circuit 6 and a backflow prevention diode 7 are provided.

An overvoltage protection circuit 6 is provided to prevent the charging voltage of the solar cell 2 from becoming an overcharging voltage exceeding the allowable voltage of the electric double layer capacitor 4. Further, when no electromotive force is generated in the solar cell 2 such as at night, the voltage on the side of the electric double-layer capacitor 4 becomes high, and the inconvenience that the accumulated power flows back toward the solar cell 2 occurs.
Electric double layer capacitor 4 by backflow prevention diode 7
This prevents the stored power from flowing back.

On the other hand, the light emitting diode 3 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the light emitting section 3 is disposed just below the central rear side of the light transmitting section 1A so as to emit light upward. Therefore, when the light emitting diode 3 is turned on, the light of the light emitting diode 3 is outside the light transmitting section 1A. And the Braille block is turned on. The light emitting diode 3 is connected to a lighting control circuit 8.
Thus, the lighting is controlled as follows.

That is, when the lighting control circuit 8 determines that the illuminance L around the Braille block is equal to or less than the predetermined illuminance Lon, the lighting control circuit 8 supplies the power stored in the electric double layer capacitor 4 to the light emitting diode 3, while conversely. When it is determined that the illuminance L is equal to or greater than a predetermined illuminance Loff, the power supply to the light emitting diode 3 is stopped.

Specifically, the power stored in the electric double layer capacitor 4 is supplied to the anode of the light emitting diode 3, and the cathode of the light emitting diode 3 is connected to a common line (earth line) via the switch element SW1. When the switching element SW1 is turned on (short-circuited) by the lighting control circuit 8, a current flows through the light emitting diode 3 and the light emitting diode 3 is lit.
Conversely, when the switch element SW1 is turned off (open), the current of the light emitting diode 3 stops and the light is turned off.

In addition, in the braille block of the embodiment, the lighting of the light emitting diode 3 is configured to be intermittent lighting. That is, when supplying the accumulated power of the electric double layer capacitor 4 to the light emitting diode 3, the lighting control circuit 8 turns on the switch SW1 intermittently (for example, for 0.5 seconds every 2 seconds). Has become. As a result, the Braille block of the embodiment performs a blinking light emission operation that is easily noticeable by a person at night.

The total amount of power generated by each solar cell 2 is based on the assumption that the amount of solar radiation during the day is small due to continuous cloudy or rainy weather. Even in such a case, the power consumed by the load during the day is transferred to the electric double layer capacitor 4. It is set to charge. The capacity of the electric double layer capacitor 4 is set to a capacity that can store the power consumed by the load in one day. For this reason, the electric double layer capacitor 4 has a capacity margin of 1/5 to 1/30 as compared with the case where the conventional storage battery is used, and its size is significantly smaller and lighter than the conventional storage battery.

The switch element SW1 is, for example, a transistor, and is mounted on the printed circuit board 5 together with the lighting control circuit 8, the overvoltage protection circuit 6, the backflow prevention diode 7, and the like.

In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The electromotive force of the solar cell 2 is used as a detection signal of the ambient illuminance L. The solar cell 2 is also an optical sensor, and the electromotive force of the solar cell 2 is proportional to the ambient illuminance, and the electromotive force of the solar cell 2 is the illuminance (darkness) at which the ambient illuminance L should illuminate the Braille block. It can be used to determine whether or not. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an illuminance detection element in the braille block of the embodiment, and the
It can be simplified.

Further, in the lighting control circuit 8 of the embodiment, the set illuminance Lon at the time of starting the power supply is slightly lower than the set illuminance Loff at the time of stopping the power supply. That is, if the set illuminance at the start of power supply and at the time of power supply stop are the same, a chattering phenomenon occurs in which the start and stop operations of the power supply are frequently repeated in response to a slight change in the illuminance.In order to prevent this chattering phenomenon, After power supply is started at the set illuminance Lon, a so-called hysteresis characteristic is provided so that the power supply is not stopped unless the ambient illuminance L becomes equal to or higher than the set illuminance Loff which is slightly higher than the set illuminance Lon. .

The braille block for the blind in the embodiment is installed with the block main body 1 embedded so that only the light transmitting portion 1A projects from the installation surface. The braille block of the embodiment may be used together with a conventional braille block.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, five Braille blocks are arranged side by side, and a number of Braille blocks are installed on the road surface GR so as to continue in a belt shape in the direction in which the road extends. 5 if only for the middle row
An example is shown in which only every other Braille block is used as the Braille block of the embodiment, and all others are conventional non-light emitting type Braille blocks.

In the case of the installation form shown in FIG. 4, the blind person's braille block of the embodiment flashes and emits light at night, so that a blind person who is not completely blind and can distinguish between light and dark can easily know the position. be able to. Also, because it alerts the healthy person and ensures that the presence of a Braille block is recognized,
Tripping or slipping of a person is avoided, and safety is further improved. It goes without saying that a blind person walks on a road without difficulty regardless of the type of light emission / non-light emission in the day and night along a Braille block.

In addition, in the case of the braille block of the embodiment, the light transmitting block 1A at the top of the block is only slightly protruding from the road surface, so that it is more difficult for a person to trip and the light transmitting block 1A is directly below the light transmitting block 1A. Since the light of the light emitting diode 3 can be seen well from outside the block, it is more easily noticeable to humans.

Furthermore, since the braille block of the above-described embodiment has a function of generating and supplying power in-house, wiring work at the time of installation and checks after the work are not required, and the construction and
Since the maintainability is improved and the light emitting state can be maintained even during a power failure, it is possible to sufficiently cope with an emergency.

Next, the operation status of the Braille block of the embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[Step S1] During the daytime when the sun is out,
Each solar cell 2 receiving the sunlight from the light transmitting portion 1A generates electric power and sends it to the electric double layer capacitor 4, so that electric power is accumulated in the electric double layer capacitor 4. In the daytime, since the surrounding illuminance is high, the lighting control circuit 8
Since the off state of W1 is continuously maintained, no current flows through the light emitting diode 3 and the light emitting diode 3 remains in the light-off state, so that the Braille block continues the non-light emitting state.

[Step S2] As the evening approaches, the surrounding illuminance L of the Braille block gradually decreases, and the surrounding illuminance L
Is lower than the set illuminance Lon, the lighting control circuit 8 turns on the switch element SW1 intermittently. Therefore, while the switch element SW1 is on, a current flows through the light emitting diode 3 to be in an intermittent lighting state, and the Braille block flashes. Invert to the light emitting state.

[Step S3] During a low night when the sun is setting, the surrounding illuminance L is kept to be equal to or less than the illuminance Lon. Therefore, the Braille block continues to maintain the blinking light emission state.

[Step S4] As dawn approaches, the surrounding illuminance L gradually increases, and the surrounding illuminance L becomes equal to the set illuminance Lon.
When the illuminance returns to a slightly higher set illuminance Loff, the lighting control circuit 8 keeps the switch element SW1 turned off again, so that the current of the light emitting diode 3 stops and the light is turned off. As a result, the Braille block is turned off. Invert. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 again.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as follows.

(1) In the case of the Braille block of the above embodiment, the power generation / power supply function is provided in the block. However, only the light source means such as the light emitting diode is provided in the block. Blocks are also a modification. In the case of this modified example, at the time of installation, wiring is connected to power supply and power supply equipment installed outside the block.

(2) In the Braille block of the embodiment, the light emitting diode is used as the light source. However, as a light source, a light source using a small light bulb or an EL (electroluminescence) element may be used as a modification.

(3) The Braille block of the embodiment is a solar cell 2
Are connected in series, but when the charging voltage is low, a modification in which one or a plurality of solar cells 2 are connected in parallel can be given.

(4) Although the Braille block of the embodiment has the single-stage electric double layer capacitor 4, the electric double layer capacitor 4 may be connected in series to form a multi-stage structure to improve the withstand voltage.

(5) In the braille block of the embodiment, the entire block main body 1 is a light transmitting portion. However, in the case of the braille block of the present invention, only a necessary portion of the top of the block main body 1 is a light transmitting portion. And the other part may be a light shielding part.

(6) In the braille block of the embodiment, the electromotive force of the solar cell 2 is used for the illuminance detection signal.
A configuration in which an illuminance detection element is provided separately from the solar cell 2 may be employed.

(7) In the case of the Braille block of the embodiment, the light transmitting portion 1A has a configuration having a spherical convex shape. However, the shape of the light transmitting portion 1A is not limited to a specific shape. A configuration in which 1A has an elliptical convex shape is a modified example.

(8) In the case of the braille block of the embodiment, the block body 1 has a cylindrical shape.
Is not limited to a specific shape, and, for example, a configuration in which the block body 1 has a rectangular cylindrical shape can be mentioned as a modification.

(9) In the case of the embodiment, the example in which the braille block is installed on the road surface has been described. However, the braille block of the present invention may be used in a place other than the road surface such as a platform.

[0057]

As described above in detail, according to the Braille block for the blind of claim 1, since the built-in light source means is turned on to emit light, the existence of the Braille block is very conspicuous. A blind person who is not completely blind and can distinguish between light and dark can easily know the position. Moreover, as a result of being easily noticed by a healthy person and being alerted, stumbling and slipping can be prevented beforehand, and safety is improved.

According to the Braille block for the blind, a power generation and power supply function is provided in the block, and the Braille block automatically emits light at night, so that wiring work at the time of construction and post-construction wiring work are performed. Since no inspection work is required, construction and maintenance are easy.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the electromotive force of the solar cell is used as an illuminance detection signal, it is not necessary to separately provide an illuminance detection element.
The size and simplification can be achieved.

Further, according to the Braille block for the blind, since the Braille block performs a blinking light emission operation that is more noticeable to the human at night, the safety is higher.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the installed Braille block projects only slightly from the installation surface in a swelling state, it is more difficult for a person to trip and is the top of the block. The light source means is located in the immediate vicinity of the light transmitting portion, and the light of the light source means can be easily seen from the outside of the block, and the Braille block becomes more visible from the viewpoint of the pedestrian, so that the safety is higher.

Further, according to the Braille block for the blind, the top surface of the block is subjected to anti-slip processing, so that the foot of the pedestrian becomes more difficult to slip, resulting in higher safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a braille block according to an embodiment is viewed from directly above.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal configuration of a braille block of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the braille block of the embodiment is viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a situation after construction of the Braille block of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit of the Braille block of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation progress of a braille block according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Block main body 1A ... Light transmission part (top part of block) 2 ... Solar cell 3 ... Light emitting diode 4 ... Electric double layer capacitor 8 ... Lighting control circuit GR ... Road surface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A blind braille block for a blind, which is embedded and installed in a state where the top of the block protrudes from an installation surface, and which is used as a guide when the blind walks by touching the top of the block with the toes of the blind. A light source means for emitting light toward the top of the block is provided in the block, and a light transmitting part for transmitting light from the light source means to the outside of the block is provided at the top of the block. Braille blocks. 2. A Braille block for a blind person according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell receives sunlight incident from a light transmitting portion at the top of the block to generate an electromotive force, and stores the power generated in the solar cell. A blind braille block comprising: an electric double-layer capacitor to be turned on; and lighting control means for turning on the light source means by the stored power of the electric double-layer capacitor when the ambient illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined set illuminance. 3. The braille block for the blind according to claim 2, wherein the lighting control means is configured to detect that ambient illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined set illuminance based on an electromotive force of the solar cell. Braille blocks for the blind. 4. The blind braille block according to claim 2, wherein the lighting control means is configured to intermittently light the light source means. 5. The Braille block for the blind according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a top portion of the block is a light transmitting portion having a convex shape whose surface gradually decreases from the center to the periphery. In addition, the light source means is a Braille block for the blind placed directly under the light transmitting portion. 6. The blind braille block according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the blind is non-slip.