JP2005046607A - Leading and guiding system for visually impaired person - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a leading and guiding system for a visually-impaired person, which can be easily used, provide sufficient information, and lead and guide the visually-impaired person safely and accurately on an open road. <P>SOLUTION: This leading and guiding system for the visually impaired person comprises a portable terminal equipment 1 having a voice recognition means, a processor with a navigation function for searching a destination based on information from the voice recognition means, a reporting means for reporting the destination, a receiver for receiving tag information, and a data receiver for obtaining external guidance information from an external device; a guiding cane 10 for the visually impaired person provided with a tag reader 11 and a transmitter, and a tag 51 being positioned at a predetermined location and storing position information. The tag 51 is laid under the road and stores the position information and a storing device of the portable terminal equipment 1 stores road information, intersection information, and landmark information. While obtaining accurate information from the tag 51 and the tag reader 11, the visually impaired person can receive external guiding information from a signal 60 as an external device corresponding to the position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a guidance guide system for a visually impaired person capable of acquiring position information, external guide information, and the like.

  As the current guidance system for visually impaired persons, for example, the following systems have been proposed.

  (1) An information terminal device for a blind person that can immediately transmit arbitrary character information to a blind person and that is convenient to carry is provided (see Patent Document 1).

  (2) By carrying a portable transceiver to a visually handicapped person and guiding the guidance information from the first area to the target second area by voice, avoiding the effort of searching for a destination or an object (See Patent Document 2).

(3) For visually handicapped persons who use facilities such as public facilities, just carry a card with a built-in transmitter, and within a predetermined distance range from the voice guidance device installed near various facilities such as toilets. When it approaches, the guidance guidance information by voice about the equipment is automatically obtained (see Patent Document 3).
JP-A-5-72974 JP-A-5-257424 JP-A-6-63070

  However, the above-mentioned conventional prior arts are not always satisfactory for visually impaired people because they are not always easy to use and sufficient information cannot be obtained.

  In view of such a situation, the present invention can be used easily on general roads, is provided with sufficient information, and can guide and guide a visually impaired person safely and accurately. It aims at providing a guidance guidance system for people.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
[1] In a guidance system for visually impaired persons, a speech recognition unit for recognizing speech, a processing unit having a navigation function for searching for a destination based on information from the speech recognition unit, and a search unit that is searched for A mobile terminal device, a tag reader, and a transmission device, each having a notification means for voice-synthesizing and reporting the destination, a reception device for receiving tag information, a data reception device for acquiring external guidance information from an external device, A guide cane for visually handicapped persons, and a tag storing position information arranged at a predetermined position up to the destination, the tag being embedded in a general road and storing position information, Store road information, intersection information, and landmark information in the storage device of the portable terminal device, while obtaining accurate position information by the tag and tag reader, the position It is obtained so as to enjoy the external guidance information from the corresponding external device.

  [2] In the guidance system for visually impaired persons according to [1] above, the external device is provided in a traffic light installed on a pedestrian crossing, a control device, and a signal display device controlled by the control device, And a transmission device for transmitting information on the signal display device.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

  (A) By receiving external guidance information from an external device corresponding to the position while obtaining accurate position information by a tag reader attached to the tag and the guide cane, a visually impaired person can accurately guide guidance. Can be enjoyed.

  (B) Along with the acquisition of tag position information, it is possible to acquire information related to crossing a pedestrian crossing from a traffic signal as an external device, and to safely and reliably support the crossing of a visually impaired person it can.

  In a guidance system for visually impaired persons, a speech recognition means for recognizing speech, a processing device having a navigation function for searching for a destination based on information from the speech recognition means, and a destination searched from the processing device A visual terminal having a notification device for voice-synthesizing, a receiving device for receiving tag information, a mobile terminal device having a data receiving device for acquiring external guidance information from an external device, and a tag reader and a transmitting device A handicap for a handicapped person, and a tag storing position information arranged at a predetermined position up to the destination. The tag is embedded in a general road and stores position information. Stores road information, intersection information, and landmark information in the storage device of the device, and responds to the position while obtaining accurate position information by the tag and tag reader. Enjoy the external guide information from the external apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of a guidance system for visually impaired persons showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in this figure, a visually handicapped person wears a portable terminal device 1 in a pocket or the like and carries a guide cane 10 in his hand.

  The mobile terminal device 1 has a speech recognition / speech synthesizer 2 as an input / output device. The speech recognition / speech synthesizer 2 is connected to a processing device 4. Further, the storage device 3 is connected to the processing device 4, and information necessary for guidance to the destination is stored in the storage device 3. Therefore, the processing device 4 has a navigation function based on tag position information described later and information from the storage device 3.

  Furthermore, the receiving device (receiver) 5 that receives the position information from the tag, the data receiving device 6 that receives the external guidance information (data) from the external device 16, and the GPS information that is used complementarily can be received. A GPS (satellite navigation system) information receiving device 7 is provided. When it is desired to acquire GPS information, the GPS information receiving device 7 can also acquire GPS information. This is advantageous for movement in a place where there is no braille block or use in a place where no tag is embedded. Further, a battery 8 for supplying power to each part is mounted.

  Further, the guide cane 10 is equipped with a tag reader 11 at its tip, and the tag reader 11 is connected to a transmitting device (transmitter) 12 inside the cane.

  On the other hand, in order to guide visually impaired persons, tags (members on which IC chips storing position information are mounted) 20, 30, 40 are buried and arranged in the ground or similar facilities. Tags 20, 30, and 40 are embedded in general roads and have position information. When the position information of the tags 20, 30, and 40 is read by the tag reader 11 of the guiding cane 10 and transmitted from the transmitting device 12 inside the cane to the mobile terminal device 1, the information is stored in the storage device 3 of the mobile terminal device 1. The stored information is notified by voice, and the visually impaired can be guided and guided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable terminal device of the guidance guide system for the visually impaired, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this figure, a speech recognition / speech synthesis device 2 as an input / output device includes a microphone 2A, a first amplification circuit 2B, a speech recognition circuit 2C, a speech synthesis circuit 2D, a second amplification circuit 2E, and a speaker ( Notification device) 2F.

  The storage device 3 stores in advance road information of general roads, intersection information, landmark information, and the like.

  Further, as the external guidance information, information from a traffic light at a pedestrian crossing can be received by the data receiving device 6 wirelessly.

  Furthermore, GPS information can be complementarily received by the GPS information receiving device 7.

  Next, the operation of the guidance system for visually impaired persons showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when a visually handicapped person reaches the front of the pedestrian crossing, the tag reader 11 of the guide cane 10 reads the position information of the tag 51 embedded therein. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation state of the signal display device 63 of the traffic light 60 as the external device corresponding to this position information is transmitted by the external device included in the traffic light 60 under the control of the control device 62 included in the traffic light 60. The data is transmitted from the device 64 to the mobile terminal device 1. For example, when the traffic light 60 is blue, data indicating that the traffic light is blue is received by the data receiving device 6 of the mobile terminal device 1, and the data is voiced as external guidance information, so that the mobile terminal device 1 From the speaker 2F of the input / output device 2, “Now, the traffic light is blue. Is informed. Thereby, a visually handicapped person can cross a pedestrian crossing safely.

  Here, only the position information is stored in the tag 51, but other information can also be stored to provide detailed external guidance information in cooperation with the traffic light 60. Needless to say, you can.

  Hereinafter, this operation flow will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the guidance system for visually impaired persons showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  (1) First, tag position information is acquired (step S1).

  (2) It is checked from the tag position information whether the position is in front of the pedestrian crossing (step S2).

  (3) Next, when the position is in front of the pedestrian crossing, the state information of the signal display device 63 is received by the data reception device 6 of the portable terminal device 1 by radio waves from the traffic light 60, and voiced. Then, notification is given by voice from the speaker 2F of the input / output device 2 of the mobile terminal device 1 (step S3).

  (4) Then, the visually handicapped person confirms the state of the traffic light 60 by the voice notification and crosses the pedestrian crossing (step S4).

  With this configuration, it is possible to support the crossing of visually impaired persons safely and reliably by voice guidance even when a pedestrian crossing is passing.

  In addition, the mobile terminal device 1 wirelessly receives tag position information from a transmitting device (transmitter) 12 inside the walking stick installed on the guiding stick 10 by the receiving device (receiver) 5. Information can also be acquired via the GPS information receiver 7.

  With this configuration, it is possible to safely and reliably guide visually handicapped persons along with the acquisition of tag position information.

  In addition, use location information and status information of external devices and equipment at the location to provide guidance on where the location is and whether the device and equipment at the location can be used. You can also.

  For example, by providing a device for storing personal information, it is possible to provide guidance according to the destination or the visually impaired person's disability.

  In addition, since the input / output device has a microphone and a voice recognition circuit, even visually impaired people can easily input by voice, and by inputting the place where they want to go, the route to the destination is obtained and based on this It is possible to give comprehensive guidance such as where to go, whether the pedestrian crossing you are going to cross is correct, or whether you can cross the pedestrian crossing in front of you.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible based on the meaning of this invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

  The guidance guidance system for visually handicapped persons according to the present invention provides sufficient information, can guide and guide visually handicapped persons safely and accurately, and can be used as a powerful tool for visually handicapped persons.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a guidance guide system for a visually handicapped person showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal device of the guidance guidance system for visually handicapped persons which shows the Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the use condition of the guidance system for visually impaired persons which shows the Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the traffic signal which transmits the external guidance information which shows the Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the guidance guidance system for visually impaired persons which shows the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile terminal device 2 Input / output device (speech recognition / synthesizer)
2A Microphone 2B First amplification circuit 2C Speech recognition circuit 2D Speech synthesis circuit 2E Second amplification circuit 2F Speaker 3 Storage device 4 Processing device 5 Receiver (receiver)
6 Data Receiving Device 7 GPS Information Receiving Device 8 Battery 10 Guiding Cane 11 Tag Reader 12 Transmitting Device (Transmitter) Inside the Cane
16 External device 20, 30, 40, 51 Tag 60 Signal device 62 Control device 63 Signal display device 64 External device transmitter (transmitter)

Claims (2)

In the guidance system for the visually impaired,
Speech recognition means for recognizing speech, a processing device having a navigation function for searching for a destination based on information from the speech recognition means, and notification means for speech synthesis and notification of the destination searched for from the processing device A portable terminal device having a receiving device for receiving tag information, a data receiving device for acquiring external guidance information from an external device, a guide stick for a visually impaired person having a tag reader and a transmitting device, and the object A tag that stores position information arranged at a predetermined position leading to the ground, the tag is embedded in a general road and stores position information, and road information is stored in the storage device of the mobile terminal device, Intersection information and landmark information are stored, and the tag and tag reader can obtain accurate position information and receive external guidance information from an external device corresponding to the position. Guidance system for the visually impaired to be characterized.   2. The guidance and guidance system for a visually impaired person according to claim 1, wherein the external device is provided in a traffic light installed on a pedestrian crossing, and includes a control device, a signal display device controlled by the control device, and the signal display device. A guidance device for a visually handicapped person, characterized by comprising:

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