JP2007095447A - Visual information transmitting method and electric equipment using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visual information transmitting method capable of visually transmitting information to a person who is handicapped in color vision as well without largely changing appearance of a pattern for a person who is healthy in color vision. <P>SOLUTION: In this visual information transmitting method, a ring shaped pattern 3 to visually transmit the information of "Caution, Hot" is divided into a plurality of sub-patterns in the peripheral direction, and furthermore the respective sub-patterns are divided into a first and a second regions, and the first and the second regions are colored in red and orange respectively. According to this pattern 3, the information "Caution, Hot" can be transmitted accurately to the person who is healthy in color vision, and "Caution" can be called to the person who is handicapped in the color vision. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a visual information transmission method and an electric apparatus using the same, and more particularly to a visual information transmission method for visually transmitting information using a colored pattern and an electric apparatus using the same.

  Conventionally, an electric device having a high temperature part has been provided with a red pattern for visually transmitting information “high temperature caution” to a user.

  However, for people with color blindness who appear dark in red (the two-color type first color blind person / color weak person and the two color type second color blind person / color weak person are collectively referred to as “color blind person”), “high temperature attention” is indicated. Since it was difficult to see the red pattern, the frequency of people with color blindness touched the high-temperature area and was burned more frequently. Therefore, an attempt was made to display a “high temperature attention” pattern in vermilion (orange) that can be detected even by color blind people.

Further, in traffic signal lights used for road traffic control, a method has been proposed in which an auxiliary indicator light for a color blind person is provided adjacent to or inside a main indicator lamp for a color blind person (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .
JP 2002-231003 A

  However, the vermilion pattern felt like “warm” rather than “high temperature attention” for the normal color blind person, and could not correctly convey the information “high temperature attention” to the normal color blind person.

  In addition, in an electric device, it is not possible to employ both a main display lamp for a color blind person and an auxiliary display lamp for a color blind person, such as a traffic light, in terms of cost, power consumption, design, and the like.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a visual information transmission method capable of visually transmitting information to a color blind person without significantly changing the appearance of a pattern for a normal color blind person, and to use the same. To provide electrical equipment.

  The visual information transmission method according to the present invention is a visual information transmission method in which information is visually transmitted using a colored pattern. The pattern is divided into a plurality of sub-patterns, and each sub-pattern is given to a healthy person with color vision. A first region of a first color that conveys information and a second region of a second color that can be sensed by a color blind person, wherein the first and second colors are similar colors In addition, the first and second regions have such a size that each of the first and second colors can be independently identified. Accordingly, since each of the first and second colors can be independently identified, the first and second colors are not mixed to become an intermediate color. In addition, since the pattern is divided into a plurality of sub-patterns, each sub-pattern is divided into two regions, and the two regions are painted with similar colors, the appearance of the pattern does not change significantly for a color blind person. Also, information can be visually transmitted to the color blind person by the color of the second region of each sub-pattern.

  Preferably, the sub-pattern is displayed using an LED having a light emitting surface divided into first and second regions, the LED emits light of the second color, and the light of the second color is emitted to the first color. A wavelength conversion film that converts the light into the first region is provided in the first region.

  Preferably, the LED selectively emits light of any one of a plurality of colors as light of the second color.

  Another visual information transmission method according to the present invention is a visual information transmission method for visually transmitting information using a colored pattern, wherein the pattern is a first color for transmitting predetermined information to a normal color blind person. And a second period that becomes a second color that can be sensed by a color blind person, wherein the first and second colors are similar colors, The period of 2 is characterized in that the first and second colors are alternately switched at a period such that each of the first and second colors can be independently identified. Therefore, since the first and second colors are switched with a period that allows each of the first and second colors to be independently identified, the first and second colors are not mixed. In addition, since the color of the pattern is alternately switched between the first and second colors which are similar colors, the appearance of the pattern does not change significantly for a normal color vision person. Moreover, information can be visually transmitted to a color blind person by the second color. Note that it is preferable that the period is set to about 1/30 seconds or more without flickering.

Preferably, the length of the first period is not less than three times the length of the second period.
Preferably, the pattern is displayed using first and second LEDs that respectively emit light of the first and second colors and are alternately lit at a predetermined period.

  Preferably, the pattern is displayed using LEDs that alternately emit light of the first and second colors at a predetermined period.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a visual information transmission method in which information is visually transmitted using a colored pattern. The spectral energy band of the pattern color is a predetermined information for a color blind person. And a second color wavelength that can be sensed by a color blind person, wherein the first and second colors are similar colors, and the color of the first color The integrated value of the intensity is larger than the integrated value of the color intensity of the second color. Therefore, since the color of the pattern appears to be close to the first color for the normal color blind person, the appearance of the pattern does not change significantly. In addition, since the second color pattern can be seen by the color blind person, information can also be visually transmitted to the color blind person.

  Preferably, the pattern is displayed using first and second LEDs that emit light of the first and second colors, respectively.

  Preferably, a pattern is displayed using an LED, the LED emits light of a second color, and a wavelength conversion film for converting the light of the second color into light of the first color is emitted on the light emitting surface of the LED. Provided. Or the pattern is displayed using LED, and the 1st and 2nd wavelength conversion film which converts wavelength of the light emission color of LED into the 1st and 2nd color separately is provided in the light emission surface of LED.

Also preferably, the first color is red and the second color is vermilion or orange.
Also preferably, the first color is green and the second color is blue-green.

  In addition, the electrical device according to the present invention is characterized in that the pattern is provided.

  As described above, in the visual information transmission method and the electrical apparatus according to the present invention, information can be visually transmitted even to a color blind person without greatly changing the way the pattern appears to the normal color blind person.

[Embodiment 1]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a visual information transmission method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and are diagrams showing how a pattern looks for a normal color blind person and a color blind person, respectively. It is. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, two ring-shaped patterns are provided adjacent to each other at a portion of the IH cooking heater that generates a high temperature.

  In Conventional Example 1, the entire pattern 1 was red. This pattern 1 appears red to the color-blind healthy person and visually transmits the information “high temperature caution” to the user of the IH cooking heater who is the color-blunted healthy person. However, since this pattern 1 is difficult to see for a color blind person whose red color appears dark, the frequency of the color blind person touching the high temperature part is high.

  In Conventional Example 2, the entire pattern 2 was colored vermilion. Since this pattern 2 looks yellow for a color blind person, it can call attention to a color blind person. However, the vermilion pattern 2 seems to be “warm” rather than “high temperature attention” for the normal color blind person, so the information “high temperature attention” cannot be correctly transmitted to the normal color blind person.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the ring-shaped pattern 3 is divided into a plurality (eight in the figure) of sub-patterns in the circumferential direction, and each sub-pattern is further divided into first and second regions. The regions were colored red and vermilion, respectively. Red includes light having a wavelength of 625 to 830 nm. Vermilion includes light from 595 to 625 nm. The pattern 3 may be painted with a paint, printed with ink, or displayed with a light source such as an LED. Note that the first and second regions have a size larger than a predetermined range in order to prevent color mixing. Specifically, the viewing angle of each region should be 0.3 degrees or more (the length of each region is 5.23 mm or more if the region is linear and viewed from a position 1 m away). preferable. This point is the same in other embodiments.

  Since the pattern 3 is alternately given red and vermilion, the pattern 3 can remind the normal color blind person of “fire” and correctly transmit the information “attention to high temperature”. Further, since this pattern 3 appears to a color blind person as a ring drawn with a thick yellow dotted line, it is possible to call “attention” to the color blind person. Therefore, according to this pattern 3, it is possible to visually transmit information to a visually impaired person without greatly changing the appearance of the pattern 3 for a normal color blind person.

  In the first embodiment, the ring-shaped pattern 3 is provided. However, the shape of the pattern may be a thick dotted line, a ring with overlapping concentric circles, or a polka dot pattern.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the pattern 3 is provided in the high temperature portion of the IH cooking heater has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the pattern 3 is provided in any other electric device or apparatus having the high temperature portion. Needless to say. For example, pattern 3 can be used for kitchen appliances such as jar rice cookers, oven toasters, and halogen cookers, and living and household appliances that generate high temperatures such as drying washing machines, humidifiers, electric heaters, and oil heaters, and digital It may be provided in a document device having a high temperature part in a main body door such as a multifunction peripheral or a copying machine, or an audio visual device having a part that generates a high temperature such as a projector or an audio amplifier.

  The pattern 3 is composed of red and vermilion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The color of the pattern 3 is a color other than red that visually conveys predetermined information to a normal color blind person, and a color blindness similar to that color. It may be configured with colors that can be sensed by a person. For example, pattern 3 is composed of yellow-green that visually conveys information such as “clean”, “green forest”, “environment”, or “cold temperature” to healthy color blind people, and blue-green of the same color as yellow-green. However, it is possible to visually transmit information to a color blind person without significantly changing the appearance of the pattern 3 for the normal color blind person.

[Embodiment 2]
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the visual information transmission method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and are diagrams showing how the pattern looks for a normal color blind person and a color blind person, respectively. It is. 2A and 2B, the audio device is provided with a light emission indicator for displaying the sound level.

  A conventional light-emitting indicator 11 is formed by arranging a plurality of red surface-emitting LEDs 12 in a line in the vertical direction. Each surface emitting LED 12 has a rectangular light emitting surface. As the sound level increases, the surface emitting LEDs 12 are lit in order from the lower side. 2A and 2B show an example in which the lower four surface-emitting LEDs 12 are lit. The illuminated surface emitting LED 12 appears red to the color blind person, and the length of the red bar displayed by the illuminated surface emitting LED 12 indicates that the user of the audio device who is the color blind person is “high or low sound level”. Communicate information visually. However, the red surface-emitting LED 12 is difficult to see for a color blind person who looks red, especially when the background is black.

  On the other hand, the light emitting indicator 15 of the present invention has a plurality of vermilion surface emitting LEDs 16 arranged in a line in the vertical direction, and a portion of a predetermined shape (circular in the figure) at the center on the rectangular light emitting surface of each surface emitting LED 16. The wavelength conversion film 17 is formed on the other part. The wavelength conversion film 17 lengthens the wavelength of vermilion light emitted from the surface emitting LED 16 and converts it into red light.

The wavelength conversion film 17 may be printed on the light emitting surface of the surface emitting LED 16. Further, the function of the wavelength conversion film 17 may be given to a phosphor constituting the lens portion of the LED 16 or may be given to a filter disposed on the front surface of the LED 16. As a combination of the phosphor and the LED, a red nitride phosphor (CaAlSiN ₃ : Eu ²⁺ ) that absorbs light in the wavelength region of 230 nm to 600 nm and has a peak at 650 nm and a visible light that has a peak in vermilion The combination with LED which emits the light of the whole area | region is mentioned. By this combination, an LED unit having a large peak in red and a peak in vermilion can be configured.

  The surface emitting LED 12 that has been lit has a central circular portion that looks vermilion and a red color around it, and the length of the red bar that is displayed by the lit surface emitting LED 16 is that of a color vision healthy person. Visually conveys the information “high / low audio level” to the user of the audio device. In addition, since the surface emitting LED 16 that is lit appears yellow to a color blind person, the number of yellow circles indicates that the audio device user who is a color blind person has the information “high or low voice level”. Communicate. Therefore, according to the light-emitting indicator 15, information can be visually transmitted even to a person with color vision impairment without greatly changing the appearance of the person with normal color vision.

In the second embodiment, the light emission indicator 15 is configured in red and vermilion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color other than red that visually transmits the “voice level” to the normal color blind person and the color thereof. It may be configured with colors that are similar to those of the color blind and can be detected by persons with color blindness. For example, a blue-green surface-emitting LED may be used instead of the red surface-emitting LED 16, and the wavelength of the blue-green light may be increased by the wavelength conversion film 17 and converted into yellow-green light. This is good when the cleanliness of the air of the air purifier is represented, or when the monitor of the photovoltaic power generation system represents an increase in forest due to the CO ₂ reduction effect.

  Moreover, although the vermilion surface emitting LED 16 and the wavelength conversion film 17 that converts the vermilion light wavelength into red light by increasing the wavelength, the red surface emitting LED and the red light wavelength are changed. You may use the wavelength conversion film | membrane which shortens and converts into vermilion light. Alternatively, a surface-emitting LED that emits red and red light and a filter film that transmits light of one of red and red and absorbs the other light may be used. Examples of the filter include a wavelength calibration filter.

[Embodiment 3]
FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams for explaining a visual information transmission method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and show how a pattern looks for a normal color blind person and a color blind person, respectively. It is. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the air cleaner is provided with a light emitting indicator for displaying the cleanliness of the room air.

  A conventional light-emitting indicator 21 has a plurality of (seven in the figure) surface-emitting LEDs 22 arranged in a line in the left-right direction. Each surface emitting LED 22 has a square light emitting surface, and selectively emits light of one color of red and green. When the cleanliness of the room air is very high, all the surface emitting LEDs 22 emit green light, and the surface emitting LEDs 22 emit red light sequentially from the left as the cleanness of the indoor air decreases. For a color blind person, the surface emitting LED 22 lit red appears red, the surface emitting LED 22 lit green appears green, and the ratio of the length of the red and green bars displayed by the illuminated surface emitting LED 22 is The information “cleanness level” is visually transmitted to the user of the air purifier who is a normal color blind person. However, for color blind people, both red and green appear brown and it was difficult to distinguish them.

  On the other hand, the light-emitting indicator 25 of the present invention has a plurality of surface-emitting LEDs 26 arranged in a line in the left-right direction, and the square light-emitting surface of each surface-emitting LED 26 has a portion other than a central predetermined shape (circular in the drawing). The wavelength conversion film 27 is formed on the portion. Each surface emitting LED 26 has a rectangular light emitting surface, and selectively emits light of any one of vermilion and blue-green. The wavelength conversion film 27 lengthens the wavelengths of vermilion and blue-green light emitted from the surface emitting LED 16 and converts them into red and green light, respectively.

  For a color blind person, the light emitting surface of the surface emitting LED 26 lit in vermilion has a central circular portion that looks vermilion and its surroundings appear red, and the light emitting surface of the surface light emitting LED 26 lit in blue green has a central circular shape. The ratio of the length of the red and green bars displayed by the light-emitting surface-emitting LED 26 indicates to the user of the air purifier who is a color vision healthy person. Visually conveys the information of "high and low".

  For color blind persons, the light-emitting surface of the surface-emitting LED 26 lit in vermilion appears yellow in the center circular portion and brown in its periphery, and the light-emitting surface of the surface-emitting LED 26 lit in blue-green is in the center. The ratio of the number of yellow and gray ○ displayed by the light-emitting surface-emitting LED 26 is shown to the user of the air purifier who is a color blind person. It conveys the information "high and low" visually. Therefore, according to the light emitting indicator 25, information can be visually transmitted even to a person with color vision impairment without greatly changing the appearance for a person with normal color vision.

  FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams for explaining a modification of the third embodiment, and show how the luminescent indicator 28 looks for a normal color blind person and a color blind person, respectively. is there. The difference between the light emission indicator 28 and the light emission indicator 25 of FIGS. 3A and 3B is the shape of the wavelength conversion film 27. In the light emitting indicator 28, the wavelength conversion film 27 is formed in the lower right half region of the square light emitting surface of each surface emitting LED 26. Even in this modified example, the same effect as in the third embodiment can be obtained.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the IH cooking heater provided with the pattern 1 of the conventional example 1 shown in FIGS. In this IH cooking heater, in this IH cooking heater, two ring-shaped windows 31 are provided adjacent to each other at a predetermined position of a glass plate 30 constituting the casing, and a ring-shaped LED lamp 32 is provided on the back side of each window 31. Is arranged. A light shielding film is formed on the surface of the glass plate 30, and the window 31 is formed by patterning the light shielding film. The LED lamp 32 emits mainly red light as shown in FIG.

  The red pattern 1 appears red for a color blind person as described in the first conventional example in FIGS. 1A and 1B, but is dark and difficult to see for a color blind person. On the other hand, the vermilion pattern 2 looks vermilion for color-blind healthy persons as described in the conventional example 2 of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), and cannot correctly convey the information “high temperature attention”. It appears yellow to people with color blindness and can call attention.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a “red hot LED” pattern is provided by providing red LED lamps 36 inside red LED lamps 32 and alternately lighting them at a predetermined cycle. 35 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8, the emitted light of the LED lamp 36 has a sharp peak at a vermilion red frequency. When the LED lamp 32 and the LED lamp 36 are switched at a frequency of 30 times / second or more, the flickering of light becomes invisible. However, if the lighting periods of the LED lamp 32 and the LED lamp 36 are equal, the LED lamp 32 and the LED lamp 36 The colors are mixed to become an intermediate color, which is the same as changing the pattern from red to vermilion for healthy color blind people. Therefore, it is preferable that the ratio of the lighting periods of the LED lamp 32 and the LED lamp 36 is set to a difference of about 3 to 1 or more so that such color mixture does not occur.

  Also in the fourth embodiment, it is possible to visually transmit information to a color blind person without significantly changing the appearance of the pattern 35 for a normal color blind person.

  In the fourth embodiment, the pattern 35 is displayed by alternately lighting the red and vermilion LED lamps, but the pattern may be displayed by alternately lighting two other similar color LED lamps. . For example, a pattern may be displayed by alternately lighting a green LED lamp and a blue-green LED lamp.

  Further, a surface-emitting LED capable of selectively emitting any one of red and vermilion colors may be used, and red light and vermilion light may be alternately emitted at a predetermined period. .

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of an IH cooking heater according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, and is a view compared with FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, the pattern 41 of this IH cooking heater is different from the pattern 1 of FIG. 5 in that the LED lamp 32 is replaced with the LED lamp 42.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the spectral energy of the light emitted from the LED lamp 42 shown in FIG. 9, and is a diagram contrasted with FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, LED lamp 42 is different from LED lamp 32 in that, in addition to the red wavelength peak, there is a sharp peak in the vermilion wavelength.

  If the integrated value of the color intensity of 595 to 625 nm of the light emitted from the LED lamp 42 is equivalent to the integrated value of the color intensity of 625 to 830 nm, the LED lamp 42 is intermediate between red and vermilion for a color blind person. Therefore, the integrated value of the color intensity of 595 to 625 nm of the light emitted from the LED lamp 42 is set to about ¼ of the integrated value of the color intensity of 625 to 830 nm. The LED lamp 42 is created by forming a wavelength conversion film on the light emitting surface of the LED lamp that emits light of 625 to 830 nm. Therefore, the pattern 41 looks red for a normal color blind person and can convey information of “high temperature attention”, and appears yellow for a color blind person to call attention.

  Even in the fifth embodiment, information can be visually transmitted even to a color blind person without greatly changing the appearance of the pattern 41 for a normal color blind person.

  In the fifth embodiment, one LED lamp 42 is turned on to emit light having two peaks of red and red. As shown in FIG. 7, the red LED lamp 32 and red Both LED lamps 36 may be lit to emit light having two peaks. However, it is necessary to set the light intensity of the LED lamp 32 stronger than the light intensity of the LED lamp 36 so that the color of the pattern does not become a color close to vermilion.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure for demonstrating the visual information transmission method by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the visual information transmission method by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the visual information transmission method by Embodiment 3 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modification example of the third embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the problem of the conventional IH cooking heater. It is a figure which shows the spectral energy of the LED lamp shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the IH cooking heater by Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the spectral energy of the LED lamp shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the IH cooking heater by Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the spectral energy of the LED lamp shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 2, 3, 35, 41 pattern, 11, 15, 21, 25, 28 Luminescent indicator, 12, 16, 22, 26 Surface emitting LED, 17, 27 Wavelength conversion film, 30 Glass plate, 31 Window, 32, 36, 42 LED lamp.

Claims (13)

In a visual information transmission method for visually transmitting information using a colored pattern,
The pattern is divided into a plurality of sub-patterns,
Each sub-pattern has a first region of a first color that transmits predetermined information to a normal color blind person, and a second region of a second color that can be sensed by a color blind person,
The first and second colors are similar colors;
The visual information transmission method, wherein the first and second regions have a size that allows each of the first and second colors to be independently identified. The sub-pattern is displayed using an LED having a light emitting surface divided into the first and second regions,
The LED emits light of the second color;
The visual information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength conversion film for converting the second color light into the first color light is provided in the first region.   The visual information transmission method according to claim 2, wherein the LED selectively emits light of any one of a plurality of colors as the light of the second color. In a visual information transmission method for visually transmitting information using a colored pattern,
The pattern has a first period of becoming a first color that conveys predetermined information to a color blind person and a second period of becoming a second color that can be sensed by a color blind person. ,
The first and second colors are similar colors;
The visual information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second periods are alternately switched at a period such that each of the first and second colors can be independently identified.   5. The visual information transmission method according to claim 4, wherein the length of the first period is three times or more of the length of the second period. 6.   5. The pattern is displayed using first and second LEDs that respectively emit light of the first and second colors and are alternately lit at the predetermined period. The visual information transmission method according to claim 5.   6. The visual information transmission method according to claim 4, wherein the pattern is displayed using LEDs that alternately emit light of the first and second colors at the predetermined period. In a visual information transmission method for visually transmitting information using a colored pattern,
The spectral energy band of the color of the pattern includes a wavelength of a first color that transmits predetermined information to a color blind person and a wavelength of a second color that can be sensed by a color blind person,
The first and second colors are similar colors;
The visual information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the integrated value of the color intensity of the first color is larger than the integrated value of the color intensity of the second color.   9. The visual information transmission method according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is displayed using first and second LEDs that respectively emit light of the first and second colors. Display the pattern using LED,
The LED emits light of the second color;
9. The visual information transmission method according to claim 8, wherein a wavelength conversion film for converting the second color light into the first color light is provided on the light emitting surface of the LED.   11. The visual information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the first color is red and the second color is vermilion or orange.   The visual information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the first color is green and the second color is blue-green.   An electrical apparatus provided with the pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 12.