JP2007143943A - Walking guide device for blind person - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform of the existence of obstructions and of information shown by textured paving blocks. <P>SOLUTION: A walking guide device for blind persons is equipped with a physical wave transmission part 11 for transmitting physical waves to a prescribed direction, a physical wave detecting part 12 for detecting the physical waves which are transmitted from the part 11 and are reflected by an adjacent object and for outputting by amplifying the wave detecting signals in accordance with the detected physical waves, a discrimination and determination part 13 which discriminates and determines whether the object is an obstruction or a textured paving block based on the wave detecting signals from the part 12, calculates a distance to the object, and outputs informing signals corresponding to a discriminated and determined result and the distance based on the discriminated and determined result of the object and the distance, and an informing part 14 for informing a blind person of the kind of the object and the distance by a prescribed informing pattern, either vibrations or sounds or both of them, depending on the informing signals from the part 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a walking guide device for a blind person that guides the walking of a blind person, and more particularly, to a walking guide apparatus for a blind person that can notify the presence of an obstacle and notify information indicated by a braille block.

  When a blind person walks, it is common to use a walking stick for walking. Blind people are walking while searching for Braille blocks installed at stations, pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, etc. with a cane for the blind. Further, as a conventional walking assistance means, a blind guide device and a blind cane that can confirm and notify the presence of an obstacle ahead are disclosed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Registered Utility Model No. 3002667 JP-A-7-227308

  However, when a blind person walks while searching for a braille block with a blind cane, it is difficult to find the position of the braille block. The line block, etc.) is not known, and the cane for the blind may interfere with the walking of the general public. In addition, although the conventional blind guide device and blind cane can confirm and notify the presence of an obstacle, it cannot confirm and notify the information indicated in the braille block that cannot be said to be an obstacle. It was.

  The main subject of this invention is alert | reporting the presence of an obstruction and enabling it to alert | report the information shown by the braille block.

  In a viewpoint of the present invention, a walking guide device for a blind person that guides walking of a blind person, a physical wave transmitting unit that transmits a physical wave in a predetermined direction, and a target that is transmitted from the physical wave transmitting unit and is close to the physical wave transmitting unit Detecting the physical wave reflected from the object, amplifying the detection signal according to the detected physical wave, and outputting the detection signal, and the object based on the detection signal from the physical wave detection unit And identifying whether the object is an obstacle or a braille block, calculating the distance to the object, and outputting a notification signal corresponding to the identification determination result and the distance based on the identification determination result and the distance of the object A determination unit; and a notification unit that notifies a blind person of the type and distance of the object with a predetermined notification pattern based on one or both of vibration and sound according to a notification signal from the identification determination unit. Determination unit may be controlled to periodically transmit a physical wave of a predetermined frequency to the physical wave transmitting unit.

  In the walking guide device for blind persons according to the present invention, when the identification determination unit determines that the object is identified as an obstacle, the notification unit is configured to recognize the notification pattern more than when it is identified and determined as a dot pattern of a braille block. It is characterized in that the notification is performed with a longer pulse generation time.

  In the walking guide device for blind persons according to the present invention, it is preferable that the notification unit intermittently notifies the notification pattern when the identification determination unit identifies the object as a line pattern of a braille block.

  In the walking guide device for a blind person of the present invention, it is preferable that the notification unit notifies the notification pattern having a larger amplitude as the distance to the object increases.

  According to the present invention (Claim 1-4), since the blind person can grasp different notification patterns depending on the type of the object through hearing or touch, it is possible to prompt the stop of walking and change of the walking direction, and the walking direction. Can be predicted. In particular, when the object is a braille block, the location, distance, and direction of travel of the braille block can be grasped, so that a blind person can walk safely. Further, it is not necessary to search for a braille block like a wand, and the type of the braille block can be grasped even if the distance to the braille block is long.

(Embodiment 1)
A walking guide device for a blind person according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a walking guide device for a blind person according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The walking guide device 10 for the blind is a device that guides the walking of the blind, and is built in one portable package (housing) and used by wearing on a human body. The walking guide device 10 for a blind person includes a physical wave transmission unit 11, a physical wave detection unit 12, an identification determination unit 13, and a notification unit 14.

  The physical wave transmitter 11 is a part that transmits a physical wave such as a laser, an ultrasonic wave, and an electromagnetic wave in a predetermined direction. For the physical wave transmitter 11, for example, a laser generator, an ultrasonic vibrator, a piezoelectric vibrator, a magnetostrictive vibrator, or the like can be used. The physical wave transmission unit 11 periodically transmits a physical wave having a predetermined frequency under the control of the identification determination unit 13. The physical wave transmission unit 11 may be configured integrally with the physical wave detection unit 12 because it has a small transmission energy when measuring the object 20 having a relatively short distance.

  The physical wave detection unit 12 detects a physical wave (reflected wave) transmitted from the physical wave transmission unit 11 and reflected from the adjacent object 20. For the physical wave detection unit 12, a sensor corresponding to the type of physical wave is used. For example, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, or the like can be used. The physical wave detector 12 amplifies and outputs the detection signal according to the detected physical wave.

  The identification determination unit 13 is an electronic circuit that constitutes a computer. The identification determination unit 13 controls the physical wave transmission unit 11 to periodically transmit a physical wave having a predetermined frequency. The identification determination unit 13 identifies and determines the object 20 based on the detection signal from the physical wave detection unit 12, and calculates the distance to the object 20. The identification determination unit 13 outputs a notification signal corresponding to the identification determination result and the distance to the notification unit 14 based on the identification determination result and the distance of the object 20. In the identification determination, it is determined whether the object 20 is an obstacle or a Braille block, and if it is a Braille block, the type is identified.

  The notification unit 14 notifies the blind person of the type and distance of the object 20 with a predetermined notification pattern (vibration or sound) according to the notification signal from the identification determination unit 13. For the notification unit 14, for example, a vibrator or a speaker can be used. The notification unit 14 changes the notification pattern depending on the type of the notification signal. The notification pattern of the notification unit 14 will be described later.

  Examples of the object 20 include obstacles such as bicycles, stones, passers-by, and various patterns of braille blocks.

  Next, the operation of the walking guide device for the blind according to the first embodiment will be described.

  The walking guide device 10 for a blind person transmits a physical wave from the physical wave transmission unit 11 in a predetermined direction. When the object 20 exists in the direction in which the physical wave is transmitted, the physical wave reflects the object 20 and is input to the physical wave detection unit 12.

  When the reflected wave is detected by the physical wave detection unit 12, the physical wave detection unit 12 amplifies the detection signal according to the detected reflected wave and outputs the amplified detection signal to the identification determination unit 13. Next, the discrimination determination unit 13 discriminates and determines whether the object 20 is an obstacle or a Braille block based on the detection signal from the physical wave detection unit 12 and calculates the distance to the object 20. Next, the identification determination unit 13 outputs a notification signal corresponding to the identification determination result and the distance to the notification unit 14 based on the identification determination result and the distance of the object 20.

  When a notification signal is input to the notification unit 14, the notification unit 14 notifies the blind person of the proximity of the object 20 by vibration or sound according to the notification signal from the identification determination unit 13. This notification notifies the blind person that the object 20 is present on the passage in front of the current walking direction, and prompts the stop of walking and the change of the walking direction. Further, when the object 20 is a braille block, information (braille pattern) shown in the braille block is notified to prompt the stop of walking and the change of the walking direction.

  Next, a notification pattern of the walking guide device for blind persons according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a notification pattern of the walking guide device for blind persons according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  When the object 20 is an obstacle, the notification is made with a longer pulse generation time (see FIG. 2A). Further, when the distance from the walking guide device 10 for the blind person to the object 20 is short, a notification is made with a pulse having a small amplitude (see FIG. 2 (a-1)). When the distance from the blind guide device 10 for the blind person to the object 20 is long, a notification is made with a pulse having a large amplitude (see FIG. 2 (a-2)). With such a notification pattern, it is possible to notify the blind person of the presence and distance of an obstacle on the front passage in the current walking direction, and to prompt the stop of walking and the change of the walking direction.

  When the target object 20 is a Braille block and is a dot pattern (a point block for suspending / calling attention), the pulse generation time is shortened for notification (see FIG. 2B). In addition, when the distance from the blind guide device 10 for a blind person to the point pattern is short, a notification is made with a pulse having a small amplitude (see FIG. 2B-1). When the distance from the blind guide device 10 for a blind person to the point pattern is long, a notification is made with a pulse having a large amplitude (see FIG. 2B-2). With such a notification pattern, it is possible to notify the blind person of the presence and distance of the dot pattern of the braille block on the passage ahead of the current walking direction, and to prompt the stop of walking and the change of the walking direction.

  When the target object 20 is a Braille block and has a straight line pattern, a short pulse generation time is intermittently notified (see FIG. 2C). In addition, when the distance from the walking guide device 10 for the blind person to the line pattern is short, a notification is made with a pulse having a small amplitude (see FIG. 2 (c-1)). When the distance from the blind guide device 10 for a blind person to the line pattern is long, a notification is made with a pulse having a large amplitude (see FIG. 2 (c-2)). With such a notification pattern, it is possible to predict the walking direction by notifying the blind person of the presence and distance of the line pattern of the braille block on the passage ahead of the current walking direction.

  When the object 20 is a Braille block and is a right turn point, the blind person detects the line pattern of the Braille block by swinging the walking guide device 10 for the blind person from the straight direction to the right direction. Is notified intermittently and gradually so as to increase (see FIG. 2D). Further, when the distance from the blind person walking guidance device 10 to the line pattern in the right direction is short, a notification is made with a pulse having a small amplitude (see FIG. 2 (d-1)). When the distance from the blind guide device 10 for the blind person to the line pattern in the right direction is long, a notification is made with a pulse having a large amplitude (see FIG. 2 (d-2)). In addition, at the left turn point, which is a Braille block, the blind person shakes the walking guide device 10 for the blind person from the straight traveling direction to the left direction, thereby notifying that the pulse generation time is shortened intermittently and gradually increasing. (Not shown). If the blind person swings the walking guide device 10 for the blind person too much from the straight line direction to the right direction or the swing is not sufficient, and a part deviating from the line pattern of the braille block is detected, no notification is made unless an obstacle is detected. (Not shown). With such a blind person's movement and notification pattern, the direction of walking can be predicted by notifying the blind person of the bending direction of the Braille block at the turning point.

  According to the first embodiment, the blind person can grasp different notification patterns depending on the type of the object 20 through hearing or touch, so that the stop of walking and the change of the walking direction can be promoted, and the walking direction can be predicted. it can. In particular, when the object 20 is a Braille block, the location and distance of the Braille block and the traveling direction can be grasped, so that a blind person can walk safely. Further, it is not necessary to search for a braille block like a wand, and the object 20 can be grasped even if the distance to the object 20 is long.

It is the block diagram which showed typically the structure of the walking guide apparatus for blind people concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the alerting | reporting pattern of the walking guide apparatus for blind people concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Walking guide apparatus for blind persons 11 Physical wave transmission part 12 Physical wave detection part 13 Identification determination part 14 Notification part 20 Target object

Claims (4)

A physical wave transmitter for transmitting a physical wave in a predetermined direction;
A physical wave detection unit that detects a physical wave transmitted from the physical wave transmission unit and reflected from an adjacent object, and amplifies and outputs a detection signal according to the detected physical wave;
Based on the detection signal from the physical wave detection unit, the object is identified and determined as an obstacle or a braille block, and the distance to the object is calculated, and the object identification determination result and distance are calculated. Based on the identification determination result and the identification determination unit that outputs a notification signal according to the distance,
An informing unit for informing a blind person of the type and distance of the object in a predetermined informing pattern by vibration or sound according to an informing signal from the identification determining unit;
With
The blind guide device for a blind person, wherein the identification determination unit controls the physical wave transmission unit to periodically transmit a physical wave having a predetermined frequency.   When the identification determination unit determines that the object is identified as an obstacle, the notification unit notifies that the pulse generation time of the notification pattern is longer than when it is determined as a dot pattern of a braille block. The walking guide device for blind persons according to claim 1, characterized in that:   2. The walking guide device for a blind person according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit intermittently notifies the notification pattern when the identification determination unit identifies and determines the object as a line pattern of a Braille block.   The said guidance part alert | reports with the said alerting | reporting pattern with large amplitude as the distance to the said object becomes long, The walking guide apparatus for blind persons of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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