JP2011234975A - Foldable stick for visually handicapped person - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable stick for a visually handicapped person constituted so as to detect the data discriminated by the color of the line drawn on a walking road or the like to ensure the safe walking of the visually handicapped person or the like, suitable to carry and excellent in operability.SOLUTION: The foldable stick for the visually handicapped person includes a stick leading end part 10 having a color discrimination sensor part 12 for discriminating the color of the line drawn on the walking road built therein, the first stick intermediate part 20 connected to the stick leading end part 10, the second stick intermediate part 30 connected to the first stick intermediate part 20 and the stick grip part 40 connected to the second stick intermediate part 30 and having a power supply information part 42, which includes an information part for performing information in a different mode corresponding to the color of the line drawn on the walking road discriminated by the color discrimination sensor part 12 of the stick leading end part 10 and a power supply part, built therein. The color discrimination sensor part 12 of the stick leading end part 10 and the power supply information part 42 of the stick grip part 40 are connected by an elastic cable 50 having a signal line and a power supply line arranged thereto.

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding cane for a visually handicapped person that is suitable for carrying and excellent in operability, and particularly guides a user by identifying the color of a line drawn on a walking path or the like with a color identification sensor built in the tip. The present invention relates to a folding cane for the visually impaired.

  In general, a cane such as a white cane is an indispensable instrument for a visually handicapped person or the like to obtain various kinds of information during walking.

  For example, when a visually handicapped person walks on a walking path, various information such as obstacles on the walking path is detected by the user's touch by touching the walking path with a cane held by the visually handicapped person. This ensures safe walking while avoiding obstacles.

  However, since detection by the user's touch is limited, in order to detect information on a walking path more accurately, conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, an ultrasonic sensor is used on a cane held by the user. Incorporating a magnetic sensor in a device that detects and detects an obstacle with this ultrasonic sensor and notifies the user of this, or a cane held by the user, as shown in Patent Document 3, An apparatus for guiding a user by detecting a magnetic band installed on a walking path has been proposed.

  However, the conventional apparatus cannot detect information identified by the color of a line drawn on the walking path.

  In other words, there are various types of information identified by the color of the line on the walking path. However, some of the conventional devices cannot obtain any information identified by the color of the line. There was a possibility of being connected to.

  Therefore, as shown in Patent Documents 4 and 5, the applicant has proposed an apparatus for guiding a visually handicapped person by identifying the color of a line drawn on a walking path.

JP 2002-330807 A JP 2002-296024 A JP 2003-131556 A Japanese Patent No. 4241232 Japanese Patent No. 4194975

  This invention makes it possible to detect information identified by the color of a line drawn on a walking path, etc., thereby ensuring safe walking for visually handicapped persons, etc. An object is to provide a folding cane.

  In order to achieve the above object, a folding cane for a visually handicapped person according to a first aspect of the present invention receives light from a walking path and has a color identification means for identifying the color of a line drawn on the walking path at the tip. A built-in cane tip, a hollow multi-stage cane intermediate portion that is sequentially connected to the cane tip, a notification unit that performs notification in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line identified by the color identification unit, and Built-in power supply means, a cane gripping part connected to the last stage of the cane intermediate part, passing through the hollow part of the plurality of cane intermediate parts, the color identification means of the tip of the cane and the cane gripping part An elastic cable having at least one portion connecting the notifying means and the power supply means, and the cane tip portion, the multi-stage cane intermediate portion, and the cane by the elastic force of the elastic cable. Connect the gripping part to form one wand, The cane tip, the multi-stage cane intermediate part, the cane gripping part is foldable, and a signal line and a power line are arranged on the elastic cable, the cane tip part, the multi-stage cane intermediate part, Power is supplied from the power supply means to the power supply line when all the cane gripping portions are connected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the color identification unit includes a light irradiation unit that irradiates a walking path, a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the walking path, and the light receiving unit. A color identification unit that identifies a color of a line drawn on the walking path based on received light, and the notification unit includes a vibration generation unit that generates vibration in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the elastic cable includes a plurality of core members made of an elastic body, a mesh-like signal and power line arranged on the outer periphery of the plurality of core members, And a stretchable covering material that covers a plurality of cores on which signals and power lines are arranged.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the elastic cable is connected to the color identifying means at the tip of the wand and is built in the tip of the wand, and a signal line and a power line are arranged. The curled first curled cable having the elastic force, and the elasticity that is connected to the notifying means and the power supply means of the cane gripping part and is built in the cane gripping part and is provided with the signal line and the power supply line A curled second curl cable having power, and a signal power cable in which a signal line and a power line for connecting the first curl cable and the second curl cable are arranged. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a folding cane for a visually handicapped person that can detect information identified by the color of a line drawn on a walking path or the like and is suitable for carrying and excellent in operability.

It is a figure which shows the folding stick for visually impaired persons concerning Example 1 concerning this invention. It is the figure which made the folding cane for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. 1 into the folding state. It is a figure which shows an example of the detail of the wand tip part of the folding wand for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the detail of the cane holding part of the folding cane for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the elastic cable of the folding cane for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the electric circuit diagram of the folding stick for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the cane tip part of the folding cane for visually impaired persons concerning Example 2 concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the cane holding part of the folding cane for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. It is the figure which made the folding cane for visually impaired persons shown in FIG. 7 into the folding state.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a folding cane for a visually handicapped person according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing Example 1 of a folding stick for a visually handicapped person according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a folding cane 100 for a visually impaired person according to the first embodiment includes a color identification sensor unit 12 that receives light from a walking path (not shown) at the tip and identifies the color of a line drawn on the walking path. The first cane intermediate portion 20 connected to the cane distal end portion 10 via the joint 11 formed at the other end of the cane distal end portion 10, and the first cane intermediate portion 20. A second cane intermediate part 30 connected via a joint 21 formed at one end of the first cane intermediate part 20 and one end of the second cane intermediate part 30 connected to the second cane intermediate part 30 An informing unit and a power source that are connected via a joint 31 formed on the front and that perform notification in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line drawn on the walking path identified by the color identification sensor unit 12 of the cane tip 10 A wand gripper 40 having a built-in power supply notification unit 42 and a color identification sensor of the wand tip 10. Between the power notification portion 42 of the parts 12 and wand grip portion 40, the signal lines and the power lines are connected by the elastic cable 50 arranged.

  At the time of using the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired, as shown in FIG. 1, the cane tip portion 10, the first cane intermediate portion 20, the second cane intermediate portion 30, the cane by the elastic force of the elastic cable 50. The grip part 40 is connected through the joint parts 11, 21, and 31 to form one cane.

  When carrying the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired, as shown in FIG. 2, the elasticity of the elastic cable 50 is used to make the cane tip 10, the first cane intermediate part 20, and the second cane intermediate part. The part 30 and the cane gripping part 40 are detached at the joint parts 11, 21, and 31, respectively, and are folded.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the color identification sensor unit 12 built in the cane tip 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the color identification sensor unit 12 built in the tip of the cane tip 10 is a sensor unit 123 to which a light emitting element 121 made of a white light emitting diode and a light receiving element 122 made of a photodiode are connected. And a color identification processing unit 124 that controls the sensor unit 123 and performs a process of identifying the color of the line drawn on the walking path based on the light reception signal of the light receiving element 122.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the irradiation element 121 connected to the sensor unit 123 includes four light emitting elements 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d arranged along the periphery of the tip of the cane tip 10. A light receiving element 122 is arranged at the center of the four light emitting elements 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d.

  The color identification processing unit 124 is supplied with power to the color identification processing unit 124 and the sensor unit 123, and has color information indicating the color of the line drawn on the walking path identified by the color identification processing unit 124. One end of the elastic cable 50 that is transmitted to the power notification part 42 of the cane gripping part 40 is connected.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the power notification unit 42 built in the cane gripping unit 40 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the power notification unit 42 built in the cane gripping unit 40 is a line drawn on the walking path identified by the battery 421 constituting the power supply unit and the color identification processing unit 124 of the cane tip 10. And a vibration generating unit 422 that constitutes a notification unit that performs notification in a different manner corresponding to the color of the color. The vibration generating unit 422 is connected to the other end of the elastic cable 50.

  The battery 241 supplies power for driving the vibration generating unit 422, and also supplies power to the color identification processing unit 124 and the sensor unit 123 of the cane tip 10 via a power line arranged on the elastic cable 50. To do.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of details of the elastic cable 50 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), the elastic cable 50 shown in FIG. 1 has a mesh-like power supply line 52a on the outer periphery of core materials 51a and 51b made of an elastic body such as two rubbers. 52b and a core material 51a in which mesh-like signal lines 52c and 52d are arranged on the outer periphery of the core materials 51c and 51d made of an elastic body such as two rubbers, and the power supply lines 52a and 52b are arranged. , 51b and signal lines 52c and 52d are covered with a stretchable covering material 53 made of a knitted material.

  The elastic cable 50 has sufficient elastic force to connect the cane tip 10, the first cane intermediate part 20, the second cane intermediate part 30, and the cane grip part 40 when the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired is used. And has sufficient elasticity to enable folding of the cane tip 10, the first cane intermediate part 20, the second cane intermediate part 30, and the cane grip part 40 when the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired is carried. is doing.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electric circuit diagram employed in the folding stick 100 for the visually impaired according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

  In FIG. 6, the color identification processing unit 124 built in the wand tip 10 and the vibration generating unit 422 built in the wand gripping unit 40 are connected by signal lines 52 c and 52 d arranged on the elastic cable 50. The

  The positive power supply line of the battery 421 built in the cane gripping part 40 is connected to the vibration generating part 422 built in the cane gripping part 40 and passes through the power supply line 52a arranged on the elastic cable 50 to the tip of the cane. 10 is connected to a color identification processing unit 124 and a sensor unit 124 incorporated in the system 10.

  The negative power supply line of the battery 421 built in the cane gripping part 40 includes an outer peripheral part 40a of the cane gripping part 40, an outer peripheral part 30a of the second cane intermediate part 30, an outer peripheral part 20a of the first cane intermediate part 20, and a cane The cane gripping part 40 is connected to the color identification processing part 124 and the sensor part 124 built in the cane tip part 10 through the outer peripheral part 10 a of the tip part 10 and through the power supply line 52 b arranged in the elastic cable 50. Is connected to a vibration generating unit 422 built in.

  Now, when the folding cane 100 for visually impaired persons of Example 1 is folded as shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral part 40a of the cane holding part 40 and the outer peripheral part 30a of the second cane intermediate part 30 are folded. Between the outer peripheral portion 30a of the second cane intermediate portion 30 and the outer peripheral portion 20a of the first cane intermediate portion 20, and the outer peripheral portion 20a of the first cane intermediate portion 20 and the outer peripheral portion of the cane tip portion 10. 10a, the virtual switch SW1 between the outer peripheral part 40a of the cane gripping part 40 and the outer peripheral part 30a of the second cane intermediate part 30 in this state, the second cane intermediate part 30 Virtual switch SW2 between the outer peripheral portion 30a of the first wand intermediate portion 20 and the outer peripheral portion 20a of the first wand intermediate portion 20, and between the outer peripheral portion 20a of the first wand intermediate portion 20 and the outer peripheral portion 10a of the wand tip portion 10. The virtual switches SW3 between the two are in the off state, and the vibration generated in the cane grip 40 is generated. 422, the color identification unit 124 and the sensor unit 124 is built in the wand tip 10, power from the battery 421 built in the wand grip portion 40 is not supplied.

  Therefore, the vibration generating unit 422 built in the cane gripping unit 40, the color identification processing unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 and the sensor unit 124 are in a non-driven state.

  However, due to the elastic force of the elastic cable 50, as shown in FIG. 1, the cane tip 10, the first cane intermediate part 20, the second cane intermediate part 30, and the cane gripping part 40 connect the joint parts 11, 21, and 31. When connected to each other, a virtual switch SW1 between the outer peripheral portion 40a of the cane gripping portion 40 and the outer peripheral portion 30a of the second cane intermediate portion 30, and the outer peripheral portion 30a of the second cane intermediate portion 30 and the first Virtual switch SW2 between the outer peripheral portion 20a of the wand intermediate portion 20 and virtual switch SW3 between the outer peripheral portion 20a of the first wand intermediate portion 20 and the outer peripheral portion 10a of the wand tip portion 10. Are turned on, and the vibration generating unit 422 built in the cane gripping unit 40, the color identification processing unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 and the sensor unit 124 are built in the cane gripping unit 40. Power is supplied from the battery 421 and the cane gripping part 40 is Vibration generating portion 422 to be built, the color identification processor 124 and the sensor unit 124 is built in the wand tip 10 will drive state.

  That is, in the folding cane 100 for the visually handicapped person according to the first embodiment, the virtual switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are all turned off and built in the cane gripping unit 40 when the folded hand shown in FIG. The vibration generating unit 422, the color identification processing unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 and the sensor unit 124 are all in the non-driven state, but the cane tip 10 shown in FIG. When the unit 20, the second cane intermediate part 30, and the cane gripping part 40 are connected, the virtual switches SW1, SW2, SW3 are all turned on, and the vibration generating part 422 incorporated in the cane gripping part 40, Power is automatically supplied from the battery 421 to the color identification processing unit 124 and the sensor unit 124 built in the wand tip 10 to enter a driving state. Therefore, in the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired of the first embodiment, the vibration generating unit 422 built in the cane gripping unit 40, the color identification processing unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 and the sensor unit 124 are supplied. There is no need for a special power switch for turning the power on or off.

  Next, an example of the operation of the color identification processing unit 124 and the sensor unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

  The sensor unit 124 built in the cane tip 10 includes four light emitting elements 121a, 121b, and 121c arranged along the periphery of the tip of the cane tip 10 when the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired is used. , 121d is turned on to irradiate on the walking road. Thereby, the reflected light from the line drawn on the walking path is received by the light receiving element 123.

  The sensor unit 124 sends the output of the light receiving element 123 to the color identification processing unit 125, and the color identification processing unit 125 color-separates the light reception output of the light receiving element 123 to identify the color of the line drawn on the walking path. .

  The color identification processing unit 125 is configured by an MPU (microprocessor unit) or the like, and color identification is performed based on the respective level ratios of the red signal, the green signal, and the blue signal obtained by color-separating the light reception output of the light receiving element 123.

  For example, if the red signal is above the specified value and the other green and blue signals are both below the specified value, the color of the line drawn on the walking path is identified as red, and both the red signal and the green signal are If the blue signal is below the specified value above the specified value, the color of the line drawn on the walking path will be identified as yellow, and if the red, green and blue signals are all above the specified value, walking will occur. The color of the line drawn on the road is identified as white.

  Further, the level ratio of each of the red signal, the green signal, and the blue signal may be calculated, and the color of the line drawn on the walking path may be identified based on the calculated value.

  The color information indicating the color identified by the color identification processing unit 125 is transmitted to the vibration generating unit 422 built in the cane gripping unit 40 through the signal lines 52c and 52d arranged in the elastic cable 50, and the vibration is generated. The unit 422 generates vibration in a manner corresponding to the color identified by the color identification processing unit 125.

  In addition, the identification color to be identified is set in advance in the color identification processing unit 125, and the color of the line drawn on the walking path identified based on the red signal, the green signal, and the blue signal as described above is set in advance. If it is included in the color, the identification color information may be transmitted to the vibration generating unit 422 built in the cane gripping unit 40.

  For example, when the identification colors are white and yellow, the identification color information is not transmitted to the vibration generation unit 422 if the color identified by the color identification processing unit 125 is a color other than white and yellow. However, if the color identified by the color identification processing unit 125 is white or yellow, the identification color information is transmitted to the vibration generation unit 422, and the vibration generation unit 422 determines that the color identified by the vibration generation unit 422 is white. The vibration is generated in a different manner depending on whether it is yellow or yellow.

  Note that the mode of vibration generated from the vibration generation unit 422 may be configured to be generated by any one of a frequency, a waveform, a vibration interval, or a combination thereof.

  In addition, color identification in the color identification processing unit 125 is performed at regular intervals, and the mode of vibration generated from the vibration generation unit 422 differs depending on whether the color changes frequently or the same color continues for a long time. You may comprise as follows.

  If the same state continues for a long time, it may be determined that walking is stopped, and the power supply from the battery 421 is stopped or intermittently performed to shift to the power saving mode.

  7 to 9 are views showing a second embodiment of the folding cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

  The folding cane for the visually handicapped person of this Example 2 differs in the structure of the elastic cable 50 compared with the folding cane 100 for the visually handicapped person of Example 1 shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, a curled first curled cable 54 having an elastic force in which a signal line and a power supply line are arranged is built in the cane tip portion 10 in which the color identification sensor unit 12 of the first embodiment is built. The curl-shaped second curl cable 56 having the elastic force in which the signal line and the power supply line are arranged is incorporated in the cane gripping part 40 including the power supply notification part 42 including the notification part and the power supply part, and the first The curl cable 54 and the second curl cable 56 are connected by a signal power cable 55 provided with signal lines and power lines.

  According to such a configuration, the expansion / contraction cable described with reference to FIG. 5 may not be used by utilizing the expansion / contraction force of the first curl cable 54 and the second curl cable 56.

  That is, in Example 2, the configuration corresponding to the cane tip 10 of the visually impaired person's folding cane 100 shown in FIG. 1 receives light from the walking path at the tip, as shown in FIG. A color identification sensor unit 12 for identifying the color of the line drawn on the road is built-in, and a curled first curl cable 54 having elastic force in which signal lines and power supply lines are arranged in the color identification sensor unit 12. One end of the first curled cable 54 is connected to the other end of the first curled cable 54, and a non-stretchable signal power cable 55 is connected to the signal line and the power line.

  Further, the configuration corresponding to the cane gripping portion 40 of the visually impaired person's folding cane 100 shown in FIG. 1 is drawn on the walking path identified by the color identification sensor unit 12 of the cane tip 10 as shown in FIG. A power supply notification unit 42 including a notification unit and a power supply unit that perform notifications in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line is incorporated, and the power supply notification unit 42 has an elastic force in which signal lines and power supply lines are arranged. One end of the curled second curl cable 56 is connected, and the other end of the second curl cable 56 is connected to the signal power cable 55 that does not have elasticity and the signal line and the power line described above are arranged. Is done.

  At the time of use of the folding cane for the visually handicapped person of Example 2, the cane tip portion 10 and the first cane intermediate portion are caused by the elastic force of the first curl cable 54 and the second curl cable 56 as in FIG. The part 20, the second cane intermediate part 30, and the cane gripping part 40 are connected via the joint parts 11, 21, and 31 to form one cane.

  Further, when carrying the folding cane 100 for the visually impaired, as shown in FIG. 9, the elasticity of the first curl cable 54 and the second curl cable 56 is used to make the cane tip 10 and the first curl. The cane intermediate portion 20, the second cane intermediate portion 30, and the cane gripping portion 40 are detached from the joint portions 11, 21, and 31, respectively, and are folded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cane tip part 11 Joint part 12 Color identification sensor part 20 1st cane intermediate part 21 Joint part 30 2nd cane intermediate part 31 Joint part 40 Cane grip part 42 Power supply notification part 50 Elastic cable 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d Core material 52a, 51b Power line 51c, 51d Signal line 53 Cover material 54 First curl cable 55 Signal power cable 56 Second curl cable 100 Folding cane 121, 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d for visually handicapped Light receiving element 123 Sensor unit 124 Color identification unit 421 Battery 422 Vibration generation unit

Claims (4)

A cane tip portion that receives light from the walking path and incorporates color identification means at the tip for identifying the color of the line drawn on the walking path;
A hollow multi-stage wand intermediate portion that is sequentially connected to the wand tip,
A cane gripping part that has a built-in notifying means and a power supply means for notifying in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line identified by the color identifying means, and connected to the final stage of the cane intermediate part;
An elastic cable in which at least one portion that passes through the hollow portion of the intermediate stage of the plurality of wands and connects the color identification means at the tip of the wand and the notification means and power supply means of the wand gripping portion is formed of an elastic body. And
The cane tip, the multi-stage cane intermediate part, and the cane gripping part are connected to form a single cane by the elastic force of the elastic cable, and the cane end part and the multi-stage cane intermediate part , The wand gripper can be folded,
In addition, a signal line and a power line are arranged on the elastic cable, and power is supplied from the power source to the power line when the cane tip, the multi-stage cane intermediate part, and the cane gripping part are all connected. A folding stick for the visually impaired. The color identification means includes
A light irradiator for irradiating the walking path;
A light receiving unit for receiving reflected light from the walking path;
A color identification unit for identifying a color of a line drawn on the walking path based on light received by the light receiving unit;
The notification means includes
The folding cane for a visually handicapped person according to claim 1, further comprising: a vibration generating unit that generates vibration in a different manner corresponding to the color of the line. The elastic cable is
A plurality of cores made of elastic bodies;
A mesh-like signal and power line arranged on the outer periphery of the plurality of cores;
A folding cane for a visually handicapped person according to claim 1, further comprising: a stretchable covering material that covers a plurality of cores on which the signal and power lines are arranged. The elastic cable is
A curled first curled cable which is connected to the color identifying means at the tip of the cane and is built in the tip of the cane and having an elastic force provided with a signal line and a power line;
A curled second curl cable which is connected to the notifying means and the power supply means of the cane gripping part and is incorporated in the cane gripping part and has an elastic force in which a signal line and a power supply line are arranged;
The folding cane for a visually impaired person according to claim 1, further comprising: a signal power cable for connecting the first curl cable and the second curl cable and a signal power cable provided with a power line.

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