JP2014000368A - Device for supporting and guiding walking of the visually impaired - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device allowing the visually impaired to safely walk by oneself.SOLUTION: The device for supporting and guiding walking of the visually impaired is provided. An LED attached to a white cane and a device 2 for emitting a signal tone are combined. The LED is attached to the white cane not for illuminating the foot for walking of a self but for notifying a person and a bicycle coming toward the self of the presence of the walking person. Positions where the LED are attached are parts separated 12 cm from a tip in contact with the ground and from an end of a grip held in the hand respectively, and six miniature bulbs are disposed thereon along the length of 10 cm to emit light respectively.

Description

  The present invention is an apparatus for confirming the current location and the destination by using a multi-function mobile phone, a “remote control” and an “instruction board”.

  A white cane that uses LEDs and signal sounds to walk more safely alone.

  Use the voice response of a multi-function mobile phone or mobile navigation device to check the current location and destination, and to get more detailed information on the latest geographical and temporal information from the guidance device at the required location using the “remote control”. Get instructions to respond.

  Nowadays, it is very common to find a target position on a multi-function mobile phone. Moreover, the position shown there is quite accurate. Some models can also respond by voice. If you ask a question by voice, the answer will also come back, so it will come in handy while driving. But there are people who will benefit more from this system. If people who need it are available, they will be saved.

  If you use the “mobile navigation” that many people have today, you can instantly know where you are with the GPS function, and you can almost certainly go to your destination. That said, there is unfortunately no more detailed information, such as whether to take a step or whether there is a step ahead, and there is no guidance. A person who looks around and can understand in an instant is good, but it is anxious and dissatisfied for those who do not.

  In the guidance "about here", I don't know what to be careful about. There is no way to deal with it without the help of those around you. This will not leave you alone.

  A voice guidance device will be installed in a location that is very close to the geographical location, and that will require detailed information such as today and tomorrow. When the person who seeks the information presses the “remote control” switch, sound is heard from the apparatus accordingly. Apart from that, it is necessary to scrape rough information so that it can be read in braille as well. Of course, the information is updated daily. In addition, when notifying the direction and location, for example, not only an accurate instruction such as “10 meters southwest from the current location” but also an easy-to-understand supplement such as “about 20 steps to the left from here”. In the same way, be sure to include specific indicators for steps.

  Place a direction sign on a nearby road with voice guidance. Since the device is switched on by "remote control" operation, the applicant operates the device on the spot. A multi-function mobile phone is used to confirm the approximate position of the voice guidance device. Then, find the direction indicator on the road and press the “remote control” switch in the direction indicated.

  An instruction board indicating the direction of the device is embedded on the road so that radio waves can be emitted in the direction of the device. This is because the radio waves are weak and directional, and with current technology, radio waves can be transmitted and received only within a certain range of angles. If you don't know which direction the device is at 360 degrees, the direction in which the radio waves are emitted is not determined, and even if the radio waves are emitted unintentionally, it can be literally off.

  This indicator plate is made of tile or hard plastic. The base is only a figure with a circle in a square. The plate that is overlaid on top of it is a disc that fits exactly in the base circle, with the arrow pointing from the center of the circle to an arbitrary point on the circumference just like the long hand of a watch. Thus, by rotating the disk itself, it can be directed to any position of 360 degrees, so it can cope with selecting an installation location.

  By making the outer frame a square and the inner circle, you can turn the inner disk and point the arrow like a watch's long hand in any direction, so it can correspond to any installation place in a single form, Determine the direction of the arrow and fix it.

  The reason for making the outer frame of this signboard square is to match the shape and size of the other frame that is fitted on the road. This is because any location can be handled.

  The guide device is designed to withstand rain and wind, escape from mischief such as dogs and traps, and is installed at a height of about 130 cm above the ground so that it can easily reach the user's ear.

  For those who are looking backwards, those who are crazy about shopping and don't realize there are people nearby, those who are blossoming in the story and don't care about other people's trends, walk here Therefore, it emits a signal sound in the sense that it does not collide.

  Instead of illuminating your feet for the person to walk, the LED is attached to the white cane for the purpose of notifying the person or bicycle that is approaching that there is a person walking there. Attaching positions are both 12 cm away from the tip that is in contact with the ground and from the end of the gripping hand, and each of them has 6 bean balls that are 10 cm long. Use 3V dry battery or 5V portable USB. Attach it inside the white cane. Or, if you don't like the white cane being out of balance or becoming heavy, you can wear it around your waist. Of course, it is also possible to charge and use.

  If it is a low-pitched sound, it is heavy but dark. The sound becomes lighter and brighter as the sound becomes higher, and the sound becomes sharper when the sound is around 1000 Hz. However, when it is a few octaves higher than that, the stimulation is too strong, and rather it makes you tired of listening. Therefore, an A signal of 880 Hz, which is also used for a time signal, is a strong candidate. It is better if the signal sound is not a music or a word but a meaningless mechanical sound and an intermittent sound. Since this sound is intended for people who will be nearby, the sound pressure should be modest 60 dB and avoid unexpected troubles.

  Currently, except in a limited number of countries, there are safety facilities on the street corners of large cities so that people can walk alone, but using this device extends the range of safe walking alone.

  Check the current location and destination using the voice response of the multifunctional mobile phone. Furthermore, the latest detailed information in terms of both geographical and time is directly acquired by a guide device provided at a necessary point.

  In order to avoid unnecessary contact with others when walking, a device that emits LED and signal sound is attached to the white cane inside.

  White cane with LED and signal sound generator   Instruction board laid on the road   Voice guidance device

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 White cane handle 2 A device that emits a signal sound 3 LED bean ball 4 LED bean ball 5 Underground of direction indicator plate 6 Direction indicator plate circle 7 Direction indicator plate arrow 8 Walk guide device 9 For "remote control" Receive switch 10 Manual power switch

Claims (5)

  A white cane with a built-in LED and a device that emits a signal sound.   A direction board embedded on the road.   A device that guides walking for blind people on the road.   Walking guide for blind people using voice response of multi-function mobile phone.   Braille device that guides walking for blind people.

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