JPH0417480B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an audio guidance device particularly suitable for visually impaired people.

Unlike normal people, visually impaired people are unable to visually confirm their destination, so they have no choice but to use their memory to locate their destination. Therefore, it goes without saying that it is completely impossible for people to search for completely new places on their own, and their range of daily activities is severely restricted.

In order to expand the scope of a visually impaired person's life, tremendous cooperation from those around them is necessary, but that cooperation naturally has its limits, and the visually impaired person may also be forced to make sacrifices to those around him. There are circumstances where this is not possible. Currently, countermeasures for visually impaired people are being taken, such as installing blocks for blind people on station platforms, roads, and intersections, and installing traffic lights for blind people. It is a countermeasure, and there is nothing to guide or guide you to the destination or point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an audio guidance system for blind people that solves the above problems.

The audio guidance and guidance device for a blind person of the present invention is a device for guiding and guiding a blind person that has a transmitter, a sensor, and an audio device, and the transmitter emits a signal and is installed in the belongings of the blind person. The sensor is installed on the road surface or floor, receives the signal from the transmitter and generates an output, and the audio device is installed near the sensor and inputs the output of the sensor to provide guidance for the blind. It is characterized by converting information into speech and emitting it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, with reference to an example suitable for use in a hospital building.

In FIG. 1, sensors 6 are embedded in a floor 5 corresponding to specific locations such as patient rooms 1 and 2, toilets 3, stairs 4, and others in a hallway in a hospital building.

An audio device 15 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to each sensor 6. For example, the audio device 15 includes a wave generator 7, an amplifier 8, a rectifier 9, an audio converter 10, and an audio generator 11. This audio device 15 is installed near the location of each sensor 6. Audio converter 10
This is a device in which a voice indicating or guiding a specific place is recorded in advance, and for example, a tape recorder or a melody element with voice synthesis is used.

Figures 3a and 3b are diagrams showing an example of installation of the transmitter 12 that issues a control signal to the sensor 6, and a is a diagram showing an example of the installation of the transmitter 12 that issues a control signal to the sensor 6.
3 shows the case where it is installed on the stepping surface, and b shows the case where it is installed at the tip of the cane. In either case, the sensor 6 is made to be sensitive to the signal emitted from the transmitter 12 directly above the sensor 6 buried in the floor surface.
As for the signal from the transmitter 12, in addition to emitting radio waves of a specific frequency, other electrical or magnetic signals or ultrasonic signals can be used.

The audio recorded in the audio converter 10 is recorded in a specific location,
It is a voice that indicates a point or a voice that indicates the direction of a specific place or point. For example, "This is room XX,""This is the men's toilet,""I'm going up the stairs," or "There are stairs, so be careful." In addition to words that specifically indicate a specific place or point, such as "Please walk straight to the toilet," and "Nursing room is on the right at the end," the system produces sounds that express directions, such as "Please walk straight to the toilet." let

In addition, a voice instructing a specific operation method, for example, a voice saying "There is a button at the top right, please press the button" may be generated at a specific location or point.

Therefore, when a blind person wears footwear 13 with a built-in transmitter 12 or walks normally while holding a cane 14 with a built-in transmitter 12, when the blind person reaches the location where the sensor 6 is installed, each location,
Instructions are given from the voice generator 11 at the location, and the destination can be easily reached by following the instructions. It is also possible to provide further necessary information at the destination.

Although we have explained the example of application inside a building, it can also be applied outdoors in exactly the same way, by installing sensors on the road surface corresponding to intersections, public facilities, and other places and points. Necessary information such as location, point indication, direction, etc. can be conveyed by voice.

As described above, according to the present invention, a transmitter is incorporated into footwear such as shoes or slippers for the blind person, or a cane carried by the blind person, and a signal emitted from the transmitter is installed at a specific place or point on the floor or road surface. Since the sensor receives the information and transmits certain information through voice, blind people can use this voice as a clue to easily confirm their current location, and can move without asking for help from others. Footwear and canes, in particular, are essential for walking for blind people, as they can significantly expand the range of movement.
Moreover, some of them are in contact with the floor or road surface, and various information is obtained by the feel of the contact surface, so it is possible to indicate the location of the sensor by adding specific blocks as appropriate. It is easy to search for the position of the sensor by using the sensor, and it does not place any unnecessary burden on the blind person while walking, and it can also be performed by a normal person without any problems.

As described above, the present invention has the effect of bringing great news to the blind.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a building to which the device of the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a sensor and an audio device connected to the sensor, and Fig. 3 is an example of installing a transmitter. In the figure, a and b are figures showing examples in which the device is installed on footwear and a cane, respectively. 6...Sensor, 7...Wave device, 8...Amplifier, 9...
rectifier, 10...sound converter, 11...sound generator,
12...Transmitter, 13...Footwear, 14...Cane, 15...Audio device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A blind person guidance device having a transmitter 12, a sensor 6, and an audio device 15, wherein the transmitter emits a signal and is attached to the blind person's belongings, and the sensor includes: is installed on the road surface or floor, receives the signal from the transmitter and generates an output, and the audio device is installed near the sensor and inputs the output of the sensor to provide guidance for blind people. A blind person guidance device that converts information into audio and emits it.