JPS60171413A - Magnetic compass for blind man - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the detection of direction for a blind man by a method wherein a beam reaching a photoelectric conversion element provided at a photoelectric detector section is intercepted only in the direction pointed to the North with a pointer section to detect the position of a pointer and the output is connected to a sound device. CONSTITUTION:The dial plate of a magnetic compass is provided with a cadmium sulfide CdS cell photodetector 8 at the position corresponding to the North while a light emitter 7 with a small bulb is mounted on a top lid 2 to build a photoelectric detector section. Then, a pointer 4 with a magnet 3 is provided at the intermediate position of the detector section to intercept the detector section only in the direction pointed to North therewith and connected to a buzzer 14 through a transistor 10 and a relay 11. The light emitter 7 is turned ON, irradiating the photodetector 8 and the compass is turned horizontally. As the pointer 4 pointing to the North overlaps the photodetector 8, beam is intercepted to energize the transistor 10 with an increase in the electric resistance value of the photodetector 8 and a buzzer 14 sounds through the relay 11. Thus, a blind man can find his direction easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a magnetic compass for blind people to help visually impaired people find directions.

Its configuration consists of a photoelectric detection unit equipped with a magnetic compass and a light receiver;
It consists of an amplification section and a sensory transmission device. To explain an example using a light shielding relay that operates when the light beam is shielded, a cadmium sulfide Cds cell light receiver 8 is placed at a position north of the dial 3 in the vertical partial view of FIG. A light emitting device 7 made of a miniature bulb is attached to the lid 2, which serves as a photoelectric detection section. A finger hook 4 is interposed in the middle of this detection section, and its shape is shaped like a shank as shown in the front view of FIG. 2, so that it shields the photoelectric detection section only in the direction pointing north. This pointer is made of a non-magnetic material, and a magnet 3 is closely attached to it to maintain balance in the horizontal direction. Next, the operating principle will be explained along with the wiring diagram in Figure 3.
When the power is turned on using the double cut-off switch 9, the light emitter 7 lights up and illuminates the light receiver 8. Now, when the magnetic compass main body is rotated horizontally and the pointer 4, which always points north, and the light receiver 8 located at the north position of the dial overlap, the light beam is blocked and the electrical resistance value of the Cds cell increases. As a result, transistor 10
A current flows through the relay 11, and the normally open contact of the relay 11 closes, causing the buzzer 14 connected thereto to sound. By hearing this buzzer, the blind person knows for the first time that the position of the pointer 4 and the light receiver 8 match, and is able to know the direction from the braille markings on the lid indicating north, south, east, and west.

Regarding the disk-shaped or hemispherical pointers currently available on the market, where the dial and magnet are integrated and the dial itself rotates, a part of the dial is transparent and a light receiver is installed at the bottom of the magnetic compass. By passing sunlight or other illumination light sources through the light receiver, the above purpose can be achieved as light receiving relay No. 3. 4 and 5 show an example of this, and FIG. 6 shows an internal wiring diagram.

From the above, since the present invention is photoelectric, it is possible to know the direction without applying any force to the magnetic needle. According to the product of the present invention, blind people will be able to expand their range of activities by combining it with Braille city maps, etc., and will also be able to engage in outdoor recreation such as orienteering by combining it with Braille maps.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal partial view of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a vertical partial view of the present invention.
The figure is an example of a wiring diagram using a light-shielding relay, Figure 4 is a vertical partial view showing another embodiment, Figure 5 is the bottom, 6 is a glass with a lens, 7 is a light emitter, and 8 is a light receiver. 9 is a double-off switch, 10 is a transistor, 11 is a relay, 12 is a normally open contact, 13 is a normally closed contact 14 is a buzzer, 15.16 is a battery, 17 is a resistor, 18 is a variable resistor, 19 is a lens, K is a support needle, 21 is a bearing, 22 is a transparent window, and 23 is a north indicator protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Using a photoelectric conversion element that converts changes in light into electrical changes, the position of the pointer is detected by blocking or passing the light beam that reaches the element with the pointer section of the magnetic compass, and the output is used as a sensory device such as an acoustic device. Magnetic compass for the blind connected to a transmission device.