JPS63107235A - Guiding method for guidance and its detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a guidance system which is easy to construct and maintain by detecting two kinds of markers and sending a signal which is modulated according to the kind by radio, and reproducing guidance information selected among plural pieces of sound-recorded guidance information based on time variation of the modulation as a sound and annunciating the information. CONSTITUTION:A detector (walking stick 5) detects markers B and sends a modulated signal B by radio. When a walker passes a point P, a signal that a guidance device 7 receives changes from the signal B to a signal A. For the purpose, the signal of a receiving antenna 6 is monitored to know the moment when the walker passes the point P and the direction of the passage. A logical processing circuit incorporated in the guide device 7 decides that right after the walker passes the point P, and desired guidance information is selected among pieces of recorded guidance information and sent from a transmitting antenna 8 by radio. This sent signal is received by a receiver and listened to as a sound. Markers are made preferably of bad conductor magnetic materials or metal and discriminated by variation in the inductance of a coil sensor.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a guidance system and its detector.

[Prior Art] It is well known that with the recent development of the information society, it has become possible to exchange and collect various types of information via computers not only in the workplace but also at home.

These are inputs and outputs from terminal devices, so to speak, information is exchanged and collected at a desk. On the other hand, it is well known that in the outside world, it has become practical to know the ever-changing traffic information as seen in various types of traffic information, and research and development of new systems are being conducted in various places. By the way, one of the traffic information systems is generally known to be aimed at pedestrians, especially visually impaired people.

Regarding this conventional technology, for example, the monthly magazine [Sensor Technology J]
(July 1983 issue, p. 75) and patent application 1983-203
No. 998) is being hobbied. These conventional techniques will be described below using FIG. 4.

In the same figure (a), ferrite blocks 1 to 53 made of ferrite, which is a magnetic material, are constructed along the sidewalk, and are used as a detector (here, a sensor 52 for detecting ferrite). It consists of a means for electrically processing the detection signal, and a means for notifying the detection result whether or not ferrite is detected by a buzzer sound, vibration, etc., and is built into the cane 51) while walking while detecting the detection signal. do. Roughly speaking, by utilizing the fact that the sensor 52 emits a weak magnetic field in order to detect ferrite, an antenna 54 for detecting the magnetic field is buried at a desired location, and when the sensor 52 approaches, The above-mentioned document describes that a guide device 55 is automatically activated by a magnetic field signal detected by an antenna 54, and a built-in recorded content is audibly guided from a speaker 56. According to this conventional system,
A visually impaired person can proceed along the ferrite block 53, and by operating the guide device 55, he or she can automatically get a warning that there are stairs along the way, for example, or a point of intersection, so they can reach their destination faster. It becomes possible to walk more safely.

Furthermore, the invention of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 58-203996 basically consists of a pair of antennas 54 as shown in FIG.
By configuring ゜54' and determining which antenna received the signal first, the walking direction of the visually impaired person (two directions indicated by arrows 57 and 58 in the figure) can be determined.
, if you go to the left, △△''. According to the conventional guidance technology, not only visually impaired people but also normal sighted people can use the portable detector to quickly reach their destination in a department store or a large exhibition hall, for example. considered useful for arriving at

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, such conventional technology has problems in construction and maintenance management as described below.

In other words, in this conventional guidance technology, it is necessary to bury the antenna 54, which is an electrical component, but in the commonly used passageway construction method, electrical components are rarely buried, which poses a difficulty in construction. be. In addition, even if a heavy object is placed on the ground surface, the antenna buried directly beneath it will not be damaged or disconnected, so it is necessary to have a stronger antenna and buried structure, which requires extensive construction. It has the drawbacks of being easy and expensive. Furthermore, in the unlikely event that the antenna was damaged and needed to be replaced, the road would have to be dug up, making maintenance difficult.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above and to provide a guidance system and a detector thereof that are easy to install and maintain.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The guidance method of the present invention detects at least two types of markers used as guidance markers, determines the types, and modulates the markers according to the detected types of markers. The signal is transmitted wirelessly, the transmitted signal is received, the desired guidance information is selected from among the plurality of recorded guidance information based on the temporal change in modulation, and the selected guidance information is converted into audio. It is characterized by being played back and notified.

The detector according to the present invention uses a soft magnetic material that is a poor conductor.

means for detecting at least two of hard magnetic materials such as metals, good conductors, or bad conductors; circuit means for determining which of the detecting means is sensitive; and a circuit means for wirelessly transmitting a signal modulated according to the determination. The invention is characterized by comprising a means for transmitting the information.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) shows the configuration of the guidance system of the present invention. Two types of markers A and B for guidance are installed in sections 1 and 1' of the passage, respectively, with point P as the boundary, and each marker A and B is detected by a detector built into the cane 5. For example, if you walk in the direction of arrow 62 in the figure, before point P in the figure, the detector (in this case, cane 5) detects marker B, and a modulated signal @ (hereinafter referred to as (described as signal B) is transmitted wirelessly. When a pedestrian approaches point P, the transmitted signal is transmitted to the guide device 7 installed near point P (
is received by the receiving antenna 6. Upon receiving this, the guide device 7 detects that the pedestrian is on the right side of point P in the figure. When the pedestrian advances roughly and passes point P, the sensor built into cane 5 no longer detects marker B, but instead detects marker A. The signal transmitted from the cane 5 changes into a modulated signal (hereinafter referred to as signal A) indicating that marker A has been detected, and is similarly received by the guide device 7. In short, when the pedestrian passes point P in the direction of arrow 62, the signal received by guide device 7 changes from signal B to signal A. Therefore, by monitoring the signal of the receiving antenna 6,
It is possible to know the moment when a pedestrian passes point P and the direction in which the pedestrian passes. Immediately after passing point P, the logic processing circuit built into the guide device 7 determines these, selects the desired guide information from the recorded guide information, and transmits the information wirelessly via the transmitting antenna 8. This transmitted signal is received by the receiver 9,
You can listen to it as audio. Transmission from the transmitting antenna 8 may be performed in a similar manner to radio broadcasting, and the receiver 9 may be replaced by a radio.

Similarly, when walking in the direction of the arrow 61, the signal received by the guide device 7 changes from signal A to signal B when passing point P, and desired guide information can be transmitted similarly. Same figure (
b) shows how sensors 2 and 3 for detecting markers A and B, respectively, are incorporated into the cane.

Sensor 2 is sensitive to marker A but not marker B, and sensor 3 is sensitive to marker B but not marker A. For example, the marker may be a poor conductor, a soft magnetic material (eg, Mnzn ferrite), a metal (eg, iron, aluminum), or a hard magnetic material (eg, alnico, Ba ferrite).

For example, a coil (air-core or core-containing) may be used as a sensor for detecting the former marker. That is, as is well known, the inductance (L) of the coil increases when a bad conductor or soft magnetic material approaches, and decreases when a metal approaches due to the effect of eddy current. In short, the change in inductance of the coil sensor is electrically detected, and the former (bad conductor, soft magnetic material) and the old one (metal) can be distinguished from the increase or decrease.

Further, to detect the latter marker (hard magnetic material), for example, a Hall element may be used.

It is determined which sensor A or B is sensitive, and the signal is modulated according to the type of marker detected.
It is radiated into the air from the transmitting antenna 4 built into the cane 5.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are block diagrams showing the circuit configuration of an embodiment of the detector of the present invention, and FIG. 2(C) is an example of the transmission signal 26 emitted from the detector. . In the same figure (a), a sensor 2 for detecting a different type of sensor marker A is shown.
1. This is an example in which the marker B detection sensor 21' is used (for example, the sensor 21 uses a coil sensor, and the sensor 21'
(use a Hall element). These sensors 21.21
The output signals from ' are independently amplified by amplifier circuits 22 and 22', and identification circuits 23 and 23' identify whether or not marker A and marker B are detected, respectively. The determination circuit 24 logically processes and determines which sensor, in other words, which marker has been detected, and the modulation/oscillation circuit 25 performs modulation according to the type of marker, oscillates the signal, and transmits it. The antenna 4 radiates into the air.

FIG. 5B shows an example in which a coil sensor is used as the sensor 31, and one sensor 31 detects two types of markers, namely, a poor conductor soft magnetic marker and a metal marker as described above.

The signal from the sensor 31 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 32, determined by the determination circuit 34 using the increase or decrease in inductance as described above, and similarly processed by the modulation/oscillation circuit 35.

The same figure (C) is an example of the transmission signal 26 emitted from the detector, and when the detector is moved in the direction of the arrow 62 in Figure 1, it is received by the guide device 8 before and after passing point P. Indicates signal change. Here, when sensing the marker, a low frequency (f
A~75MH2), when marker B is sensitive, high frequency (
This is when the transmission signal 26 is f8~90MHz>. It can be seen that the signal frequency decreases when passing point P.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a part of the commonly used Braille blocks for the visually impaired (caution block...40, guidance block...41) is shown as a section. 1.1', marker 8 and marker B are replaced. At the guide block 410 part, the user walks guided while feeling the uneven pattern of the Braille block with shoes or the like, as in the conventional case. When the detector comes over marker A and marker B, the transmitter @26 shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) is emitted from the detector, resulting in the same effect as in the previous embodiment (automatic notification of guidance information).
is obtained.

In this embodiment, a guide device is installed in a place where conventional Braille blocks have already been installed. In this case, it is sufficient to replace, for example, about 10 conventional Braille blocks with the two types of markers A and B described in the present invention, and install the guide bag @7.
It is cheaper in terms of cost.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above using guidance for visually impaired people. However, it is obvious that the present invention is useful not only for visually impaired people but also for sighted people, for example, for guiding people to arrive at their destination quickly in department stores, large hospitals, large exhibition halls, etc. Of course, in this case, it is desirable that the detector is not built into the cane, but has an external shape that makes it easier to carry.

In addition to guiding and guiding pedestrians, it can also be installed on means of transportation such as cars. For example, in order to guide visitors on a tour of a large factory or the like, it is sufficient to install markers and guide devices at the points where guidance and explanations are to be given, and to equip the visitor's vehicle with a detector. A manned or unmanned vehicle is driven along the tour course, and when the detector installed in the vehicle detects a marker, the guidance device automatically activates and provides a recorded explanation to efficiently guide the large number of visitors. can provide guidance. Further, in the above embodiment, the guide device 7 and the receiver 9
It is obvious that the usefulness of the present invention remains the same even if they are connected by wire or integrated.

[Effects of the Invention] In the guidance system of the present invention, there is no need to bury electrical parts such as antennas under the passage, and the construction is easy, the construction period can be shortened, and the system can be realized at low cost. Furthermore, the durability and reliability of maintenance management after construction are improved, and the ease of repair in the event of an electrical system failure can also be improved.

Furthermore, the present invention is useful not only for visually impaired people but also for sighted people using a means of transportation, and has the effect of being widely applicable to various types of guidance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 (a) is a cross-sectional side view of a road surface showing the first embodiment of the method of the present invention, (b) is a perspective view of a cane used in the method of the present invention, and Figures 2 (a) and (b) are respective detection (C) is a waveform diagram of a transmission signal emitted from the detector; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a road surface showing another embodiment; FIG.
Figures (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of a road surface showing a conventional example. 1.1'...Aisle section

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Detect at least two types of markers used as guidance markers, determine their types, wirelessly transmit a signal modulated according to the detected type of marker, and receive the transmitted signals. . A guidance method characterized in that desired guidance information is selected from among a plurality of recorded guidance information based on temporal changes in modulation, and the selected guidance information is reproduced and announced as audio. (2) Means for detecting at least two of a soft magnetic material as a bad conductor, a metal, a hard magnetic material as a good conductor or a bad conductor, a circuit means for determining which of the materials has been detected, and materials for the determination. 1. A detector comprising means for wirelessly transmitting a signal modulated in accordance with.