KR20060008106A - Apparatus for guiding a blind person and method thereof, mobile communication terminal and personal digital assistant to guide a blind person - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a walking guidance technology for the visually impaired in a terminal detachable from the camera, the walking guidance apparatus according to the present invention, the camera unit for outputting the image data of the subject photographed through the lens system, and input from the camera unit And an induction block detector for detecting whether there is a stop block or a traveling block on the road based on the image data, and an output controller for controlling various output units according to a detection value input from the induction block detection processor.

According to this aspect, the pedestrian guide device photographs a guide block installed in a sidewalk through a camera, analyzes the captured image data, detects whether the guide block is a stop block or a progress block, and detects the detected result to the visually impaired. By telling, the visually impaired can walk conveniently and safely.

Camera, Pedestrian Guide, Pedestrian Block, Pedestrian Crossing

Description

Apparatus for guiding a blind person and method, Mobile communication terminal and Personal Digital Assistant to guide a blind person}

1 shows a conventional inductive block for the blind,

   1A is a stop block indicating an intersection or walking attention.

   1b is a progress block indicating the straight ahead.

Figure 2 is an example schematically showing the configuration of the walking guide apparatus according to the present invention.

3A, 3B, and 3C are examples of the operation of the walking guidance apparatus according to the present invention.

<Brief Description of Drawings>

10: STOP BLOCK 11: Circular protrusion

20: Progress block 21: Stick protrusion

30: walk guidance device

31: camera unit 33: operation unit

35: Warning sound output part 37: Vibration part

39: control unit

The present invention relates to a terminal detachable from a camera, and more particularly to a walking guidance technology for the visually impaired in a terminal detachable from a camera.

Conventionally, an induction block for the visually impaired is provided in public places such as India or subway stations so that the visually impaired can walk safely and conveniently.

1 is a view illustrating a conventional inductive block for the visually impaired, FIG. 1A is a stop block indicating an intersection or walking attention, and FIG. 1B is a progress block indicating straight ahead. As shown, the stop block 10 is a block in which a plurality of circular protrusions 11 are formed, and the traveling block 20 is implemented as a block in which a long rod protrusion 21 is formed. As a result, the visually impaired person can walk toward a desired destination by using the judo block.

However, on the other hand, the visually impaired person had to walk while checking the position of the guide block and the protrusion shape of the guide block with a stick, which was inconvenient. In addition, when the low vision impaired person walks along the block without a cane, it takes a long time to move a short distance while walking while checking the guided block by foot.

On the other hand, the signal generator for the visually impaired is installed in the vicinity of the crosswalk, most of the devices do not operate properly due to failure or failure. As a result, the visually impaired may not find the location of the crosswalk.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a walking guidance technology for the visually impaired in a terminal equipped with a camera.

The walking guidance apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is characterized in that for outputting a walking guidance signal for the visually impaired according to the analysis result based on the image data input from the camera.

Specifically, the walking guide apparatus according to the preferred aspect of the present invention includes a camera unit for outputting image data of a subject photographed through a lens system, and a stop block or a traveling block on a road based on the image data input from the camera unit. And an output control unit for controlling the various output units according to a detection value input from the induction block detection processing unit.

According to this aspect, the pedestrian guide device photographs a guide block installed in a sidewalk through a camera, analyzes the captured image data, detects whether the guide block is a stop block or a progress block, and detects the detected result to the visually impaired. By telling, the visually impaired can walk conveniently and safely.

A walking guidance apparatus according to an additional aspect of the present invention includes a camera unit for outputting image data of a subject photographed through a lens system, and a crossing for detecting whether a road is crossing based on the image data input from the camera unit. And an output control unit for controlling the various output units in accordance with the detected value input from the crosswalk detection unit.

According to this aspect, the pedestrian guide device photographs a pedestrian crossing installed on a roadway through a camera, analyzes the photographed image data to detect whether the pedestrian crossing is a crosswalk, and informs the visually impaired the detected result. You can walk conveniently and safely.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a walking guide apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the walk guidance device 30 according to the present embodiment is a microprocessor-based device in which a ROM, a RAM, and a peripheral device are integrated, and is visually impaired according to an analysis result based on image data input from a camera. It is implemented to output a walking guide signal for. In the preferred embodiment, the means for mounting the walking guide device 30 may be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with a camera which is currently well known.

As shown, in one embodiment, the walk guide device 30 includes a camera unit 31, an operation unit 33, a warning sound output unit 35, a vibration unit 37, and an induction block detector 391. ), A pedestrian crossing detector 393, and an output controller 395.

The camera unit 31 outputs image data of a subject photographed through the lens system. In one embodiment, the camera unit 31 is composed of a small one or a plurality of lenses, a lens system for condensing light, an imaging unit for converting an optical signal from the lens system into an analog electric signal, and an output from the imaging unit. It may include a conversion unit for processing the signal to be converted into a digital format and then converted into a format suitable for the input of the signal processing unit, and a camera controller for controlling the operation of the entire module. The imaging unit is usually composed of a CMOS imaging device or CCD imaging device, and is a known device that converts light into an electrical signal for each pixel and sequentially outputs it in synchronization with a clock. The converting unit converts the current or voltage proportional to the image brightness output from the imaging unit to digital data through some processing, and converts the data value into an RGB format in one embodiment and outputs the converted data.

The operation unit 33 is implemented as a means for inputting a user's operation command, and may be a keypad, a side key, a touch panel, a handwriting input unit, a voice recognition unit, and the like composed of numeric keys and function keys.

The warning sound output unit 35 may include a sound source reproducing unit, a sound source memory, and a D / A converter. The sound source reproducing unit extracts the warning sound source corresponding to the control signal input from the output control unit 395 from the sound source memory. The D / A converter converts the warning sound reproduced from the sound source reproducing unit into an audible sound and outputs it through an amplifier (not shown) and a speaker SPK. In one embodiment, the warning sound may be a ring tone, an alarm or a voice.

The vibration unit 37 may include a vibration motor and a vibration motor driving unit for driving the vibration motor. In one embodiment, the vibration motor drive unit drives the vibration motor to produce a vibration pattern corresponding to the control signal input from the output control unit 395.

The control unit 39 may be implemented as a central processing unit (CPU), a chip module in which a memory and peripheral devices are integrated, and by executing the control program and data stored in the memory in the central processing unit, Perform

The guide block detection unit 391 detects whether there is a stop block or a traveling block on the road based on the image data input from the camera unit 31. In an embodiment, the inductive block detector 391 may include an outline extracting unit for extracting outline data of the object from image data of the object, and whether the object has a circular shape from the extracted outline data, or has a rod shape. A shape detection unit for detecting whether the shape of the vehicle, a stop block detection unit for determining whether the shape of the circular shape is a predetermined number or more, and a stop block detection unit for determining whether the shape of the bar shape is a predetermined number or more, It may include a stop block detector.

The pedestrian crossing detector 393 detects whether the road is a pedestrian crossing based on the image data input from the camera unit 31. In one embodiment, the crosswalk detection unit 393 detects whether there is an area having a white pixel value in the image data of the object, and extracts a pattern of the detected area from the area detection unit and the extracted area pattern. It may include a pattern comparison unit to determine whether the crosswalk compared to the pre-stored crosswalk pattern.

The output controller 395 controls various output units according to the detection value input from the inductive block detector 391 or the crosswalk detector 393. In one embodiment, the output control unit 395 is a warning sound output control unit for controlling the warning sound output unit 35 to output a warning sound signal corresponding to the detection value input from the induction block detection processing unit 391, the induction block It may include a vibration control unit for controlling the vibration unit 37 to produce a vibration pattern corresponding to the detection value input from the detection processing unit 391.

3A, 3B, and 3C are examples of operation flowcharts of the walking guidance apparatus according to the present invention. In one embodiment, the pedestrian guide device photographs the guide block installed in the sidewalk through the camera, and analyzes the captured image data to detect whether the guide block is a stop block or a progress block, and the detected result to the visually impaired I can tell you. In another embodiment, the walking guidance apparatus may photograph a crosswalk installed in a roadway through a camera, detect the crosswalk by analyzing the captured image data, and inform the visually impaired of the detected result.

First, referring to FIG. 3A, when power is applied, the terminal drives a camera and receives image data of an object captured by the camera lens system (S301). Thereafter, the controller 39 reads the pixel value of each frame of the input image data and checks whether an area having a white pixel value exists based on the read pixel value (S302 and S303).

If there is no region having a white pixel value as a result of the check, the controller 39 extracts an outline shape of the image based on the read pixel value, and checks whether the extracted outline shape is circular (S304). S305).

After that, if the outline 39 is a circular shape, the controller 39 checks whether the circular shape is a predetermined number or more (S306). If it is determined that the predetermined number or more is determined as the stop block, a warning sound control signal corresponding to the detected value is output (S307). Although not shown in the drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the controller 39 may output a vibration control signal.

Thereafter, the controller 39 checks whether the system termination signal is input (S308), and if the termination signal is not input, repeats the step of reading the pixel value of each frame of the input image data, and otherwise terminates the system. .

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3B, if a region having a white pixel value exists in step 303, the controller 39 extracts a pattern of the region and compares the extracted region pattern with a preset crosswalk pattern. (S309, S310). If the extracted region pattern matches the crosswalk pattern, the controller 39 determines that the crosswalk is a crosswalk and performs step 307 of outputting a warning sound or vibration control signal corresponding to the detected value.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3C, if the outline form is not circular, the controller 39 checks whether the outline form is a bar (S311).

As a result of the checking, if the outline shape is a bar shape and the shape of the bar shape is more than a predetermined number, step 307 is determined as a progress block and a warning sound or vibration control signal corresponding to the detected value is output.

 As described above, the pedestrian guide device according to the present invention captures an induced block installed in a sidewalk through a camera, and analyzes the captured image data to detect whether the induced block is a stationary block or a traveling block. By informing them, there is a useful effect to make it easier and safer for the visually impaired to walk in India.

In addition, the pedestrian guide device according to the present invention photographs the pedestrian crossing installed on the road through the camera, and analyzes the captured image data to detect whether the pedestrian crossing is to inform the visually impaired, so that the visually impaired person not only In addition, there is a useful effect that can walk easily and safely on the road.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many various obvious modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention from this description. Therefore, it should be interpreted by the claims described to include many such variations.

Claims (11)

A camera unit for outputting image data of a subject photographed through a lens system; An induction block detection unit detecting whether there is a stop block or a progress block on the road based on the image data input from the camera unit; An output control unit controlling various output units according to a detection value input from the inductive block detection processing unit; Walking guidance device comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the walking guidance device is: A pedestrian crossing detector for detecting whether a road is on a pedestrian crossing based on the image data input from the camera unit; More, The output control unit: A walk guide device, characterized in that for controlling the various output unit in accordance with the detection value input from the pedestrian crossing detector or the guide block detector. The method of claim 2, wherein the output control unit: A warning sound output control unit controlling a warning sound output unit to output a warning sound signal corresponding to a detection value input from the induction block detection processor or the crosswalk detection unit; Walking guidance device comprising a. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the output control unit: A vibration controller for controlling the vibration unit to produce a vibration pattern corresponding to the detection value input from the induction block detection processor or the crosswalk detection unit; Walking guide apparatus further comprising a. A mobile phone equipped with the walking guide apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with the walking guidance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In the walking guidance method for the visually impaired in the terminal detachable camera, the method is: A data input step of receiving image data of a subject photographed by a camera lens system; A guide block detection step of detecting whether there is a stop block or a progress block on the road based on the input image data; An output step of outputting a control signal corresponding to the detected value; Walking guidance method comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the induction block detection step: Reading pixel values of frames of the input image data; Extracting an outline shape of an image based on the read pixel value; Checking whether the extracted outline shape is circular; Outputting a detection value indicating that the outer block is circular and the circular shape is a stop block when the number of circular shapes is more than a predetermined number; If the outline form is not circular, checking whether the outline form is a rod; Outputting a detection value indicating a progress block when the outline form is a bar shape and the shape of the bar shape is a predetermined number or more; Walking guidance method comprising a. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the walking guidance method is: A pedestrian crossing detection step of detecting whether there is a pedestrian crossing on the road based on the input image data; Walking guide method further comprising a. The method of claim 9, wherein the pedestrian crossing detection step: Reading pixel values of frames of the input image data; Checking whether a region having a white pixel value exists based on the read pixel value; Extracting a pattern of the area when a region having a white pixel value exists as a result of the checking; Comparing the extracted area pattern with a preset crosswalk pattern; Outputting a detection value indicating that the area pattern extracted as the result of the comparison matches the crosswalk pattern; Walking guidance method comprising a. The method of claim 10, wherein outputting a control signal corresponding to the detected value comprises: And a step of outputting a warning sound or a vibration pattern control signal.

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