NL1029665C1 - Aid for guiding blind person towards and around objects, comprises distance sensor connected and vibrating pads worn on back of hand - Google Patents

Abstract

The aid comprises a distance sensor secured on top of an elastic band and designed to be worn on the back of one hand. Six vibrating pads next to the sensor are in contact with the skin on the back of the hand and vibrate from the wrist to the fingers with increasing frequency as the distance from an object gets smaller. A switch between the thumb and index finger is used to switch the aid on and off and to adjust the range of the sensor, which can be e.g. 0.5 or 1 m. A miniature camera can be secured to the band next to the sensor and the recorded image of the object is compared with images stored in a database on a palmtop computer and when a match is found the object is identified via an audible signal sent to an earpiece. An RFID reader can also be positioned next to the sensor in addition to or in place of the camera.

Description

Tactile help with object information for blind people

The invention for blind and partially sighted people relates to grasping all kinds of objects. Obstacles can also be avoided with the use of the probing and gripping aid.

The invention is slid over the fingers on the back of the hand via an elastic band. A distance sensor is placed on top of the elastic band which can scan an area of, for example, 1 meter and with accurate scanning of, for example, a V-meter. In the elastic band, on the side of the distance sensor, 6 stimulus, pulse or 10 vibrating pads are placed which can be felt on the back of the hand during operation. The aforementioned pads are noticeably ascending from the wrist to the fingers as you approach the object. The distance far away from the object means the vibration of a path on the wrist side and the distance close to the object (gripping distance) means the vibration on the side of the fingers. To find the object, the blind man makes horizontal and vertical movements with the arm, so that one of the 6 pads vibrates and the distance is determined by this.

There is a switch on the elastic band between the thumb and the index finger. Press once means on for 1 meter distance and press twice for an XA meter and press three times means device off. Operation is by pressing the thumb against the top of the index finger.

Additionally, a mini camera is placed on the elastic band next to the sensor that is directed in the same direction as the radius of the sensor. This camera is connected to a palm computer. An earphone is then attached to the palm computer.

When a blind person scans an object and finds it via the pads, the camera scans this object and compares it in a database of objects and objects in the palm computer and transmits the information found to the blind person via the earphone.

By replacing the camera with an RFTD reader (Radio frequency identification) the blind person can receive information about objects and objects that are provided with a chip (RFID tag with information about the object) via, for example, a PDA (palm computer) with the right software (including speech), pass on the information via an earphone or loudspeaker from the PDA (palm computer) itself. This allows the blind person in a shop that is equipped with an RFI system, with the touch assistance with object information about the products that he "scans" to hear information about the product such as name, weight, price, shelf life etc ..

1029665-2

By providing utensils at home with a chip (RFID tag) with information about the object, the blind person can get information about the object via the RFID reader before he grabs the object with the touch-grab aid.

j! i M2 9 6 65

Claims (3)

1. Device for allowing blind and visually impaired people to grasp objects in a targeted manner and / or to receive information for grasping the object by means of a distance sensor placed on top of an elastic band, which is slid on the back of a hand is. There are 6 pads on the side of the distance sensor that can be felt on the skin of the back of the hand during operation. Dependent on the beam distance, vibrations, said pads and are perceptible, ascending from the wrist to the fingers 10 as one approaches an object. There is a switch between the thumb and forefinger that switches the device on or off and can also set the radius setting of the sensor to, for example, 1 meter or 1/2 meter. The operation thereof is effected by pressing the thumb against the upper side of the index finger so that when an object is gripped the switch is not hit. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1 with a mini camera, placed next to the distance sensor and mounted on the elastic band, which compares the image of the obtained object with a database of objects located in a palm computer and transmits the found information to an earphone. Device as claimed in claims 1 and 2 with an RFID reader (Radio frequency identification) placed next to the distance sensor and mounted on the elastic band that can read chips (RFID tags with object information) in objects via, for example, a PDA computer! 25 (palm computer) with the right software including a speech program and! so transmits the information of the object through a speaker of a PDA computer (palm computer) or an earphone to the blind or visually impaired. 1029665 '