RU120567U1 - ORIENTATION DEVICE FOR PERSONS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES - Google Patents

Abstract

An orientation device for people with visual impairments, containing a sensor that determines the distance to surrounding objects in a given direction and transmits information to a transducer block that converts distance signals received from the sensor into a set of electrical impulses that go to the matrix, which is different that the matrix is made in the form of a vibrotactile matrix containing a set of vibrotactile elements, the frequency of which is proportional to the distance from the sensor to the obstacle.

Description

The utility model relates to devices that help people with visual impairments to navigate in space independently.

A device for helping people with visual impairments is known, in which the formation and emission of a narrowly directed sound wave of a special shape takes place. After a collision with an obstacle, part of the wave is reflected and enters the device’s detector. Further, after processing the received wave, a sound signal is formed, according to which a person with visual impairments can judge an obstacle in his path. (US 4,680,740 G01S 15/88 1987-07-14).

The disadvantage of this device is that it does not allow to obtain any information about the shape and nature of the obstacle.

Another device is known by which people with visual impairments can get an idea of the shape of surrounding objects. The device includes a radiation receiver located on the head of a person, and a converter of radiation into electrical pulses, which is located on the forehead of a person. A picture of the surrounding space is formed in the form of a system of points, in each of which an electric current of varying intensity affects the human skin. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain information about the shape of the obstacle (RU 94037985 A61F 9/00 08/10/1996).

The disadvantage of this device is the dependence of the perception of electrical impulses by a person on the degree of cleanliness and dryness of the skin, as well as the human addiction to electrical impulses during prolonged use of this device. These shortcomings lead to a deterioration in the human perception of surrounding objects.

The technical result of the utility model consists in providing the possibility of transmitting to a visually impaired person information about the spatial arrangement of objects and the distance to them, by using a vibrotactile matrix, which can solve the problem of changing the perception of human skin due to sweat and pollution on its surface, and also with the physiological feature associated with the habituation of human skin to electrical influences.

To achieve the technical result, an orientation device for people with visual impairments is proposed that contains a sensor that determines the distance to surrounding objects in a given direction and transmits information to a block converter that converts the signals received from the sensor into a set of electrical pulses that arrive at the matrix, and the matrix is made in the form of a vibrotactile matrix containing a set of vibrotactile elements, the frequency of which proportional to the distance from the sensor to the obstacle.

Figure 1 shows a functional diagram of an orientation device for people with visual impairments containing: a sensor - 1; block converter - 2; vibrotactile matrix - 3.

Figure 2 shows a functional diagram of the implementation of the vibrotactile matrix 3 of the orientation device for people with visual impairments containing: base - 4; vibrotactile elements - 5; mounting belts - 6. The device operates as follows. To implement the device for orienting people with visual impairments, a sensor 1 is placed on a person, a transducer 2 is also placed on the person, and a vibrotactile matrix 3 consisting of a base 4, vibrotactile sensors 5, and fixing belts 6 is attached to the human body. Vibrotactile matrix 1 can be placed on a person’s stomach.

Sensor 1, which can be used as a sensor from two web-cameras, receives a mathematical matrix of distances to surrounding objects in a given direction, this data is transmitted to a block converter 2, which can be performed on a computer basis. The distance matrix from the sensor 1 is converted in the converter unit 2 in such a way that each element (or group of several elements) of the matrix is assigned a corresponding electrical signal of a certain frequency. This frequency is proportional to the distance between the obstacle and the sensor 1. The resulting group of electrical signals is transmitted to the vibrotactile matrix 1, which forms tactile sensations on the human skin by mechanical action on it with different frequencies.

Using this device will allow a person to judge the shape, spatial location and distance to the objects surrounding it.

Claims (1)

An orientation device for people with visual impairments, containing a sensor that determines the distance to surrounding objects in a given direction and transmits information to a block converter that converts the distance signals received from the sensor into a set of electrical pulses that are transmitted to a matrix, characterized in that the matrix is made in the form of a vibrotactile matrix containing a set of vibrotactile elements whose frequency of operation is proportional to the distance from the sensor to the obstacle .