AU783867B2 - Low vision magnifier with remote control and speech output - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT LOW VISION MAGNIFIER with REMOTE CONTROL and VOICE ASSISTANCE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: LOW VISION MAGNIFIER with REMOTE CONTROL and VOICE ASSISTANCE This invention relates to improvements in a device for enlarging print and objects for people with impaired vision.

Within the vision rehabilitation profession, such devices are generally referred to as "CCTVs". A typical example is shown in FIG. 1.

They comprise some form of camera and lens assembly within the body of the unit to acquire an image of the material to be enlarged, plus electronics within the body to process this image and display the result on either an inbuilt screen, or an external TV or monitor.

Many CCTVs include an X-Y table on which the material to be viewed is placed and thereby easily moved back-and-forth for reading.

As CCTV designs have become increasingly feature-rich, so the number of parameters adjustable by the user has increased. The resulting number of controls may be daunting to the user, who has to both remember the function of each control and locate each control. It should be borne in mind that most users rely more on using their sense of touch to locate controls than on using their reduced vision to read legends.

Also, some users determine preferred settings for the controls and rarely deviate from them, usually because of difficulties set out in the previous paragraph. A facility for storing and recalling the preferred setting would be invaluable to these users.

These issues are addressed by the present invention, which is a form of CCTV for which the controls are realised as push-buttons grouped in one remote control which may be attached at various points on the body of the CCTV, which gives the user spoken help to explain the function of each control, allows settings to be stored and recalled, and allows the CCTV to be returned to a pre-determined state.

The invention firstly groups the controls by logical function, and further groups all controls in a remote control unit. This is separate from the body of the CCTV, but may be attached to various points on the body, for the convenience of the user.

The invention secondly designates one button on the remote control unit as a "help" button. Help is provided to the user by speech generated within the body of the CCVW and projected by a loudspeaker.

This invention thirdly extends the function of the "help" button to save the current settings of the CCTVW in a non-volatile memory, so that these settings are retained when the CCTV is switched off. When power is next applied to the CCTV, the stored settings are reinstated.

This invention fourthly extends the function of the "help" button to return the CCTV to a pre-determined state.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying FIG 2, which shows the best form of the invention known to me.

In FIG 2, the remote control housing (11) contains a number of pushbuttons (12) arranged in groups and colour-coded according to function, the "help" pushbutton an infra-red transmitter (14) and internal replaceable batteries The body of the CCTV contains an infra-red receiver (16) for communicating with the remote control, and a loudspeaker (17) for speech output.

The remote control housing attaches to either the front of the body at or to the tray at (19).

In operation, the user positions the remote control to their preference.

If the remote control is attached to the tray, the user literally has all functions at their fingertips. This is convenient but can mean that buttons are pressed by accident as the user grasps the tray to position the material being read. Attaching the remote control to the front of the body eliminates accidental key presses, at the price of slightly less convenience.

Functions are controlled by depressing buttons on the remote control unit. This causes the infra-red transmitter within the remote control unit to send coded infra-red commands to the infra-red receiver within the body of the CCTV. These commands activate internal electromechanical components. Buttons are grouped and colour-coded by function.

If the user is unsure of the function of any button, depressing the "help" button on the remote control generates a spoken response which directs the user to depress any one of the other buttons. When the user does this, instead of that button having its usual control effect, the function of that button is spoken. Subsequent depressions of any button generate the usual control effect associated with that button, until the "help" button is again depressed.

To save the current settings of the CCTV in non-volatile memory, the user executes a double-press of the "help" button. Each time this operation is performed the current settings over-write any previouslystored settings.

To return the CCTV to a state predetermined during manufacture, the user executes a triple-press on the "help" button.

It should be noted that the means of communication between the remote control and the body of the CCTV is not restricted to infra-red signals. Ultrasonic or radio communications are alternatives, however ultrasonic communication is less reliable and imposes more load on the replaceable batteries, while radio communications constitute a potential source of electro-magnetic interference with other appliances and would require the CCTV to be tested for compliance with EMC standards.

Speech may be either synthesised, that is, generated electronically according to acoustic algorithms, or it may be digitized, wherein a human voice is pre-recorded and stored in digital format for replay.

Digitization is preferred because it more easily permits the use of languages other than English, and can generate more realistic male, female, adult and child voices.

The number, position and shape of the buttons on the remote control may vary as functions evolve with time as a result of user feedback.

The infra-red transmitter and receiver may be positioned elsewhere than as shown in FIG 2. More than one transmitter and/or receiver may be incorporated if required for reliable communication between the remote control and the body of the CCTV.

The number and position of points on the body at which the remote control attaches may vary from those shown in FIG 2. The method of attachment may be via mechanical catches, magnets or any other method that is accessible to people with low vision.

Claims (11)

1. A form of CCTV for enlarging print and objects for people with impaired vision, in which the controls are realised as push- buttons grouped in one remote control which may be attached at various points on the body of the CCTV, and which gives the user spoken help to explain the function of each control, allows settings to be stored and recalled, and allows the CCTV to be returned to a pre-determined state

2. The form of CCTV of claim 1 wherein the controls are arranged in groups according to function.

3. The form of CCTV of claims 1-2 wherein the controls are coloured according to function.

4. The form of CCTV of claims 1-3 wherein the controls are shaped according to function.

5. The form of CCTV of claims 1-4 wherein the remote control communicates with the body of the unit via infra-red or ultrasonic or radio emissions, using one or multiple transmitters and receivers.

6. The form of CCTV of claims 1-5 wherein speech is synthesised or digitized and offered in languages other than English and in male or female and adult or child variations.

7. The form of CCTV of claims 1-6 wherein one push-button is designated as a "help" button which when depressed will cause the function of the next button depressed to be spoken, following which event buttons revert to their normal operation until the "help" button is again depressed.

8. The form of CCTV of claims 1-7 wherein two consecutive depressions of the designated "help" button cause the control settings currently in force to be saved to a non-volatile memory, over-writing any previously-saved settings.

9. The form of CCTV of claims 1-8 wherein any settings recorded in the non-volatile memory are reinstated when power is re-applied.

The form of CCTV of claims 1-9 wherein three consecutive depressions of the designated "help" button cause the unit to assume a state pre-determined during manufacture.

11. A form of CCTV substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. jOHN ALAN GAETH 3 MAY 2002