JP2003131556A - Walk guide system for visually impaired person - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a walk guide system which can easily secure a safe and correct path when a visually impaired person walks. SOLUTION: A magnetic band 2 composed of magnetized paint or a tape is installed along a path 1, etc., where a visually impaired person walks. A sensor 4 for sensing the magnetic band 2 is provided near the lower end of a walking stick main body 3, and a notifying device 6 constituted of a vibrator, a sounding device, etc., which operates when the sensor 4 senses magnetism is provided on a grip section 5 of the stick main body 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walking guide system for easily ensuring a safe and accurate passage when a visually impaired person walks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a visually handicapped person walks, there are walks accompanied by an assistant, walks guided by a guide dog, and walks with a stick through repeated training. Walking with a stick, which is generally widely performed, usually involves swinging the stick forward and leftward and rightward to detect the presence of an obstacle to ensure the safety of the walking path.

However, for visually impaired persons, detecting the presence of an obstacle and walking safely and reaching the destination reliably are completely different problems. There was a case where it was difficult to reach the destination and it was difficult to secure the safety of walking when the destination was given priority.

For this reason, the walking stick is equipped with a transmitting device for emitting electromagnetic waves, and on the other hand, the electromagnetic waves emitted from the walking stick of the visually impaired person are sensed in the passage where the visually impaired person walks and guided toward the destination by voice. However, not only the equipment itself installed in a building or aisle becomes expensive, but also the walking stick itself must be provided with special transmission equipment. There was a drawback that the walking stick was expensive.

[0005]

The problem to be solved is that the conventional system for guiding the visually impaired requires complicated equipment and is expensive as a whole.

[0006]

The basic point of the present invention is to install a magnetic strip made of magnetic paint or tape along a passage for a visually impaired person to walk, and to provide a main body of the walking stick. A sensor for detecting these magnetic bands is provided near the lower end of the stick, and an alarm device that operates by the magnetism detected by this sensor is installed in the grip portion of the main body of the stick.

Two magnetic bands made of paint, tape, etc. are installed at appropriate intervals, and the magnetic bands are detected by a sensor to activate an alarm device such as a vibrator or a sound generator. Alternatively, a method may be used in which a sensor that separately detects the two magnetic bands is provided, and different types of notification devices are individually activated by the magnetism detected by each sensor.

Further, the notification device mounted on the grip portion of the main body of the walking stick comprises different kinds of notification devices such as a vibrator and a sounder, and a switch for selectively activating one or a plurality of these notification devices. Is preferably provided in place.

[0009]

Then, a magnetic strip made of magnetic paint or tape is installed along the path where a visually handicapped person walks.

On the other hand, a walking stick body used by a visually handicapped person is provided with a sensor for sensing the magnetism of a magnetic band, for example, near the distal end thereof, and a gripping portion is provided with a notification device such as a vibrator or a sounder.

This alarm device is a vibrator, and
In the case of a different type of notification device such as a sounding device, a switch for selecting and operating one or a plurality of these notification devices is provided at an appropriate position of the walking stick body.

When a visually handicapped person walks while swinging the walking stick to the left and right to detect the presence of an obstacle, a sensor provided near the tip of the walking stick is installed along the walking path with paint or tape. It senses the magnetism of the magnetic band and activates the alarm device at the grip to inform the visually impaired person of the safe and accurate path.

In this case, when the alarm device for the grip portion is a vibrator, a safe and accurate passage can be secured without making noise in the surroundings even in a quiet place such as a hospital, and the hearing is hindered. Even visually impaired people can be reliably notified of safe and accurate passages.

Further, when the alarm device of the grip is a sounding device, the presence of a visually impaired person can be informed to the surrounding people even in the crowd, and the visually impaired person himself / herself can use the safe and accurate path. Can be secured.

Further, two magnetic bands made of paint or tape are installed at appropriate intervals, and a separate sensor for detecting these magnetic bands is provided, and the vibrator is detected by the magnetism detected by each sensor. In the case of a method of separately operating a specific notification device of different types of notification devices such as a sounder, a magnetic band for operating the specific notification device is set to It can be installed on the high side to inform the visually impaired of danger.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a walkway, and in this walkway 1, for example, magnetic paint or tape along the direction in which a visually impaired person walks. The magnetic strips 2 and 2'are installed by applying and adhering the above at appropriate intervals.

Reference numeral 3 is a main body of the stick, and sensors 4 and 4'for separately detecting the magnetism of the magnetic bands 2 and 2'installed at appropriate intervals are provided near the lower end of the stick, and the grip portion 5 is provided. Is equipped with an informing device 6 such as a vibrator or a sounding device which operates separately by magnetism detected by the respective sensors 4 and 4 '.

Reference numeral 7 is a switch for operating the alarm device 6,
When the notification device 6 is provided in a proper place of the walking stick main body 3 and the notification device 6 is composed of different kinds of notification devices 6 such as a vibrator and a sounder, a function of selectively activating one or a plurality of the notification devices 6 Is equipped with. In addition, the battery for operating the sensors 4, 4'and the notification device 6,
It is natural that the stick main body 3 is housed in a proper place, and it is natural that a main switch for preventing battery consumption is provided.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a pedestrian path can be easily secured by installing a magnetic band along a path for visually impaired people to walk, and the magnetic band is magnetized. It can be easily installed by applying and pasting paint or tape.

Further, the stick main body is provided with a sensor for detecting the magnetism of the magnetic band near the lower end, and the grip portion has a vibrator operated by the magnetism detected by the sensor,
Alternatively, only a notification device consisting of a sounding device is provided, and a transmitter, a responder, and other special mechanical devices and their work are completely unnecessary. Can be secured at low cost.

Further, when the alarm device of the grip portion of the main body of the walking stick is composed of different kinds of alarming devices such as a vibrator and a sounder, by operating a switch provided at a proper position of the main body of the walking stick, the surrounding area of the walking person is walked. Depending on the situation, one or more of the notification devices can be selectively activated, and safer walking can be ensured.

Moreover, as a notification device, a vibrator,
And, a different type of notification device such as a sounding device is built in, and each of these different types of notification devices senses a magnetic band composed of paint or tape, etc., which is installed at an appropriate interval, by a separate sensor, Since it is possible to operate a specific notification device of different types of notification devices such as a vibrator or a sounder, it is possible to reliably notify a visually impaired person of a high-risk side such as the track side of a platform. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the risk of falling from the platform or colliding with the wall surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a walking stick main body with a part omitted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a walkway provided with a magnetic band.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 walkway 2,2 'magnetic band 3 Walking stick body 4,4 'sensor 5 grip 6 Notification device 7 switch

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A walking path (1) installed along a walking direction of a magnetic band (2) made of magnetic paint or tape, and a magnetic band (2) of the walking path (1).
A walking stick equipped with a sensor (4) for detecting the temperature near the lower end and equipped with an alarm device (6) such as a vibrator or a sounder that operates by magnetism detected by the sensor (4) at the upper grip (5). A walking guidance system for the visually impaired consisting of the main body (3). 2. A walking path (1) installed at appropriate intervals along the walking direction of two magnetic bands (2) (2) 'composed of magnetic paint or tape. Sensors (4) and (4) 'which detect the magnetic bands (2) and (2)' of this walkway (1) are provided near the lower end portion and actuated by the magnetism detected by the sensors (4) and (4) '. A walking guidance system for visually impaired persons, comprising a walking stick main body (3) equipped with a notification device (6) such as a vibrator and a sounder in a grip portion (5) at an upper end portion. 3. A walkway (1) installed at appropriate intervals along the walking direction of two magnetic strips (2) (2) 'made of magnetic paint or tape. Sensors (4) and (4) 'which separately sense the magnetic bands (2) and (2)' of this walkway (1) are provided near the lower end portion, and they are sensed by the respective sensors (4) and (4) '. A walking guidance system for visually impaired persons, comprising a walking stick main body (3) equipped with a notification device (6) such as a vibrator and a sounder, which are separately activated by magnetism, in a grip portion (5) at an upper end portion. 4. The grip portion (5) of the walking stick body (3).
The visually impaired person according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a different type of informing device (6) such as a vibrator or a sounder is built in and a switch (7) for selectively activating these is provided in place. Walking guidance system.