ROAD GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

• US 20130332018A1
• Filed: 01/16/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ji Hun Kim
• Original Assignee: Ji Hun Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Ji Hun
• Application Number:
  US13/981,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/066 Installations on the floor, e.g. special surfaces, to guide blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/47 Optical

Abstract

A road guidance system for the blind. A plurality of RFID tags 10 are buried inside a pedestrian pavement 100 with information of said pavement 100 contained therein, along the pavement. A guide robot 20 has an RFID reader 21 for checking signals of said RFID tags 10 from said pavement 100 by passing therethrough, and an obstruction sensor 22 for sensing an obstruction. Wheels 23 are positioned on both sides of the guide robot. A controller 30 checks signals from said RFID reader 21 and said obstruction sensor 22 inside said guide robot 20, converts the checked information into voice signals and outputs the voice signals, and then controls the driving of said guide robot 20. A stick 40 is electrically connected to enable communication with said guide robot 20, thereby enabling safe loading and unloading.

Claims

1. A road guidance system for the visually impaired, comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags (10) that are buried along pedestrian roads (100)for storing information of the pedestrian roads (100), wherein Braille blocks was formed already or the Braille blocks is difficult to be formed;

a guide robot (20) provided with a RFID reader (21) for checking signals of the RFID tags (10) from the pedestrian road (100), an obstruction sensor (22) for sensing an obstruction ahead of the blind at a certain distance from the RFID reader (21), and wheels (23) at both external sides, with which the guide robot (20) advances and retreats with the driving of a motor (24);

a controller (30) inside the guide robot (20) for checking signals from the RFID reader (21) and the obstruction sensor (22), converting the checked information into sound signals and outputting them, and controlling the operation of the guide robot (20); and

a stick (40) whose bottom part is assembled detachably to the guide robot (20) and electrically connected thereto such that communication with the guide robot (20) is available.

2. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader (21) is shaped to form a closed loop so as to have a maximum signal sensing range on the bottom surface of the guide robot.

3. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein the obstruction sensor (22) includes one of an infrared sensor or photo sensor.

4. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein the motor 24 is supplied with power by a charging cell.

5. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein the information received from the RFID reader (21) and the obstruction sensor (22) is transmitted to the stick (40) as sound information by wireless through an earphone or a Bluetooth reception earphone.

6. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein a track is formed with burying magnetic substance, wiring, or iron powder along the surface of the pedestrian roads (100) and a sensor for sensing the magnetic substance, wiring, or iron powder is provided to the guide robot (20) so that the guide robot (20) moves along a track in which the magnetic substance, wiring, or iron powder is buried.

7. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 1, wherein a RFID reader (41) is buried in the bottom part of the stick (40) and a controller (42) for checking signals that are sensed from the RFID reader (41) and outputting road information as sound signals is embedded in a place adjacent to the RFID reader.

8. The road guidance system for the visually impaired of claim 2, wherein a RFID reader (41) is buried in the bottom part of the stick (40) and a controller (42) for checking signals that are sensed from the RFID reader (41) and outputting road information as sound signals is embedded in a place adjacent to the RFID reader.