Portable safety mechanism with voice input and voice output

• US 6,356,210 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christ G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/426,739
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 395/2.84, 135/67, 135/68, 135/69, 704/275, 704/270
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9318 Controlling the steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A portable safety mechanism housed in a cane, a walking stick or a belt-carried housing. In each of such embodiments, the portable safety mechanism includes a processor, a transmitter, a receiver, and an outside image sensor or scanner, a warning device such as an audible warning device or warning light. The scanner may, for example, sense the shape of a traffic signal or the color of a traffic signal. The portable safety mechanism may further be housed in a wheelchair or walker. The portable safety mechanism may employ computer telephony technology.

Claims

1. A portable safety mechanism, with the portable safety mechanism being selected from the group consisting of hand carriable and hand pushable mechanisms, with the portable safety mechanism including a processor, a transmitter and receiver with the portable safety mechanism further comprising:

a) a plurality of inputs, with the inputs comprising a microphone, a global positioning system, and an image scanner;

b) a plurality of outputs, with the outputs comprising a speaker and a warning device;

c) means for converting signals from each of the inputs into digital form;

d) means for processing the signals that have been converted into digital form to produce a digital result; and

e) means for converting the digital result into a form that may be realized by one of the outputs and hence realized by a person, with the means for converting the digital result comprising means for realizing a voiced form through the speaker.

2. The portable safety mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portable safety mechanism comprises a wheelchair.

3. The portable safety mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portable safety mechanism comprises a walker, with the walker comprising a frame having a pair of wheels and a pair of supports for making contact with the floor such that four portions of the walker makes contact with the floor.

4. The portable safety mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portable safety mechanism comprises a walking stick.

5. The portable safety mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portable safety mechanism comprises a belt.

6. The portable safety mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portable safety mechanism is both hand carriable by the user and hand pushable by the user.

7. A portable safety mechanism, with the portable safety mechanism being selected from the group consisting of hand carriable and hand pushable mechanisms, with the portable safety mechanism including a processor, a transmitter and receiver, with the portable safety mechanism further comprising:

a) a plurality of inputs, with the inputs comprising a microphone, a global positioning system, an image scanner and radar;

b) a plurality of outputs, with the outputs comprising a speaker and a warning device;

c) means for converting signals from each of the inputs into digital form;

d) means for processing the signals that have been converted into digital form to produce a digital result; and

e) means for converting the digital result into a form that may be realized by one of the outputs and hence realized by a person, with the means for converting the digital result comprising means for realizing a voiced form through the speaker.

8. A portable safety mechanism, with the portable safety mechanism being selected from the group consisting of hand carriable and hand pushable mechanisms, with the portable safety mechanism including a processor, a transmitter and receiver, with the portable safety mechanism further comprising:

a) a plurality of inputs, with the inputs comprising a microphone, a global positioning system, and an image scanner;

b) a plurality of outputs, with the outputs comprising a speaker and a warning device;

c) means for converting signals from each of the inputs into digital form;

d) means for processing the signals that have been converted into digital form to produce a digital result;

e) means for converting the digital result into a form that may be realized by one of the outputs and hence realized by a person, with the means for converting the digital result comprising means for realizing a voiced form through the speaker; and

f) means for carrying out computer telephony functions wherein computer telephony is a platform that merges voice and data services in order to enable the development of integrated applications.