Wearable assistive device, system and methods thereof for the visually impaired

• US 9,311,827 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amal Abdullah Alqahtani
• Original Assignee: Amal Abdullah Alqahtani
• Inventors: Alqahtani, Amal Abdullah
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Daniell L
• Application Number:
  US14/543,137
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/063 with tactile perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0184 by raising an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0188 Illumination related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• 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: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A wearable assistive device or system utilizing touch as a sensory modality to assist the ambulation of the visually impaired. The wearable assistive device or system is worn on a user'"'"'s leg, and includes a pair of robotic arms that grip the ankles upon the detection of an object by an ultrasonic sensor within a predetermined distance. The device is also GPS-enabled to assist the navigation of a user from one place to another. The wearable assistive device is controlled by a computing device that is worn on the same foot or other foot of the user.

Claims

1. A hands-free, wearable assistive device configured to be worn on a portion of a leg of a user, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect an object within a predetermined distance in front of the device and the user;

a processing circuitry configured to determine a plurality of characteristics of the object and identify the object based on detection signals from the ultrasonic sensor, and to determine when the object is within the predetermined distance;

a GPS tracker circuitry configured to determine a real-time location of the user and to provide commands to output audible and/or tactile directions to a desired destination; and

first and second robotic arms configured to grip the portion of the user'"'"'s leg when the processing circuitry determines the object is within the predetermined distance in front of the device and based on the commands from the GPS tracker circuitry.

2. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the object comprise one or more dimensions, color and orientation of the object.

3. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor.

4. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is further configured to detect motion.

5. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter.

6. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, further comprising one or more speakers, each of which is configured:

to emit auditory signals and/or messages when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object; and

to emit object-specific auditory signals and/or messages when the processing circuitry determines the characteristics of the object and identifies the object.

7. The wearable assistive device of claim 1, further comprising first and second vibrators on the first and the second robotic arms respectively, each of which is configured:

to emit vibrations when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object; and

to emit object-specific vibrations when the processing circuitry determines the characteristics of the object and identifies the object.

8. A wearable assistive system configured to be worn on a portion of one or more legs of a user, comprising:

a device including;

an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect an object within a predetermined distance in front of the device and the user, to determine the characteristics of the object and to identify the object,

a GPS tracker configured to determine a real-time satellite location of a user and to provide audible and/or tactile directions to a desired destination, and

first and second robotic arms configured to grip the user'"'"'s ankle when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object within the predetermined distance in front of the device and the user and grip the user'"'"'s ankle in an object-specific pattern when the ultrasonic sensor identifies the object; and

a controller electrically connected to the device, including a processor, a memory and a database of geometrical shape dimensions mapped to multiple predetermined objects.

9. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of the object comprise one or more dimensions, color and orientation of the object.

10. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, wherein the controller is a built-in controller inside the device.

11. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, further comprising a motion sensor.

12. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is further configured to detect motion.

13. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, further comprising a Bluetooth or a Wifi transponder that connects the wearable assistive system to a mobile communication device.

14. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, further comprising a light emitter.

15. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, further comprising one or more speakers, each of which is configured:

to emit auditory signals when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object; and

to emit object-specific auditory signals when the ultrasonic sensor determines the characteristics of the object and identifies the object.

16. The wearable assistive system of claim 8, further comprising first and second vibrators on the first and the second robotic arms, respectively, each of which is configured:

to emit vibrations when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object; and

to emit object-specific vibrations when the ultrasonic sensor determines the characteristics of the object and identifies the object.

17. A method of providing mobility assistance to a user, comprising:

providing a hands-free, wearable assistive system configured to be worn on one or more ankles of the user;

detecting an object using an ultrasonic sensor of the system;

determining, using a processor, whether the object is within a predetermined distance;

gripping the one or more ankles of the user, when the object is within the predetermined distance, using first and second robotic arms of the system; and

providing, using a GPS tracker, audible and/or tactile indications of directions to a desired destination.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining one or more characteristics of the object and identifying the object using the ultrasonic sensor and the processor; and

gripping the user'"'"'s ankle in an object-specific pattern based on the determining.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

emitting auditory signals and/or messages when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object, using one or more speakers; and

emitting object-specific auditory signals and/or messages when the ultrasonic sensor and the processor determine the one or more characteristics of the object and identify the object, using the one or more speakers.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

emitting vibrations when the ultrasonic sensor detects the object, using first and second vibrators on the robotic arms, respectively; and

emitting object-specific vibrations when the ultrasonic sensor and the processor determine the one or more characteristics of the object and identify the object, using the first and second vibrators on the robotics.