JPH07112479B2 - Guidance method for visually impaired persons using magnetic marker and guide way for visually impaired persons - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for guiding walking of a visually impaired person and a guide path for the visually impaired person.

[Conventional technology]

A magnetic guidance system is known as a method for safely guiding a visually impaired person when the visually impaired person walks on the road.

This system lays a magnetic marker such as a ferrite block on the road, equips a walking stick or shoes worn by the visually impaired with a magnetic sensor, according to the walking of the visually impaired,
This is a method in which the presence or absence of a magnetic marker on the road is detected by a magnetic sensor, and guidance is performed while tracking the installation direction of the magnetic marker.

When this system is used, the unevenness is not formed on the road surface as in the case where conventional blocks for visually impaired people (Braille blocks) are laid on the road to guide the road surface, and the road surface is the same as a normal road block. Can be formed, and the magnetically sensed signal can be converted into voice so that necessary information can be transmitted to the visually impaired by the voice signal.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, when using the conventional magnetic guidance method, unlike a so-called braille block in which the guide path is traced by the feel of the foot, the magnetic field incorporated in the walking stick or shoes of a visually impaired person walking along the magnetic guide path is different. The sensor traces the magnetic block of the guide path and detects two signals, an ON signal when the block is in contact with or near the magnetic sensor and an OFF signal when the block is out of the magnetic block. This is not enough information for the visually impaired to walk safely because it only discriminates and walks relying on the ON signal.

On general roads, not only continuous and safe walking paths, but also distinctions between roads and sidewalks, intersections, pedestrian crossings, steps, stairs and other dangerous areas are scattered everywhere, and when they are slightly off the taxiway. There is a high risk of accidents such as falls and falls. This is not only a general road, but a railway platform,
The same is true in the building. These dangerous places or places where attention is required for walking cannot be identified simply by outputting ON / OFF signals from the magnetic sensor. For this reason, the sense of anxiety and stress experienced by the visually impaired person is extremely great.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for guiding a visually impaired person using a magnetic marker that can easily distinguish an area that can be normally passed safely from a dangerous area or an area where attention is required for walking, and a guide path thereof. It is in.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, in a method for guiding a visually impaired person using a magnetic marker according to the present invention, a change in a magnetic field formed in the vicinity of a magnetic marker laid on a road is generated as walking information, and walking is performed. A method for guiding a visually impaired person using a magnetic marker that guides the walking of a pedestrian while detecting the walking information emitted by the marker with a magnetic sensor possessed by a person, wherein the magnetic marker is a walking guide sign, It is a magnetic material that forms a warning sign.The walking guidance sign is a sign that is laid on the road as a sign that forms a regular walking path, and the warning sign is a sign in an area requiring caution in walking or a restricted area. As a part of the legitimate walkway, or one that is laid on the road separately from the legitimate walkway, the walking guidance sign and the warning sign differ in the magnetic permeability of the magnetic material and By approach The difference between the magnitudes of the magnetic fields formed around the respective signs is detected by a magnetic sensor to distinguish between the walking guide sign and the warning sign.

Further, in a taxiway for visually impaired persons using a magnetic marker according to the present invention, there is provided a walking path for visually impaired persons using a magnetic marker having a walking guidance sign and a warning sign on the road. The sign is laid on the road as a sign that forms a regular walkway, and the warning sign is a part of the regular walkway or separately from the regular walkway as a sign of an area requiring caution in walking or a restricted area. Laying on the road, the walking guide sign and the warning sign are made of magnetic materials with different magnetic permeability, and in response to an external magnetic field, a magnetic field change unique to each magnetic body is formed around the walking guide sign. The sign outputs a safety guidance signal to the magnetic sensor with a relatively small specific magnetic field strength formed in the surroundings, and the warning sign is a relatively large unique magnetic field strength formed in the surroundings. With a warning signal, vigilance Issue and outputs the arouse information attention to the other walking.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plane of a taxiway showing an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows an array of walking guide blocks 1 made of a magnetic material such as ferrite laid on a general road. The arrangement of the blocks 1 is normally spread continuously along the walking direction on the road, and the visually impaired person can use the magnetic sensors attached to the canes or the soles of shoes worn by the visually impaired person to block the blocks 1. It is possible to walk toward the destination by tracing the direction while detecting. 2 is
In a normal walking path formed by the arrangement of the magnetic walking guide blocks 1, the warning block is made of a magnetic material and is laid at a specific place in a region that is dangerous to a visually impaired person or a region that requires special attention when walking.

In the case of this embodiment, the walking guidance block 1 and the warning block 2
Is a series that is connected in series to form a magnetic induction path, and there is no particular distinction in terms of morphology, but only the magnetic characteristics are different. That is, the magnetic permeability of the magnetic substance of the walking guide block 1 is set low, and the magnetic permeability of the magnetic substance of the warning block 2 is set relatively high.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a magnetic sensor circuit. In the figure,
Reference numeral 3 is a sensor head incorporated in the tip of a cane or the bottom of shoes of a visually impaired person. The magnetic signal output sensed by the sensor head 3 is input to the small output detection unit 5 or the large output detection unit 6 through the impedance conversion unit 4 to determine the size of the signal input, and each signal is visually recognized through the information transmission unit 7 or 8. It is transmitted to the disabled person 9. The information transfer units 7 and 8 each have a function of converting a magnetic signal into a unique audio signal or mechanical vibration. Therefore, by connecting an earphone to each of the information transmissions 7 and 8, a voice corresponding to the magnitude of the magnetic output sensed by the sensor head 3 is output as walking information, and a vibrator is incorporated in the grip or the sole of the cane. By connecting the vibrator to the information transmission unit, vibrations according to the magnitude of the magnetic sensing output are transmitted to the human body as walking information.

The difference in the magnetic characteristics of the magnetic bodies used for the walking guide block 1 and the warning block 2 can be selected depending on the density and material of the magnetic bodies forming the respective block bodies.

For example, the walking guide block uses a magnetic material (ferrite) with a specific gravity of 3,1 and a magnetic permeability of 7.0, and the warning block has a specific gravity of 4.5 and a magnetic permeability.
When the 10.0 magnetic material (ferrite) is used, the same magnetic sensor can be used to clearly distinguish the two from the detection sensitivity. In FIG. 4, the walking guide block 1 and
A comparison of the magnetic sensitivities of the warning block 2 and the warning block 2 is shown. Fig. 4 shows that the sensor is oriented to the block at 90 ° and 45 ° relative angles, and the detection distance is 5 mm to 15 mm, respectively.
It is an example measured by changing to. The magnetic sensor used is a known one having two coils, one for exciting the exchange field and the other for detecting it. That is, the alternating magnetic field generated by the exciting coil is disturbed by the presence of ferrite, and the disturbance of the magnetic field specific to the ferrite is measured by the detecting coil.

As is clear from FIG. 4, for the walking guidance block,
35 at a detection distance of 5 to 15 mm for a 90 ° relationship angle
A sensitivity of 0mV to 70mV is obtained and 90 for the warning block.
750 mV at a detection distance of 5 to 15 mm when the related angle is °
A sensitivity of ~ 220 mV is obtained, with a sensitivity of 530 mV to 130 mV at a 45 ° relationship angle. Therefore, considering the usage situation of the sensor, set an appropriate value (for example, 380 mV) that exceeds the maximum detection sensitivity of the walking guidance block to the reference value, and set both as a safety guidance signal below the reference value and a danger above the reference value. Signals or warning signals or other information that calls attention to walking can be clearly distinguished.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which a warning block 2 is interposed at a key portion of the arrangement of the walking guidance block 1 occupying most of the taxiway. The position where the warning block 2 is installed is, for example, a pedestrian crossing, a crossing point, a base point or an end point of a stairway of a footbridge on a general road. For pedestrian crossings and intersections,
Pedestrians enter the roadway from the sidewalk, cross the roadway and enter the sidewalk on the opposite side, so it is a dangerous area in the general sense while walking on the roadway, but for visually impaired people the walking situation changes Or, the section can be called a dangerous area or an area that requires attention.

However, the warning block 2 can be freely laid over the entire section that crosses the road. In the case of the present embodiment, the walking information obtained from the walking guidance block 1 and the warning block 2
When the walking information obtained from is extracted as a sound or vibration, for example, if there is only a difference in strength or weakness, even if it is a loud sound or strong vibration as danger information, it depends on habituation when it continues for a certain time. Since misunderstanding and misunderstanding of information may occur, it is desirable to output a signal that can be clearly discriminated as walking information so as not to cause misunderstanding and misunderstanding. However, the walking guidance blocks 1 and the warning blocks 2 may be alternately arranged over the entire dangerous section, and the section requiring a warning may be alerted by repeating the strength of sound or vibration.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which the off-limits zone 11 is formed by an arrangement of only the warning blocks 2 separately from the regular walking path 10 formed by the arrangement of the walking guide blocks 1. This embodiment is used when a closed area 11 is continuously formed on the side of a regular walkway 10 or when there is a dangerous area on a part of the side of the walkway 10. The illustrated embodiment shows an example in which a dangerous area is continuously formed on one side, for example, at a corner of a sidewalk along a roadway. This embodiment also shows the limit of the walking range. When a visually handicapped person walks along the regular walking path 10 and loses sight of the walking guidance block 1 by turning to the right or left, there is no problem if it is possible to return to the walking section 10 again. When entering the off-limits zone 11, the warning block 2 is sensed by the magnetic sensor and a danger signal is emitted. The danger signal is sensed, the direction is changed, the walking guidance block 1 is struck, and the walking guidance block 1 is struck again on the regular walkway 10 again. You can go back. In particular, if you try to enter the corner of the walkway 10 further in the direction of the arrow as it is, the walking guidance block 1 will be lost, but the warning block 2 of the off-limits zone 11 ahead of it will be detected, so it will be reversed and the walking guidance block 1 will be detected. It is possible to go back on the regular walkway 10 by hitting, and follow the walk guide block 1 to proceed on the walkway 10 along the corner. The combination mode of the walking guide block 1 and the warning block 2 is not limited to the above embodiment, and obstacles, steps, depressions and other dangerous areas on the walking path are surrounded by warning blocks and detected by a magnetic sensor. It is also possible to issue warning information indicating that walking is prohibited when the user is instructed.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since at least two kinds of magnetic bodies having different magnetic permeability are used in the walking guideway of the visually impaired person, the magnetic permeability of the magnetic body is different. The same magnetic sensor can obtain two or more types of signals, and these signals can be used as a safety guidance signal for walking, a danger signal that alerts pedestrians to danger, a warning signal, and other information, which is visually impaired. It is possible to safely guide a person's walking. Further, according to the present invention, since the magnetic sensor senses the difference in the magnetic permeability of the magnetic material,
Even if magnetic bodies having different magnetic permeability are arranged adjacent to each other, the magnetic bodies do not affect each other, and the presence of each magnetic body makes it unique to each magnetic body generated around it. It is possible to make the magnetic sensor detect the disturbance of the magnetic field of the, and because the magnetic sensor output is not affected by the magnetic force from guardrails and other buildings and articles placed on the road, walking information It has the effect of reducing stress and anxiety during walking given to visually impaired persons.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the taxiway of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a magnetic sensor circuit, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing sensitivity comparison between a walking guidance block and a warning block. 1 ... Walking guidance block, 2 ... Warning block, 3 ... Sensor head, 4 ... Impedance conversion section, 5 ... Small output detection section, 6 ... Large output detection section, 7,8 ... Information transmission section, 9 ... … Visually impaired 10 …… Walking path, 11 …… No-entry zone

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 999999999 Atom Chemical Paint Co., Ltd. 3-9-2 Funato, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo (72) Fumitaka Obuchi 5-7-15 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo NEC Electric Ring Sakai Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fumio Yamauchi 5-7-15 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo NEC Electric Environment Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Motoshi Sato 2-9-3 Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo Century Tokyu Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukio Nakanouchi 810 Kumagaya, Kumagaya-shi, Saitama Riken Co., Ltd. Kumagaya Works (72) Inventor Akio Nishio 3-9-2 Funato, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Atom Chemical Paint Incorporated (56) Reference JP 63-249559 (JP, A) JP 63-251508 (JP, A) JP 54-67399 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A change in a magnetic field formed near a magnetic marker laid on the road is generated as walking information, and a magnetic sensor carried by the pedestrian detects the walking information generated by the marker, while detecting the walking information of the pedestrian. A method for guiding a visually impaired person using a magnetic marker that guides walking, wherein the magnetic marker is a magnetic material that forms a walking marker and a warning marker, and the walking marker is a regular walking path. The warning sign is a sign that is laid on the road as a sign that forms a road, and the warning sign is a part of the regular walkway as a sign of an area requiring caution in walking or a restricted area, or on the road separately from the regular walkway. The walking guidance sign and the warning sign differ in the magnetic permeability of the magnetic material, and the magnetic sensor detects the difference in the magnitude of the magnetic field formed around each sign when the magnetic sensors approach each other. To detect and walk A method for guiding a visually impaired person using a magnetic substance marker, which is characterized by distinguishing between a line guidance marker and a warning marker. 2. A guide path for visually impaired persons using a magnetic marker having a walking guide sign and a warning sign on the road, wherein the guide sign is laid on the road as a sign forming a regular walk path. The warning sign is laid on the road as a part of the legitimate walkway or separately from the legitimate walkway as a sign of an area requiring caution in walking or an off-limits area, and the walking guidance sign and the warning sign are transparent. It consists of magnetic materials with different magnetic susceptibilities, and changes the magnetic field unique to each magnetic material in the surroundings in response to an external magnetic field. The safety guide signal is output to the magnetic sensor with the size of the warning signal, and the warning sign is a warning signal, warning signal, or other information that calls attention to walking due to the relatively large unique magnetic field formed in the surrounding area. Is to output Taxiway Blind with magnetic label and said and.