EP0632419A1 - Führungsvorrichtung - Google Patents
Führungsvorrichtung Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0632419A1 EP0632419A1 EP94107718A EP94107718A EP0632419A1 EP 0632419 A1 EP0632419 A1 EP 0632419A1 EP 94107718 A EP94107718 A EP 94107718A EP 94107718 A EP94107718 A EP 94107718A EP 0632419 A1 EP0632419 A1 EP 0632419A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- generating
- coil
- alternating current
- walker
- section
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/005—Traffic control systems for road vehicles including pedestrian guidance indicator
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F27/00—Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
- G09F2027/001—Comprising a presence or proximity detector
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a guide apparatus, and more specifically to a guide apparatus such that various information can be given to a person carrying a soft magnetic substance when he enters a predetermined area.
- wire broadcasting or radio broadcasting has been well known as means for supplying various information to a foot passenger or a walker.
- a plurality of speakers connected to a ground station through wires are arranged at predetermined intervals along a road, and speech information is given from the ground station to walkers via the speakers.
- a radio transmitter is installed in a ground station and a radio receiver is carried by a walker so that various information can be given from the station to the walker through the receiver where necessary.
- the present invention provides a guide apparatus having a first apparatus for supplying information to a walker by detecting change in a magnetic field generated thereby and a second apparatus for exerting an influence upon the magnetic field of the first apparatus, characterized in that: the first apparatus is a road side apparatus (1) comprising: a first alternating current generating section (2) for generating a first alternating current; at least one first coil (3) for generating the magnetic field by the first alternating current; at least one first driving section (7) for detecting change in impedance of said first coil and outputting a first drive signal on the basis of the detected change in the first coil impedance; and a speech generating section (9, 11) for generating speech information in response to the outputted first drive signal, and the second apparatus is a walker side apparatus (20, 40, 60) comprising a soft magnetic substance (5) for changing the first coil impedance when carried by a walker.
- the first apparatus is a road side apparatus (1) comprising: a first alternating current generating section (2) for generating a first alternating
- the walker whenever a walker who carries a soft magnetic substance passes through the magnetic field, since the speech generating section generates speech information on the basis of the first drive signal outputted by the first driving section, the walker can obtain necessary speech information. In this case, since the information can be obtained by simply carrying the soft magnetic substance, the cost is low.
- the present invention provides a guide apparatus for supplying information to a walker characterized by: a road side apparatus (1) Comprising: a first alternating current generating section (2) for generating a first alternating current; at least two first coils (3a, 3b) for generating at least two magnetic fields (S1) by the first alternating current; at least two first driving sections (7a, 7b) for detecting change in impedance of each of said first coils and outputting each of first drive signals on the basis of the detected change in the first coil impedances; a control section (29) for discriminating whether the two first drive signals are generated in a predetermined sequence and outputting a control signal only when the two first drive signals are generated in a predetermined sequence; and a speech generating section (9, 11) for generating speech information in response to the outputted control signal, and a walker side apparatus (20, 40, 60) comprising a soft magnetic substance (5) for changing the first coil impedances, in sequence when carried by a walker.
- a road side apparatus (1)
- This guide apparatus is suitable particularly for when a specific person (e.g., a visually handicapped person) is guided at a crossing or a pedestrian crossing, for instance.
- a specific person e.g., a visually handicapped person
- the guide apparatus of the present invention is roughly composed of a road side apparatus and a walker side apparatus.
- Fig. 1 shows the road side apparatus 1, which is composed of an alternating current generating section 2 for generating an alternating current; two coils 3 (3a and 3b) each for generating a magnetic field within a predetermined range on the basis of the generated alternating current; two driving sections 7a and 7b each for outputting a drive signal whenever the magnetic field generated by the coil 3a or 3b is affected by a soft magnetic substance 5 (shown in Fig.
- the driving section 7a is connected in series to the first coil 3a, and the driving section 7b is connected to the second coil 3b.
- the alternating current generating section 2 is composed of an oscillating section 13, a waveform shaping section 15, and an amplifying section 17. Further, the driving section 7a or 7b is composed of an impedance converting section 19a or 19b, an amplifying section 21a or 21b, a rectifying section 23a or 23b, a smoothing section 25a or 25b, and a comparing section 27a or 27b.
- alternating current generating section 2 a square signal generated by an oscillating section 13 is waveform-shaped into a sine wave signal through a waveform shaping section 15, and further amplified through the amplifying section 17 to obtain a constant alternating current.
- the coils 3 are composed of first coils 3a and second coils 3b, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at each crossing, two first coils 3a and one second coil 3b are buried under the ground surface at each corner of a crossing across which the visually handicapped person is guided. To the crossing, the visually handicapped person is guided along blocks formed with raised points (referred to Braille point blocks).
- Three coils 3 (3a and 3b) are arranged at each corner of each crossing into an L-shaped pattern in such a way that the walker can pass through over the coils 3 in the sequence of the first coil 3a and the second coil 3b when he walks in one (going) direction but in the opposite sequence of the second coil 3b and the first coil 3a when he walks in the other (returning) direction. Further, when the alternating current is passed through these coils 3, a magnetic field S1 can be generated by each coil 3 in a predetermined range near the ground surface, as shown in Fig. 2.
- this soft magnetic substance 5 When a soft magnetic substance (e.g. , ferrite) 5 enters the magnetic field S1, the driving section 7 outputs a drive signal by detecting a change of impedance of the coil 3.
- This soft magnetic substance 5 is not magnetized but functions so as to change the impedance of the coil 3 when placed within the magnetic field S1. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, this soft magnetic substance 5 is fitted into an accommodating space formed at the lower end portion of a stick carried by the visually handicapped person, for instance.
- the accommodating space can be formed by separating the stick into two parts and then the two parts are engaged with each other through threads, for instance.
- the change of impedance of each coil is detected by the impedance converting section 19a or 19b; the detected impedance change is amplified by the amplifying section 21a or 21b; the amplified impedance change is rectified by the rectifying section 23a or 23b to obtained a rectified signal having a large pulsating range 8-1 or b-1; the rectified signal is smoothed by the smoothing section 25a or 25b; and the smoothed signal is converted into a digital pulse signal of "1" or "0" through the comparing section 27a or 27b, respectively.
- the digital pulse thus obtained is inputted to a control section 29.
- the control section 29 outputs a trigger pulse (as shown on the lowermost side in Fig. 4) only when the signals of the coils 3 are inputted in the sequence of the first coil 3a and the second coil 3b as shown in Fig. 4 to activate the speech information section 9. In contrast with this, the control section 29 does not output the trigger pulse when the signals of the coils 3 are inputted in the sequence of the second coil 3b and the first coil 3a to deactivate the speech information section 9.
- the speech information section 9 is provided with a tape recorder for recording the necessary information (e.g., WALK or DO NOT WALK) on a tape, for instance. Therefore, in response to the control signal supplied by the control section 29, the speech information section 9 is activated.
- a tape recorder for recording the necessary information (e.g., WALK or DO NOT WALK) on a tape, for instance. Therefore, in response to the control signal supplied by the control section 29, the speech information section 9 is activated.
- the speech information signals generated by the speech information section 9 are amplified by a power amplifying section 31, and then outputted through a speech generating section (e.g., speaker) 11.
- a speech generating section e.g., speaker
- the control section 29 outputs a control signal on the basis of the change of the magnetic field.
- the speech information section 9 is activated to generate the information.
- the generated information is outputted through the speech generating section 11 as a speech, with the result that the walker can obtain the necessary information.
- the soft magnetic substance 5 is relatively low in cost and further can be simply accommodated in the stick 20. Further, without being limited to only the soft magnetic substance 5, it is also possible to use an iron instead of the soft magnetic substance. Further, the above-mentioned guide apparatus can be applied to the ordinary persons, without being limited to the visually handicapped persons. In this case, it is desirable that the soft magnetic substance 5 of portable type is carried by walkers, instead of a stick.
- the road side apparatus is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.
- the walker side apparatus (the stick) is different from that of the first embodiment.
- another alternating current generating section 42 within the stick 40, there are arranged another coil 43 for generating another magnetic field, another driving section 47 for outputting another drive signal when a change in impedance of the coil 43 is detected, and another speech generating section 51 for generating speech information on the basis of the other drive signal.
- the coil 5 is wound around a soft magnetic substance 43.
- the drive section 47 detects a change in coil impedance, necessary information is given to the walker through the speech generating section 51 as a predetermined speech.
- the above-mentioned elements arranged in the stick 40 must be small in the power consumption, the supply voltage, the capacitance, etc. in comparison with those used in the road side apparatus 1.
- a speech synthesizing IC chip may be used instead of the tape recorder.
- Fig. 7 shows a modification of the second embodiment, in which a vibration generating section 62 is assembled within a stick 60, instead of the speech generating section 51 of the stick 40. That is, in this modification, the information (e.g., a danger message) is given to the walker by vibration generated by the stick 60.
- the information e.g., a danger message
- the information can be given to the walker more securely even when the road environment is noisy. This is because the ambient noise (e.g., the noise of running vehicles, the sound of footsteps of other persons, etc.) is an extremely important information for a visually handicapped person when he judges his own position and the environmental situation. Accordingly, it is important that the ambient noise must be well heard by the visually handicapped person.
- this modification for transmitting information by the vibration generating means is very effective, because the sense of hearing of a visually handicapped person will not be disturbed.
- Fig. 8 shows the case where the above-mentioned stick 40 or 60 is used in cooperation with the road side apparatus (which is the same as that shown in Fig. 2).
- the stick 40 or 60 is provided with the soft magnetic substance 5
- a speech is generated by the speech generating section 11 of the road side apparatus and another similar speech information or a vibration is simultaneously generated by the speech generating section 51 or the vibration generating section 62 of the walker side apparatus, so that necessary information can be supplied to the walker in overlapped conditions.
- the alternating magnetic field S1 of the coil is changed and the speech generating section 11 generates speech in the same way as the response to the soft magnetic substance. In this way, whether the switch of the stick 40, 60 is ON or OFF, the speech information is provided.
- Fig. 9 shows a third embodiment of the guide apparatus according to the present invention.
- a guide line 71 formed of a soft magnetic substance is laid along a road, as shown in Fig. 10.
- a magnetic field S2 is generated by the coil 43 of the stick 40 or 60.
- the driving section 47 of the stick 40 or 60 generates a drive signal.
- the speech generating section 51 or the vibration generating section 62 generates speech or vibration. Therefore, as far as the walker is walking along the guide line 71, since a speech or a vibration is generated, the walker can Judge whether he is now correctly walking along the guide line 71 or not. Further, when the walker is walking away from the guide line 71, no speech or no vibration is generated by the stick 40 or 60.
- a walker e.g., a visually handicapped person
- a soft magnetic substance it is possible to supply various information to the walker easily whenever he enters a predetermined magnetic field.
- any persons who want to obtain some information
- they can obtain various information easily at any places (e.g., an exhibit hall).
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
- Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11567493 | 1993-05-18 | ||
| JP115674/93 | 1993-05-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0632419A1 true EP0632419A1 (de) | 1995-01-04 |
Family
ID=14668487
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP94107718A Withdrawn EP0632419A1 (de) | 1993-05-18 | 1994-05-18 | Führungsvorrichtung |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0632419A1 (de) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3373261A1 (de) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-12 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Technik zur steuerung des physikalischen zugangs eines benutzers in bezug auf einen vorbestimmten bereich |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2437037A1 (fr) * | 1978-09-25 | 1980-04-18 | Silec Liaisons Elec | Dispositif de signalisation pour non-voyants |
| DE3045038A1 (de) * | 1980-11-27 | 1982-07-15 | Joachim 1000 Berlin Arnold | "schutzsystem gegen falschfahrer auf strassen mit getrennten richtungsfahrbahnen" |
| DE3711469A1 (de) * | 1987-04-04 | 1988-10-20 | Stuehrenberg Rolf | Verkehrssignal- und leitvorrichtung fuer blinde |
| EP0489620A1 (de) * | 1990-11-28 | 1992-06-10 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique | System und Verfahren zur Lenkung eines Robotors, der seine Bahn über Wegmarken definiert |
-
1994
- 1994-05-18 EP EP94107718A patent/EP0632419A1/de not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2437037A1 (fr) * | 1978-09-25 | 1980-04-18 | Silec Liaisons Elec | Dispositif de signalisation pour non-voyants |
| DE3045038A1 (de) * | 1980-11-27 | 1982-07-15 | Joachim 1000 Berlin Arnold | "schutzsystem gegen falschfahrer auf strassen mit getrennten richtungsfahrbahnen" |
| DE3711469A1 (de) * | 1987-04-04 | 1988-10-20 | Stuehrenberg Rolf | Verkehrssignal- und leitvorrichtung fuer blinde |
| EP0489620A1 (de) * | 1990-11-28 | 1992-06-10 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique | System und Verfahren zur Lenkung eines Robotors, der seine Bahn über Wegmarken definiert |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3373261A1 (de) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-12 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Technik zur steuerung des physikalischen zugangs eines benutzers in bezug auf einen vorbestimmten bereich |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19940518 |
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| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE |
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| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19971212 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
| 18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19990706 |