Methods and apparatuses for assisting a visually-impaired user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9530299-B2
Application number	US-201514636813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for assisting a visually-impaired user is provided. The method includes determining, based upon an input from at least one sensor, a body position or posture of a user. The method also compares, using a processor, the determined body position to a plurality of body positions or postures to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable. The method further includes providing a feedback signal indicating a change in body position or posture to assist the visually impaired user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for assisting a visually-impaired user comprising:
determining, based upon an input from at least one sensor, a body position or posture of a visually-impaired user;
comparing, using a processor, the determined body position or posture to a plurality of body positions or postures to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable; and
providing a feedback signal indicating a change in the determined body position or posture to assist the visually-impaired user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of the group of: a camera, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a microphone, an acceleration sensor and an orientation sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a setting or context relating to an activity of the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of body positions or postures correspond to the determined setting or context.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the operation of comparing is performed via a look up table.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the look up table comprises a plurality of settings or contexts and at least one acceptable body position or posture corresponding to each of the plurality of settings or contexts.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the look up table comprises a plurality of settings or contexts and at least one unacceptable body position or posture corresponding to each of the plurality of settings or contexts.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the feedback signal is provided via at least one of the group comprising: a speaker, a buzzer, a vibrator and a light emitting diode (LED).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of comparing the determined body position or posture to a plurality of body positions or postures to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable comprises accessing a data structure using a setting or context relating to an activity of the visually-impaired user to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data structure comprises at least one of the group of: a look up table, a database, and a relational database.

11. A wearable apparatus having a necklace form-factor comprising:
a support adapted to extend around a neck of a visually-impaired user;
a sensor coupled to the support and adapted to detect a parameter related to a body position or posture of the visually-impaired user of the apparatus and provide a corresponding output; and
a controller coupled to the support and adapted to:
determine, based upon the output from the sensor, a body position or posture of the user;
compare the determined body position or posture to a plurality of body positions or postures to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable; and
provide a feedback signal indicating a change in the determined body position or posture to the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of the group of: a camera, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a microphone, an acceleration sensor and an orientation sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is further adapted to determine a setting or context relating to an activity of the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of body positions or postures correspond to the determined setting or context.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the controller is adapted to compare the determined body position or posture via a look up table.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the look up table comprises a plurality of settings or contexts and at least one acceptable body position or posture corresponding to each of the plurality of settings or contexts.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the look up table comprises a plurality of settings or contexts and at least one unacceptable body position or posture corresponding to each of the plurality of settings or contexts.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to provide the feedback signal via at least one of the group comprising: a speaker, a buzzer, a vibrator and a light emitting diode (LED).

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to compare the determined body position or posture to a plurality of body positions or postures to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable by accessing a data structure using a setting or context relating to an activity of the visually-impaired user to identify whether the determined body position or posture is acceptable.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the data structure comprises at least one of the group of: a look up table, a database, and a relational database.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Eng & Mfg North America Inc

Inventors

• Dayal Rajiv

Classifications

• G09B21/003 Primary

  using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays · CPC title

• G08B21/0446 Primary

  worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait · CPC title

• G09B21/001

  Teaching or communicating with blind persons (G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• G09B21/008

  using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted · CPC title

• G09B21/006

  using audible presentation of the information · CPC title