Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
340400100 | Communication or control for the handicapped | 42 |
20110025455 | ADAPTIVE MIDI WIND CONTROLLER DEVICE - Provided is a system controller device intended for use by persons having limited or no use of their hands. The device includes a first air sensor configured to provide a first electromagnetic signal representative of an air pressure or an air-flow, or a combination thereof, a second orientation sensor configured to provide a second electromagnetic signal representative of a relative orientation or a change of orientation, or a combination thereof, of said first sensor, a third linear position sensor configured to provide a third electromagnetic signal representative of a relative position or change of position, or a combination thereof, of said first sensor along a linear carriage, and a signal processor configured to combine said first, said second and said third electromagnetic signals to provide an event message. | 02-03-2011 |
20110037560 | METHOD FOR INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE - A guiding device includes: a fixed guiding device consisting of a marking ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110095862 | ALARM SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WARNING OF EMERGENCIES - An alarm system and method for warning of emergencies are provided. The method predefines a sign language list, and stores the sign language list in a storage device of a terminal device connected to at least one video camera. The method can control the video camera to capture sign images of a person when the person warns of an emergency using sign language, and combine the sign images to create a combined image. In addition, the method analyzes each of the sign images of the combined image to generate a group of sign numbers according to the sign language list stored in the storage device, generates a sign event according to the group of sign numbers, and responds to the sign event using a corresponding alarm. | 04-28-2011 |
20110199179 | PROPORTIONAL JOYSTICK WITH INTEGRAL SWITCH - An input device, such as a joystick, provides proportional input signals related to a position of an actuating member along an actuation surface and also includes a switch that provides an additional signal when the actuating member is moved in a direction perpendicular to the actuation surface. | 08-18-2011 |
20110279222 | TRAVEL ASSISTANT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED - The present invention relates to a system for guiding the blind, visually impaired, and low vision riders to a specific transportation device (mobile landmark) on a transit system. The network for guiding individuals through a transportation system involves at least one transmitter displaced on a transportation vehicle which identifies the specific identity of said transportation device by transmitting an identity signal that is recognized by interface of handheld apparatus. | 11-17-2011 |
20120169454 | LISTENING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ALERTING DEVICE AND A LISTENING DEVICE - A listening system that eases the acknowledgement of ‘alarm signals’, as e.g. issued by alarm indicators, in the environment of a user in difficult listening situations. The listening system is adapted to issue specific ALARM mode signals to the user corresponding to said external alarm signals, when said listening system is in an ALARM mode. An advantage of the present system is that a user is able to take notice of alarms from normal indicators even in case of a hearing impairment and/or when located in a noisy environment. The system may e.g. be used for the hearing instruments, ear protection devices, earphones, headsets or combinations thereof. | 07-05-2012 |
20130113601 | Obstacle Detection for Visually Impaired Persons - Systems, components, and methods are described for obstacle detection by visually impaired users. A system can include a support element, such as a mobility cane, and one or more object sensors such as sonar, lidar, RF, or radar sensors. A system can also include a control system. A user interface may be included. The user interface may be attached or connected to the control system and/or support element. The object sensors may be oriented in multiple, separate directions. | 05-09-2013 |
20130293344 | SENSOR-BASED MOVEMENT GUIDANCE - Technologies are generally described for methods, instructions, and applications for a user-guidance system. In some examples, the system may include sensors to measure current weight distribution of a user of the user-guidance system and to transmit resulting measured weight distribution data, a guidance apparatus to calculate a subsequent user movement based on at least the measured weight distribution data and to transmit resulting user movement instructions, and an actuator to produce actuating signals, based on at least the user movement instructions, that provide instructions for the subsequent user movement. | 11-07-2013 |
20140055229 | INFRA RED BASED DEVICES FOR GUIDING BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS - A method and device for guiding a blind or visually impaired person are provided herein. The method includes the following stages: emitting one or more Infra Red (IR) light beams ( | 02-27-2014 |
20140327514 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF A USER IN AN AREA - Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed. | 11-06-2014 |
20150339905 | IDENTIFYING A CHANGE IN A HOME ENVIRONMENT - A system and computer implemented method for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user is disclosed. The method may include monitoring the home environment using a set of sensors configured to collect environment data for a set of areas of the home environment. The method may also include detecting an environmental change in an area of the home environment. The method may also include providing, in response to a triggering event, a notification of the environmental change. | 11-26-2015 |
20160134385 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS TO THE HEARING IMPAIRED - Described are systems and methods for communicating emergency alerts to a hearing-impaired user. Queries are performed to one or more emergency alert databases to develop emergency alert notifications. At least some of the emergency alert notifications are filtered responsive to user selected criteria to select one or more filtered emergency alerts. An attention desired indicator is transmitted to a hearing-impaired user device that subscribes to a hearing-impaired relay service supported by the server if the one or more filtered emergency alerts are present. The filtered emergency alerts are transmitted to the hearing-impaired user device in response to a emergency information query from that user device. | 05-12-2016 |
340400110 | Remote control | 9 |
20110063073 | TACTILE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a tactile remote control system, which uses a processor to integrate the operation selection items of controlled devices and arrange the selection items into a graphic user interface, and which uses a microswitch to output instructions. The processor arranges the graphic user interfaces of a controlled device hierarchically. Therefore, the graphic user interfaces have organizationality, logicality and continuity. The user watches the display and operates the microswitches to remotely control the controlled devices. The present invention integrates the control functions to assist the user to control the daily-life electronic devices and household appliances. The present invention enables any one, who has been briefly instructed, to remotely control the linked devices by his will. | 03-17-2011 |
20110304424 | DEVICE TO CONTROL AN ELECTRONIC OR COMPUTER SYSTEM UTILIZING A FLUID FLOW AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet and the one exhaust opening, at least one segment positioned inside the body and one or more contactors positioned to be intermittently in contact with the at least one segment. The contact may occur responsive to the fluid flow generated by the user. The device may include a sensor to react to a movement of the at least one segment. | 12-15-2011 |
20120062357 | REMOTE GUIDANCE SYSTEM - A method of providing assistance from an assistant to a user, wherein the user and the assistant are remote from each other, includes obtaining an image of an area adjacent the user, transmitting the image from the user to the assistant, and displaying the image on a display to the assistant. The method also includes transmitting a message generated by the assistant relating to the image from the assistant to the user and audibly outputting the message to the user. | 03-15-2012 |
20120299696 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROSTHETIC/ORTHOTIC DEVICE COMMUNICATION - A system and method for prosthetic/orthotic (PO) device and/or PO system communication. PO devices of the present invention may employ common communications and/or communications/control modules that allow for wireless communication between PO devices and other devices, such as remote controls and data transfer devices. The present invention also provides for a methodology of determinant and non-interfering simultaneous communication between multiple PO devices of a PO system. | 11-29-2012 |
20120313745 | SYSTEM COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE AND A REMOTE CONTROL UNIT - The invention relates to a system comprising at least one orthopedic device having at least one joint ( | 12-13-2012 |
20130200992 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GUIDING THE WALKING DIRECTION OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED USING RFID BLOCKS - The present invention relates to a system and method for guiding the walking directions of a blind person using RFID blocks and, more particularly, to a system and method for guiding the walking directions of a blind person using RFID blocks, wherein an RFID reader wirelessly senses RF tags embedded in the blocks so as to guide walking directions by means of vibrations, buzzer sounds, and voice messages for guiding entry/exit directions, according to the types of pedestrian zones when a blind person walks along the blocks. The guiding system comprises: RFID tags for guiding the walking of a blind person; a plurality of blocks embedded in sidewalks which are divided into a junction zone block, a junction neighboring zone block and a general pedestrian zone block; a walking cane for receiving pedestrian zone information from the RFID tags in the plurality of blocks and outputting vibrations, sound effects and voice messages for guiding walking directions. The walking cane comprises: an antenna for receiving the pedestrian zone information by means of the RFID tags and a wireless transceiver; and a control part for generating vibrations when the blind person passes a general pedestrian zone block, generating vibrations and buzzer sounds when the blind person passes a junction neighboring zone, outputting vibrations and a voice guiding message for indicating a junction zone block when the blind person passes, and outputting vibrations and a voice guiding message for entry/exit directions when the blind person passes the junction neighboring zone block via the junction zone block. | 08-08-2013 |
20130257584 | HEARING AND SPEECH IMPAIRED ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONTROL - A sign language message may be derived from user movements detected proximate to an electronic device by comparing the movements to a database that includes data regarding one or more sign languages. A control function may then be identified which the electronic device may be caused to perform. Output related to the user's detected movements may be provided to the user. In some implementations, output specifying identified control functions may be transmitted to a presentation device. Further, in some implementations, if a sign language message and/or a control function cannot be unambiguously derived and/or identified, output promoting the user to provide additional information may be transmitted to a presentation device. Detected movements may be compared to data regarding multiple different sign languages and/or a subset of available multiple different sign languages. | 10-03-2013 |
20140354397 | Face-Operated Joystick Control System - Apparatus for controlling an object in real-time is described. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a frame, a bracket, and a stick controller. The frame is configured to be worn on a user's head and to inhibit relative movement between the frame and the user's head. The bracket extends from one or more portions of the frame and is positionable to extend to an area near the user's face with the frame is worn on the user's head. The stick controller is coupled to the bracket and being positionable for contact with user's face when the frame is worn on the user's head. | 12-04-2014 |
20160125705 | Methods And Systems For Augmentative And Alternative Communication - Methods and systems for augmentative and alternative communication are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a candidate input, classifying the candidate input as an intentional input, and generating a signal in response to the intentional input. | 05-05-2016 |
340400120 | Tactile | 13 |
20140077925 | DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT TO ASSIST VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE IN SENSING VOICE DIRECTION - A device, method and computer program product that provides tactile feedback to a visually impaired person to assist the visually impaired person in maintaining eye contact with another person when speaking to the other person. The eyeglass-based tactile response device includes a frame that has sensors mounted thereto, and a track that interconnects eyepieces on the device. In one example, a motor and a wheel are coupled to the track and are driven across the track depending on the amount of feedback to be provided to the user regarding how much the user should turn his or her head. | 03-20-2014 |
20140132388 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT TO ASSIST THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN NAVIGATION - A system, method and computer program product that provides tactile feedback to assist a visually impaired person in navigation and avoid collisions with obstacles (objects). The system comprises a pressure based tactile response device and a remote control device. The pressure based tactile response device comprises of a pressure pad which includes a plurality of pressure modules that provide a haptic response to the visually impaired person. With a feedback mechanism the pressure based tactile response device provides navigational information to the impaired person and ensures that collisions with obstacles are avoided. The remote control device comprises a plurality of sensors which enable the impaired person to locate the pressure based tactile response device when it is not in his possession. | 05-15-2014 |
20140184384 | WEARABLE NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE FOR THE VISION-IMPAIRED - An assistive device includes a sensor that detects information using a first modality; an actuator that conveys information using a second, different modality; and a controller that automatically receives information from the sensor and operates the actuator to provide a corresponding actuation. A sensory assisting system for a user includes assistive devices and a support the user wears to hold the devices in proximity to body parts. The fields of view of the devices' sensors extend at least partly outward from the body parts. The controller reads the sensors and operates the corresponding actuators. A method of configuring a sensory assisting system includes successively activating actuators and receiving corresponding user feedback; determining perceptibility relationships for devices per the feedback; and repeatedly: activating the actuators per a virtual environment, a user avatar position, and the relationships; receiving a user navigation command; and moving the user avatar. | 07-03-2014 |
20140266570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HAPTIC BASED INTERACTION - A haptic feedback based shoe including at least one microprocessor unit configured to control at least one operation of the shoe, at least one battery configured to provide a power supply voltage, and at least one Radio Frequency (RF) unit configured to communicate with at least one external electronic device using at least one wireless communication protocol. The shoe further includes at least one vibration motor configured to generate at least one pattern of vibration, at least one inertial motion unit (IMU), the at least one IMU further including at least one magnetometer configured to provide at least one reading indicative of orientation. The shoe further includes at least one camera configured to provide at least one image data to the at least one microprocessor unit, the at least one microprocessor unit further configured to detect at least one obstacle from the at least one image. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266571 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HAPTIC BASED INTERACTION - A haptic feedback based shoe including at least one microprocessor unit configured to control at least one operation of the shoe, at least one battery configured to provide a power supply voltage, and at least one Radio Frequency (RF) unit configured to communicate with at least one external electronic device using at least one wireless communication protocol. The shoe further includes at least one vibration motor configured to generate at least one pattern of vibration, at least one inertial motion unit (IMU), the at least one IMU further including at least one magnetometer configured to provide at least one reading indicative of orientation. The shoe further includes at least one camera configured to provide at least one image data to the at least one microprocessor unit, the at least one microprocessor unit further configured to detect at least one obstacle from the at least one image. | 09-18-2014 |
20150070129 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE TO A USER - Methods and systems for providing navigation assistance to a user are disclosed. A method for providing navigation assistance to a user includes defining at least one virtual wall along at least a portion of a path for navigation through an environment. The at least one virtual wall is offset from the path by an offset distance. The method further includes determining a location of the user and providing tactile feedback to the user, automatically by a processor, when the location of the user is within a threshold distance of the at least one virtual wall. | 03-12-2015 |
20150294597 | SOMATOSENSORY FEEDBACK WEARABLE OBJECT - Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving, from a sensor array, three-dimensional sensory data associated with an environment of a person. The three-dimensional sensory data is converted into a two-dimensional representation. An obstacle is located within the environment based upon the sensory data. The obstacle is mapped onto the two-dimensional representation and the two-dimensional representation is mapped onto a plurality of actuators within a vibrotactile interface. One or more of a plurality of actuators are controlled based upon the mapping of the two-dimensional representation onto the plurality of actuators to provide tactile input to the person that represents a location of the obstacle. | 10-15-2015 |
20150356889 | WEARABLE VIBRATION DEVICE - A wearable vibration device is provided. The wearable vibration device includes a band having at least one vibration device attached to the band. A power source is operatively connected to the vibration device. The vibration device may further include an input configured to connect to a music playing device. The vibration device produces a vibration based on the output of the music playing device. | 12-10-2015 |
20160005335 | COLOR DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLOR DETECTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED - The color detection system relates generally to an intelligent system, apparatuses and methods to aid the visually impaired. More specifically, the color detection system is a system in the field of biomedical engineering designed to help the visually impaired to experience colors through experience, training, and sensory association. The system is such that it decodes color into parameters as per a predetermined coding scheme. The parameters are then sent to the visually impaired person as biofeedback capable of taking various forms such as a voltage signals, vibration motions, auditory pitches, and pinboards. The system can be used in several ways such as and including color recognition, sensory association, painting, and color recognition exercises. The color detection system includes a control unit using sensors. The control unit has a central processing unit for processing signals and a number of output units for transmitting the biofeedback to a visually impaired individual. | 01-07-2016 |
20160019817 | WEARABLE HAPTIC DEVICE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED - This disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a wearable haptic device for the visually impaired. The techniques enable users to interact with their mobile devices using haptics, both to receive information, such as through haptic projections providing Braille symbols from their devices, and to make selections for their devices, such as through haptic guides. The techniques may also enable users to better move from place to place by providing haptic output indicating objects and impediments to the user of the wearable haptic device. | 01-21-2016 |
20160027338 | WEARABLE SOUND - Vibratory motors are used to generate a haptic language for music or other sound that is integrated into wearable technology. The disclosed system enables the creation of a family of devices that allow people with hearing impairments to experience sounds such as music or other auditory input to the system. For example, a “sound vest” or one or more straps comprising a set of motors transforms musical input to haptic signals so that users can experience their favorite music in a unique way, and can also recognize auditory cues in the user's everyday environment and convey this information to the user using haptic signals. | 01-28-2016 |
20160042666 | Converting Audio to Haptic Feedback in an Electronic Device - In general, in one aspect, a method performed by one or more processes executing on a computer systems includes receiving an audio signal comprising a range of audio frequencies including high frequencies and low frequencies, converting a first portion of the range of audio frequencies into haptic data, shifting a second portion of the range of audio frequencies to a different range of audio frequencies, and presenting at least one of the converted first portion and the shifted second portion to a human user. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. | 02-11-2016 |
20180021207 | METHOD, DEVICE AND HELMET FOR GUIDING THE BLIND | 01-25-2018 |
340400130 | Visual | 4 |
20130162391 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND NUMBER INPUT METHOD - A computerized method for inputting numbers 0-9 using a communication device, the communication device includes an input unit defining a touch sensitive circular guideway thereon configured for inputting the numbers 0-9. The circular guideway is divided into a plurality of identical segments. A movement distance of a slide action applied on the circular guideway along a predetermined direction from a predetermined starting point on the circular guideway is detected. An inputted number is determined according to the movement distance of the slide action and a length of each of the segments, when the slide action on the circular guideway is completed. | 06-27-2013 |
20140176296 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING MOTION SICKNESS - Methods and systems are provided herein for reducing or eliminating motion sickness in users of devices, such as mobile devices, in a variety of environments, including methods and systems for sensing motion in the user's environment and providing feedback that encourages a user to orient in a motion-reducing manner. | 06-26-2014 |
20140266572 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS TO THE HEARING IMPAIRED - Systems and methods for communicating emergency alerts to a hearing-impaired user are disclosed. Queries are performed to one or more emergency alert databases to develop emergency alert notifications. At least some of the emergency alert notifications are filtered responsive to user selected criteria to select one or more filtered emergency alerts. An attention desired indicator is transmitted to a hearing-impaired user device that subscribes to a hearing-impaired relay service supported by the server if the one or more filtered emergency alerts are present. The filtered emergency alerts are transmitted to the hearing-impaired user device in response to a emergency information query from that user device. | 09-18-2014 |
20160114238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATHLETIC COMPETITION SIGNALING - In a competitive athletic event the disclosed signaling system provides for visually signaling of participants, for example, a lane specific visible indication to begin a race. A sequence of light colors is used to signal the start of a race, and is believed advantageous over an audible start signal, particularly for athletes who are hearing impaired. | 04-28-2016 |
340400140 | Audible | 4 |
20120112876 | ROAD GUIDE APPARATUS FOR A VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON - The present invention relates to a road guide apparatus for a visually impaired person, which not only senses the yellow color of Braille blocks installed on a road to guide the visually impaired person, but also reads information from an RFID tag to guide the visually impaired person. The road guide apparatus for a visually impaired person comprises a road sensing apparatus | 05-10-2012 |
20140176297 | SELF-LEARNING HEARING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A method of operating a system for providing hearing assistance involves capturing audio signals by a manually controlled transmission unit having a user interface and default values setting transmission unit operating parameter storage, and transmitting audio signals from the transmission unit to a receiver unit, the audio signals being processed in the receiver unit and/or in the transmission unit; stimulating the user's hearing according to the audio signals from the receiver unit; logging user preference data by recording data concerning the manual operation of the user interface of the transmission unit and by recording data concerning the respective use situation of the transmission unit; evaluating, in the transmission unit, the logged user preference data to extract user preferences concerning use of the transmission unit; and adjusting, in the transmission unit, the stored default values of the at least one operating parameter setting according to said extracted user preferences. | 06-26-2014 |
20150317914 | Acoustic Representations of Environments - Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for acoustic representations of environments. A processor can execute an acoustic representation service. The processor can receive a request to provide acoustic representation data to a device. The processor can obtain input data from the device. The input data can include captured data. The processor can analyze the input data to recognize an object represented in or by the input data and a path associated with the object. The processor can generate acoustic representation data representing the object and the path, and provide the acoustic representation data to the device. | 11-05-2015 |
20150356837 | Device for Detecting Surroundings - The invention relates to a device for detecting an environment, wherein the device includes at least one sensor unit, as well as at least one evaluation unit, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one distance sensor, as well as at least one position sensor, by means of which position sensor the spatial position of the at least one sensor unit, or the at least one distance sensor in relation to a horizontal plane can be determined, and wherein distance data from the distance sensor are only recorded when the at least one position sensor registers an acceptable position of the at least one distance sensor, or the distance data of the at least one distance sensor are only transmitted to the at least one evaluation unit when the at least one position sensor registers an acceptable position of the at least one distance sensor, or the distance data determined by the at least one distance sensor are recorded together with the associated position data, and the evaluation unit generates at least one virtual image of the environment recorded by the at least one distance sensor based on the distance data, taking the position data into account, if applicable. | 12-10-2015 |