Route guidance and obstacle avoidance system
OwnerJennifer Hendrixinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A route guidance and obstacle avoidance system for the visually impaired includes a main body assembly worn around the body of the user and a headset assembly worn around the head of the user. The system incorporates obstacle avoidance technology and navigation technology to generate a 3D audio output to a user so as to generate an audible virtual environment reflective of the physical environment of the user. The assemblies include line of sight sensors, a central processing unit, a navigation module, and a camera assembly. Obstacles are detected and classified with a location and distance, and are concurrently processed with real time navigation that is adjusted to instruct not only how to get to a location but also how to avoid obstacles.
Claims20
A route guidance and obstacle avoidance system for a visually impaired user, comprising:
- a main body assembly including a line of sight sensor and a central processing unit, the line of sight sensor configured to detect obstacles in front of the user, the main body assembly being secured to a front portion of the user;
- a navigation module in the main body assembly configured to locate the user and report navigation information to the central processing unit;
- and
- a headset assembly including a line of sight sensor and a pair of headphones, the headset assembly being worn in communication with a head of the user, the line of sight sensor of the headset assembly being used to track the viewing direction of the head in relation to the main body assembly;
- wherein the central processing unit receives data communication from the line of sight sensors in the main body assembly and the headset assembly to detect the obstacles in the path of the user as determined by the navigation module;
- and
- wherein the central processing unit synthesizes the data communication and the navigation information to generate a 3D audible output to the user through the pair of headphones, the 3D audible output being a real time audible representation of a physical environment of the user.
A route guidance and obstacle avoidance system for a visually impaired user, comprising:
- a main body assembly including a line of sight sensor and a central processing unit, the line of sight sensor configured to detect obstacles in front of the user, the main body assembly being secured to a front portion of the user;
- a navigation module in the main body assembly configured to locate the user and report navigation information to the central processing unit;
- a camera assembly within the main body assembly configured to collect video data of the user's surroundings and transmit the video data to the central processing unit;
- a headset assembly including a line of sight sensor and a pair of headphones, the headset assembly being worn in communication with a head of the user, the line of sight sensor of the headset assembly being used to track the viewing direction of the head in relation to the main body assembly;
- and
- a portable electronic device in communication with at least one of the main body assembly and the headset assembly, the portable electronic device configured to receive user inputs from an input/output interface and transmit input data to regulate one or more system performance characteristics;
- wherein the central processing unit receives data communication from the line of sight sensors in the main body assembly and the headset assembly to detect the obstacles in the path of the user as determined by the navigation module;
- and
- wherein the central processing unit synthesizes the data communication and the navigation information to generate a 3D audible output to the user through the pair of headphones, the 3D audible output being a real time audible representation of a physical environment of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.