초록 ▼

A conventional mobility cane for the blind incorporates a compact, dual-mode, ultrasonic obstacle detection sensor that includes a combination transmitting and receiving, capacitance type electrostatic transducer. The size of the protective zone associated with said sensor is infinitely variable. In

A conventional mobility cane for the blind incorporates a compact, dual-mode, ultrasonic obstacle detection sensor that includes a combination transmitting and receiving, capacitance type electrostatic transducer. The size of the protective zone associated with said sensor is infinitely variable. In one mode, the sensor warns of low lying objects that might contact the upper extremities of an ambulatory mobility cane user. In another mode, the user can determine the presence or absence of more remote objects. Means are provided for readily alternating between said object sensor modes.

대표청구항 ▼

A mobility cane for use by a visually impaired person, said mobility cane comprising: an elongated member, having a longitudinal axis, that is capable of having its said longitudinal axis maintained at a fairly constant acute angle with respect to the ground by the extended hand of an ambulatory vis

A mobility cane for use by a visually impaired person, said mobility cane comprising: an elongated member, having a longitudinal axis, that is capable of having its said longitudinal axis maintained at a fairly constant acute angle with respect to the ground by the extended hand of an ambulatory visually impaired person; and ultrasonic obstacle detection apparatus mounted on said elongated member for warning said visually impaired person of elevated objects that might impede ambulatory movement, whenever such objects enter a predetermined spatial zone having a maximum and minimum spatial zone depth, said detection apparatus including, an adjustably mounted transmitting and receiving, capacitance type, electrostatic transducer having a particular ultrasonic energy transmission and reception pattern wherein said predetermined zone is a function of said pattern, and manually adjustable means for varying the depth of said predetermined zone to any one of a multiplicity of zone depths less than said maximum zone depth and greater than said minimum zone depth such that a portion of said spatial zone remains at a fixed distance from said transducer whenever said means is adjusted for the purpose of varying said spatial zone depth.