ELECTRONIC CANE FOR ASSISTING WITH MOBILITY OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE

摘要

The present document refers to an electronic cane formed by a standard white cane of any type, the handle of which is replaced with the electronic handle to which the present invention relates. The handle contains a series of ultrasonic sensors arranged with a particular orientation which will depend on the height and size of the user and from which it is possible to discriminate two spatial regions delimited at an approximate height of the waist of the blind person. The discrimination of these regions makes it possible to locate the position of objects in front of the user, involving an appropriate warning of overhead obstacles which are impossible to detect using a conventional white cane, and in turn makes it possible to remove redundant or unnecessary information relating to elements which do not pose an actual obstacle in the user's path. In a situation in which the user may collide with a suspended object which is impossible to detect with the contact of the cane itself, a warning is produced by means of the vibration of a bracelet placed on the user's wrist. The bracelet may be connected to the electronic cane by means of an electrical connection (cable) containing a safety connector. If the cane is embedded in an obstacle (for example a drainage system grille), the connector is released, preventing the user from experiencing a dangerous pull on the wrist thereof.