walking stick

Abstract

To enable surrounding persons to easily recognize that a stick is being used by a person.SOLUTION: A stick 10A includes a stick body 12, a control device 22, and a light source 32. The control device 22 flickers the light source 32 by changing a flickering frequency F of the light source 32 in response to a use state of the stick 10A by a user. The use state is a swing speed SP of the stick 10A. The control device 22 raises the flickering frequency F as the swing speed SP of the stick 10 becomes faster, so as to flicker the light source 32. An acceleration of the stick 10 is measured by an acceleration sensor 34, thereby to calculate the swing speed by an arithmetic unit 36 based on the measured acceleration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wand having a light source, and in particular to techniques for controlling that light source. [Background technology]

[0002] Wands with light sources are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a walking stick that has a piezoelectric element and a light-emitting element. When an impact occurs to the walking stick, the light-emitting element emits light due to the piezoelectric effect. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-160053 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, simply turning on the light source on a cane makes it difficult, especially at night, to distinguish between light sources on objects other than the cane (such as bicycle lights or pedestrian flashlights). For example, if a visually impaired person uses a cane equipped with a light source, it is difficult for people around them to recognize that the visually impaired person is using a cane just from the light emitted by the light source.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to make it easy for people around to recognize that a cane is being used by a person. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cane comprising a cane body, a light source provided in the cane body, and a control device that controls the flashing of the light source by changing the flashing frequency of the light source depending on how the user is using the cane body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, people around can easily recognize that a cane is being used by a person. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a walking stick according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cane according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a period during which a light source is turned on and a period during which the light source is turned off. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a user and a cane viewed from above the user's head. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing switches for adjusting the blinking frequency and duty ratio of the light source. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a walking stick according to an embodiment, showing a schematic cross-sectional view of a configuration for changing the flashing frequency depending on the state of use of the walking stick. [Figure 7] 1 is a map showing the relationship between the wand swing speed and the flashing frequency. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A walking stick according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a walking stick 10 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the walking stick 10.

[0011] The walking stick 10 includes a walking stick body 12, a grip portion 14, and a tip portion 16. The walking stick body 12 is a tubular (e.g., cylindrical) elongated member. The grip portion 14 is attached to one end of the walking stick body 12. The grip portion 14 is a member that is held by the user when the walking stick 10 is in use. The tip portion 16 is attached to the other end of the walking stick body 12. The tip portion 16 is a member that comes into contact with the ground, floor, etc. when the walking stick 10 is in use. For example, the tip portion 16 is made of a resin such as rubber.

[0012] The cane 10 also includes light sources 18 and 20. The light sources 18 and 20 are light-emitting bodies such as EL (Electro Luminescence) sheets. As shown in Figure 2, the light sources 18 and 20 are wrapped around the surface of the cane body 12 so as to cover the surface.

[0013] Light source 20 is wrapped around tip portion 16 of cane body 12. Light source 18 is wrapped around the surface of cane body 12 from grip portion 14 to light source 20. Light sources 18 and 20 each emit light of a different color. For example, light source 18 emits white light, and light source 20 emits red light. On the surface of cane body 12, the area occupied by light source 18 is larger than the area occupied by light source 20.

[0014] A control device 22 is provided inside the grip portion 14. The control device 22 is connected to the light sources 18, 20 by a cable 24 and controls the light emission of the light sources 18, 20.

[0015] The control device 22 may not be provided inside the grip portion 14, but may be attached to the outer surface of the grip portion 14. For example, a ring-shaped member may be attached to the outer surface of the grip portion 14, and the control device 22 may be provided inside the ring-shaped member.

[0016] A power supply that supplies power to the light sources 18, 20 is provided inside the cane body 12, the grip portion 14, or the tip portion 16. A power switch is also provided on the cane body 12 or the grip portion 14. For example, when a user turns on the switch, the control device 22 turns on the light sources 18, 20. This causes the light source 18 to emit white light and the light source 20 to emit red light. While the switch is on, the control device 22 may keep the light sources 18, 20 lit (constantly lit) or may blink the light sources 18, 20 according to a predetermined cycle.

[0017] For example, the cane 10 is used by a visually impaired person. The light source 18 occupies a wide area on the surface of the cane body 12, and the light source 18 emits white light. Therefore, most of the cane body 12 emits white light, and the tip of the cane body 12 emits red light. This makes it easy for people around to visually recognize that the cane 10 is a white cane used by a visually impaired person. For example, even at twilight or at night, people around can easily recognize that there is a visually impaired person using a white cane.

[0018] Furthermore, visually impaired people generally use their white canes by waving them from side to side with the tip touching the ground, floor, etc. When cane 10 is used in this manner, if light sources 18, 20 are always on, the afterimage effect that accompanies the waving motion of cane 10 can make it difficult for people around to recognize the shape of cane 10.

[0019] To address this, in this embodiment, the control device 22 blinks the light sources 18, 20. Furthermore, a blinking frequency F is set according to the usage status of the cane 10, and the control device 22 blinks the light sources 18, 20 in accordance with the blinking frequency F. The usage status is the speed at which the cane 10 is swung or the width of the range over which the cane 10 is swung.

[0020] A duty ratio D may be set according to the usage status of the cane 10. The duty ratio D is the ratio (τ / T) between the length of the period τ during which the light sources 18, 20 are on and the length of the period T during which the light sources 18, 20 are off. The control device 22 causes the light sources 18, 20 to blink in accordance with the duty ratio D. The periods τ and T are shown in FIG. 3. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents whether the light sources 18, 20 are on or off. The control device 22 turns on the light sources 18, 20 during the period τ, and then turns off the light sources 18, 20 for the period T following the period τ. Thereafter, the control device 22 repeatedly causes the light sources 18, 20 to blink in accordance with the duty ratio D.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the range in which the cane 10 is swung. Figure 4 is a diagram of the user 26 and the cane 10 viewed from above the head of the user 26. For example, the user 26 swings the cane 10 in the left and right directions in front of the user 26.

[0022] Typically, when a visually impaired person uses a white cane, the swing amplitude A of the cane 10 is approximately 800 mm, and the speed of the left-right reciprocation is 1.2 seconds per reciprocation. In this case, the flashing frequency F is set to 5 to 8 Hz, and the duty ratio D is set to 0.1 to 0.3. By flashing the light sources 18 and 20 under these conditions, the influence of the afterimage effect is suppressed. This makes it easier for people around to recognize the cane 10 as a white cane. Of course, these values ​​may vary depending on the body type of the person using the cane 10 and how it is used.

[0023] The flashing frequency F and the duty cycle D may be changed by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, ring-shaped switches 28 and 30 are provided at a position below the grip portion 14. The switches 28 and 30 are rotatable around the cane body 12 as an axis.

[0024] The switch 28 is a switch for adjusting the blinking frequency F. The blinking frequency F can be changed by rotating the switch 28. The control device 22 causes the light sources 18 and 20 to blink in accordance with the blinking frequency F adjusted by operating the switch 28.

[0025] The switch 30 is a switch for adjusting the duty ratio D. The duty ratio D can be changed by rotating the switch 30. The control device 22 causes the light sources 18 and 20 to blink in accordance with the duty ratio D adjusted by operating the switch 30.

[0026] The control device 22 changes the flashing frequency F depending on the state of use of the cane, but the detailed configuration for this is not shown in Figure 2. Below, the configuration for changing the flashing frequency F depending on the state of use of the cane will be explained again with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cane 10A according to a slightly modified embodiment.

[0027] Like the cane 10, the cane 10A includes a cane body 12, a grip portion 14, and a tip portion 16. A control device 22 is provided inside the grip portion 14.

[0028] The cane 10A includes a light source 32 instead of the light sources 18 and 20. The light source 32 is a rod-shaped light-emitting element. For example, the light source 32 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or other such light-emitting element. The light source 32 is provided inside the cane body 12, extending from the grip portion 14 to the tip portion 16. The control device 22 and the light source 32 are connected by a cable.

[0029] The cane body 12 is a pipe made of translucent resin (e.g., reinforced resin). The surface of the tip 12a (the portion on the tip portion 16 side) of the cane body 12 is colored red, and the surface of the portion 12b between the grip portion 14 and the tip 12a is colored white. The area occupied by portion 12b is larger than the area occupied by tip 12a. Therefore, to people around, the color of most of the cane body 12 is perceived as white, and the color of the tip is perceived as red.

[0030] During the day, external light is reflected on the surface of cane body 12, allowing people around to distinguish between the white and red colors. At night, control device 22 turns on light source 32. Light from light source 32 passes through the surface of cane body 12, causing tip 12a to emit red light and portion 12b to emit white light. This makes it easy for people around to visually recognize that cane 10A is a white cane used by a visually impaired person. To reduce light unevenness, a member with a polarizing and diffusing function may be used as a member of cane body 12.

[0031] The cane 10A also includes an acceleration sensor 34 and a computing device 36. The acceleration sensor 34 is provided inside the tip portion 16. The computing device 36 is provided inside the grip portion 14. The acceleration sensor 34 and the computing device 36 are connected by a cable. The computing device 36 may be incorporated into the control device 22.

[0032] Acceleration sensor 34 measures the acceleration of tip 16 of cane 10A. For example, when a user swings cane 10A, the acceleration at that time is measured by acceleration sensor 34. The value measured by acceleration sensor 34 is output to calculation device 36. Based on the acceleration measured by acceleration sensor 34, calculation device 36 calculates the swing speed SP of cane 10A.

[0033] The control device 22 controls the blinking of the light source 32 by changing the blinking frequency F in accordance with the swing speed SP calculated by the arithmetic device .

[0034] For example, the relationship between the swing speed SP and the flashing frequency F is set in advance so that the faster the swing speed SP, the higher the flashing frequency F. Information indicating the setting is stored in advance in a memory provided in the control device 22. The control device 22 causes the light source 32 to flash at the flashing frequency F according to the setting, according to the swing speed SP of the cane 10A.

[0035] By increasing the flashing frequency F as the swing speed SP becomes faster, the influence of the afterimage effect can be suppressed. As a result, the cane 10A becomes more easily recognized as a cane by people in the vicinity. If the flashing frequency F is low when the swing speed SP is fast, the light from the light source 32 will be perceived by people as an afterimage, making it difficult for people in the vicinity to recognize the shape of the cane 10A. By increasing the flashing frequency F as the swing speed SP becomes faster, the light from the light source 32 will be less easily perceived by people as an afterimage, making it easier for people in the vicinity to recognize the shape of the cane 10A.

[0036] A map showing the relationship between the swing speed SP and the flashing frequency F may be created in advance. Such a map is shown in Figure 7. The horizontal axis represents the swing speed SP, and the vertical axis represents the flashing frequency F.

[0037] An appropriate range 38 of the blinking frequency F is set in advance. The appropriate range 38 is a range of the blinking frequency F that can suppress the influence of the afterimage effect. The appropriate range 38 has a certain width, and is set so that the blinking frequency F increases as the swing speed SP increases. Information indicating the map is stored in advance in the memory of the control device 22. The control device 22 refers to the map and causes the light source 32 to blink in accordance with the blinking frequency F that is included in the appropriate range 38 and that corresponds to the swing speed SP.

[0038] The appropriate range 38 has an upper limit 40 and a lower limit 42. The control device 22 may select a blinking frequency F between the upper limit 40 and the lower limit 42 and cause the light source 32 to blink in accordance with the selected blinking frequency F. The control device 22 may also cause the light source 32 to blink in accordance with a blinking frequency F intermediate between the upper limit 40 and the lower limit 42.

[0039] The control device 22 may change the duty ratio D depending on the usage situation of the cane 10A. For example, the control device 22 reduces the duty ratio D as the swing speed SP increases. This makes the length of the period τ during which the light source 32 is on relatively shorter than the length of the period T during which the light source 32 is off, making it less likely that people will perceive the light from the light source 32 as an afterimage. As a result, people in the vicinity will be able to more easily recognize the shape of the cane 10A. Furthermore, similar to the appropriate range 38 of the blinking frequency F, an appropriate range of the duty ratio D relative to the swing speed SP may be set. In this case, the control device 22 controls the blinking of the light source 32 in accordance with this appropriate range.

[0040] The control device 22 may change the blinking frequency F and the duty ratio D depending on the usage situation of the cane 10A. For example, the control device 22 increases the blinking frequency F and decreases the duty ratio D as the swing speed SP increases.

[0041] A switch 28 for adjusting the flashing frequency F and a switch 30 for adjusting the duty cycle D may be provided on the wand 10A.

[0042] When the user selects a flashing frequency F using switch 28, control device 22 may determine whether or not the flashing frequency F selected by the user is within appropriate range 38. If the flashing frequency F selected by the user is within the appropriate range corresponding to swing speed SP of wand 10A, control device 22 causes light source 32 to flash in accordance with the flashing frequency F selected by the user. If the flashing frequency F selected by the user is not within the appropriate range corresponding to swing speed SP of wand 10A, control device 22 does not cause light source 32 to flash in accordance with the flashing frequency F selected by the user, but causes light source 32 to flash in accordance with the current flashing frequency F. The same applies when an appropriate range for duty ratio D is set.

[0043] Like cane 10A, cane 10 may also include an acceleration sensor 34 and a computing device 36. In this case, like cane 10A, control device 22 causes light sources 18, 20 to flash in accordance with a flashing frequency F corresponding to swing speed SP. Control device 22 also causes light sources 18, 20 to flash in accordance with a duty ratio D corresponding to swing speed SP.

[0044] The control device 22 and the arithmetic device 36 described above include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), other programmable logic devices, or electronic circuits.

[0045] The functions of the control device 22 and the arithmetic device 36 are realized by cooperation between hardware resources and software resources. For example, each function is realized by a CPU reading and executing a program stored in a storage device. The program is stored in the storage device via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. As another example, the functions of the control device 22 and the arithmetic device 36 may be realized by hardware resources such as electronic circuits. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 cane, 12 cane body, 14 grip portion, 16 tip portion, 18, 20, 32 light source, 22 control device, 28, 30 switch, 34 acceleration sensor, 36 calculation device.

Claims

1. A grip portion and The cane itself, A tip portion and A light source provided on the cane body; a control device that changes the flashing frequency of the light source and flashes the light source according to how the user is using the cane body; and The control device an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the tip portion; a computing device that calculates the swing speed of the cane body based on the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor; Including, the usage status is a swing speed of the cane body by the user, The control device The blinking frequency of the light source is changed according to the swing speed of the cane body so that the blinking frequency becomes higher as the calculated swing speed becomes faster; The cane body is The first area glows red, a second region that is provided closer to the grip portion than the first region, is wider than the first region, and glows white; Including, the control device causes the light source to flash at a flashing frequency of 5 to 8 Hz; A cane characterized by its

2. The walking stick according to claim 1, The control device further reduces a duty ratio, which is a ratio between a length of a period during which the light source is turned on and a length of a period during which the light source is turned off, as the swing speed becomes faster, so that the length of the period during which the light source is turned on becomes shorter as the swing speed becomes faster. A cane characterized by its

3. The walking stick according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a switch that accepts designation of the flashing frequency from the user; The control device an appropriate range of the flashing frequency that can suppress the influence of the afterimage effect and that corresponds to the swing speed is stored in advance; controlling the blinking of the light source in accordance with the appropriate range; When the blinking frequency selected by the user is within the appropriate range corresponding to the swing speed, the light source is caused to blink according to the blinking frequency selected by the user, and when the blinking frequency selected by the user is not within the appropriate range corresponding to the swing speed, the light source is caused to blink according to the current blinking frequency. A cane characterized by its

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