Proximity Detection Module for Visually Impaired Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current proximity detection methods between communication devices, such as those used for NFC payments or access control, are difficult for visually impaired users to navigate without external assistance, as they rely on visual cues and do not effectively provide sensory feedback for positioning.
Innovation Solution
A proximity indication method implemented in a detector device that receives signals from a target device, determines the proximity, and generates variable sound and/or vibration signals to inform the user of their distance, allowing for sensory feedback independent of visual cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual cues are used for proximity indication, then the indication method is simple, but visually impaired users cannot perceive the proximity information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual indication mechanisms with acoustic and haptic feedback mechanisms. The acoustic module generates sound waves that propagate to the user's ears, while the haptic module generates mechanical vibrations that the user can feel through touch. This substitution allows visually impaired users to perceive proximity information through non-visual sensory channels, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic and haptic intermediaries to transfer proximity information from the device to the user. Instead of directly displaying visual information, the system uses sound waves and mechanical vibrations as intermediary carriers to convey proximity data to the user's auditory and tactile senses, enabling perception without visual cues.
2Reliability
If external assistance is provided for positioning, then visually impaired users can position their devices correctly, but safety risks increase in certain usage scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables visually impaired users to independently position their devices for transactions through autonomous sensory feedback. The acoustic and haptic modules provide real-time proximity information without requiring assistance from others, allowing the user to self-correct their device positioning based on the feedback received, thus maintaining both safety and independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where the device continuously monitors proximity to the target (e.g., payment terminal) and provides real-time acoustic and haptic feedback to the user. This feedback loop enables the user to adjust their device position dynamically until the optimal proximity is achieved, ensuring reliable transaction initiation without external assistance.
3Measurement precision
If binary sensory signal is used, then the system is simple, but the user cannot determine the degree of proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static binary sensory signal into a dynamic multi-level signal system. The acoustic module varies sound intensity and characteristics based on proximity distance, while the haptic module varies vibration intensity and patterns. This dynamic adjustment provides continuous proximity information rather than simple binary states, enabling precise distance estimation without requiring complex additional hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the sensory signals (acoustic intensity, haptic vibration strength, frequency patterns) according to the measured proximity distance. By modulating these signal parameters proportionally to the distance from the target, the system conveys precise proximity information through variations in the sensory output, allowing users to distinguish different distance levels without complex signaling protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a proximity indication method, implemented in a proximity indication module attached to a detector device corresponding to an electronic card case, between said detector device and a device to be detected. According to the invention, the method comprises at least one iteration of the following steps: • receiving (10) at least one signal emitted by said device to be detected; • determining (11), from said received signal, at least one proximity indication between said device to be detected and said detector device; • generating (12) at least one audible and/or vibratory signal representative of said determined proximity indication; • emitting (13) said generated audible and/or vibratory signal.