Ultrasonic Sound Guide System for Visually Impaired Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visually impaired individuals face challenges in navigating to specific destinations indoors and outdoors due to position ambiguity and the limitations of existing smart devices, which struggle with accurate information delivery and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A proximity localization system using ultrasonic sound transmission and reception, where a transmitter broadcasts pre-recorded audio signals shifted to ultrasonic frequencies, and a receiver device demodulates these signals for the visually impaired to determine the direction and distance to the destination, utilizing wearable or handheld devices to maintain acoustic flow and enhance navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If audible sound broadcasting is used for navigation assistance, then information delivery is achieved, but installation locations are limited due to environmental constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the sound signal from audible range to ultrasonic range (above 20kHz). This parameter change allows the sound to be inaudible to humans while still propagating through the environment, thereby enabling installation in locations where audible sound would be problematic, while maintaining information delivery capability through the ultrasonic carrier wave
2Measurement precision
If smart devices with cameras and sensors are used for pinpoint location, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases and performance becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/optical systems (cameras, sensors, image processing hardware) with a simpler acoustic field-based system. Instead of using cameras to capture visual information and sensors to process it computationally, the system uses ultrasonic sound propagation and human auditory processing to achieve location identification, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining effectiveness
3Ease of operation
If audio signals are broadcast at street intersections, then outdoor navigation is supported, but the balance between accessibility and environment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sound signal directional and selective rather than omnidirectional. The ultrasonic sound is transmitted in specific directions toward intended recipients, and only those with receiver devices in the correct position can receive the signal. This localized delivery reduces environmental interference and maintains better balance between accessibility and environmental considerations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves navigation accuracy and usability by selectively delivering information to users with the appropriate receiver devices, leveraging human binaural sound localization capabilities and reducing installation limitations through inaudible ultrasonic signals.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitter shifts the audible frequency to the ultrasonic frequency by using frequency shift
Implementation Method 2
The receiver in the device performs the demodulation by shifting the ultrasonic frequency to the audible frequency
Implementation Method 3
The microphone accepts the broad range of the acoustic signal
Implementation Method 4
The amplifier and speaker produce the audible sound to the visually impaired
Data Source
AI summary
The ultrasonic sound guide system presents the audio broadcasting system based on the inaudible ultrasonic sound to assist the indoor and outdoor navigation of the visually impaired. The transmitters are placed at the point of interest to propagate the frequency modulated voice signal in ultrasonic sound range. The receiver device is carried by the visually impaired in wearable device form to receive the ultrasonic sound for the voice signal via demodulation. Since the ultrasonic sound demonstrates the acoustic properties, the directivity, attenuation, and superposition of ultrasonic sound provide the acoustic clue to the receiver device user for localizing the transmitter positions. The visually impaired hear the designated voice signal and follow the signal strength to arrive at the specific location. The ultrasonic sound guide system is useful device to localize the place in near field without touching the braille. The receiver device can be any independent form such as eyeglasses, neckband, walking cane attachment device, hand-held device, etc. those are not blocking the ear canal. Also, the receiver device can be realized by smartphone application software using the hardware and sensors in the smartphone.