Vision-Assist Audio System for Multi-Target Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vision-assist systems for visually impaired users struggle to navigate to multiple target locations simultaneously due to confusion caused by intermittent voice prompts and turn indications, leading to difficulties in maintaining spatial orientation and natural movement speed.

Innovation Solution

A vision-assist system that includes a location sensor, audio output units, and an electronic control unit, which determines and provides continuous directional information for multiple target destinations by varying audio characteristics based on the user's orientation relative to each navigational path, allowing simultaneous output of audio prompts to guide the user effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If intermittent voice prompts or turn indicating beeps are used, then the device can provide navigation information, but the user cannot accurately follow navigational paths to multiple target destinations simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to navigate to multiple target locationsVSAvoidspatial orientation information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the audio output into multiple independent channels, with each channel dedicated to providing navigation information for a specific target destination. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously provide directional information to multiple destinations without confusion, as each destination has its own audio stream with distinct characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to audio navigation by using spatial audio positioning and distinct audio characteristics (such as different tones, rhythms, or spatial locations) to represent different target destinations. This dimensional enrichment allows the user to differentiate between multiple destinations through audio alone, enabling simultaneous multi-target navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If course correction prompts are issued when the user incorrectly executes a turn, then navigation accuracy can be maintained, but the user becomes confused when the next navigational turn is rapidly approaching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoiduser confusion and natural movement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments navigation information into separate audio streams for different destinations, allowing course correction for one destination to be communicated without interrupting or confusing the user with upcoming turns to other destinations. Each destination has its own audio channel, so correction prompts are isolated to that specific channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback through persistent audio outputs that maintain directional information for multiple destinations simultaneously. This continuous feedback mechanism ensures the user is always informed of their orientation relative to all target destinations, reducing confusion when course corrections are needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the device outputs the first navigation prompt continuously while the user completes a second navigational prompt turn, then the user is prevented from moving naturally, but stopping the prompt causes loss of directional information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenatural movement speedVSAvoiddirectional information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements separate audio channels for different navigation prompts, allowing the system to maintain directional information for the first destination while the user naturally moves toward the second destination. The segmented audio output ensures that prompts for different destinations are independent and do not interfere with each other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous audio output for all active navigation prompts, ensuring that directional information is never lost. By keeping the audio streams continuous and independent, the user receives uninterrupted guidance for multiple destinations simultaneously, allowing natural movement without information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9993384B1Vision-assist systems and methods for assisting visually impaired users with navigating an environment using simultaneous audio outputs

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

A system and method for assisting a visually impaired user with navigating an environment. The system and method include determining a first navigational path to a first target destination and a second navigational path to a second target destination and providing the user with directional information in the form a first audio output associated with the first target destination and a second audio output associated with the second target destination. The system and method vary an audio characteristic of the first audio output in relation to the current orientation of the user with respect to the first navigational path and vary an audio characteristic of the second audio output in relation to the current orientation of the user with respect to the second navigational path. The system and method control the audio output unit to simultaneously output the first audio output and the second audio output.