Patent · US Expired

Radio frequency message apparatus for aiding ambulatory travel of visually impaired persons

US5144294A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
13References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 1990
Grant dateSep 1, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61H2003/063
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A radio frequency message apparatus for aiding ambulatory travel by handicapped persons such as blind individuals. The apparatus generally comprises a portable, radio frequency transceiver and a stationary, radio frequency base transceiver unit. The portable radio frequency transceiver is carried on the person of the handicapped individual and transmits a message request signal in response to manual activation of a transmit button thereon by the handicapped individual. The message request signal is received by the base transceiver, which causes the base transceiver to transmit a pre-recorded message signal back to the portable transceiver unit in radio frequency form. The message signal contains location identifying information such as the streets of an intersection at which the base unit is located. The portable transceiver has a limited transmission range of preferably about 20-50 feet to enable it to interrogate a single base transceiver unit located at an intersection within a metropolitan area or at a display/exhibit within a recreational facility such as a zoological park without accidentally interrogating base transceivers in the near vicinity of the desired base transceiver…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.