Patent ID: 6198395
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: A61F,A61H,G09B

Abstract:
A sensory system for a visually impaired user comprising:an array of laser transmitters for transmitting laser signals in a total coverage area consisting of a plurality of given areas, each of the laser transmitters transmitting a laser signal in a corresponding given area;an array of laser sensors for receiving laser signals reflected from objects in the total coverage area, each of the laser sensors corresponding to a respective one of the array of laser transmitters for receiving a reflected laser signal from an object in the corresponding given area, wherein the time between transmitted and received laser signals of a laser transmitter and the respective laser sensor is indicative of the distance between the user and an object in the corresponding given area;a processor operable with the array of laser transmitters and laser sensors to process the transmitted and received laser signals to determine the distance between the user and objects in each of the given areas; anda feedback system operable with the processor for generating a feedback signal for each of the laser sensors, the feedback system generating each feedback signal as a function of the distance between an object in the corresponding given area and the user, wherein the user uses all of the feedback signals corresponding to each of the given areas to establish a mental picture of the objects in the total coverage area.