EP2065871A1
Active / In Force
EP
⏱️ 1.1 years remaining
Reading device for blind or visually impaired persons
Assignee: Beyo GmbH
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Filing: 2007-11-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2027-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A reading device for blind or visually impaired persons for recognizing and reading text passages comprises an image capturing unit being configured to capture an image of an environment of a blind or visually impaired person and to output image data corresponding thereto, an image processing unit being configured to process the image data such that text is recognized and extracted from the image data and to output text data corresponding thereto, a text outputting unit being configured to output data corresponding to the text data in a form noticeable or convertable to be noticeable by the blind or visually impaired person, and a housing comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having the image capturing unit attached thereto and the second part accommodating the image processing unit and the text outputting unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Raùl Prof. Dr. Rojas
- 👤 Cüneyt Göktekin
- 👤 Oliver Tenchio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:42
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/006; G09B21/003; G09B21/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A reading device for blind or visually impaired persons for recognizing and reading text passages, comprising: an image capturing unit being configured to capture an image of an environment of a blind or visually impaired person and to output image data corresponding thereto; an image processing unit being configured to process the image data such that text is recognized and extracted from the image data and to output text data corresponding thereto; a text outputting unit being configured to output data corresponding to the text data in a form noticeable or convertable to be noticeable by the blind or visually impaired person; a housing comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having the image capturing unit attached thereto and the second part accommodating the image processing unit and the text outputting unit; and an adjusting unit coupling the first part and the second part of the housing with each other and being configured to define an operating position in which the first part of the housing is spaced apart the second part of the housing and a non-operating position in which the first part of the housing abuts against the second part of the housing to accommodate the image capturing unit, the image processing unit and the text outputting unit in the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a third part rotatably attached to the second part of the housing and configured to define a support of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjusting unit is a telescopic pullout configured to slidably adjust a position of the first part of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reading device according to claim 3, wherein an amount of slidable adjustment of the position of the first part of the housing defines a size of a capturing area of the image capturing unit in the operating position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein operating switches are present at the second part of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image capturing unit is a camera module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reading device according to claim 6, wherein the camera module is an array comprising a plurality of CCD or CMOS modules.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image capturing unit is movable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein control of operation is performed by at least one of speech and gesture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 9, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture individual pictures of an environment of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture video streams of an environment of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The reading device according to claim 11, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform the step of locating potential text objects in captured video streams and tracking the potential text objects in a time-varying scene of the captured video streams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 1 to 12, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform stitching of a plural images captured by the image capturing unit to form an overall and a high-resolution image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
A reading device for blind or visually impaired persons for recognizing and reading text passages, comprising: an image capturing unit being configured to capture an image of an environment of a blind or visually impaired person and to output image data corresponding thereto; an image processing unit being configured to process the image data such that text is recognized and extracted from the image data and to output text data corresponding thereto; a text outputting unit being configured to output data corresponding to the text data in a form noticeable or convertable to be noticeable by the blind or visually impaired person; and a carrying unit, configured to be carried on a body of the blind or visually impaired person, comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having the image capturing unit attached thereto such that an capturing area of the image capturing unit is movable in relation to the first part and the second part accommodating the image processing unit and the text outputting unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reading device according to claim 14, wherein the first part of the carrying unit has the form of eye glasses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the second part of the carrying unit is configured to be carried at a belt of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 16, wherein operating switches are present at the second part of the carrying unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 17, wherein the image capturing unit is a camera module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reading device according to claim 18, wherein the camera module is an array comprising a plurality of CCD or CMOS modules.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 19, wherein control of operation is performed by at least one of speech and gesture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 20, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture individual pictures of an environment of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 21, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture video streams of an environment of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The reading device according to claim 22, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform the step of locating potential text objects in captured video streams and tracking the potential text objects in a time-varying scene of the captured video streams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 14 to 23, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform stitching of a plural images captured by the image capturing unit to form an overall and a high-resolution image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
131 words
A reading device for blind or visually impaired persons for recognizing and reading text passages, comprising: an image capturing unit being configured to capture an image of an environment of a blind or visually impaired person and to output image data corresponding thereto; an image processing unit being configured to process the image data such that text is recognized and extracted from the image data and to output text data corresponding thereto; and a text outputting unit being configured to output data corresponding to the text data in a form noticeable or convertable to be noticeable by the blind or visually impaired person, wherein the image processing unit is configured to assign features to recognized text objects for allowing semantic assignment of the recognized text objects to an assumed layout structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reading device according to claim 25, wherein the assumed layout structure is derived from spatial arrangement of the recognized text objects based on template-based heuristics.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reading device according to claim 26, wherein templates are stored in a database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reading device according to claim 26 or 27, wherein templates define a geometric arrangement of possible text objects.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 28, wherein the recognized text objects are subject to unwarping.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
127 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 29, comprising: a housing comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having the image capturing unit attached thereto and the second part accommodating the image processing unit and the text outputting unit; and an adjusting unit coupling the first part and the second part of the housing with each other and being configured to define an operating position in which the first part of the housing is spaced apart the second part of the housing and a non-operating position in which the first part of the housing abuts against the second part of the housing to accommodate the image capturing unit, the image processing unit and the text outputting unit in the housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to claim 30, wherein the housing comprises a third part rotatably attached to the second part of the housing and configured to define a support of the housing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reading device according to claim 31, wherein the adjusting unit is a telescopic pullout configured to slidably adjust a position of the first part of the housing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reading device according to claim 32, wherein an amount of slidable adjustment of the position of the first part of the housing defines a size of a capturing area of the image capturing unit in the operating position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 30 to 33, wherein operating switches are present at the second part of the housing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
79 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 29, comprising a carrying unit, configured to be carried on a body of the blind or visually impaired person, comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having the image capturing unit attached thereto such that a capturing area of the image capturing unit is movable in relation to the first part and the second part accommodating the image processing unit and the text outputting unit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reading device according to claim 35, wherein the first part of the carrying unit has the form of eye glasses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the second part of the carrying unit is configured to be carried at a belt of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 35 to 37, wherein operating switches are present at the second part of the carrying unit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 38, wherein the image capturing unit is a camera module.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reading device according to claim 39, wherein the camera module is an array comprising a plurality of CCD or CMOS modules.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 40, wherein the image capturing unit is movable.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 41, wherein control of operation is performed by at least one of speech and gesture.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 42, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture individual pictures of an environment of blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 43, wherein the image capturing unit is configured to capture video streams of an environment of the blind or visually impaired person.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
The reading device according to claim 44, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform the step of locating potential text objects in captured video streams and tracking the potential text objects in a time-varying scene of the captured video streams.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reading device according to anyone of claims 25 to 45, wherein the image processing unit is configured to perform stitching of a plural images captured by the image capturing unit to form an overall and a high-resolution image.
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