Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.

Mesa Imaging Ag

Cornelia Prott

Thierry Oggier

Vincent Hayward

Roger Gassert

Matthias Schweizer

Yeongmi Kim

Mathias Deschler

Markus Riesch

Stefan Beat Schneller

Stefan Schneller

A method and system for reducing multi-path effects (stray light and multiple reflections) in 3D time of flight cameras by partly masking the camera's illumination elements.

3D TOF camera with masked illumination

The invention describes an electronic travel aid (ETA) for blind and visually impaired persons implemented in a detachable handle of a white cane. The device enhances the functionality of the white cane giving the user more detailed information about the environment within a defined corridor of interest in front of the user with an extended range of a few meters up to 10 m. It provides a reliable warning if there is a risk of collision with obstacles including those at trunk or head height, which are not recognized by a conventional white cane. Additional sensors are integrated to delimit the defined corridor during the cane sweeping thereby reducing the amount of information that is transmitted to the user via the tactile interface. Alternatively, the device can be used independently from the cane as an object recognition and orientation aid.

White cane with integrated electronic travel aid using 3D TOF sensor

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Zurich, Switzerland

Cornelia Prott