Palmsonar: Use Performance Battery Basics Each Part, Palmtip: General Socket-style
Use: Palmsonar
Q. Is it useful to use Palmsonar at chest or head?
A. No, because they are not good at sensing vibration and scanning. The position
of the aid should be related to the hipbone because the direction of walking is decided
by the direction of the hipbone. A hand is a good part to manipulate position and
angle of the aid.
Q. Do you plan to make it to tell by the sound?
A. No, because it is not comfortable.
Q. Is it useful to use Palmsonar by attaching it to the long cane?
A. No, because both vibrations overlap and can not be distinguished.
Q. I want to keep a hand free.
A. You can use the hand which holds the Palmsonar because the fingers are free and
the aid is small and sturdy. It is a good idea to carry bags at shoulder or back.
Q. Can I understand the ground or a drop-off?
A. No, you should not use that way. You need a long cane for that purpose. The Palmtip attached to the long cane is effective to find
drop-offs.
Q. Can I use it as a collision warning?
A. No, it is not intended to guarantee safety. It is you that guarantees safety because
Palmsonar works as a part of you. Such attitude makes you safe.
Q. How should I position it?
A. Put your arm close to your body in order to align the aid. Put your forearm close
to the hipbone which determines the direction of walking in order to align the beam.
Place the aid as low as possible to find low objects such as kids and table if they
are near. Tall person should pay attention to low objects as well as to own head.
Performance: Palmsonar
Q. What is the difference between the Mowat Sensor and the Palmsonar?
A. The basic characteristics were made compatible for the experienced users. Advanced
technologies enable smaller size, splash-proof, sharp ultrasound and enhanced closer
capabilities.
Q. Is the shape of the beam exact?
A. The form of detection becomes tapered, obscure and narrower because the sensitivity
is higher at the center of the beam.
Q. What can it detect?
A. Well-knitted sweater can be detected. Firm snow can be detected. Larger objects
are to be detected at farther distance.
Q. Can it detect sharp edges?
A. Generally it is not easy to detect sharp edges by ultrasound. Palmsonar is designed
to detect as small as a 2 mm diameter rod. It means that they can be detected if
the edges are rounded at least 1 mm radius for safety purposes.
Q. Does the length of the beam affect the vibrations?
A. No, vibrations are determined only by the distance. The size of objects or the
strength of their reflection are not related. If the reflection is weak, the object
can not be detected or is detected intermittently. The changes of vibration get finer
as it gets closer to give you precise information. You can confirm the length of
the beam by pointing down to the ground.
Q. I want to know farther by longer ultrasound beam, do you have a plan?
A. No, it is not practical because it makes slower response and harder recognition.
Q. The vibration is not large enough.
A. To feel the vibration better, touch it by fingers which are more sensitive. Hold
it loose to make it vibrate free and feel better.
Q. Do you have a plan to make the switch button larger?
A. No, because large button is often pushed accidentally.
Q. Is there danger of the product?
A. It is not probable because the energy in use is small.
Q. Does it bother others by electromagnetic wave or ultrasound?
A. Some noises may come into the nearby AM radios. The ultrasound is not too strong.
It did not to seem to be noticed by dogs.
Q. Is it weak at low temperature?
A. Partly Yes, because a small battery is used to make the whole size small. Practically
No, because the temperature around the battery is designed to be kept by the warmth
of hand. Bad examples are holding the cold body with fingertips and holding it with
your hand which wears a glove. Please use a glove with an opening.
Q. There are similar products with low prices, what do you think?
A. The ultrasonic products can be made to have any features and costs. If they do
not have the features which Palmsonar has, they can be made easily at low cost with
a little skill. There is no plan to introduce a low cost model because any features
should not be neglected.
To the opinion and proposal on the performance; It is inevitable to cause some inconvenience,
small switch for example, because the distinctive features are maximized. There are
deep and complicated underlying interactions between them. Most opinions or proposals
may cause other drawbacks. Your understanding is appreciated.
Battery: Palmsonar
Q. What it the CR2032 battery?
A. It is a coin shape battery which use lithium metal. As in the name, it has 20
mm diameter and 3.2 mm thickness. It has a high voltage which is suitable for the
micro-controllers. It has a large capacity. Unlike other button type batteries, it
is environmentally friendly because it is not using harmful heavy metals.
Q. How much is the CR2032?
A. It is basically inexpensive however the price largely depends on the shop and
the number. For a year, 20 pack-batteries can be priced at around $20 in the USA,
for example.
Q. Can you use a cylindrical lithium battery?
A. No, it is not recommended. It needs extreme care when you handle it because it
can supply high-power which may induce fire or explosion by misuse.
Q. I found a lithium-ion battery of the same size. Can I use it after recharging
it by a special charger?
A. No, you should not do that. Rechargeable battery should be embedded in the unit
in order to prevent misuse which might lead to explosion.
Basics: Palmsonar
Q. What does the Palmsonar mean?
A. It is named to mean a sonar which fits in palm. It is intended to
ease the shortcoming that the aid might occupy fingers of a hand.
Q. What is sonar?
A. The name is an abbreviation of sound navigation and ranging.
It is an instrument which transmits ultrasound intermittently and receive the reflected
echoes to know objects without touching. A bat uses the sonar principle to navigate
the air without collision and range on objects to catch them.
Q. What is ultrasound?
A. The frequency of the ultrasound is too high to be heard by human. Sonar usually
uses ultrasound because higher frequencies enable it to detect smaller objects, distinguish
finer direction, take shorter time and reach shorter distance. Reaching shorter distance
is advantageous to reducing interference with prolonging residual echoes in a small
space surrounded by hard walls.
Q. Blind people can know surroundings by ears.
A. It can be partly possible when they are young. The theory will be translated soon.
Each Part: Palmsonar
Ultrasound goes out from one of the front holes, then is reflected at an object and
the echo returns in another hole. It transmits ultrasound for a short period, then
it stays quiet and waits for the returning ultrasound. You can hear tick sounds of
intermittent ultrasound. The ultrasonic beam becomes narrow in the long side of the
rectangular opening, wide in the short side of it. The size of opening inversely
decides the form of ultrasound. Confirm with the real ultrasonic beam because it
is often misunderstood.
The holes are made like ears. There is an ultrasonic part which is like your eardrum
at the end of each hole. Clean inside gently as if it is your ear. Do not stick it,
or it will be seriously damaged.
The holes are 25 mm (one inch) deep. The rim of the ultrasonic part is sealed to
the inside of the hole with waterproof sponge. Dust in the hole may change the ultrasound.
Do not use detergent, benzine or alcohol because they may hurt the seal. Avoid pouring
tap water into the holes because it may break the seal.
The switch button is small and low so as not to work by mistake. Do not press hard.
The surface is covered with a thin film to make it splash-proof. Do not close things
with sharp edges so as not to cut the film. It is arranged so as to press the front
with the middle finger and the rear with the ring finger.
Electronics compartment is under the panel. Two micro-controllers are used. One is
for ultrasound, another is for vibration. The voltage to the circuit is stabilized
until the end of battery although the vibration is getting weaker. When the vibrations
prolong meaninglessly, the battery power is almost ending. The voltage for the ultrasound
is raised to 12 volts by an inverter circuit. Technologies were developed to work
with a weak battery. It still needs cold measures.
It stands impact because the parts are light and supported by cushions. The panel
is sealed to the body with waterproof adhesive.
A solenoid with a powerful magnet at the center makes vibrations. The vibration consists
of short-lasting tap vibrations at controlled timing. Every tap vibration lasts short
so that it is crisp and easy to be recognized each. The interval decides speed of
the vibration. Some successive tap vibrations are omitted to make rhythm faster.
Do not attach to a magnet or steel, or parts inside may deform.
A small vent-hole connects the battery compartment and the electronics compartment.
It is splash-proof however water may come in through the vent-hole. Water to the
battery compartment does not cause fatal damage if it is not seawater. Although it
is not guaranteed in the specifications, if you drop it in water, take out immediately,
draw out the battery, shake off and leave it to dry. If water came into the electronics
compartment, the performance can not be recovered or will become bad again afterward
even though it is repaired.
Inserting a battery upside-down is prevented by the structure. Do not use dirty battery
so as not spoil the terminal.
The wrist strap is inserted through the hole on the left of battery compartment backwards
and tied. The wrist strap is elastic so that it does not hang down to disturb the
ultrasound. It is better not to use the strap for the cell phone. Do not leave the
knot of the strap untied because it also works as a stopper of the sliding door.
The palm band consists of an elastic part and mechanical sticking parts of smooth
surface and rough surface. It teaches you the right position to hold Palmsonar for
the first time. It enable you to hold it without power. It has a window through which
you can press the switch button. The palm band also has roles of impact protection,
magnetic leak reduction and cold wind protection. If it gets dirty, force it out
from the main unit and wash.
If the main unit gets dirty, wipe the surface with dry or water damped cloth. Do
Not use detergent, benzine or alcohol because they may hurt the adhesives.
Although the sliding door is strong and does not break, Do Not push the thin part
because it might bend. The sliding door and accessories such as wrist strap and palm
band are not subject to the repair service or the warranty. If you lose or damage
them, please buy replacement and exchange by yourself.
General: Palmtip
Q. Isn't it the same as the roller-tip?
A. Roller-tip is prone to sticking if you slide it forward in front of you. Palmtip
which slides to any directions with less sticking are easily used there.
Q. I am making sound intentionally.
A. It makes clear sound because it is hollow.
Q. Can I feel the state of the ground through the tip which has cushion?
A. Yes, the cushion absorbs shock but transforms changes of the surface. The roughness
and hardness of the ground can be known by the change of slipping.
Q. Sticking is not bad at certain irregularities.
A. The difference which can be stuck by foot are also stuck by the Palmtip.
Q. How long does it last?
A. It largely depends on how and where you use it. However, I dare say it has a reasonable
life. Someone has been using for 1 year and 5 months since the starting of the sale.
Q. Is the ultra-polymer hard?
A. Yes and No. It is like a tangled lump of long and strong molecules. No, because
the lump deforms easily. Yes, because each molecule is hard to wear. It never breaks.
Q. Does it stand hard use?
A. Yes, the adhesive and the cushion are strong and durable. They withstand water.
Q. It was caught by a crack of the same size.
A. It is not easy to solve that problem. If it is caught, take it off carefully.
Socket-style: Palmtip
Q. Doesn't it (socket-style) come off easily?
A. No, it is firm because the socket is made of nylon material which is elastic but
touch.
Q. Does a hair-dryer help inserting a thick shaft?
A. No, it works negatively. Drying the nylon makes it hard. Moisture in it makes
it elastic.
Q. What about a thin shaft?
A. Apply a tape around the shaft.
Nov 17, 2007
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