SAFETY GUARD FOR THE BLIND

For the blind, it’s difficult to step out without someone’s help. To make the
life simpler for them, here’s an electronic safety guard system that alerts
them of any obstacle or object in their path. The system can detect obstacles
within one metre.

The system comprises transmitter and receiver sections (see Fig. 1).
The receiver section uses an embedded system that tells the voice processor
to play the recorded message in case any obstacle is detected. Here the
embedded system is a microcontroller programmed to take the appropriate
action.

Fig. 1 Block-Diagram
Fig. 6: Actual-size, single-side PCB for transmitter and receiver
circuits of the safety guard
Fig. 7 : Component layout for the PCB
 PARTS LIST
Semiconductors:
IC1 - 555 timer
IC2 - 7805 5V regulator
IC3 - LM311 comparator
IC4 - AT89C51 microcontroller chip
IC5 - ISD1420 voice processor
T1-T5, T7 - BC548 npn transistor
T6 - BC558 pnp transistor
IR LED1,
LED2 - Infrared LEDs (5mm dia.)
IRX1 - TSOP1738 IR receiver module
ZD1 - 2.2V, 1/4W zener diode
D1 - 1N4001 rectifier diode
LED1, LED2 Red LED (5mm dia.)
LED3 - green LED (5mm dia.)
LED4 - Yellow LED (5mm dia.)
LED5 - Red LED (5mm dia.)

Resistors (all ¼-watt, ±5% carbon):

R1, R2, R9, R18,
R19, R20, R21
R28 - 1-kio-ohm
R3, R6, R11
R13 - 22-ohm
R4 - 47-ohm
R5, R7 - 100-ohm
R8 - 15-ohm
R10 - 68-ohm
R12 - 4.7-kilo-ohm
R14, R15, R16 -470-ohm
R17a - 620-ohm
R22, R23, R17b -100-kilo-ohm
R24 - 5.1-kilo-ohm
R25 - 470-kilo-ohm
R26, R27 - 10-kilo-ohm
VR1 - 2-kilo-ohm preset
VR2 - 4.7-kilo-ohm-preset
Capacitors:
C1, C2 - 0.01µF ceramic disk
C3, C4 - 100µF ceramic disk
C5, C6 - 33Pf ceramic disk
C7 - 0.001µF ceramic disk
C8, C14 - 4.7µF, 6V electrolytic

Miscellaneous:
B1, B2 - 9V battery
XTAL - 3.579MHZ crystal oscillator
S1, S2 - On/off SPST switch
S3, S4 - Push-to-on tactile switch
MIC - Condensor microphone
JACK1 - Jack for headphone connector
RL1 - 5V, 100-ohm, single-changeover relay