JP3148791B2 - Visual acuity recovery device using head-mounted display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual acuity recovery apparatus using a head mounted display (HMD) in a visual acuity recovery training, and more particularly, to a continuous visual fixation of visible signs having different depths. The present invention relates to a visual acuity recovery apparatus used for visual acuity recovery training for recovering visual acuity by performing, for example, fusion training for enhancing the fusion power of both eyes, and training for relaxing muscles around the eyes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The human eye relaxes the chin and thickens the lens when looking closer, and thickens the lens when looking distantly, pulls the chin and pulls the lens. The focus is on the retina by making it thinner. However, the longer the time to look at a near object, the more the tension state of the ciliary body becomes continuous, resulting in a state in which the ciliary body cannot relax, that is, a pseudo myopia in which the crystalline lens is always thick and cannot be focused on a distant object.

[0003] Pseudomyopia is different from congenital myopia and is caused by a kind of muscle fatigue or habit. Therefore, it can be recovered by performing appropriate vision recovery training. For example, when correcting myopia, the corrected person sets the visible index at a location about 3 m away, for example,
Wear 1.5D corrective glasses. Subsequently, the presented visual indices are stared for a certain time (for example, about 10 seconds),
The procedure of staring at a card or the like at hand for a certain time is repeated. For example, this procedure is repeated twice for the same visible index. This procedure is repeated twice, for example, to complete one sight recovery training.

As a device used for this training, there is a device for presenting a visible index, and a plurality of visible indices (for example, Landolt rings) are arranged in a circle on the device, and the Landolt rings are sequentially arranged in accordance with a vision recovery training procedure. There has been proposed a visual acuity recovery device including display means for presenting (lighting) one shift at a time, and control means for reproducing a voice instructing the training procedure.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-90556 discloses a method in which a plurality of display means are individually illuminated in order to restore visual acuity by repeatedly staring at a visible marker such as a Landolt ring repeatedly and continuously. A plurality of corresponding lighting means, a control means for generating a first signal, and a selection driving means for selectively driving the plurality of lighting means in response to the first signal, wherein the control means comprises: A first signal is generated according to a predetermined vision recovery training procedure, whereby a plurality of lighting means are sequentially driven alternately, and a display means corresponding to the driven lighting means is illuminated.

[0006] In addition to the above-mentioned myopia training, there is training for enhancing visual functions. For example, in training to acquire the power (fusion power) to properly connect an image to the brain, for example, a card called a fusion card (fusion card) as shown in FIG. There is training to maintain the fused state by converging (crossing) sequentially from the bottom as a set of left and right for 15 seconds. It is said that with this training, both eyes are used without tension and the ability to correctly converge the eyes is acquired. In addition, there is training to relax muscles by hand massage around the eyes. No special equipment was required for these trainings.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional visual acuity recovery apparatus, in order to fix the subject's head, the head must be fixed with a chin rest or the like. Training in such a state places an excessive burden on the corrected person. In addition, since it is necessary to install the apparatus at a distance of about 3 m, the training system becomes large, and it is impossible to easily perform training alone. Further, even in the above-mentioned integrated training that does not require a special device, the card must be maintained in front of the eyes, which is hardly a comfortable training environment. Furthermore, the visual indices at the time of training are still images that are not interesting, such as the Landolt ring, and the training tends to be boring.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is provided with a focal length adjusting means and a depth adjusting means in a visual acuity / visual function recovery training, in a small space and close to a real image training. It is an object of the present invention to provide a visual acuity recovery device that enables comfortable and comfortable training.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides (1) a focus adjusting means for changing a virtual image distance required for eyeball adjustment training in a visual acuity recovery apparatus used in visual acuity recovery training. And depth adjustment means for changing the depth up to the virtual image required for binocular fusion training, visual index presentation means for presenting the visible index required for ocular muscle adjustment training, and tactile stimulation to massage around the eyes Generating means, and control means for making the virtual image distance set by the focus adjusting means coincide with the depth distance set by the depth adjusting means. (2) The focus adjusting means comprises a lens The focal length is changed by an optical method such as a mirror or a mirror, or the virtual image distance is changed by changing the real image distance. Changing the depth length of the image by the disparity, furthermore, (4) the visible index presenting means, at a distance set by said control means, suitable time intervals visual recovery training, presenting visual stimuli to the position (5) The haptic stimulus generating means generates a haptic stimulus by vibration, and (6) The haptic stimulus generating means generates a haptic stimulus by a temperature difference. Things.

[0010]

According to the present invention, training can be performed in a small space by using the focal length adjusting means and the depth adjusting means. Further, by providing control means for matching the depth distance set by the depth adjustment means with the virtual image distance set by the focal length adjustment distance, a situation close to training with a real image is realized. The tactile stimulus generating means can easily massage the muscles around the eyes, and a moving image can be used as the visual index, so that comfortable training is possible. Further, in the eyesight recovery device according to the present invention, since the image is fixed in front of the eyes,
The corrective does not need to maintain a posture, and can perform training in a free posture.

[0011]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a head mounted display provided with a visual acuity recovery device according to the present invention, in which 11 is a switch. An embodiment of a vision recovery device according to the present invention is a head mounted type that is fixed to a user's head.
DISPLAY (hereinafter, HMD). This HMD is 2
It has two liquid crystal panels and two sets of magnifying lens systems, and is provided with a switch 11 for selecting, starting, and ending training.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a panel pair and a lens system. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a liquid crystal panel, and reference numeral 22 denotes a lens system. The liquid crystal panel 21 is observed through a lens system 22 installed in parallel in front of the liquid crystal panel 21. At this time, the lens system creates a virtual image of the liquid crystal panel, and the user observes the virtual image.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic diagrams showing the optical relationship between a real image and a virtual image, in which 31, 41, and 51 are the eyes of the user.
32, 42, 44 and 52 are lens systems, 33, 45 and 53
Is a liquid crystal panel (real object), and 34, 46, and 54 are virtual images. The distance from the user to the virtual image is calculated according to the focal length of the lens system and the distance to the real image. That is, in the state where the distance between the real image 33 and the virtual image 34 is as shown in FIG. 3, if one lens 44 is added as shown in FIG. 4, the focal length becomes longer, and the distance to the virtual image becomes shorter.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing an example of the configuration of the focus adjusting means in FIG. 4. In the drawing, reference numerals 60 and 61 denote liquid crystal panels, 62 and 63 denote adjustment lenses, and 64 and 65 denote lenses. The adjustment lenses 62 and 63 can be moved in and out, and this movement is instantaneously performed by, for example, driving a motor, and the change of the virtual image distance is also instantaneously performed.

Alternatively, the distance to the virtual image 54 is also changed by changing the distance to the object 53 (hereinafter, the distance between the objects) using the lens system 52 having a single focal length as shown in FIG. It is possible. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing a configuration example of the focus adjusting means in FIG.
71 is a liquid crystal panel, and 72 and 73 are lenses. For example, the lenses 72 and 73 are translated by driving the motor. According to this mechanism, the virtual image distance can be changed linearly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two liquid crystal panels are set in parallel on the left and right. The depth to the user's panel is set by the distance between the left and right panels. FIG.
Is a diagram schematically showing the depth relationship, in which 81, 8
2, 84 and 85 are panels, and 83 and 86 are depth positions. According to FIG. 8, the closer the distance between the two panels 81 and 82 is, the closer it is perceived to be closer to the depth 83.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of the structure of the depth adjusting means. In FIG.
94 is a depth position, 101 and 102 are liquid crystal panels, 10
Reference numerals 4 and 105 denote presentation positions (near), and 103 and 106 denote presentation positions (far). The two panels 91 and 92 are changed, for example, by driving a motor, and the depth is changed. Alternatively, instead of a mechanical change, the depth is changed by changing the display position on the large liquid crystal panels 101 and 102 as shown in FIG. The depth distance set by these depth adjusting means and the virtual image distance set by the virtual image distance adjusting means are controlled by the control unit so as to match.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a visual acuity recovery apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 111 denotes a control unit, 112 denotes a virtual image distance changing unit (lens switching drive, object distance changing), 11
Reference numeral 3 denotes a depth setting unit (change of inter-panel distance, change of image presentation position); 114, a tactile stimulus generation unit (vibration generation, temperature difference generation); 115, a visible index presentation unit (image memory);
Is a display unit (CRT, liquid crystal panel), 117 is a training item selection unit (switch), 118 is a switch, and 119 is a video signal.

The control unit 111 is connected to the virtual image distance changing unit 112 and the depth setting unit 113. The virtual image distance changing unit is a unit for changing the distance between the lens and the liquid crystal panel by adding or removing an adjusting lens. The depth adjusting section is a section for changing the distance between the left and right liquid crystal panels or setting the image presentation position in the liquid crystal panels. In addition, the control unit 111 is connected to the tactile stimulus generation unit 114 and the visible index presentation unit 115. The tactile stimulus generator 1
Numeral 14 is used for a massage to relieve the tension of the muscles around the eyes.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the tactile stimulus generation unit. In the figure, reference numeral 121 denotes a mounting position of the tactile stimulus generation circuit. For example, a vibrating circuit is provided in the black circle portion 121 in the figure to vibrate around the eyes. This black circle indicates that the user
When the MD is mounted, it corresponds to the position 131 indicated by ◎ in FIG. Alternatively, for example, a thermo module is installed at a black circle to give a temperature difference around the eyes. These tactile stimuli allow the muscles around the eyes to relax and relieve fatigue. The visible index presenting unit is shown in FIG.
15 (c) and the training patterns shown in FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c) are stored in the memory, and when a request is received from the control unit,
This is a device that presents the requested pattern on the display unit 116. In addition, a function of presenting an external video signal 119 to a liquid crystal panel is provided.

The control unit 111 is also connected to a training item selection unit 117. The training screen selection unit 117 is also connected to the switches 118 and 11, and is a part for selecting a training by a user's button response. The training item selection unit 117 controls the control unit 111 based on the user's button response.
Of the training item menu. The visible index presentation unit 115 also stores a training item menu screen as shown in FIG. 16 and presents a training menu when receiving a request from the control unit 111. In the training menu, a training menu that can be performed in this embodiment is written. In the conventional visual acuity recovery apparatus including the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-90556, only the adjustment training of the training menu can be performed, but according to the present embodiment, four trainings can be performed.

FIGS. 17 to 21 are flowcharts for explaining the control operation of the control unit. Hereinafter, the steps will be sequentially described. As shown in FIG. 17, the power is turned on in S11, and the presence or absence of a training request from the training item selection unit 117 is determined in S13. When there is a request, that is, when the user responds with the button 11, the visible indicator presenting unit 1
15 is requested to present a training menu. If there is no training menu, a request is made to present a video to be input to the visible index presenting unit 115, and the process returns to S12. Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the user does not intend to use the visual acuity recovery device, the user can use the device as a normal HMD for viewing an input image. The input video is a video input from the outside, and is a general video from a video or being broadcast. If there is a request, determine which training is selected in S16 to S19,
Go to each flowchart. This selection is made so that the user can make a selection from the menu of FIG. 16 using buttons. If the end is selected in S20, the process returns to S12.

When the eye muscle training is selected in S16 (B in the figure), the training is performed using the eye muscle training pattern as shown in FIG. In this training, the person to be corrected first stares at the black circle in FIG.
Staring at the black circles in (b) and (c). This procedure is repeated, for example, four times to end the training. In S21 of FIG. 18, the virtual image distance changing unit 112 is requested to set a virtual image distance of, for example, 5 m. In S22, the visible index presenting unit 115
A request to present a pattern as shown in FIG. 4A is made, and a certain time is confirmed in S23. Here, a request for the pattern shown in FIG. 14B is made in S24, a certain time is confirmed in S25, the pattern shown in FIG. 14C is shown in S26, and S27.
Check for a certain time with. In S28, it is determined whether S22 to S27 have been repeated, for example, four times, and if it has been repeated, the process returns to S12.

When the fusion training is selected in S17 (C in the figure), the training is performed using the fusion patterns as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c). In this training, the corrected person first stares at ◎ in FIG. 15A for a certain period of time, and then stares at ◎ in FIGS. 15B and 15C and fuses.
This procedure is repeated, for example, four times to end the training.
In S31 of FIG. 19, for example, 30
Setting of the virtual image distance of cm is requested. In S32, the visual index presenting unit 115 is requested to present the pattern of FIG. 15A, and in S33, the elapse of the training time, for example, 30 seconds, is confirmed, and in S34, the pattern of FIG. 15B is requested. .
Further, the training time is confirmed in S35, and FIG.
Is presented, and a predetermined time is confirmed in S37. S3
In S8, it is determined whether S32 to S37 have been repeated, for example, four times, and if it has been repeated, the process returns to S12.

When the massage is selected in S18 (D in the figure), the tactile stimulus generation unit 114 is selected in S41 in FIG.
For example, a request to generate a tactile stimulus for warming is requested, and after a certain period of time, for example, 30 seconds is confirmed in S42,
In S43, for example, it is requested to generate a tactile stimulus to be cooled. After confirming the predetermined time in S44, the process returns to S41.

When accommodation training is selected in S19 (E in the figure), the virtual image distance changing unit 112 is selected in S51 in FIG.
For example, setting of the virtual image distance of ∞ is requested. S52
, The depth setting unit 113 sets the depth ∞. As described above, when the accommodation power training is selected, the control unit 111 sets the virtual image distance and the depth distance to be equal. In S53, it is requested to present the input video to the visible index presenting unit 115. In S54, the training time, for example, 3 minutes, is confirmed. In S55, the virtual image distance changing unit 112 is requested to set, for example, a virtual image distance of 50 cm, and in S56, a depth distance of 50 cm is input. It is requested to present a video, and the training time is confirmed in S58. In S59, it is determined whether S51 to S58 have been repeated, for example, four times, and if it has been repeated, the process returns to S12.
In all steps of these flowcharts, forced termination by the button of the user occurs, and the process returns to S12.

In the present embodiment, the image stored in the visible index presenting section is presented as the visible index. However, the visible index of the moving image is externally used by using a video generator (eg, video). Is also possible. For example, an image as shown in FIG. 22 can be used for eye muscle training. The training using FIG. 22 is a training in which the corrected person follows the black circle in FIG. With the above configuration, a vision recovery device can be realized according to the present invention. Also,
The virtual image distance, the depth distance, the training time, and the like used in the present embodiment are not unique.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, the visual acuity recovery apparatus according to the present invention presents a focus adjusting means for changing the distance to the virtual image, a depth adjusting means for changing the depth distance to the virtual image, and a training pattern. Means for presenting a visible index ,
Control means for matching the virtual image distance and the depth distance, wherein the focus adjustment means changes the virtual image distance by changing the focal length optically or by changing the virtual image distance by changing the real image distance. The depth adjusting means changes the depth distance of the image based on convergence and binocular disparity, and the visible index presenting means adjusts the depth distance of the image based on the distance set by the control means. Visual stimuli are presented at various time intervals and positions.
Further, a haptic stimulus generating means for massaging around the eyes is provided, and the haptic stimulus generating means generates a haptic stimulus by vibration or a temperature difference. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform visual acuity and visual function recovery training in a small space. Also, by matching the depth distance and the virtual image distance, a situation close to training with a real image is realized, and by fixing the visible index in front of the eyes, training in a free posture is enabled. Furthermore, by applying stimulation around the eyes, muscle massage can be easily performed. Furthermore, a moving image or a general input image can be used as the visible index.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a head-mounted display including a visual acuity recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a panel pair and a lens system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an optical relationship between a real image and a virtual image in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram showing an optical relationship between a real image and a virtual image in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is still another schematic diagram showing an optical relationship between a real image and a virtual image in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a configuration example of a focus adjusting unit in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing another example of the configuration of the focus adjusting means in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a depth relationship in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a configuration example of a depth adjusting unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is another partially enlarged view showing a configuration example of the depth adjusting means in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a visual acuity recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a tactile stimulus generation unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing where the tactile stimulus generator of the present invention is located on the user.

FIG. 14 is a pattern diagram showing an example of an eye muscle training pattern according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a pattern diagram showing an example of a fusion pattern (fusion card) in the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a pattern diagram showing an example of a training item menu screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a control operation of a control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a control operation of the control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating a control operation of the control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart (part 4) illustrating a control operation of the control unit in the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart (No. 5) showing a control operation of the control unit in the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a pattern diagram showing an example of a moving image visible index according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a pattern diagram showing an example of a conventional fusion pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

111: control unit, 112: virtual image distance changing unit (lens switching drive, change of distance between objects), 113: depth setting unit (change of inter-panel distance, change of image presentation position), 114 ...
Tactile stimulus generation unit (vibration generation, temperature difference generation), 115: visible index presentation unit (image memory), 116: display unit (CR
T, liquid crystal panel), 117: training item selection unit (switch), 118: switch, 119: video signal.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A visual acuity recovery apparatus used in visual acuity recovery training, wherein a focus adjustment means for changing a virtual image distance required for eyeball adjustment training, and a depth adjustment for changing a depth up to a virtual image required for binocular fusion training. Means, visual index presenting means for presenting a visual index necessary for eye muscle accommodation training, tactile stimulus generating means for massaging around the eyes, virtual image distance set by the focus adjusting means and the depth adjusting means And a control means for matching the depth distance set with the head.
An eyesight recovery device using a spray device . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjustment unit changes a focal length by an optical method such as a lens or a mirror, or
The visual acuity recovery apparatus using the head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual image distance is changed by changing the real image distance. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the depth adjusting means changes the depth distance of the image based on convergence and binocular disparity.
A visual acuity recovery device using the head-mounted display device as described in the above. Wherein said visual indicator indicating means is a distance set by said control means, suitable time intervals visual recovery training, the head of claim 1, wherein the wherein the presenting visual stimuli to the position Using on-board display devices
Vision recovery device. Wherein said tactile stimulation generating means, the head of claim 1 wherein characterized in that to generate a tactile stimulation by vibration
An eyesight recovery device that uses a part-mounted display device. 6. The haptic stimulus generating means according to claim 1, wherein the haptic stimulus generating means generates a haptic stimulus based on a temperature difference.
An eyesight recovery device that uses a head-mounted display device.