JP2011145358A - Multi-focus electronic spectacles - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide multi-focus electronic spectacles which allows a user himself to adjust switching timing of automatic focus switching. <P>SOLUTION: The multi-focus electronic spectacles include an automatic focus signal generating section (105) generating a focus switching signal (105a), based on output from a gazing point distance detection section (107) detecting a gazing point distance and a switching threshold that is reference of switching a focus. Since a switching threshold update processing section (106) designates the automatic focus signal generating section (105) to update the switching threshold of the automatic focus signal generating section (105), with the gazing point distance being detected by the gazing point distance detecting section (107) as a switching threshold, based on lens focus information (104a) output from a lens focus information storage section (104) and designation of updating the focus switching threshold by a user input from an input section (112), the user himself is able to update the switching timing of the automatic focus switching. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to multifocal electronic glasses equipped with a variable focus lens.

  When the ability to adjust the crystalline lens of the eye declines due to aging or the like, it becomes difficult to focus on far and near objects, and both distance and near eyeglasses are required. Therefore, in order to prevent the trouble of changing glasses, multifocal spectacles in which a plurality of lenses having different focal points are combined, and progressive multifocal spectacles in which a single lens has a continuous focus from far to near are used. is there.

However, this type of glasses has problems such as image distortion at the focus boundary and narrow field of view.
Also, since different focal points are divided into a single lens, it is inconvenient for the user, for example, when viewing from a distance, the lens must be seen through the top, and when looking near, the lens must be seen through the bottom. give.

  There is known a method of controlling the focal point of a lens as necessary using a variable focus lens capable of changing a focal point by electrical control. In this case, the variable focus lens switching instruction is manually performed by the user by providing a switch or the like on the spectacle frame.

  Such a manual switching configuration is inconvenient because switching cannot be performed when both hands are closed during work. For example, in Patent Document 1, a distance sensor is provided to measure the distance from the user to the gazing point. A technique is disclosed that automatically switches to a “far” focus when the viewpoint distance is long, and automatically switches to a “near” focus when near.

JP 2000-249902 A

  In the conventional configuration, when the focal point of the lens is controlled stepwise according to the gazing point distance, the gazing point distance for switching the focal point is defined in advance, and the user cannot adjust the focal point switching timing. For this reason, there is a problem that the switching timing may be uncomfortable due to changes in work contents or environment.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide multifocal electronic glasses that allow the user to set the lens focus switching timing without going to a specialty store such as a spectacle store.

  The multifocal electronic glasses of the present invention are multifocal electronic glasses that control the focal length of a variable focus lens so as to approach the user's gaze distance, and detect the gaze distance of the user. An auto focus signal generating unit that generates a focus switching signal of the variable focus lens based on a switching threshold value that is a reference point distance that serves as a reference for switching the gaze point distance and the focus, and an output of the auto focus signal generating unit A focus control unit that changes the focus of the variable focus lens based on the focus switching signal, and a lens focus information storage unit that stores information that the focus control unit has changed the focus of the variable focus lens as lens focus information; A switching threshold update input unit that gives an instruction to update the switching threshold by a user's operation and a user's input operation from the switching threshold update input unit Wherein the updating of the switching threshold is provided a switching threshold updating unit instructing said automatic focus signal generator Te.

  Specifically, the autofocus signal creation unit includes a switching threshold storage unit that stores the switching threshold, a gaze point distance output from the gaze point distance detection unit, a switching threshold value of the switching threshold storage unit, A focus determination unit that determines a target focus from the lens focus information output from the lens focus information storage unit. The switching threshold includes a “far / medium switching threshold” that is a reference for switching the focal length of the variable focus lens to a long distance or a medium distance, and the variable focus lens for a medium distance or a short distance. The “middle / near switching threshold” is used as a reference for switching to which focal length. The gazing point distance detection unit includes an imaging unit that captures an eyeball and a gazing point distance calculation unit that calculates a gazing point distance from an image of the imaging unit.

  According to this configuration, the switching threshold update unit that updates the switching threshold for automatic focus switching by the user's operation is provided, and the user feels that the switching timing caused by the individual difference or the scene using the glasses is uncomfortable. Can be removed.

The block diagram of the electronic circuit of the multifocal electronic glasses in embodiment of this invention Configuration diagram of a specific example of a variable focus lens in the embodiment Illustration explaining the convergence angle of the eye Configuration diagram of auto focus signal generator and its surroundings in the same embodiment Flow chart of processing of autofocus signal creation unit in the embodiment Flow chart of processing of switching threshold update unit in the same embodiment External view of multifocal electronic glasses in the same embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, a left-eye variable focus lens 101 and a right-eye variable focus lens 102 are attached to the left and right rims 71 and 72 of the frame 70 of the multifocal electronic spectacles. A left-eye imaging unit 108 is attached to the left rim 71. A right-eye imaging unit 109 is attached to the right rim 72.

  The right temple 73 of the frame 70 is provided with a remote control selection button 701 and a near control selection button 702 of the switching threshold update input unit 112, and selection input is performed by operating either button.

  Inside the frame 70 is an electronic circuit that automatically adjusts the focal length of the left-eye variable focus lens 101 and the right-eye variable focus lens 102 based on the detection of the left-eye imaging unit 108 and the right-eye imaging unit 109. Is contained.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic circuit provided in the frame 70.
The left-eye variable focus lens 101 and the right-eye variable focus lens 102 are configured as shown in FIG. That is, a transparent liquid 202 having a refractive index different from the refractive index of air is filled between the two transparent plate-like objects 201 and 201. Actuators 203 and 203 are attached above and below the plate-like objects 201 and 201.

  By applying a voltage from the focus control unit 103 to the actuators 203 and 203, the plate-like objects 201 and 201 are deformed, and the refractive index of light passing through the two plate-like objects 201 and 201 changes. The configuration of this lens is a well-known technique and is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-249813, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The focus control unit 103 changes the focus of the left-eye variable focus lens 101 and the right-eye variable focus lens 102 based on the focus switching signal 105 a generated by the automatic focus signal generation unit 105. Further, the focus control unit 103 causes the lens focus information storage unit 104 to store the controlled focus information of the left-eye variable focus lens 101 and the controlled focus information of the right-eye variable focus lens 102.

  The lens focus information 104a that is the focus information of the left-eye variable focus lens 101 and the right-eye variable focus lens 102 stored in the lens focus information storage unit 104 is input to the automatic focus signal generation unit 105 and the switching threshold update unit 106. Is done.

  The automatic focus signal creation unit 105 creates the focus switching signal 105 a from the lens focus information 104 a stored in the lens focus information storage unit 104 and the input from the gazing point distance detection unit 107.

  The gazing point distance detection unit 107 shoots the user's left eyeball with the left eye imaging unit 108, shoots the user's right eyeball with the right eye imaging unit 109, and the gazing point distance calculation unit 110 performs image processing technology. To detect the pupil position and calculate the gaze point distance based on the detected pupil position.

As a method for calculating the gaze point distance, FIG. 3 shows a method for detecting the convergence of both eyes and calculating the gaze point distance. Convergence is the rotational movement of the eyeball to obtain a single image.
The convergence angle 301 when looking at a distant object is small as shown in FIG. 3 (a), and the convergence angle 302 when looking at a nearby object is large as shown in FIG. 3 (b). . From the convergence angle and the interpupillary distance 303, the gaze point distance 304 is obtained. An equation for calculating the gaze point distance from the convergence angle and the interpupillary distance is shown in FIG. 5 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-249902, for example, and will not be described in detail.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the automatic focus signal creation unit 105 and its surroundings.
The automatic focus signal creation unit 105 includes a switching threshold value storage unit 401 and a focus determination unit 404.

  In the switching threshold storage unit 401, a middle / near switching threshold 402 and a far / medium switching threshold 403 are set. The switching threshold is a setting value for determining which focus is used for controlling the gaze point distance. For example, when the gaze point distance is less than 30 cm, “middle use” is set when the distance is not less than 30 cm and less than 50 cm, and “middle use” is set when the distance is 50 cm or more. The far / medium switching threshold 403 is 50 cm.

  The focus determination unit 404 compares the gazing point distance detected by the gazing point distance detection unit 107 with the middle / near switching threshold value 402 and the far / middle switching threshold value 403 to determine a focus to be controlled, and stores lens focus information. If it is not the same as the lens focus information 104 a stored in the unit 104, a focus switching signal 105 a is notified to the focus control unit 103.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow of the automatic focus signal creation unit 105.
When it is detected in step S501 that the gazing point distance information is input from the gazing point distance detection unit 107, the following focus determination process is performed.

  First, in step S502, the gazing point distance is compared with the middle / near switching threshold value to check whether the gazing point distance is shorter than the middle / near switching threshold value. If it is determined in step S502 that the gazing point distance is shorter than the middle / near switching threshold, step S503 is executed to determine the focus as “near”.

If it is determined in step S502 that the gazing point distance is not shorter than the middle / close switching threshold, step S504 is executed.
In step S504, it is checked whether or not the gazing point distance is shorter than the far / medium switching threshold.

If the gazing point distance is shorter than the far / medium switching threshold in step S504, the focus is determined to be “medium” in step S505.
If it is determined in step S504 that the gazing point distance is not shorter than the far / medium switching threshold, the focus is determined to be “far” in step S506.

If step S503 or step S505 or step S506 is executed, then step S507 is executed.
In step S507, the focus determined in any of steps S503, S505, and S506 is compared with the lens focus information 104a in the lens focus information storage unit 104. If the two are not the same, the focus control unit 103 is notified of the switching at the focal point determined in step S508.

The determination processing routine in steps S502 to S508 is executed every time there is an input from the gazing point distance detection unit 107.
The flow of processing of the switching threshold update unit 106 is shown in FIG.

When the switching threshold update unit 106 detects in step S601 that a user operation input has been made from the switching threshold update input unit 112, the following threshold update processing is performed.
First, in step S602, it is checked whether or not the lens focus information 104a stored in the lens focus information storage unit 104 is for far use. If it is determined in step S602 that the lens focus information 104a is for far use, step S603 is executed.

  In step S603, it is checked whether the operation input detected in step S601 is near. If it is determined in step S603 that the operation input is near, step S604 is executed.

In step S604, the far / medium switching threshold 403 is updated to the gazing point distance detected by the gazing point distance detection unit 107, and the process returns to step S601.
If it is determined in step S603 that the operation input is not near, the process returns to step S601.

If it is determined in step S602 that the lens focus information 104a is not far-distance, step S605 is executed.
In step S605, it is checked whether the lens focus information 104a stored in the lens focus information storage unit 104 is medium. If it is determined in step S605 that the lens focus information 104a is medium, step S606 is executed.

  In step S606, it is checked whether the operation input detected in step S601 is far away. If it is determined in step S606 that the operation input is far away, step S607 is executed.

  In step S607, the far / medium switching threshold 403 is updated to the gazing point distance detected by the gazing point distance detection unit 107, and the process returns to step S601. If it is determined in step S606 that the operation input is not far away, step S608 is executed. In step S608, the middle / close switching threshold 402 is updated to the gaze point distance detected by the gaze point distance detection unit 107, and the process returns to step S601.

If it is determined in step S605 that the lens focus information 104a stored in the lens focus information storage unit 104 is not moderate, step S609 is executed.
In step S609, it is checked whether the operation input detected in step S601 is far away. If it is determined in step S609 that the operation input is far away, step S610 is executed to update the middle-to-close switching threshold 402 to the gaze point distance detected by the gaze point distance detection unit 107, and the process returns to step S601. . If it is determined in step S609 that the operation input is not far away, the process returns to step S601.

The determination processing routine of steps S602 to S610 is performed every time there is an input from the switching threshold update input unit 112.
In this manner, the switching threshold update unit 106 discriminates an input operation by the user from the switching threshold update input unit 112, and executes any one of steps S604, S607, S608, and S610 to perform autofocus. The switching threshold of the signal creation unit 105 can be updated to the gazing point distance detected by the gazing point distance detection unit 107. Therefore, it is possible to remove the uncomfortable feeling of switching timing caused by individual differences and scenes using glasses.

  In addition, since the user himself can make adjustments at any time, it is possible to achieve a comfortable focus switching without troublesome individual adjustments in specialized stores such as eyeglass stores.

  The present invention contributes to the enhancement of functions of various optical devices having a function of automatically switching the focus.

70 Frame 71 Left rim 72 Right rim 73 Right temple 101 Left-eye variable focus lens 102 Right-eye variable focus lens 103 Focus control unit 104 Lens focus information storage unit 104a Lens focus information 105 Automatic focus signal creation unit 105a Focus switching signal 106 Switching threshold update unit 107 gazing point distance detection unit 108 left eye imaging unit 109 right eye imaging unit 110 gazing point distance calculation unit 112 switching threshold update input unit 701 far control selection button 702 near control selection button 401 switching threshold Storage unit 402 Middle-to-near switching threshold 403 Far-to-middle switching threshold 404 Focus determining unit

Claims (4)

Multifocal electronic glasses that control the focal length of a variable focus lens so as to approach the user's gaze distance,
A gaze distance detection unit for detecting a user's gaze distance;
An automatic focus signal creation unit that creates a focus switching signal of the variable focus lens based on a switching threshold value that is a gazing point distance serving as a reference for switching the gazing point distance and the focus;
A focus control unit that changes the focus of the variable focus lens based on the focus switching signal output from the automatic focus signal creation unit;
A lens focus information storage unit for storing, as lens focus information, information obtained by the focus control unit changing the focus of the variable focus lens;
A switching threshold update input unit that gives an instruction to update the switching threshold by a user operation;
Multi-focus electronic glasses provided with a switching threshold update unit that discriminates an input operation by a user from the switching threshold update input unit and instructs the automatic focus signal generation unit to update the switching threshold. The automatic focus signal creation unit
A switching threshold storage unit in which the switching threshold is stored;
The gazing point distance of the output of the gazing point distance detection unit,
A switching threshold of the switching threshold storage unit;
The multifocal electronic spectacles according to claim 1, further comprising a focus determination unit that determines a target focus from the lens focus information output by the lens focus information storage unit. The switching threshold is
“Far-medium switching threshold” which is a reference for switching the focal length of the variable focus lens to a long-distance or medium-distance range, and the focal point of the variable-focus lens for mid-range or short-distance 2. The multifocal electronic spectacles according to claim 1, comprising a "middle / near switching threshold" which is a reference for switching to a distance. The gazing point distance detector
An imaging unit for photographing the eyeball;
The multifocal electronic spectacles according to claim 1, comprising: a gaze point distance calculation unit that calculates a gaze point distance from an image of the imaging unit.

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