JP4243733B2 - Method and apparatus for measuring visual ability - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring visual ability, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for easily measuring visual ability using a camera-equipped mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Static visual acuity is performed by looking at the Landolt ring written on the wall with a left and right eye at a predetermined distance and the subject answering the notch direction.
In recent years, the number of people whose static vision has declined due to an increase in life and work to look at TV screens and electronic display devices.
On the other hand, in various sports worlds, it is necessary to have not only physical abilities but also excellent visual abilities, and strengthening exercises concerning the eyes, and skill improvement is aimed at while watching visual acuity measurements on a daily basis.
[0003]
In addition, there are JP-A-11-164815, JP-A-11-235314, JP-A-2000-237133, and JP-A-2001-137219 in patent gazettes for visual acuity meters and visual ability measuring devices using electronic devices.
Other visual acuity meters and visual ability measurement devices and methods are described in detail in Nap, a limited company, published on November 13, 1887, “Visual Science for Sports” by the Sports Vision Study Group.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the method of viewing the Landolt ring, in addition to the subject, a person who indicates various large and small Landolt rings with a stick and a space for an inspection place are required. Also, a bowl-shaped tool that covers the left and right eyes was necessary, and the subject had to use one hand to cover the left and right eyes with the tool.
[0005]
In addition, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-164815, a relatively expensive device has to be purchased and placed on a desk in a predetermined room.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that allows anyone to easily measure static vision at any time and anywhere using a mobile phone with an electronic camera owned by 30% or more of Japanese.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. In the first invention, the information processing station can be accessed by a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones via a wireless communication line. A standard file, a member file, a reception program, and a calculation program are provided in the station, and in the standard file, an object with a known size obtained by the electronic camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone is changed by a predetermined interval. A plurality of video data is created and stored in advance by shooting, and a caller sends personal information to the member file via a camera-equipped mobile phone to register as a member. The reception program is a member registration The calculation program is instructed to transmit the reference image data obtained by photographing the face together with the scaled finger with the electronic camera. When the actual length of the face in the predetermined direction is calculated from the reference image data and added to the member file as attribute data, the caller subsequently accesses the information processing station from the camera-equipped mobile phone. The image program data obtained by taking a picture of a face with the electronic camera at a position where the numbers, letters or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone can be clearly seen by the eyes of the user is transmitted. The video image data is collated with the attribute data and a plurality of video data in the standard file to calculate the caller's visual acuity data, and then transmits the visual acuity data to the caller and the member file. Record.
[0007]
In an embodiment, the object having a known size is a substantially circular disk, and the clearly visible position is determined by the left and right eyes or the left or right eye.
Further, the actual length of the face in the predetermined direction is the interval between both eyes, and further, the numbers, characters or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone are electronically displayed on an electronic screen so as to be rewritable. To do. Therefore, the electronic display is a Landolt mark whose size can be changed.
[0008]
In the second invention, a configuration in which a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones can access the information processing station via a wireless communication line is used, and the information processing station has a size larger than the electronic camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone. A standard file in which a plurality of video data obtained by photographing a known object by changing these distances in predetermined increments is stored in advance, and a caller transmits it via a mobile phone with a camera Instructed to transmit the reference image data obtained by taking a photograph of a face with the electronic camera together with a scaled finger to the caller who performs membership registration based on personal information and the calling party performing membership registration A reception program that holds a command, and a calculation program that calculates the actual length of the face in a predetermined direction from the reference image data, and adds it to the member file as attribute data Provision of a ram. Thereafter, when the caller accesses the information processing station from the camera-equipped mobile phone, the photograph of the face is displayed at a position where the numbers, letters, or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone can be clearly seen by his / her own eyes. Sending video image data obtained by photographing with an electronic camera, the calculation program compares the video image data with the attribute data and a plurality of video data in the standard file to calculate the caller's visual acuity data, Next, the visual data is transmitted to the caller and recorded in the member file.
[0009]
In the third invention, symbols, letters, numbers or Landolt rings of different sizes are displayed on the screen of the electronic display device for the static visual acuity test, and the examinee responds to the visual recognition result for each size. A method of measuring visual ability to determine correctness / incorrectness and to determine still vision, in which an examinee looks through the binocular glasses with an electronic shutter to view the screen, and the electronic shutter Alternatively, the right eyeglass is alternatively closed, and the left or right eye is measured.
[0010]
In the fourth invention, a graphic generator for generating symbols or letters or numbers or Landolt's rings of different sizes for static vision test, an electronic display device for displaying these graphics on the screen for static vision test, and each size Both an input unit for the examinee to respond to the visual recognition result, a measurement unit for determining whether the response data is correct and incorrect to determine static visual acuity, and an electronic shutter that the examinee wears while looking at the screen. The eyeglasses and an open / close control unit that selectively closes the left or right eyeglasses at predetermined time intervals for the electronic shutter are provided as a device for measuring the visual acuity of the left or right eye.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the entire network in which the first and second inventions are implemented. A vision center determination station 2 is connected to a telephone network 1 including an exchange station so as to be able to communicate.
A plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones 3 can communicate with the telephone network 1. The camera-equipped mobile phone 3 incorporates an electronic camera having a lens on the document or back surface. Details thereof are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-223924, so that the description thereof is omitted.
[0012]
In FIG. 2, an embodiment in which a computer having a communication function is used for the determination station 2 serving as an information processing station will be described in detail.
The determination station 2 includes a logic circuit unit (CPU) 4, a member file 5, a standard file 6, a calculation program 7, a reception program 8, and a communication modem 9.
In the registration stage, a telephone call is made from the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 to the telephone number 1928 of the determination station 2 via the telephone network 1 by radio waves (application transmission). At that time, a unique telephone number of the own station (caller's mobile phone 3 with a camera), for example, 090-9876-5432 is also transmitted.
[0013]
In the determination station 2, when an incoming call is received through the modem 9, the reception program 8 is activated, and the CPU 4 returns the contract contents of the application for applying for the eyesight determination to the caller's camera-equipped mobile phone 3. The contents of the contract are like the member file 5 of FIG. 2, prompting input for each item, and presenting a registration fee and a usage fee.
The caller's camera-equipped mobile phone 3 receives this content and displays it on the screen.
The caller understands the contents and makes an application. The address, name, credit card number, etc. are input and transmitted to the judging station 2.
[0014]
The determination station 2 registers the address, name, credit card number, and the like in the member file 5 together with the unique number 090-9876-5432 of the mobile phone 3 being connected (received).
Next, the CPU 4 of the determination station 2 sends a guide to the caller to measure the customer basic data and to send the measurement result value. This measurement may be transmitted after the application is disconnected and reconnected after preparations are made.
In the guidance for measuring the basic customer data, the finger 10 with the “cm” length scale shown in FIG. 3 is horizontally applied to the forehead of the face F, and an instruction is given to photograph the face F from the front.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 is held in the right (left) hand and the object finger 10 is held with the left (right) hand as shown in FIG. Shoot as you go.
3 adjusts the distance D between the face F and the camera lens (cell phone 3) by bending and stretching the arm as indicated by the arrow in FIG. Therefore, photographing is performed so that the face F appears on the entire screen of the mobile phone 3, and by doing so, the distance between the left and right eyes can be measured more accurately.
The front face F photograph with the object finger 10 photographed in this way is sent to the determination station 2 as reference image data.
[0016]
In the determination station 2, the CPU 4 uses the calculation program 7 to determine the distance L between the caller's eyes shown in FIG. It is calculated from the length of the finger 10 and the length of the image on the photograph. This technique is known in the image analysis industry as length calibration.
The vertical (length) and horizontal (width) size of the display screen of the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 is standardized and constant (for example, about 3 cm wide × 5 cm long), and the distance L between both eyes is displayed as a length of Pcm on the screen. Is done. When the correlation is expressed as a function by a functional expression G,
Screen image Pcm = L (individual constant) · G (width 3 cm × length 5 cm).
[0017]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the standard file 6 of the determination station 2 stores in advance a lot of data when a disk reference object 11 having a diameter of 10 cm is photographed by the camera-equipped mobile phone 3. The data table of the shooting distance and the image size in the standard file 6 is measured and prepared in detail by the company that operates the determination station 2.
In FIG. 5, the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 is fixed to a table 12 with a scale, for example, a disk reference object 11 having a diameter H = 10 cm is photographed at a nearby D1 = 10 cm, and the disk reference object 11 is D2 at predetermined intervals. Take a picture every time while keeping the distance to D3 = 90cm.
[0018]
The smaller the predetermined step value, the more detailed video size is obtained.
The reason for using the disk reference object 11 is to confirm whether or not the photographing characteristics of the camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 are uniform in the vertical and horizontal directions and that there is no distortion.
As the display screen is illustratively shown in the upper part of FIG. 5, the distance between the 10 cm disk reference object 11 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 becomes 10 cm → 90 cm as far as possible. The image size of the disk reference object 11 is gradually shortened to 21, 22, and 23. In the figure, the heels are displayed in an explanatory manner assuming the object finger 10 of FIG.
[0019]
For example, if the distance D = 10 cm, the screen is full and the image size is 3 cm, the viewing angle α
If the distance D = 15cm, the image size is 2.5cm and the viewing angle β
If the distance D = 20cm, the image size is 2.1cm.
If the distance D = 30cm, the image size is 2cm.
If the distance D = 40cm, the image size is 1.8cm and the viewing angle γ
If the distance D = 50 cm, the image size is 1.5 cm, and the viewing angle α>β> γ.
[0020]
A tabular version of this data is created and stored in advance in the standard file 6 of FIG.
Referring to the table of the standard file 6 in FIG. 2, regarding the distance L (individual constant) between both eyes in FIG. 3, the distance D between both eyes and the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 shown in FIG. 4 is as far as 10 cm → 90 cm. It can be understood that the interval P on the video image of both eyes on the screen is also shortened.
[0021]
Therefore, the distance L between the eyes and the disk reference object 11 of 10 cm are proportional to each other, and the CPU 4 multiplies the distance between the image images of both eyes by L (individual constant) / 10 cm by the calculation program 7.
If the distance D1 = 10 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes is P1 = L / 10 · 3 cm,
If the distance D2 = 15 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes is P2 = L / 10 · 2.5 cm,
If the distance D3 = 20 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes is P3 = L / 10 · 2.1 cm,
If the distance D4 = 30 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes is P4 = L / 10 · 1.8 cm,
If the distance D5 = 40 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes is P5 = L / 10 · 1.5 cm,
If the distance D6 = 50 cm, the distance between the video images of both eyes can be calculated in the same manner as P6 = L / 10 · 1.2 cm.
[0022]
If the movement increment from D1 to Dn (n is the number of 2, 3, 4, 5,...) Is made fine, the interval between the video images of both eyes can be grasped finely from P1 to Pn.
Next, a method in which the owner of the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 measures his / her visual acuity will be described. A call is made from the mobile phone 3 to the determination station 2. In the determination station 2, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the caller is a member registered in 5. The CPU 4 instructs the member to take and transmit the latest face photograph of the user with the camera-equipped mobile phone 3.
[0023]
In the photographing method, an instruction is given to extend the arm to a position where predetermined numbers and characters on the camera-equipped mobile phone 3 can be clearly seen in FIG.
When measuring with the naked eye, the mobile phone 3 approaches the face F and moves to D1 if nearsighted, and moves to D3 that is far away if presbyopia.
Thus, a face photograph corresponding to any one of the upper part of FIG. 5 is sent to the determination station 2 as video image data.
[0024]
The CPU 4 of the determination station 2 refers to the received face image and the standard file 6 and can determine the distances P1 to P6 between the binocular video images by the calculation program 7, and calculates the distance D in FIG.
Further, from the calculated distance D, the CPU 4 calculates the visual acuity 2.0 to 0.01 or the like. That is, the visual acuity is determined by the distance D between the eyes at that time and the camera-equipped mobile phone. The calculation of the visual acuity 2.0 to 0.01 or the like from the distance D can be performed in advance by the CPU 4 or the like on the determination station 2 side to hold the data.
The CPU 4 of the determination station 2 reports the determination distance D and the converted visual acuity to the connected caller, and records them in the determination station 2 together with the date.
[0025]
Members can sometimes access Judgment Bureau 2 and request their own vision. The judging station 2 charges the prescribed membership fee and the fee for each measurement, records it in the member file 5, charges it in a predetermined procedure, and settles it.
You can easily measure the recovery effect after training with the aforementioned visual acuity training device such as JP-A-11-164815 and other visual acuity recovery methods and equipment, and visual loss due to work fatigue anytime and anywhere, and manage your own eye health It can be performed.
[0026]
Therefore, if the phone of the camera-equipped mobile terminal is used, health management can be performed at a cost equivalent to the cost of a phone call without going to a specialized measuring station. Of course, it is not a medically accurate visual acuity examination like an ophthalmology clinic, but the accuracy as a measure of visual acuity is sufficiently guaranteed.
Note that the distance between the video images of both eyes is used because the black pupil is easy to detect digitally by shading, and when the detection accuracy is high, the width and height of the face itself is detected and the video image is detected. You can use the length of.
[0027]
Next, the third and fourth inventions will be described with reference to FIG.
This apparatus includes an electronic display device 28, an input unit 24, a determination unit 27, binocular glasses 30 with an electronic shutter, and an opening / closing control unit. The open / close control unit includes a switching unit 25 and a shutter signal generation unit 29.
The graphic generator 26 generates symbols such as symbols, letters, numbers, or Landolt rings having different sizes for static visual acuity testing, and the Landolt ring (displayed in FIG. 6) having different sizes for static visual acuity testing. Is displayed on the screen. The inspected person responds to the visual recognition result from the input unit 24 for each size display.
[0028]
With respect to the response data, the determination unit 27 determines whether the visual acuity is correct by determining whether it is correct or incorrect. The examinee wears binocular glasses 30 with an electronic shutter to view the screen.
The switching unit 25 of the opening / closing control unit instructs to selectively close the left or right glasses, and the shutter signal generation unit 29 radiates the infrared signal R toward the binocular glasses 30 according to the alternative instruction signal. Although the shutter signal generation unit 29 shows an infrared light emitting device in FIG. 6, an alternative instruction signal may be sent to the binocular glasses 30 by wire.
[0029]
As the electronic display device 28, the input unit 24, the determination unit 27, and the switching unit 25, a display unit, input keys, and a central processing unit of a general-purpose computer can be used.
The electronic shutter of the binocular glasses 30 is opened and closed every predetermined time, and a Landolt ring of a predetermined size is displayed on the electronic display device 28. After the subject recognizes with the left or right eye, the notch direction is responded by the arrow key of the input unit 24.
[0030]
The determination unit 27 compares this response data with the displayed Landolt ring data to determine correctness. The size of the displayed Landolt ring is changed from large to small in the same manner, and the visual acuity is evaluated and recorded in a predetermined recording unit or displayed on the electronic display device 28. Measure visual ability in the same way for the left and right eyes.
Since glasses with a shutter and an infrared light emitting device used when viewing an electronic image are disclosed in detail in US Pat. No. 5,808,588, description thereof will be omitted.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and second inventions, it is now possible for anyone to easily measure static vision alone at any time and anywhere using mobile phones with electronic cameras owned by many citizens and citizens. In addition, the information processing station can establish a vision determination service as a business.
According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, it is possible to measure the visual acuity freely even by one person using a personal computer at the office or home without the effort of others.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration used in a method and apparatus for measuring visual ability according to the first and second aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of a determination station of the method and apparatus for measuring visual ability according to the first and second aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the steps of the method for measuring visual ability according to the first and second inventions of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another step of the method for measuring visual ability according to the first and second inventions of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the method for measuring visual ability according to the first and second inventions of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overall configuration used in the method and apparatus for measuring visual ability according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Telephone network 2 Judgment station 3 Mobile phone with camera 4 Logic circuit (CPU)
5 Member file 6 Standard file 7 Calculation program 8 Reception program 9 Communication modem 10 Finger 11 Disc reference object 12 Tables 21, 22, 23 Video size 24 Input unit 25 Switching unit 26 Graphic generation unit 27 Determination unit 28 Electronic display device 29 Shutter signal generator 30 Binocular glasses with electronic shutter D Distance L Actual distance P between both eyes P

Claims (8)

In a system in which a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones can access an information processing station via a wireless communication line,
The information processing station is provided with a standard file, a member file, a reception program, and a calculation program. The standard file changes an object whose size is obtained by an electronic camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone at a predetermined interval. Let's take a picture and create and store multiple video data in advance.
In the member file, a caller sends personal information via a camera-equipped mobile phone to register as a member, and the reception program registers a caller who performs membership registration with a face photo together with a scaled finger. Instructed to send the reference image data taken with the camera,
The calculation program calculates the actual length of the face in a predetermined direction from the reference image data, adds it as attribute data to the member file,
Thereafter, when the caller accesses the information processing station from the camera-equipped mobile phone, the photograph of the face is displayed at a position where the numbers, letters, or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone can be clearly seen by his / her own eyes. Send video image data obtained by shooting with an electronic camera,
The calculation program compares the video image data with the attribute data and a plurality of video data in the standard file to calculate the caller's visual acuity data, and then transmits the visual acuity data to the caller. A method for measuring visual ability, wherein the visual ability is recorded in the member file.   The method of measuring visual ability according to claim 1, wherein the object having a known size is a substantially circular disk.   The method of measuring visual ability according to claim 1, wherein the clearly visible position is determined by the left and right eyes or the left eye or the right eye.   The method of claim 1, wherein the actual length of the face in a predetermined direction is an interval between both eyes. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information processing station charges a specified membership fee and a fee for each measurement and records the fee in the member file .   The method for measuring visual ability according to claim 1, wherein the numbers, characters or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone are electronically displayed on an electronic screen in a rewritable manner.   The method of measuring visual ability according to claim 6, wherein the electronic display is a Landolt mark whose size can be changed. Using a configuration that allows multiple mobile phones with cameras to access the information processing station via wireless communication lines,
The information processing station creates and stores in advance a plurality of video data obtained by photographing an object of a known size by an electronic camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone by changing the distance in predetermined increments. Standard file
A member file in which membership registration is performed by the personal information sent by the caller via the camera-equipped mobile phone;
A reception program holding a command for instructing a caller who performs membership registration to transmit reference image data obtained by taking a picture of a face with the scaled finger with the electronic camera;
A calculation program for calculating an actual length of the face in a predetermined direction from the reference image data and adding the calculated length as attribute data to the member file;
Thereafter, when the caller accesses the information processing station from the camera-equipped mobile phone, the photograph of the face is displayed at a position where the numbers, letters, or symbols displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone can be clearly seen by his / her own eyes. Send video image data obtained with an electronic camera,
The calculation program compares the video image data with the attribute data and a plurality of video data in the standard file to calculate the visual acuity data of the caller, and then transmits the visual acuity data to the caller and the member A device that measures visual ability, characterized by recording in a file.

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