WO1981001512A1

WO1981001512A1 - Vision apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1981001512A1
Application number: PCT/DE1980/000180
Authority: WO
Inventors: M Stover
Original assignee: M Stover
Priority date: 1979-11-30
Filing date: 1980-12-01
Publication date: 1981-06-11
Also published as: DE2948266A1; EP0040625A1

Abstract

Vision apparatus for the blind comprising a video device for providing video signals which are related to the image in the vision field of the video device. This apparatus comprises an amplifier connected after the device, a transmitting antenna (29) connected after the amplifier and arranged close to the orbital cavity, and a receiver (80) responsive to the electromagnetic field of the transmitting antenna, and arranged close to or in the orbital cavity and of which the output has two output electrodes (88, 90). These output electrodes are arranged at the back of an ocular prothesis (92) where they are coupled by the lachrymal liquid to a undamaged portion of the optical ducts, respectively the optical nerve end, in order to transmit the images to the visual nerve center of the patient and give the patient the impression of an image.

Description

Vision device

description

The invention relates to a vision device according to the preamble of the main claim.

Such a vision device is known from DE-PS 2 714 667. In the known vision device, the output electrodes of the receiver are arranged in a special way, which makes the manufacture of the eye prosthesis with the receiver more difficult.

In contrast, the object of the invention is to improve a vision device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the receiver accommodated in the prosthetic eye is easier to manufacture and can still deliver the required output power.

The features for solving this problem are contained in the main claim, while the dependent claims characterize advantageous embodiments of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a

Frame which carries the transmission unit of the vision device according to the invention;

2 shows a block diagram of the electrical circuit in the transmission unit of the vision device according to the invention;

OMPI ^m t XSm 3 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the receiver with the output electrode;

4 shows a schematic section through the prosthetic eye in which the receiver is accommodated; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the prosthetic eye of Fig. 4 from below.

1 shows an eyeglass-like frame 2, in the side parts 3 and front part 4 of which the electronic components for the transmitter unit of the vision device according to the invention are accommodated. 1 also schematically shows an objective 5 for imaging the objects in the vicinity of the blind person onto a CCD element 6, which is also shown schematically. A CCD element is a photoelectric component which is able to scan an image which is imaged on this element in a raster and generate a video output signal which depends on the brightness values present at the individual points on the raster.

2 shows a block diagram of the electronic device of the transmission unit of the vision device according to the invention. As already mentioned, the image to be conveyed to the blind person is imaged on the CCD element 6 by the objective 5. 2 schematically shows a video device with a CCD element, the inputs being designated as follows:

+ = positive input voltage φH .. = horizontal, analog register transport clock pulse φH_ = inverted, analog register transport clock pulse R = scanning pulse p = picture reset pulse and picture element erase pulse v. = vertical, analog register transport clock pulse V2 = inverted, analog register transport clock pulse.

- JREAcT

OMPI _ These input signals for the CCD are generated in a manner known per se by a clock generator 20 and a control circuit 22 and are output to the CCD. The timing of the different input pulse trains, the required voltages and the like are given by the manufacturers of the CCD elements, to which reference is made.

If the CCD element 6 is driven with the input signals mentioned and if an image is projected onto the photosensitive surface, the CCD outputs a video output signal via line 24 and a compensation output signal via line 24 *. These signals are amplified in a broadband video amplifier 26 and output to a power output stage 28 and from there to the transmission coil 29. This transmitter coil 29 is connected at one end to the power output stage 28 and is connected to ground at the other end,

3 shows the electrical circuit of the receiver 80. The receiver 80 has a receiver coil 82, a capacitor 84 connected in parallel therewith and a diode 86 located between the one end of the receiver coil 82 and the capacitor 84. In the practical implementation of the receiver, about 50 m of wire are wound as a coil 82, then the diode and the capacitor are selected such that an optimal inductive coupling between the transmitter coil 29 and the receiver coil 82 is achieved. With this optimal coupling, an output signal of 7 V _3 - ~ at the transmitter coil 29 is sufficient for the

Image signals can be coupled from the receiver to the optic nerve. The output of the receiver 80 is formed by two electrodes 88, 90. The electrodes 88, 90 each consist of thin gold plates which are attached to the back of the eye prosthesis.

The spatial arrangement of the components of the receiver 80 in an eye prosthesis-like body 92 is shown in FIG. 4. The body 92 has on its back that the back of the Eye socket is facing, two thin gold plates that form the electrodes 88, 90. The receiving coil 82, the capacitor 84 and the diode 86 are completely cast into the prosthesis-like body 92. During manufacture, these components are first cast, the conductors to which the electrodes are connected being led out of the prosthetic eye. After completion of the body 92, the electrodes are attached to the back and connected to the conductors. The electrodes 88, 90 are exposed on their entire surface so that good contact with the tear water can be made in the eye socket.

5 shows the prosthesis-like body 92 from below, it being evident that the electrodes 88, 90 essentially cover the entire underside of the body 92 and only form a narrow gap 94 between them. It has been shown that the flat design of the electrodes 88, 90 enables the signals from the receiver to be coupled satisfactorily to the functional part of the optical path.

When the body 92 is inserted into the eye socket, the electrodes 88, 90 are continuously wetted by the tear water generated by the blind person himself. The output signals of the receiver 80 thus reach the still functional parts of the visual pathways via the tear water. As can be seen from the preceding description, the coupled signals are the output signals of the CCD element after its amplification, coupling to the receiver and processing in the receiver circuit. These signals represent the result of a raster scan of the light-sensitive surface of the CCD element, as is known per se.

As the practical testing of the vision device according to the invention has shown, the information passed on to the visual pathways via these signals is sufficient so that the person equipped with the vision device can see.

OMPI

Claims

Expectations

1. A visual device for the blind with a video device for generating video signals which are related to the image in the field of view of the video device, with an amplifier connected downstream of the video device, a transmission antenna arranged downstream of the amplifier and near the eye socket and one Receiver which responds to the electromagnetic field of the transmitting antenna and which is arranged at or in the eye socket, the output of which has two output electrodes, characterized in that the output electrodes (88, 90) are arranged on the back of an eye prosthesis Lacrimal fluid is coupled to a still functional part of the optic pathways or the end of the optic nerve.

2. Vision device according to claim 1, characterized in that the output electrodes (88, 90) are thin metal plates «.

OMPI / _, _ WIPO -

3. Vision device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the electrodes are made of gold.

4. Vision device according to claim 1, characterized in that the output signal at the output electrodes (88, 90) has about 0.0075 A and 0.5 V.