WO1994016424A1 - Prothese visuelle pour aveugles et malvoyants - Google Patents

Prothese visuelle pour aveugles et malvoyants Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994016424A1
WO1994016424A1 PCT/GB1994/000063 GB9400063W WO9416424A1 WO 1994016424 A1 WO1994016424 A1 WO 1994016424A1 GB 9400063 W GB9400063 W GB 9400063W WO 9416424 A1 WO9416424 A1 WO 9416424A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
display means
video
visual
image
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1994/000063
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William Nevil Heaton Johnson
Original Assignee
Durand Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Durand Limited filed Critical Durand Limited
Publication of WO1994016424A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994016424A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B21/00—Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute
    • G09B21/001—Teaching or communicating with blind persons
    • G09B21/008—Teaching or communicating with blind persons using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a seeing aid for blind and partially-sighted persons.
  • At least one eye retains some light imaging and detecting ability. In many of these cases, however, the eye will respond only to light intensities substantially greater than those normally experienced in the environment and the individual can "see” only images where the visual contrast is substantially greater than that normally encountered.
  • a seeing aid including a viewing device comprising a frame or support adapted to be worn on the user's head and supporting, so as to be in front of the user's eyes, or one of the user's eyes, imaging display means for presenting or reproducing a visual image and an associated optical system whereby there may be presented to the user's view an image presented or reproduced by said display means, and, associated with said visual display means, a video-camera device adapted to be carried by the wearer of the viewing device, the arrangement being such that in the image presented to the eye by the viewing device, the intensity of illumination and/or the visual contrast is substantially greater than in the corresponding image captured by the video-camera.
  • the video-camera is mounted on said frame or support adapted to be worn on the user's head, so that the view presented to the viewer's eye is that of the visual area directly in front of his head.
  • the viewing device is of a type similar to that described in International Patent Publication WO92/16075.
  • the head- mounted video-camera may be a lightweight device of the type incorporated in hand-held camcorders, for example.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device embodying the invention being worn by a user
  • FIGURE 2 is a schematic view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, corresponding to Figure 1.
  • the device comprises a frame 10, for example in the form of a helmet or cap to be worn on the user's head and supporting, in front of each eye of the wearer, a respective display screen, (viewed edge-on in Figure 2) , a respective converging lens or lens system (represented schematically, as a single lens at 14) through which the respective eye of the user can view a virtual image of the picture area or display area of the respective screen 12.
  • a respective converging lens or lens system represented schematically, as a single lens at 14
  • the characteristics of the lens or lens system 14, such as power, astigmatism, etc. will be adjusted to compensate optimally for any optical abberations in the user's eye or eyes.
  • Each display screen 12 takes the form of an electronically operated video display unit, thus, for example, the or each display screen 12 may be an LCD screen of the general type known in used hand-held or "pocket" television receivers and thus divided into an array or grid of pixels capable of being activated selectively by associated conductors connected with control circuitry (not shown) , and which control circuitry is in turn controlled by video signal and receiving processing circuitry associated with a video camera mounted in the helmet or headgear 10, only the imaging lens 11 of such camera being indicated in Figure 1.
  • the video camera is mounted to face directly forwards relative to the headgear, so that, in operation of the device, each screen 12 will display a video image of the scene directly in front of the wearer.
  • Each screen is backlit by light emanating from artificial lighting means 20 and passing through the screen 12 from the outer side thereof, (i.e. the side furthest from the user's eye), either directly or through a diffusing screen (not shown) located on the outer side of the screen 12.
  • the light source is so selected as to generate a substantially higher light intensity in the image presented for viewing to the user's eyes, than the corresponding scene in front of the viewer.
  • the control and processing circuitry may be so arranged that the scene presented to view via the backlit screen is also substantially higher, in visual contrast than the actual scene viewed by the camera thereby assisting discrimination of the scene by the wearer.
  • a light-transmitting randomising or diffusion screen 16 may be disposed in front of each LCD screen 12, i.e. between the screen 12 and the respective optical system 14.
  • Each such screen 16 preferably takes the form of a microlens screen as hereinafter defined.
  • microlens screen is used herein to denote a rear projection screen comprising a sheet of light-transmitting material in or on which is formed, by appropriately configuring one or both surfaces of the sheet, or by causing predetermined localised variations in the refractive index of the sheet material, an array of minute lenses, herein termed "microlenses".
  • the microlenses are effectively conventional lenses, for example, plano-convex or bi-convex lenses.
  • the lenses are of the graded refractive index (GRIN) type.
  • the microlens screen may, of course, incorporate both surface configuration and graded refractive index variations contributing to the effectiveness of the microlenses.
  • Microlens screens falling within the definition set out above are disclosed in Published European Patent Application No. 0294122 to which reference should be had. Such screens are herein referred to as "Microsharp".
  • the preferred embodiment disclosed in the above-mentioned International Patent Publication WO92/16075, (which embodiment corresponds with a product which has come to be referred to by the name GOGGLEVOX) utilises such a microlens screen in an analogous context and reference should be had to W092/16075 for a fuller discussion of the effects and purposes of such a microlens screen.
  • the video camera mounted on the headgear may be made very light in weight, since there will be no need, for example, for the tape transport mechanism, recording head, etc. associated with a normal camcorder, nor for "viewfinding" optics or monitoring provisions.
  • the imaging lens used in the video camera may be relatively simple and may be made, for example, of some lightweight material, such as acrylic plastics. Indeed, it may be possible to make the video camera, as such, so compact and light in weight that, in place of the relatively substantial helmet envisaged, the supporting framework may take, for example, the form of a pair of spectacles or goggles.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)

Abstract

Prothèse visuelle pour aveugles et malvoyants comprenant un dispositif de visualisation muni d'un cadre ou support (10), adapté pour être porté sur la tête de l'utilisateur et comportant, afin d'être positionné en face des yeux de celui-ci ou en face de l'un de ses yeux, un moyen de visualisation d'images (12, 20), tel qu'un écran à cristaux liquides permettant de présenter ou de reproduire une image visuelle. Le cadre support (10) comporte également un système optique associé (14, 16) permettant de présenter à l'utilisateur ladite image visuelle fournie par le moyen de visualisation (12, 20). Une caméra vidéo (11) montée sur le support (10) est associée au moyen de visualisation (12, 20). De cette façon, l'image présentée à l'÷il par le moyen de visualisation (12, 20) possède une intensité lumineuse et/ou un contraste visuel sensiblement plus importants que ceux de l'image correspondante prise par la caméra vidéo.
PCT/GB1994/000063 1993-01-13 1994-01-12 Prothese visuelle pour aveugles et malvoyants WO1994016424A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939300589A GB9300589D0 (en) 1993-01-13 1993-01-13 Seeing aid for blind and partially-sighted persons
GB9300589.0 1993-01-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994016424A1 true WO1994016424A1 (fr) 1994-07-21

Family

ID=10728660

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1994/000063 WO1994016424A1 (fr) 1993-01-13 1994-01-12 Prothese visuelle pour aveugles et malvoyants

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9300589D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1994016424A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005101958A2 (fr) * 2004-04-27 2005-11-03 Universidad De Granada Dispositif reconfigurable de traitement d'images en temps reel pour aider des patients ayant une vue faible
JP2014508596A (ja) * 2011-02-24 2014-04-10 アイシス イノベーション リミテッド 視覚障害を有する個人のための光学装置
RU2661550C1 (ru) * 2017-07-24 2018-07-17 Борис Сергеевич Кокорев Устройство цифровых очков для эмуляции бинокулярного зрения
CN110478914A (zh) * 2019-08-28 2019-11-22 武汉宇宙寓言影视发展有限公司 一种仿真儿童摇摆机的控制方法、系统及装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3993865A (en) * 1974-09-13 1976-11-23 U.S. Philips Corporation Scanning systems
US4516157A (en) * 1982-11-23 1985-05-07 Campbell Malcolm G Portable electronic camera
US5060062A (en) * 1990-05-02 1991-10-22 Dotson Robert S Electronic vision aid device
US5125046A (en) * 1990-07-26 1992-06-23 Ronald Siwoff Digitally enhanced imager for the visually impaired
WO1992016075A2 (fr) * 1991-03-08 1992-09-17 Durand Limited Dispositif de visualisation

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3993865A (en) * 1974-09-13 1976-11-23 U.S. Philips Corporation Scanning systems
US4516157A (en) * 1982-11-23 1985-05-07 Campbell Malcolm G Portable electronic camera
US5060062A (en) * 1990-05-02 1991-10-22 Dotson Robert S Electronic vision aid device
US5125046A (en) * 1990-07-26 1992-06-23 Ronald Siwoff Digitally enhanced imager for the visually impaired
WO1992016075A2 (fr) * 1991-03-08 1992-09-17 Durand Limited Dispositif de visualisation

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005101958A2 (fr) * 2004-04-27 2005-11-03 Universidad De Granada Dispositif reconfigurable de traitement d'images en temps reel pour aider des patients ayant une vue faible
ES2244330A1 (es) * 2004-04-27 2005-12-01 Universidad De Granada Sistema reconfigurable de procesamiento de imagenes en tiempo real para ayuda a pacientes con baja vision.
WO2005101958A3 (fr) * 2004-04-27 2005-12-08 Univ Granada Dispositif reconfigurable de traitement d'images en temps reel pour aider des patients ayant une vue faible
JP2014508596A (ja) * 2011-02-24 2014-04-10 アイシス イノベーション リミテッド 視覚障害を有する個人のための光学装置
RU2661550C1 (ru) * 2017-07-24 2018-07-17 Борис Сергеевич Кокорев Устройство цифровых очков для эмуляции бинокулярного зрения
CN110478914A (zh) * 2019-08-28 2019-11-22 武汉宇宙寓言影视发展有限公司 一种仿真儿童摇摆机的控制方法、系统及装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9300589D0 (en) 1993-03-03

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