WO2019098838A1

WO2019098838A1 - Spectacles as ergonomical aid

Info

Publication number: WO2019098838A1
Application number: PCT/NL2018/050773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pieter Cornelis OOSTHUIZEN
Original assignee: Oosthuizen Pieter Cornelis
Priority date: 2017-11-20
Filing date: 2018-11-19
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Also published as: NL2019943B1

Abstract

A pair of glasses is provided, comprising a viewing window with on the window a marking. The marking is provided as a reminder for the wearer of the glasses to hold a certain ergonomic body position. If the wearer holds an incorrect position, the marking blocks the view to a working area. A second aspect is a camera provided with the glasses, wherein the field of view of the camera overlaps with the field of view of the wearer in the working area. Images captured by the camera may be directly displayed to an audience or stored for later use. The working area may be chosen such that, when the wearer of the glasses is a medical professional performing a surgery, the privacy of a patient is maintained. A third aspect is that the glasses may form a protective barrier for the eyes, preventing foreign matter to reach the eyes.

Description

Title: SPECTACLES AS ERGONOMICAL AID

TECHNICAL FIELD

The various aspects and embodiments thereof relate to spectacles.

A particular embodiment relates to spectacles having a camera a spectacle frame.

BACKGROUND

Spectacles - or glasses - generally have at least one of two objectives: provide enhancement of sight of the wearer and protect the eyes of the wearer. The protection may be against hazardous particles, either solid or liquid or against radiation like sunrays.

It is known to provide spectacles with one or more cameras. Spectacles with hidden cameras are known from films, like Mission

Impossible - and for sale through various shops.

SUMMARY

In certain professions, professionals are required to take a particular position of the body for a longer time, either intermittently or continuously. If holding a particular position of the body requires a significant amount of stress, such stress may cause injuries that can turn into chronic injuries. Therefore, it is important that such professionals take a position that allows them to perform their work for a prolonged period with an amount of stress that reduces the odds of incurring any injuries. For example, for dentists it is important they keep their backs straight when seated and their heads up. It is preferred to provide a tool to aid dentists and professionals that are to keep a similar physical working attitude to keep such attitude.

A first aspect provides glasses, comprising a frame, arranged for holding a first window on a head of a wearer and the first window, comprising at least a plate of transparent material, wherein the first window is provided with a first marking, which indicates a first field of view within the first window. In these glasses - or spectacles - the frame is arranged to position the first window on the head relative to an eye position of at least a first eye, and wherein the first marking is provided on the first window such that, when the wearer of the glasses holds a certain body position, a working area, the first field of view, and the first eye are located on a straight line.

The professional is reminded to look through the first field of view to the working area and is able to view the working area through the first field of view if he or she assumes the right posture. For example, a dentist is to view the mouth of a client and to operate on that mouth if he or she is looking at the mouth through the first field of view while sitting upright, with his or her head up.

In an embodiment, the glasses comprise a camera which has a camera range, wherein the camera is mounted on the frame or may be part of the frame such that a viewing area defined by the first eye and the first marking overlaps in the working area with the camera range. The camera may be provided with a storage medium or connected to a storage medium provided at another location, arranged for storing at least one of video and photos taken by the camera for a later use, such as forming a medical dossier or for educational purposes. Such storage medium may be a volatile medium or a non-volatile medium, like a harddisk or solid state memory.

In particular in instruction environments, for example at a university, it is important students are able to follow each step shown by a professor. This embodiment allows them to do so, by connecting the camera to a display screen. Moreover, this embodiment may aid at preserving privacy of the client, if the camera range or the camera field of view covers only the working area if the professor - or other professional - assumes the right posture aided by the first field of view. This may be aided by providing a light source that only illuminates the working area if the camera field of view covers the intended working area. The light source may be mounted to the glasses.

This means the client who is operated is not recognisable by anyone watching the video stream from the screen for example only the mouth is shown when the professor is a dentist performing a dental operation.

Many dentists, surgeons, and other medical professional wear some kind of eye protection during operations. The eye protection is arranged to protect the eyes from contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, bodily fluids, and from potential harm from objects that may reach the eyes. A second aspect is to protect the eyes of the wearer of the glasses from these risks.

In an embodiment of the glasses, a single viewing window is provided for both eyes of the wearer. In an alternative embodiment of the glasses, a separate viewing wan do w is provided for each eye. Similarly, a single marking may be provided arranged for both eyes, or multiple markings may be provided. Optionally, the position of the marking may be altered by the wearer of the glasses. This gives an option to use the glasses in different situations, where a different body position or working area is desired.

To enhance the ergonomics of the wearer of the glasses, the marking may be provided such that instead of tilting the neck up or down to view the working area, the eyes need to be rotated up or down to view the working area. This may decrease strain in the neck of the wearer of the glasses.

The frame of the glasses may in an embodiment comprise a nose bridge, arranged to be placed on a nose of the wearer. Additionally or alternatively, the frame comprises multiple nose pads, arranged to be placed on the nose of the wearer. In yet another embodiment, at least part of the frame of the glasses is placed on the wearers ears. In such an embodiment, the frame is provided with two temples, provided at the sides of the frame. The temples may be hingedly attached to the frame, which allows the frame to be folded when the glasses are not being worn. Any combination of temples, nose bridge, and nose pads is also envisioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aspects and various embodiments thereof will now be elucidated in further detail in conjunction with drawings. In the thawings,

Figure 1: shows a pair of glasses positioned on the head of a wearer;

Figure 2: shows the glasses comprising a camera;

Figure 3A: shows a working area for a wearer of the glasses; Figure 3B: shows the working area for the wearer holding a tool;

Figure 4A: shows the glasses with a second window;

Figure 4B: shows another embodiment of the glasses; and Figure 4C: shows yet another embodiment of the glasses. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a pair of glasses 100, comprising a frame 140, a first window 110, and a first marking 130 provided on the first window 110.

Herein, the frame 140 is arranged to position the first window 110 relative to a first eye 150 of the person wearing the glasses 100. The frame 140 is further arranged to position the glasses 100 on a head 310 of the wearer. The frame 140 may be comprised of a plastic such as nylon or acetate, a metal such as titanium, any other material or any combination thereof. The first window 110 comprises a plate of transparent material. This

transparent material comprises acrylate, silicone, borosilicate glass. common glass, polycarbonate, Perspex, any other transparent material or any combination thereof.

The first marking 130 defines a first viewing window 112 in the first window 110. When the wearer looks through the first viewing window 112, a first viewing range 113 is available for the wearer to be seen. The first viewing range has a substantially conical, pyramidal or otherwise diverging shape, depending on how the first marking shapes the first viewing window. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the first marking 130 is provided such that, when the wearer of the glasses holds a pre determined position with his body, an imaginary straight line 141 can be drawn on which a working area 180, the first viewing wan do w 112, and the first eye 150 are positioned.

The pre-determined body position, which will be further elaborated on in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, may be chosen such that it allows the person is able to maintain the body position for a prolonged period without a significant amount of physical stress. To be able to look through the first viewing window 112 in the pre-determined body position, the wearer might be forced to move the eye 150 in a certain position.

In a preferred embodiment, the first viewing window 112 is provided in the lower part of the first window 110, under the first marking 130. Furthermore, the first marking 130 may be provided in the first window 110, in front of the first window 110 or behind the first window 110. The first marking 130 may either be fully opaque, or partially transparent. Additionally, the first marking 130 may be engraved, etched, painted, printed, otherwise indicated or a combination thereof on the first window 110. In this way, the user is forced to look above or below the first marking 130. In this way, the user can look through the first window 110 without the first marking 130 being in the centre of the field of view.

Furthermore, the first marking 130 or any other marking is provided such that the pair of glasses 100 may be conveniently and thoroughly disinfected. With no further objects close to the first window 110, hke magnifying glasses or other optical elements comprising lenses or image sensors, this is further facilitated as well.

In different embodiments, the first window 110 may either be provided in front of one eye, or may be sufficiently large to be provided in front of two eyes.

In an additional embodiment of the glasses 100, the frame 140 is arranged to fit over an other pair of glasses worn by the wearer of the glasses 100. In this embodiment, the frame 140 is either arranged to position the glasses 100 on the head of the wearer or the frame 140 is arranged to position the glasses 100 on the other pair of glasses worn by the wearer of the glasses 100.

In yet another additional embodiment of the glasses 100, the frame 140 is provided with a resilient member, e.g. an elastic band, arranged to position the glasses 100 on the head 310 of the wearer. In this embodiment, the resilient member substantially surrounds the head 310 of the wearer when the glasses 100 are worn.

Fig. 2 shows the glasses 100, further comprising a camera 200, wherein the camera is mounted on the frame 140. Alternatively, the camera 200 is incorporated in the frame 140. The camera 200 has a camera range

201. The camera range 201 has a substantially conical shape. The camera 200 is positioned on the frame 140 such that the camera range 201 and the first viewing range 113 substantially overlap in the working area 180.

Herein, the first viewing range 113 is defined by the position of the first marking 130 relative to the first eye 150. The glasses are easily disinfected as all the parts included in the frame or connected to the frame. In

particular with respect to the camera 200, it is preferred the camera is connected to the frame 140 such that the points of connection may be conveniently cleaned and disinfected in particular. ί

The camera 200 is arranged to provide a video stream, either via a wired or a wireless connection. The video stream may be provided to a display screen, a storage, other or a combination thereof. In one

embodiment, the video data may be magnified for use at the moment of operation of the user of the glasses 100 or at a later stage. Alternatively or additionally, the image may be mirrored, for example over a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, before display of the video data. This is particularly useful if one or more mirrors have been used during a treatment that has been isor is being recorded.

When using a mirror the displayed image can be mirrored by software for easier hand eye coordination using indirect vision. The video stream is used to show the camera range 201 to at least one person other than the wearer of the glasses. Because the camera range 201 and the first viewing range 113 substantially overlap in the working area 180, the camera 200 may be arranged such that only a limited area outside the working area 180 falls within the camera range 201 if the centre of the camera range 201 is located in a designated working area 180. In an even more preferred embodiment, the camera 200 is provided such that the entire camera range 201 falls within the working area 180 if the centre of the camera range 201 is located in a designated working area 180. This implies that the at least one person other than the wearer of the glasses can only see the working range 180, or only a limited area outside the working area 180. This is particularly advantageous when the working area 180 is part of a person who is being operated on, and the face of the person who is being operated on lies outside the working range 180. In such a situation, the identity of the person who is being operated on remains undisclosed.

The camera 200 may additionally or alternatively be arranged to capture video data from the camera range 201, and store said video data on a storage medium for later use. Examples of later uses are the forming of a medical dossier and educational purposes. The video data may also be one or more stills from the video stream, or photos taken by the camera.

Optionally, the camera 200 is provided with an external controller, wherein a user interaction with said external controller instructs the camera 200 to at least one of start recording, stop recording, and capture a photo. The external controller may be operated with a finger, hand, elbow, foot, by voice control, any other operation method, or a combination thereof.

A video processing module (not shown) may be used to provide an even better overlap between the camera range 201 and the working area 180. The video processing module comprises an input for receiving the video stream from the camera 200, a processing means for editing, e.g. cropping, the video stream and an outputting means for outputting the processed video stream.

In a further embodiment of the glasses 100 comprising the camera 200, the camera 200 is hingedly mounted on the frame 140, such that the camera range 201 can be adjusted to correspond with the working area 180. The hinged mounting may allow rotation of the camera over a single axis, e.g. an axis parallel to the first window 110, or may in another embodiment allow rotation in mrdtiple directions, e.g. by using a ball-and-socket joint.

The camera 200 may be arranged as a monochrome or colour camera, and might be provided with a light source. Furthermore, the camera 200 may comprise multiple lenses, of which the combined image may be used to construct a three-dimensional image of the working area 180.

Fig. 3A shows a body 300, comprising a head 310, back 301, shoulder 320, shoulder joint 330, elbow joint 350, elbow angle 351, wrist 361, hand 360, and hip 370.

A first body position in which the person wearing the glasses 100 requires to be positioned in order to view the working area 180 through the first viewing window 112 defined by the first marking 130, is a position in which the back 301 is in a substantially vertical position. A second body position adding on to the first body position is the position in which the shoulder 320 is at least partly positioned above the hip 370. Furthermore, the head 310 is provided above the shoulder 320.

Fig. 3 A furthermore shows the working area 180, wherein the working area 180 is defined as the area in which the hand 360 of the wearer of the glasses 100 can be positioned when the elbow 350 is positioned in a certain elbow angle 351. For a certain position of the first marking 130, the elbow angle 351 is preferably a substantially perpendicular angle.

Fig. 3B again shows the body 300 of the wearer of the glasses 100, wherein the wearer holds a tool 380 in his hand 360. Here, the working- range 180 is defined as the range of movement of a tip of the tool 380. The tool 380 may e.g. be one of a mouth mirror, probe, retractor, syringe, drill, laser, torque wrench, bur, excavator, burnisher, plugger, curette, or any other tool or instrument. As in Fig. 3A, the elbow angle 351 is substantially perpendicular.

Different body positions will result in different working areas 180. Different positions of the first marking 130 are therefor envisioned to accommodate these different body positions.

When the glasses are worn by a dentist, the working area 180 preferably corresponds to an opened mouth of a patient on whom the dentist is performing an action and only this area. When worn by a surgeon, the working area 180 may significantly correspond to an area of the body, or a specific body part, which the surgeon is operating on.

Fig. 4A shows another embodiment of the glasses 100, wherein the glasses 100 further comprise a second window 410 and a second marking 430. The second marking 430 indicates a second viewing window 412, hkewise to the first marking 130 on the first window 110.

In Fig. 4A the first marking 130 is visualised with a horizontal and a vertical section. In different embodiments of the glasses 100, the first marking 130 may also comprise other sections, such as a non-horizontal section, e.g. a section that is diagonally placed on the first window 110. In another embodiment, the first marking 130 is provided as a substantially horizontal marking only.

Fig. 4B shows yet another embodiment of the glasses 100, wherein the frame 140 comprises a nose bridge 145, arranged to be placed on a nose. Next to, or instead of the nose bridge 145, the glasses 100 may be provided with nose pads 146, wherein the nose pads 146 are arranged to be placed on a nose.

Fig. 4C shows the glasses 100, wherein the frame 140 comprises multiple temples 149. The temples 149 are provided at the sides of the frame 140, and are arranged to at least partially be placed on an ear.

Optionally, a proximal end of the temples 149 is hingedly attached to the frame 140.

The first viewing window 110 and optional second viewing window 410 comprise a substantially transparent material. The first viewing window 110 and optional second viewing window 410 may optionally comprise an optical element, wherein said optical element has a power other than 0. The power of the first viewing window 110 and the second viewing 410 may be different. The transparent material comprised by the first viewing window 110 and the second viewing window 410 may be treated with an anti-reflection coating, a protective coating, a scratch-resisting coating, a hydrophobic coating, an anti-fog coating or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the material comprised by the first viewing window 110 and the second viewing window 410 may be at least partially opaque for hght of specific wavelengths.

In another embodiment of the glasses 100, wherein the glasses 100 are further arranged as a protective element for the eyes of the wearer, the frame 140 is arranged to substantially seal off a section of the face in which at least one of the eyes of the wearer is present. The seal is arranged to protect the eye from liquids, gasses or any other foreign matter that may damage or infect the eye.

At least some of the various embodiments may be summarised by the following numbered embodiments:

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being“on” or “onto” another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Also, it will be understood that the values given in the description above, are given by way of example and that other values may be possible and/or may be strived for.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

It is to be noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non-hmiting examples. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include

embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described. The word‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to’only one', but instead are used to mean’at least one', and do not exclude a plurality.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters and values thereof disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.

Claims

1. Glasses, comprising:

A frame, arranged for holding a first window on a head of a wearer,

The first window, comprising at least a plate of transparent material, wherein the first window is provided with a first marking, which indicates a first field of view within the first window,

wherein the frame is arranged to position the first window on the head

relative to an eye position of at least a first eye, and wherein the first marking is provided on the first window such that, when the wearer of the glasses holds a certain body position, a working area, the first field of view, and the first eye are located on a straight line.

2. Glasses according to claim 1, further comprising a camera which has a camera range, wherein the camera is mounted in frame such that a viewing area defined by the first eye and the first marking overlaps in the working area with the camera range.

3. Glasses according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body position is a body position wherein the back of the wearer is substantially vertically positioned.

4. Glasses according to claim 3, wherein the body position further comprises that the shoulders of the wearer of the glasses are at least partly located above the hips of the wearer of the glasses and the head is located above the shoulders.

5. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first field of view is located in the lower halve of the first window.

6. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the

working area is defined as the area wherein the hands of the wearer of the glasses may be located when the elbows of the wearer of the glasses are located in a substantially perpendicular angle.

7. Glasses according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein the working area is defined as the area wherein a tool may be located which is held in one of the hands of the wearer of the glasses when the elbows of the wearer of the glasses are provided in a substantially perpendicular angle.

8. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, further

comprising a second window, which second window is provided with a second marking which indicates a second field of view within the second window wherein the second marking is provided on the second window such that, when the wearer of the glasses holds a certain body position, the working area, the second field of view, and a second eye of the wearer are located on a straight hne.

9. Glasses according to claim 8, wherein the first window and the second window are formed by the plate of transparent material.

10. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the plate of transparent material comprises an optical module with an optical index other than 0 dioptre.

11. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the frame comprises a nose bridge, and wherein the nose bridge is arranged to be placed on a nose.

12. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the

frame comprises multiple nose pads, which are arranged to be placed on a nose.

13. Glasses according to any of the previous claims, wherein the

frame comprises multiple temples, which are provided laterally on the frame, wherein the temples at a distal end are arranged to be placed on an ear.

14. Glasses according to claim 13, wherein the temples are hingedly attached to the frame.

15. Glasses according to any of the preceding claims, further

comprising a second window provided in the frame, wherein: - a first at least partially opaque marking is provided, preferably as a line, around at least part of a first viewing area on the first window, defining the first field of view; and

a second at least partially opaque marking is provided, preferably as a line, around at least part of a second first viewing area on the second window, defining a second field of view

16. Glasses according to claim 15, wherein:

the first marking comprises a substantially horizontal line and a substantially vertical line provided below the horizontal line and intersecting the horizontal line defining the first viewing area on the first window adjacent to the second window; and

the second marking comprises a substantially horizontal line and a substantially vertical line provided below the horizontal line and intersecting the horizontal line defining the second viewing area on the second window adjacent to the first window

17. Glasses according to claim 15, wherein

the first marking comprises a curved line defining the first viewing area on the first window adjacent to the second window; and

the second marking comprises a curved line defining the second viewing area on the second window adjacent to the first window.