Biometric identification headpiece system for test taking

• US 10,540,907 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nokham, James S
• Application Number:
  US15/467,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/077 different stations being capable of presenting different questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Headpiece for test-taking includes a frame having support structure for supporting the frame on a person'"'"'s head and a viewing portion configured to be in front of the person'"'"'s face when the frame is supported on the person'"'"'s head, and at least one light valve assembly arranged in the viewing portion. Each light valve assembly has a first state in which the person is able to see therethrough and an alternative second state in which viewing therethrough is prevented. A controller controls whether the light valve assembly is in the first state or the second state to thereby control viewing therethrough. The light valve assembly may be situated rearward of part of the viewing portion. Only the headpiece wearer is thus able to view test questions on a display through the light valve assembly.

Claims

1. A headpiece, comprising:

a frame having support structure for supporting said frame on a head of a person and a viewing portion configured to be in front of a face of the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person;

at least one light valve assembly arranged in said viewing portion and having a first state in which the person is able to view an object in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly when said frame is supported on the of a person and an alternative second state in which viewing of the object in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly by the person on whose head said frame is supported is prevented;

a biometric identification system arranged on said frame and that periodically attempts to obtain biometric data about the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person; and

a processor coupled to said at least one light valve assembly and said biometric identification system and that controls whether said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state or the second state,

said processor analyzing biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system relative to previously obtained biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported and when the analysis by said processor indicates that the biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system does not match the previously obtained biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported, said processor controlling said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of the object in front of the headpiece,

said processor further controlling said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of the object in front of the headpiece when said biometric identification system does not obtain biometric data after said biometric identification system has previously obtained biometric data while said frame is supported on the head of a person.

2. The headpiece of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one light valve assembly is configured to allow light transmission from in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly to a respective eye of the person on whose head said frame is supported in a limited angular range to enable the person on whose head said frame is supported to view the object in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly when said frame is supported on the head of a person and said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state and to prevent viewing of the object in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly by a person other than the person on whose head said frame is supported when said frame is supported on the head of a person.

3. The headpiece of claim 2, wherein said at least one light valve assembly comprises concentric cylinders spaced apart from one another a distance to provide the angular range of about 30 degrees centered about an axis passing through a central axis of said concentric cylinders.

4. The headpiece of claim 1, wherein said viewing portion includes at least one lens comprising transparent material and configured to be in front of an eve of the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person, and said at least one light valve assembly is part of a respective one of said at least one lens.

5. The headpiece of claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a nosepiece configured to support said frame on a nose of the person, said viewing portion has a first viewing portion on one side of said nosepiece and a second viewing portion on an opposite side of said nosepiece, said at least one light valve assembly comprising a first light valve assembly in said first viewing portion and a second light valve assembly in said second viewing portion.

6. The headpiece of claim 1, wherein said biometric identification system obtains initial and additional biometric data about the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person, and

said processor controls whether said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state or the second state based in part on analysis of a difference between the initial biometric data and the additional biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system such that when the analysis by said processor indicates that the additional biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system does not match the initial biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported, said processor controls said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of the object in front of the headpiece.

7. The headpiece of claim 1, wherein said biometric identification system comprises a biometric scan camera that obtains images of an area around an eye of the person on whose head said frame is supported or an iris or retinal scan camera that obtain images of an iris or retina of an eye of the person on whose head said frame is supported, the previously obtained biometric data being an image obtained by said biometric scan camera or said iris or retinal scan camera.

8. An arrangement for test-taking, comprising:

a headpiece comprising a frame having support structure for supporting said frame on a head of a person, a viewing portion coupled to said frame and configured to be in front of a face of the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person, and at least one light valve assembly arranged in said viewing portion;

a display configured to display a test in the form of a series of questions to the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person and when said display is in front of said headpiece, each of said at least one light valve assembly having a first state in which the person is able to view said display through said at least one light valve assembly when said frame is supported on the head of a person and an alternative second state in which viewing of said display through said at least one light valve assembly by the person on whose head said frame is supported is prevented;

at least one user interface configured to receive input from the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person relating to the questions displayed on said display; and

a processor arranged on said frame and coupled to said at least one user interface, said display and said at least one light valve assembly,

said processor being configured to control content of said display based on input received via said at least one user interface to change content of said display as a response to the input received via said at least one user interface,

said processor being further configured to control said at least one light valve assembly to be in the first state or the second state based on content being displayed on said display such that while a first portion of content is being displayed on said display, said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state and while a second portion of content is being displayed on said display, said at least one light valve assembly is in the second state.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, further comprising at least one sound-detecting sensor arranged on said frame and configured to detect sound in an area around said frame, said processor being further configured to monitor detection of sound by said at least one sound-detecting sensor when said display is displaying the test to determine, based on detection of sound by said at least one sound-detecting sensor, whether the person on whose head said frame is supported is talking.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein each of said at least one light valve assembly is configured to allow light transmission from in front of the headpiece through said at least one light valve assembly to a respective eve of the person on whose head said frame is supported in a limited angular range to enable the person on whose head said frame is supported to view said display through said at least one light valve assembly when said frame is supported on the head of a person and said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state and to prevent viewing of said display through said at least one light valve assembly by a person other than the person on whose head said frame is supported when said frame is supported on the head of a person.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said at least one light valve assembly comprises concentric cylinders spaced apart from one another a distance to provide the angular range of about 30 degrees centered about an axis passing through a central axis of said concentric cylinders.

12. The arrangement of claim 8, further comprising a biometric identification system arranged on said frame and that periodically attempts to obtain biometric data about the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person, said biometric identification system being coupled to said processor,

said processor analyzing biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system relative to previously obtained biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported and when the analysis by said processor indicates that the biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system does not match the previously obtained biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported, said processor controlling said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of said display,

said processor further controlling said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of said display when said biometric identification system does not obtain biometric data after said biometric identification system has previously obtained biometric data while said frame is supported on the head of a person.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said biometric identification system obtains initial and additional biometric data about the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person, and

said processor controls whether said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state or the second state based in part on analysis of a difference between the initial biometric data and the additional biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system such that when the analysis by said processor indicates that the additional biometric data obtained by said biometric identification system does not match the initial biometric data associated with the person on whose head said frame is supported, said processor controls said at least one light valve assembly to change from the first state to the second state and prevent viewing of said display.

14. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said biometric identification system comprises a biometric scan camera that obtains images of an area around an eye of the person on whose head said frame is supported, the previously obtained biometric data being an image obtained by said biometric scan camera.

15. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said biometric identification system comprises an iris or retinal scan camera that obtain images of an iris or retina of an eye of the person on whose head said frame is supported, the previously obtained biometric data being an image obtained by said iris or retinal scan camera.

16. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said viewing portion includes at least one transparent glass or plastic sheet configured to be in front of a respective eye of the person when said frame is supported on the head of a person and said at least one light valve assembly is part of a respective one of said at least one glass or plastic sheet.

17. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said support structure includes a nosepiece configured to support said frame on a nose of the person, said viewing portion comprises a first viewing portion on one side of said nosepiece and a second viewing portion on an opposite side of said nosepiece, said at least one light valve assembly comprising a first light valve assembly in said first viewing portion and a second light valve assembly in said second viewing portion.

18. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said processor is further configured to control content of said display based on whether said at least one light valve assembly is in the first state or the second state to enable the person on whose head said frame is supported to view through said at least one light valve assembly some content being displayed on said display when said at least one light valve is in the first state and to be prevented from viewing through said at least one light valve assembly other content being displayed on said display when said at least one light valve assembly is in the second state.

19. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said display is separate and apart from said headpiece.

20. A method for test-taking, comprising:

providing each of a plurality of persons with a device, each device including a headpiece comprising a frame having support structure for supporting the frame on a head of the person, a viewing portion configured to be in front of the a face of the person when the frame is supported on the head of the person, and at least one light valve assembly arranged in the viewing portion and having a first state in which the person is able to view an object in front of the headpiece through the at least one light valve assembly when the frame is supported on the head of the person and an alternative second state in which viewing of the object in front of the headpiece through the at least one light valve assembly by the person on whose head the frame is supported is prevented;

displaying on at least one display, test questions;

enabling each person to provide answers to the test questions being displayed on the at least one display using at least one respective user interface;

controlling, using a processor, content of the at least one display based on input received via the at least one respective user interface; and

independently controlling the at least one light valve assembly of each of the headpieces to be in the first state or the second state and content of the at least one display dependent on one another to thereby control viewing of content of the at least one display through the at least one light valve assembly of each of the headpieces such that each person is able to view only specific ones of the test questions in an order different from each other person.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the same test questions are provided to each person, further comprising randomizing the same test questions when being displayed on the at least one display.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a respective display for each person such that the at least one display comprises a plurality of displays and situating the plurality of displays for the persons in a common room.