Electronic eyewear therapy

• US 10,624,790 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Chao, David, Guo, Zhiyang, Sweis, Jason, Rice, Vivian Liane, Sheen, Grace C, Hussey, Eric S
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US14/703,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20150230988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351203, 606 4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/045 Eye-shades or visors; Shields beside, between or below the eyes caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5028 Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5066 Limit switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/005 Exercisers for training the stereoscopic view
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/22 Leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/26 Coil spring pushed upon actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/28 Coil spring twisted upon actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2227 comprising a fixed hinge member and a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 : Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1313 : specially adapted for a particular application
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 : Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 : relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

Embodiments for systems, methods and apparatuses of eyewear are disclosed. One method includes treating a patient with shutter glasses therapy for a relatively short period of time, such as at least a 6 week period; wherein the shutter glasses therapy includes blanking a first lens of shutter glasses being worn by the patient for a first blocking time, blanking a second lens of the shutter glasses being worn by the patient for a second blocking time, and controllably setting at least one of the first blocking time and the second blocking time.

Claims

1. A method of eye therapy, comprising:

treating a user with shutter glasses therapy;

wherein the shutter glasses therapy comprises;

blanking a first lens of shutter glasses being worn by the user for a first blocking time;

blanking a second lens of the shutter glasses being worn by the user for a second blocking time; and

controllably setting at least one of the first blocking time and the second blocking time;

wherein the shutter glasses include;

a frame that includes a pair of arms forming eyewear that is adaptable to hold one or more lenses; and

a pair of switches, wherein the pair of switches include a first switch and a second switch, wherein each switch of the pair of switches is located at a hinge formed between the frame and a corresponding one of the pair of arms, wherein each switch is open or closed depending upon an angle of the corresponding one of the pair of arms relative to a frontal plane of at least one of the one or more lenses;

a display; and

a controller, wherein the controller operates to;

perform a first command when the first switch and the second switch are closed;

perform a second command when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed;

perform a third command when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open;

perform a fourth command with when the first switch is open and the second switch is open;

wherein a one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause the controller to display on the display a first use parameter, and another one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause the controller to display on the display a second use parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising not applying the shutter glasses therapy for a period of at least 1 month before treating the user with the shutter glasses therapy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the shutter glasses therapy includes having the first lens and the second lens alternate between blocking and non-blocking.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first blocking time is different than the second blocking time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shutter glasses therapy includes a frequency in which at least one of the first lens and the second lens alternates between blocking and non-blocking is adjustable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the shutter glasses therapy includes a shuttering or blanking rate of approximately 7 Hertz, plus or minus approximately 2 Hertz, having a duty cycle of approximately 50%.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an indicator indicates to the user when the user has satisfied a therapy use, wherein the therapy use comprises at least one of an hourly use, a daily use or a weekly use.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring a time of use of the shutter glasses by the user comprises monitoring how long at least one switch of the pair of switches is activated.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first use parameter indicates a daily use by the user, and the second user parameter indicates an accumulative use by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the use parameter includes when the eyewear has been worn by a user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the display is located on a bridge of the shutter glasses.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the display is located on a lens of the shutter glasses.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one switch includes a spring mechanism and a button, wherein the button is activated when the angle of the at least one of arms relative to the frontal plane of at least one of the one or more lenses exceeds a predetermined angle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein another one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause adjusting of a shuttering frequency of the first lens and the second lens.

15. An eye therapy system, comprising:

shutter glasses, the shutter glasses comprising

a frame that includes a pair of arms forming eyewear that is adaptable to hold one or more lenses; and

a pair of switches, wherein the pair of switches include a first switch and a second switch, wherein each switch of the pair of switches is located at a hinge formed between the frame and a corresponding one of the pair of arms, wherein each switch is open or closed depending upon an angle of the corresponding one of the pair of arms relative to a frontal plane of at least one of the one or more lenses;

a display; and

a controller, the controller operative to treat a user with shutter glasses therapy;

wherein during the shutter glasses therapy the controller is further operative to;

blank a first lens of shutter glasses being worn by the user for a first blocking time;

blank a second lens of the shutter glasses being worn by the user for a second blocking time;

controllably set at least one of the first blocking time and the second blocking time;

perform a first command when the first switch and the second switch are closed;

perform a second command when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed;

perform a third command when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open;

perform a fourth command with when the first switch is open and the second switch is open;

wherein a one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause the controller to display on the display a first use parameter, and another one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause the controller to display on the display a second use parameter.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is internal to the shutter glasses.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is external to the shutter glasses.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first use parameter indicates a daily use by the user, and the second user parameter indicates an accumulative use by the user.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further operative to provide an indicator to the patient when the user has satisfied a therapy use.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the therapy use comprises at least one of an hourly use, a daily use or a weekly use.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein another one of the first command, the second command, the third command, or the fourth command is selected to cause adjusting of a shuttering frequency of the first lens and the second lens.