Device and method for eye problems

• US 20050224712A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK & AC Corporation
• Original Assignee: TK & AC Corporation
• Inventors: Wing, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US10/819,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20050224712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision

Abstract

A device for improving vision of a person, having a camera and a display. The camera has an image sensor operative to capture an image of a predetermined area in front of the person, and an image processor operative to compress the image. The display is operative to reproduce the compressed image. Preferably, the image sensor is effective to detect infrared light, and an infrared illuminator is incorporated to radiate an infrared light upon the predetermined area. Therefore, even in the dim-lit condition, the predetermined area can be properly imaged. However, as the infrared image is barely visible to human eyes, a wavelength shifter is used to translate the compressed image with infrared wavelength to visible wavelength before the compressed image is displayed by the display.

Claims

1. A device for improving vision of a person, comprising:

a camera, including;

an image sensor operative to capture an image of a predetermined area in front of the person; and

an image processor operative to compress the image; and

a display operative to reproduce the compressed image.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is effective to detect infrared light.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising an infrared illuminator operative to radiate an infrared light upon the predetermined area.

4. The device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a wavelength shifter to translate the compressed image with infrared wavelength to visible wavelength.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the wavelength shifter is built in the processor or the display.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the image sensor is effective to detect visible light.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is effective to detect both visible light and infrared light.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the camera further comprises a wide angle lens for focusing incident light onto the image sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor includes an electronic or optical convex mirror or lens.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the display includes a flat panel display.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the flat-panel display includes a liquid crystal display or an electroluminescence display.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is mounted above or built in a dashboard of a vehicle driven by the person, and the camera is mounted to the vehicle at a position having an unobstructed view and without obstructing view of the person.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising an infrared illuminator mounted to the vehicle for projecting infrared radiation on the predetermined area.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the display includes a three-dimensional flat panel display.

26. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lenticular adjacent to the liquid crystal display to provide three-dimensional visual effect.

15. The device of claim 15, wherein the display comprises a displaying layer and a lenticular.

16. A method of improving vision of a person, comprising the step of:

a) detecting an image of a predetermined area in front of the person;

b) compressing the image of the predetermined area; and

c) reproducing the compressed image by a display.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of radiating the predetermined area with infrared light before step (a).

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of shifting the processed image in infrared light range into visible light range before step (c).

19. A device for improving peripheral and dim-lit vision of a driver in a vehicle, comprising:

a pair of cameras mounted to the vehicle at two sides in front of the driver, wherein each of the cameras comprises;

an image capturing device, operative to capture images left or right portion of a predetermined area in front of the driver; and

a processor, operative to compress the image captured by the image capturing device; and

a pair of flat-panel displays mounted above or built in a dashboard of the vehicle, wherein each of the flat-panel displays is operative to reproduce the compressed image of the respective camera.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising an infrared illuminator mounted to the vehicle at a position operative to radiate infrared light to the predetermined area.

21. A portable vision improvement device, comprising:

a frame configured to be worn by a user;

a liquid crystal display fitted in the frame;

an infrared illuminator mounted to the frame; and

a micro-camera mounted to the frame.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the infrared illuminator is operative to illuminate an infrared light on a predetermined area in front of the user.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the micro-camera is operative to capture an image of the predetermined area.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the micro-camera is operative to compress the image.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a wavelength shifter to convert the processed image with infrared wavelength to an image with visible wavelength.