Vision Measurement and Training System and Method of Operation Thereof

• US 20070200927A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genentech, Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Vital Art and Science, LLC
• Inventors: Krenik, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0033 characterised by user input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/032 Devices for presenting test symbols or characters, e.g. test chart projectors A61B3/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/036 for testing astigmatism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/08 for testing binocular or stereoscopic vision, e.g. strabismus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• 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 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/005 Exercisers for training the stereoscopic view

Abstract

A binocular viewer, a method of measuring and training vision that uses a binocular viewer and a vision measurement and training system that employs a computer to control the binocular viewer. In one embodiment, the binocular viewer has left and right display elements and comprises: (1) a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between the display elements and a user when the user uses the binocular viewer and (2) a control input coupled to the left and right display elements and the variable focal depth optical subsystem and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on the left and right display elements and vary a focal depth of the variable focal depth optical subsystem. In another embodiment, the binocular viewer lacks the variable focal depth optical subsystem, but the images include at least one feature unique to one of the left and right display elements.

Claims

1. A binocular viewer having left and right display elements and comprising:

a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display elements and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer; and

a control input coupled to said left and right display elements and said variable focal depth optical subsystem and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right display elements and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

2. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

3. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

4. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

5. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

6. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

7. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements.

8. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 further comprising an eye tracking device.

9. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

10. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 9 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

11. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 10 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

12. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 10 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

13. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

14. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

15. A method of measuring and training vision, comprising:

viewing left and right display elements of a binocular viewer through a variable focal depth optical subsystem associated therewith; and

receiving control signals into a control input of said binocular viewer, said control input coupled to said left and right display elements and said variable focal depth optical subsystem, said control signals operable to place images on said left and right display elements and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

21. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements.

22. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising an eye tracking device.

23. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

26. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

27. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

28. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

29. A vision measurement and training system, comprising:

a binocular viewer having left and right display elements and a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display elements and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer;

a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide control signals to said binocular viewer that are operable to place images on said left and right display elements and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem; and

a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

30. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

31. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

32. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

33. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements.

34. The system as recited in claim 29 further comprising an eye tracking device.

35. The system as recited in claim 29 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

36. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

37. The system as recited in claim 36 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

38. The system as recited in claim 36 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

39. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

40. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

41. A binocular viewer having left and right display elements and comprising:

a control input coupled to said left and right display elements and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right display elements, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements.

42. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display elements and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

43. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

44. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

45. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

46. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

47. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image.

48. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising an eye tracking device.

49. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

50. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 49 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

51. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 50 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

52. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 50 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

53. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

54. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

55. A method of measuring and training vision, comprising:

receiving control signals into a control input of said binocular viewer, said control input coupled to said left and right display elements and said variable focal depth optical subsystem; and

placing images on said left and right display elements, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements.

56. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising viewing left and right display elements of a binocular viewer through a variable focal depth optical subsystem associated therewith, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

57. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

58. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

59. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

60. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

61. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

62. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising an eye tracking device.

63. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

64. The method as recited in claim 63 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

65. The method as recited in claim 64 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

66. The method as recited in claim 64 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

67. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

68. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

69. A vision measurement and training system, comprising:

a control input coupled to said left and right display elements and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right display elements, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display elements;

a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide control signals to said binocular viewer that are operable to place images on said left and right display elements; and

a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

70. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising a binocular viewer having left and right display elements and a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display elements and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

71. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

72. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from a user.

73. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

74. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising an eye tracking device.

75. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to a user.

76. The system as recited in claim 75 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

77. The system as recited in claim 76 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt a user to realign said binocular viewer.

78. The system as recited in claim 76 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from a user.

79. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

80. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.