Multi-Touch Display And Input For Vision Testing And Training

• US 20110025611A1
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senaptec Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Yoo, Herb, Pedley, Douglas, Reichow, Alan W., Fortune, Thomas R. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0016 Operational features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0033 characterised by user input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0041 characterised by display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• 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 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for receiving an input to a sensory test or training activity by way of a touch-screen device. The touch-screen device receives instructions by way of a wireless communication protocol from a sensory testing and training device. The instructions may be comprised of a command to display a graphical element on the touch-screen device. As a result, the touch-screen device displays the graphical element on a display surface of the touch-screen device. Further, an input may be received from a subject in the form of a physical contact between the subject and the display surface of the touch-screen device. The input may be in response to a sensory test or a sensory training activity. Additionally, the touch-screen device communicates the input to the sensory training device utilizing a wireless communication protocol. In an additional embodiment, the touch-screen device provides feedback to a user.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an input to a sensory test by way of a touch-screen device having memory and a processor, the method comprising:

receiving instructions by way of a wireless communication protocol from a sensory testing and training device, wherein the instructions are comprised of a command to display a graphical element on the touch-screen device;

displaying the graphical element on a display surface of the touch-screen device;

receiving an input from a subject in the form of a physical contact between the subject and the display surface of the touch screen-device, wherein the input is in response to a sensory test or a sensory training activity; and

communicating the input to the sensory training device utilizing the wireless communication protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises determining an intent associated with the input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communicating the input to the sensory training device is comprised of the intent associated with the input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the intent comprises one from the following:

an up indication,

a down indication,

a left indication, and

a right indication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the intent is determined based on the reception of the input within a predefined number of degrees from an intent direction.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the intent is determined based on the reception of the input within about 7.5 degrees from an intent direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication protocol utilizes an Internet Protocol (IP) compatible protocol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the IP compatible protocol is compatible with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is in response to a sensory test or a sensory training activity visually presented by the sensory testing and training device.

10. The media of claim 1, wherein the input is in response to a sensory test or a sensory training activity visually presented by a combination of the touch-screen device and the sensory testing and training device.

11. A sensory testing and training system comprising:

a sensory testing and training device having a processor and memory for facilitating a sensory test or a sensory training activity, wherein the sensory testing and training device is comprised of a wireless communication component for communicating with a touch-screen device; and

the touch-screen device having a processor and memory for receiving an input from a subject in response to the sensory test or sensory training activity, wherein the touch-screen device is functional to communicate wirelessly with the sensory testing and training device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device is functional to receive a multitouch input from the subject.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device is further comprised of a capacitive touch screen, wherein the capacitive touch screen is functional for receiving the input and displaying a graphical element.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device and the sensory testing and training device communicate utilizing a protocol compatible with Internet Protocol (IP).

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device and the sensory testing and training device communicate utilizing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device and the sensory testing and training device are separated by at least three feet.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensory testing and training device is further comprised of:

a first display for displaying one or more visual elements associated with the sensory test or the sensory training activity;

a second display for displaying one or more visual elements associated with the sensory test or the sensory training activity, wherein the second display is moveably mounted to the sensory testing and training device; and

wherein either the first display or the second display present a graphical element as part of a sensory testing or a sensory training activity to which a subject provides an input by way of the touch-screen device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the touch-screen device is further configured to display a graphical element to be used as part of the sensory test or the sensory training activity, wherein the touch-screen device is instructed by the sensory testing and training device by way of a wireless connection to display the graphical element.

19. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for wirelessly receiving an input in response to a sensory training activity from a subject at a touch-screen device, the method comprising:

on a display moveably mounted to a sensory testing and training device, displaying a graphical element used in the sensory training activity;

receiving the input from the subject at the touch-screen device, wherein the input is a directional indication as determined from a physical contact between the subject and the touch-screen device within about 15 degrees of an orthogonal axis of the touch-screen device;

determining a command based on the input;

processing the command; and

communicating a feedback to the touch-screen device, wherein the feedback is processed by the touch-screen device to provide visual, audible, or tactile feedback to the subject in response to the input.

20. The media of claim 19 further comprising:

communicating an indication of a second graphical element to be displayed on the touch-screen device, wherein the touch-screen device is comprised of a capacitive touch screen useable for displaying the second graphical element, and wherein the touch-screen device displays the second graphical element based from the indication; and

receiving a second input from the subject, wherein the second input is responsive to the displayed second graphical element.