Video spectacles

• US 5,359,675 A
• Filed: 06/09/1992
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Siwoff
• Original Assignee: Ronald Siwoff
• Inventors: Siwoff, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLEY, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US07/896,421
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 358/94, 358/168, 358/169, 434/36, 434/43, 434/69, 434/112, 434/307, 434/308, 382/50, 382/54, 382/6, 382/47, 340/705, 340/980, 340/781, 345/7.8, 348/62, 348/28, 348/63, 348/678
• US Class Current: 382/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/008 using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/122 Improving the 3D impression of stereoscopic images by modifying image signal contents, e.g. by filtering or adding monoscopic depth cues H04N13/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A spectacle mounted display is used in conjunction with a digitally enhanced imager for capturing, enhancing and projecting images to improve readability by individuals with impaired vision. The individual wears mirrored spectacles connected to a digitally enhanced imager to selectively enhanced contract, spatial frequency and wave length with or without enlargement.

Claims

1. Image enhancing video spectacles, comprising:

a video signal digitizer for converting a received analog video signal to a digital video image having a data portion and a signal portion and for transmitting each said portion individually;

sync signal separator receiving said signal portion from said video signal digitizer and for separating said signal portion into at least three separate signals;

contrast selector receiving said data portion of said digitizer image, said contrast selector including means for comparing each pixel in said data portion to predetermined intensity levels, means for enhancing said data portion based on said comparison, and means for selecting at least one contrast level;

means for selecting between 256 shades of gray, 16 shades of gray or black and white without gray shades, or any number of shades in between in a positive or negative image format;

means for producing enlarged enhanced images in the user'"'"'s eye;

spatial frequency enhancer including at least one filter and control logic means to select a high, low or midrange spatial frequency and to enhance frequency contrast to make that frequency more visible;

means for receiving sync signals from the sync signal separator and generating a plurality of clock timing signals including a vertical sync signal, horizontal sync signal and data pixel clock;

video display means for receiving said digital data and timing signals to produce a new image, said digital data image for protecting into a persons'"'"'s eyes;

mirrored spectacles having mounting mirrors for receiving said image and for reflecting said image so an individual with impaired vision wearing the image enhancing video spectacles selects said at least one contrast level between pertinent features of the image or selects a specific spatial frequency of an image which is enhanced in order to limit the impairment of the individual'"'"'s vision; and

a spatial filter, preselected filter coefficients, arithmetic control multiplier and control logic, and arithmetic control adder and control logic for combining the enhanced spatial frequency information with the unprocessed image and project this information in a person'"'"'s eye utilizing the spectacle mounted mirror.

2. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 1, wherein said video display means comprises,

a fiber optic bundle image rectifier for compensating any distortions produced by the image.

3. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 1, wherein said mounting mirrors include,

a concave mirror for producing a virtual image of the video image.

4. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 1, wherein said control logic comprises,

a video digital to analog converter for converting digital data to analog signals.

5. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 4, wherein said control logic further comprises,

clock generator receiving one of said three separate signals from said sync signal separator and for generating a plurality of clock timing signals,

output horizontal counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating a horizontal count with said clock signal, and

output vertical counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating a vertical count with said clock signal.

6. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 4 wherein said control logic means comprises,

a display processor for processing said at least three separate sync signals and said digitized video image.

7. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 1, further comprising:

input horizontal counter receiving two of said at least three separate signals from said sync signal separator and for counting said clock signal and associating an input horizontal count to said clock signal, and

input vertical counter receiving two of said at least three separate signals from said sync signal separator and for counting said clock signal and associating an input vertical count to said clock signal.

8. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 7, further comprising:

output vertical counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating an output vertical count with said clock signal, and

output horizontal counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating an output horizontal count with said clock signal.

9. The image enhancing video spectacles of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one input data multiplexor for receiving said input horizontal count, said input vertical count, said output horizontal count and said output vertical count, said input data multiplexor providing control signals based on said received counts,

at least one random access memory for storing said enhanced data portions received from said contrast selector, said memory controlled by said input data multiplexor which alternate storage of said enhanced data portion,

and an output multiplexor receiving said receiving stored data from said random access memory, said output multiplexor combining said stored data for display.

10. An image enhancing video spectacle display device, comprising:

a video signal digitizer for digitizing each color component of a received analog color video signal to a digital video image having a data portion and a signal portion and for transmitting each said portion individually,

sync signal separator receiving said signal portion from said video signal digitizer and for separating said signal portion into at least three separate signals,

enhancing means for receiving said data portion of said digitized video image, said enhancing means including means for comparing said data portion to predetermined intensity levels, means for enhancing said data portion based on said comparison, and means for selecting at least one contrast level to eliminate intermediate levels of intensity and maximize contrast between said data portion and the predetermined intensity levels,

control logic receiving said enhanced data portion and for determining a comparable enhanced frequency to combine with the video image and producing a displayable video image,

display processor means receiving said displayable video image and for processing a composite video signal, said display processor means having combining means for combining said digital data with at least one said sync signal,

spectacle display means for receiving said composite video signal and including a display for projecting said composite video signal, mounting mirrors receiving said projected composite video signal and reflecting said signal as an enlarged erect image,

clock generator receiving one of said three separate signals from said sync signal separator and for generating a plurality of clock timing signals,

input horizontal counter receiving two of said at least three separate signals from said sync signal separator and four counting said clock signal and associating an input horizontal count to said clock signal,

input vertical counter receiving two of said at least three separate signals from said sync signal separator and for counting said clock signal and associating an input vertical count to said clock signal,

output horizontal counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating a horizontal count with said clock signal, and

output vertical counter, receiving one of said plurality of clock timing signals, for counting said clock signal and for associating a vertical count with said clock signal.

11. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, wherein said enhancing means further comprises,

at least one selectable comparator receiving said data portion of said digitized video image and for comparing said data portion to predetermined intensity levels and for enhancing said data portion based on said comparison.

12. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, wherein said enhancing means comprises,

a video digital to analog converter.

13. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, further comprising

at least one input data multiplexor for receiving said input horizontal count, said input vertical count, said output horizontal count and said output vertical count, said data multiplexor providing control signals based on said received counts,

at least one random access memory for storing said enhanced data portions received from said enhancing means, said memory controlled by said input data multiplexor which alternates storage of said enhanced data portion,

and an output multiplexor receiving stored data from said memory random access memory, said output multiplexor combining said stored data for display.

14. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, wherein said enhancing means includes a display processor.

15. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, wherein said spectacle display means includes

at least one projector optics for projecting the composite video signal.

16. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, wherein said spectacle display means includes at least one coherent fiber optic bundle for receiving the composite video signal and producing an undistorted video signal.

17. The image enhancing video spectacle display device of claim 10, comprising

a digital bit remapper for rectifying and compensating for distortions in said video image.