Method and apparatus for eye tracking for convergence and strabismus measurement

• US 5,422,689 A
• Filed: 01/12/1994
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BioControl Systems, Inc. (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Systems, Inc. (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Knapp, R. Benjamin, Hake, Lisa E., Lusted, Hugh S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US08/180,669
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 351/208, 351/246, 351/209, 351/205, 351/201, 351/200, 128/745, 128/731
• US Class Current: 351/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/085 for testing strabismus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the position of each eye of a human operator (12) with respect to a fixed reference point or with respect to each other by using electro-oculogram signals produced by eye movement. Human operator (12) wears sensor assembly (10) which includes a plurality of sensors (14) which are arranged to monitor right and left, as well as horizontal and vertical eye movement. The sensed electro-oculogram signals are processed by a microprocessor (60) into separate positional signals representing upward movement, downward movement, movement to the left, movement to the right, convergence, and divergence. These positional signals are used to control three dimensional imagery on a computer, video game, or other apparatus to be controlled, or for strabismus measurement and diagnosis.

Claims

1. A method for determining the degree of convergence and divergence of the eyes, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of a right eye in relation to a first reference point;

(b) sensing electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of a left eye in relation to said first reference point;

(c) calibrating said electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of said right eye to zero amplitude while focusing said right eye on said first reference point with said left eye closed;

(d) calibrating said electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of said left eye to zero amplitude while focusing said left eye on said first reference point with said right eye closed;

(e) simultaneously focusing said eyes on a second reference point;

(f) determining the numerical difference between the electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of said right eye and the electro-oculogram signals representing the horizontal position of said left eye; and

(g) converting the polarity and amplitude of the electro-oculogram voltage signal derived in step (f) into a positional signal representing the degree of convergence or divergence of said eyes.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of compensating for changes in amplitude of said electro-oculogram signals when said eyes are fixed in position.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(h) measuring the change in amplitude of each said electro-oculogram voltage signal over a fixed time interval;

(i) comparing said change in amplitude with a reference voltage signal;

(j) numerically summing said electro-oculogram voltage signal and said change in amplitude when said change in amplitude exceeds said reference voltage signal; and

(k) repeating steps (h) through (j).