Method and apparatus for eye tracking for convergence and strabismus measurement

• US 5,491,492 A
• Filed: 01/12/1994
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• 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): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/182,295
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/157, 345/156, 351/209, 351/210, 351/246
• US Class Current: 345/8
• 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 controlling the position of an image on a video display, 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) determining the numerical difference between said electro-oculogram voltage signals representing the horizontal position of said right eye and said electro-oculogram signals representing the horizontal position of said left eye;

(d) successively repeating step (c);

(e) controlling the position of an image on a video display based on a change in the amplitude of the electro-oculogram signals derived in step (d).

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:

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

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

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

(i) repeating steps (f) through (h).

4. An apparatus for controlling the position of an image on a video display, comprising:

(a) right horizontal sensing means for sensing electro-oculogram voltage signals produced by horizontal movement of a right eye;

(b) left horizontal sensing means for sensing electro-oculogram voltage signals produced by horizontal movement of a left eye;

(c) means for compensating for electro-oculogram voltage signal drift when said eyes are fixed in position; and

(d) processing means for processing said electro-oculogram signals to determine changes in degree of convergence between said eyes and controlling the position of an image on a video display based on said changes in degree of convergence.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, further comprising vertical sensing means for sensing electro-oculogram voltage signals produced by vertical movement of said eyes.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said processing means includes means for controlling the horizontal position of said image on said video display based on horizontal movement of said eyes and means for controlling the vertical position of said image on said video display based on vertical movement of said eyes, said degree of convergence controlling the position of said image in a third dimension.