Point of observation tracking device and eye focus measuring device

• US 5,980,041 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferranti Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Ferranti Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Strachan, John Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/029,711
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/206, 351/209, 351/210, 351/211, 356/354, 356/355, 356/356, 356/349, 356/359
• US Class Current: 351/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/103 for determining refraction, e.g. refractometers, skiascopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a point of observation tracking device comprising means (8, 12) for directing light from a holographic element (12) to the retina (4) of a user, and means for tracking the reflection of the light (12, 14) from the retina (4) thereby to provide a signal representative of the point of observation of the eye or eyes of the user.

Claims

1. A point of observation tracking device comprising a source of illumination, means for directing light from the source of illumination via a holographic element to the retina of a user, and means for tracking the reflection of the light from the retina thereby to provide a signal representative of the point of observation of the eye or eyes of the user for detection by a camera, whereby the holographic element is configured such that the source of illumination is of equal intensity across substantially the entire effective field of view of the camera and such that the light directed from the holographic optical element has a focal angle of dispersion equal to the focal angle of the camera lens.

2. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 1, in which the source of illumination comprises a controlled source.

3. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 2, in which the source of illumination comprises a source of light outside the human visible spectrum.

4. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 1, in which the light directed to the retina comprises a holographic image.

5. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 4, in which the holographic image varies in focal length over space.

6. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 5, in which the holographic image comprises a plurality of lines.

7. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 6, in which the lines are regularly spaced.

8. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 4, in which the holographic image is a hemisphere or part thereof.

9. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 1, in which the holographic element is a transmission hologram.

10. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 1, in which the tracking means comprises a sensor and means for directing light reflected from the retina to the sensor.

11. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 10, in which the sensor comprises an array of light sensitive devices.

12. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 10, in which the sensor is coupled to a data processor.

13. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 12, in which the data processor comprises means for determining the intensity of light across the sensor, means for determining the centre of the reflected light on the sensor and means for generating a signal thereform.

14. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 10, in which the sensor comprises a charge coupled device camera semi-conductor device.

15. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 10, in which the reflected light directing means comprises an optical element.

16. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 15, in which the optical element is a holographical optical element.

17. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 16, in which the holographic optical element of the reflected light direct means is combined with the holographic optical element directing light to the retina.

18. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 10, in which the reflected light directing means directs the reflected light towards the tracking means.

19. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring light intensity and means for generating a signal according to the degree of focus of light impinging on the tracking means.

20. A point of observation tracking device according to claim 19, in which the light intensity measuring means comprises a sensor and a rectilinear holographical optical element for directing the light from the retina to the sensor.

21. An eye focus measuring device comprising means for directing a pattern of light from a source of illumination to the retina of a user through a holographic element, which light pattern varies in space, and means for measuring the intensity of light reflected from the retina of the user which measuring means includes a camera, in which for detection by a camera, whereby the holographic element is configured such that the source of illumination is of equal intensity across substantially the entire effective field of view of the camera and such that the light directed from the holographic optical element has a focal angle of dispersion equal to the focal angle of the camera lens, thereby to measure the focus of the eye and means for generating a signal representative of the focus of the eye.

22. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21, in which the light intensity measuring means comprises a sensor and a rectilinear holographical optical element for directing the light from the retina to the sensor.

23. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21 further comprising means for directing light to the retina of a user, and means for tracking the reflection of the light from the retina thereby to provide a signal representative of the point of observation of the eye or eyes of the user.

24. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 23, in which the tracking means comprises a sensor and means for directing light reflected from the retina to the sensor.

25. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 24, in which the sensor comprises an array of light sensitive devices.

26. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 25, in which the sensor is coupled to a data processor.

27. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 26, in which the data processor comprises means for determining the intensity of light across the sensor, means for determining the centre of the reflected light on the sensor and means for generating a signal thereform.

28. An eye focusing measuring device according to any one of claim 24, in which the sensor comprises a charge coupled device camera semi-conductor device.

29. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21, in which the source of illumination comprises a controlled source.

30. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21, in which the source of illumination comprises a source of light outside the human visible spectrum.

31. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21, in which the light directed to the retina comprises a holographic image.

32. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 31, in which the holographic image varies in intensity over space.

33. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 32, in which the holographic image comprises a plurality of lines.

34. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 33, in which a holographic image is a hemisphere or part thereof.

35. An eye focusing measuring device according to claim 21, in which the light is directed to the retina by a holographic element which preferably is a transmission hologram.