Ideal visual ergonomic system for computer users

• US 6,076,928 A
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vega Vista, Inc.
• Inventors: Flack, James F., Fateh, Sina
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/097,876
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 351/200, 351/203, 351/206, 351/208, 351/209, 601/37, 434/43, 434/44, 345/118, 345/139, 345/157
• US Class Current: 351/203
• 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: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking

Abstract

The teachings of the present invention aid a user in attaining an ergonomic position with respect to a remote object such as a display screen (e.g., VDT) or a manufacturing tool. To that end, various mechanisms which feedback to the viewer information related to position and orientation are taught. A first aspect incorporates a feedback mechanism into a display screen. The feedback mechanism could be formed in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, four lights are arranged such that a viewer in the proper orientation will perceive all four lights. However, as the viewer'"'"'s orientation varies, one or more of the lights is concealed, thereby indicating to the user that the orientation is improper. In another embodiment, the cluster of lights is replaced with a cluster of four distinct pieces of diffraction grating. The diffraction grating could be such that the intensity of the reflected light varies as the viewer'"'"'s orientation varies. Alternatively, a hologram could arranged such that the image presented to the viewer changes, even presenting informative text to the viewer. Another aspect of the present invention teaches a feedback mechanism that further provides visual feedback regarding position information. In one embodiment, a strip of diffraction grating or other suitable material is applied upon the display screen. The strip is formed such that depending upon the viewers position, the viewer perceives a certain image (e.g., "20 Inches," the color green).

Claims

1. A visual ergonomic system for use with a display screen, the visual ergonomic system comprising a visual feedback device capable of providing a plurality of images to a viewer of the display screen, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon a position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, wherein the position of the viewer with respect to the display screen includes an orientation of the viewer in front of the display screen and further wherein the visual feedback device includes four light sources arranged such that a) when the viewer is substantially properly oriented with respect to the visual feedback device, the viewer will perceive an image of all four light sources illuminated, b) when the viewer is oriented at a position above the proper vertical orientation, the viewer will perceive that the illumination intensity of an uppermost light source has changed with respect to the image perceived when properly oriented, c) when the viewer is oriented at a position below the proper vertical orientation, the viewer will perceive that the illumination intensity of a lowermost light source has changed with respect to the image perceived when properly oriented, d) when the viewer is oriented at a position substantially to the right of the proper horizontal orientation, the viewer will perceive that the illumination intensity of a rightmost light source has changed with respect to the image perceived when properly oriented, and e) when the viewer is oriented at a position substantially to the left of the proper horizontal orientation, the viewer will perceive that the illumination intensity of a leftmost light source has changed with respect to the image perceived when properly oriented.

2. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the intensity of any given light source is substantially inversely related to the corresponding variance of the viewer from the proper orientation.

3. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein each light source has two levels of intensity such that when the viewer is not properly oriented the corresponding light source appears to not be illuminated.

4. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the four light sources are light emitting devices.

5. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 4 wherein the four light sources are embedded within opaque material and arranged such that each light source has two levels of intensity so that when the viewer is not properly oriented the corresponding light source appears to not be illuminated.

6. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 4 wherein the visual feedback device further includes lenses formed covering the four light sources, the lenses capable of focusing light generated by the four light sources to achieve the desired results.

7. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the feedback device is formed within a housing of the display screen.

8. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the feedback device is formed as a unit separate from but attachable to the display screen.

9. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the feedback device is positioned substantially at a top, central point of the display screen.

10. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display screen is a computer display screen.

11. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display screen is a television display screen.

12. A visual ergonomic system for use with a display screen, the visual ergonomic system comprising a visual feedback device capable of providing a plurality of images to a viewer of the display screen, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon a position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the position including an orientation of the viewer in front of the display screen, and further wherein the visual feedback device is a light reflecting device.

13. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 12 wherein the specific image perceived by the viewer of the display screen includes text indicating the orientation of the viewer.

14. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 12 wherein the specific image perceived by the viewer of the display screen adheres to a color code indicating the orientation of the viewer.

15. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 14 wherein the color code includes green, yellow, and red, green indicating proper viewer orientation, yellow indicating questionable viewer orientation, and red indicating improper viewer orientation.

16. A visual ergonomic system for use with a display screen, the visual ergonomic system comprising a visual feedback device capable of providing a plurality of images to a viewer of the display screen, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon a position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the position of the viewer with respect to the display screen, wherein the position of the viewer with respect to the display screen corresponds to a distance separating the viewer from the display screen, wherein the plurality of images includes a first image of five collinear filled circles that is perceived at a first distance separating the viewer from the display screen, a second image of three collinear filled circles that is perceived at a second distance separating the viewer from the display screen, and a third image of a single filled circle that is perceived at a third distance separating the viewer from the display screen.

17. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 16 wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and the second distance is greater than the third distance.

18. A visual ergonomic system for use with a display screen, the visual ergonomic system comprising a visual feedback device capable of providing a plurality of image to a viewer of the display screen, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon both a distance separating the viewer from the display screen and an orientation of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the viewer distance and the viewer orientation, wherein when the viewer is properly oriented with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer includes a numeral indicative of an approximation of the distance separating the viewer from the display screen.

19. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 18, wherein when the viewer is improperly oriented with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer is a function of one or more numerals indicative of an approximation of the distance separating the viewer from the display screen, the specific image indicative of the improper orientation of the viewer.

20. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 19 wherein the visual feedback device includes a hologram.

21. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 19 wherein the visual feedback device includes an arrangement of lenticular devices.

22. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 19 wherein the visual feedback device includes an arrangement of diffraction gratings.

23. A visual ergonomic system for use with a display screen, the visual ergonomic system comprising a visual feedback device capable of providing a plurality of images to a viewer of the display screen, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon both a distance separating the viewer from the display screen and an orientation of the viewer with respect to the display screen, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the viewer distance and the viewer orientation wherein the plurality of images includes a first image of five collinear filled circles that is perceived at first distance separating the viewer from the display screen, a second image of three collinear filled circles that is perceived at a second distance separating the viewer from the display screen, and a third image of a single filled circle that is perceived at a third distance separating the viewer from the display screen.

24. A visual ergonomic system as recited in claim 23 wherein the first distance is between about 17 and 19 inches, the second distance is between about 19 and 21 inches, and the third distance is between about 21 inches and 23 inches.

25. A computer system implementing ergonomic software arranged to aid a computer user in achieving an ideal ergonomic position with respect to the computer system, the computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a display screen coupled to the CPU;

a measurement device operable to sense a user distance from the computer user to the display screen of the computer system, the measurement device coupled to the CPU; and

memory coupled to the CPU, the memory storing computer executable instructions for sensing the user distance, displaying the user distance on the display screen, and displaying a recommended user distance from the computer to the display screen.

26. A computer system as recited in claim 25, wherein the memory further stores computer executable instructions for determining a text font size deemed suitable for the user distance, and displaying a numerical indication of the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

27. A computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein the memory further stores computer executable instructions for querying computer user as to whether to conform the font size of text found in an active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance, and in response to a request by the computer user, conforming the font size of text found in the active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

28. A computer system as recited in claim 26 wherein the memory further includes the computer executable instruction for conforming the font size of text found in an active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

29. A computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein the computer executable instruction for sensing a user distance from the computer user to a display screen of a computer system results in a continuous sensing of the user distance.

30. A computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein the computer executable instruction for sensing a user distance from the computer user to a display screen of a computer system is only performed in response to a request from the computer user.

31. A method for ergonomically enhancing an environment for a viewer of a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:

rendering a first image that can be perceived by the viewer of the display screen when the viewer is situated in an ergonomically correct orientation in front of the display screen;

rendering a second image that can be perceived by the viewer of the display screen when the viewer is located above the vertically correct ergonomic orientation in front of the display screen;

rendering a third image that can be perceived by the viewer of the display screen when the viewer is located below the vertically correct ergonomic orientation in front of the display screen;

rendering a fourth image that can be perceived by the viewer of the display screen when the viewer is located to the left of the horizontally correct ergonomic orientation in front of the display screen; and

rendering a fifth image that can be perceived by the viewer of the display screen when the viewer is located to the left of the horizontally correct ergonomic orientation in front of the display screen,

whereby the viewer of the display screen is continuously provided visual feedback regarding an ergonomic status of the viewer'"'"'s orientation.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the first image has a first illumination intensity.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth images are similar to the first image but have portions that appear to not be illuminated.

34. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth images are similar to the first image, but have illumination intensities that are less than the first illumination intensity.

35. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein each image includes textual information indicating the viewer'"'"'s orientation.

36. A method as recited in claim 35 wherein the textual information instructs the viewer on how to move into the proper orientation.

37. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein each of the images varies dependent upon a distance of the viewer from the display screen.

38. A method as recited in claim 37 wherein each image provides a numerical approximation of the distance of the viewer from the display screen.

39. A method as recited in claim 38 wherein the numerical approximation of the distance of the viewer from the display screen is properly in focus only in the first image, otherwise the numerical approximation of the distance of the viewer from the display screen is blurred.

40. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the display screen is a computer display screen.

41. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the display screen is a television display screen.

42. A computer implemented method for providing an ergonomic environment to a computer user, the computer implemented method including the acts of:

sensing a user distance from the computer user to a display screen of a computer system;

displaying the user distance on the display screen; and

displaying a recommended user distance from the computer to the display screen.

43. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 42 further including the acts of:

determining a text font size deemed suitable for the user distance; and

displaying a numerical indication of the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

44. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 43 further including the acts of:

querying computer user as to whether to conform the font size of text found in an active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance; and

in response to a request by the computer user, conforming the font size of text found in the active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

45. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 43 further including the act of conforming the font size of text found in an active text window displayed on the display screen to the text font size deemed suitable for the user distance.

46. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 42 wherein the act of sensing a user distance from the computer user to a display screen of a computer system is performed continuously.

47. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 46 wherein the displayed user distance is updated continuously.

48. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 42 wherein the act of sensing a user distance from the computer user to a display screen computer system is performed only in response to a request from the computer user.

49. A visual feedback device operable to provide a viewer feedback suitable for assisting the viewer in attaining a desired position with respect to the visual feedback device, the visual feedback device comprising an active area capable of providing a plurality of images to the viewer, a specific image perceived by the viewer being dependent upon a position of the viewer with respect to the active area, the specific image perceived by the viewer being indicative of the position of the viewer with respect to the visual feedback device, wherein the active area is a multi-phase lenticular device.