Method and apparatus for positioning subjects using a holographic optical element

• US 6,299,306 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensar, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sensar, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Sadoulet, Samuel P., Govier, Jeremy, Braithwaite, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/540,076
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 351/212, 351/221, 351/204, 351/206, 351/208, 351/209, 351/246, 359/1, 359/19, 382/115, 382/117
• US Class Current: 351/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/63 by static guides
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user

Abstract

A system and method of positioning an eye of a subject at a selected point in space uses a holographic optical element containing indicia. The indicia are selectively visible to a user when the user is outside a volume surrounding the selected point and direct the user toward the volume. This system can be used with a camera to take an image of the eye from which the subject can be identified.

Claims

1. An alignment device for directing a user'"'"'s eye to at least one selected point in space relative to the alignment device, the alignment device comprising a holographic optical element having indicia, the indicia sized and configured to indicate to a user when the user'"'"'s eye is at the at least one selected point such that when the user sees an indicia that indicia will either direct the user to move in a direction toward the at least one selected point or indicate that the user'"'"'s eye is at the at least one selected point.

2. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the indicia are invisible to a user when the user'"'"'s eye is at the at least one selected point and selectively visible to the user when the user is not at the at least one selected point.

3. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the holographic optical element contains a light transmissive portion.

4. The alignment device of claim 3 wherein the holographic optical element has a front face that can be seen by the user and a rear face, also comprising a light source positioned in a optical path running from the light source to the rear face of the holographic optical element and passing through the light transmissive portion.

5. The alignment device of claim 4 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

6. The alignment device of claim 4 also comprising at least one mirror positioned in the optical path.

7. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprised of at least three radially arranged arrows pointing to a center region.

8. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the indicia are four arrows radially arranged so that adjacent arrows are 90°

apart.

9. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the indicia are color coded regions.

10. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the indicia are geometric designs.

11. An alignment and imaging device for imaging an eye located within a volume surrounding a selected point in space comprised of:

a. a camera;

b. a lens positioned to focus the camera on the selected point in space so that light reflected from an eye at the selected point in space will pass through the lens and be formed into a convergent beam which converges on the focal point of the camera; and

c. a holographic optical element having indicia, the indicia sized and configured such that when the user sees an indicia that indicia will either direct the user to move in a direction toward the volume or indicate that the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume.

12. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 wherein the indicia are comprised of a first indicia visible to a user when the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume and a second indicia visible to the user only when the user'"'"'s eye is not within the volume.

13. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 wherein the indicia are invisible to a user when the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume and selectively visible to the user when the user'"'"'s eye is not within the volume.

14. The alignment and imaging device of claim 13 wherein the indicia are four arrows arranged so that adjacent arrows are 90°

apart.

15. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 wherein the holographic optical element contains a light transmissive portion.

16. The alignment and imaging device of claim 15 wherein the holographic optical element has a front face that can be seen by the user and a rear face, also comprising a light source positioned in an optical path running from the light source to the rear face of the holographic optical element and passing through the light transmissive portion.

17. The alignment and imaging device of claim 16 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

18. The alignment and imaging device of claim 16 also comprising at least one mirror positioned in the optical path.

19. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 wherein the camera is one of a CCD sensor and a CMOS device.

20. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 also comprising at least one illuminator positioned to illuminate an object within the volume.

21. The alignment and imaging device of claim 20 wherein the illuminator emits infrared light and the camera is an infrared imager.

22. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 also comprising a housing in which the camera, lens, and holographic optical element are contained.

23. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 also comprising a second camera within the housing.

24. The alignment and imaging device of claim 23 wherein the second camera is a teleconferencing camera.

25. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 also comprising a range finder capable of determining when the user is at a distance from the alignment and imaging device to be within the volume, the range finder being connected to the housing.

26. The alignment and imaging device of claim 25 also comprising an indicator connected to the range finder which is activated by the range finder when the user is at a distance from the alignment and imaging device to be within the volume.

27. The alignment and imaging device of claim 26 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of LED'"'"'s and generators of audible signals.

28. The alignment and imaging device of claim 11 also comprising a processor and memory connected to the camera which contains a program for receiving an image from the camera, evaluating whether the image is acceptable for further processing and activating an indicator which will tell the user when an acceptable image has been obtained, and an indicator connected to the processor.

29. The alignment and imaging device of claim 28 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of LED'"'"'s and generators of audible signals.

30. The alignment and imaging device of claim 28 wherein the lens is an auto-focus lens.

31. The alignment and imaging device of claim 28 wherein at least one of the camera and the lens are movable relative to one another.

32. An alignment and imaging device for imaging an eye located within a volume surrounding a selected point in space comprised of:

a. a camera;

b. a lens positioned to focus the camera on the selected point in space so that light reflected from an eye at the selected point in space will pass through the lens and be formed into a convergent beam which converges on the focal point of the camera; and

c. at least one holographic optical element indicator positioned near the camera which tells the user either that the user is within the volume or directs the user to move in a direction toward the volume.

33. An alignment and imaging device of claim 32 wherein the indicator has indicia, the indicia sized and configured such that when the user sees an indicia that indicia will either direct the user to move in a direction toward the volume or indicate that the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume.

34. A method of positioning an eye of a user within a volume surrounding a selected point in space comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a volume surrounding a specific point in space at which an eye of the user is desired to e positioned;

b. providing a holographic optical element indicator having indicia, the indicia sized and configured to indicate to a user when the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume such that when the user sees an indicia that indicia will either direct the user to move in a direction toward the volume or indicate that the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume; and

c. instructing the subject to move his head to a position at which the indicia indicate that the user'"'"'s eye is within the volume.

35. The method of claim 34 also comprising the step of taking at least one image of the eye.

36. The method of claim 34 also comprising the step of illuminating the eye.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the eye is illuminated by an infrared light source.

38. The method of claim 34 also comprising the step of producing an audible tone after the image is taken.

39. The method of claim 34 also comprising:

a. providing processor and memory connected to the camera which contains a program for receiving an image from the camera;

b. taking an image with the camera;

c. evaluating whether the image is acceptable for further processing; and

d. when an acceptable image has been obtained, activating an indicator which tells the user that an acceptable image has been obtained.