Image-based system to observe and document eye responses

• US 7,357,507 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visionetx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Visionetx Incorporated
• Inventors: Waldorf, Ronald, Mauch, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/398,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 351/200, 351/205, 351/206, 351/209, 351/210, 351/221
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/112 for measuring diameter of pupils
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B

Abstract

The image-based system is used to observe and document eye responses which can be used to implement the procedures defined in the Standardized Field Sobriety Test as well as the Drug Recognition Expert Program. These eye responses include pupil movement as well as pupil size and responses, for either one or both eyes simultaneously. The system includes a headset against which the subject places their face. The faceplate has two eye openings through which illumination devices transmit beams of infrared light to illuminate the subject'"'"'s eyes. Two imaging devices are mounted on the headset opposite the eye openings to generate images of the subject'"'"'s illuminated eyes. The generated images are transmitted to an image recording device for storage and an image display device for display to a test administrator.

Claims

1. An image-based system to observe and document eye responses, comprising:

a frame;

a faceplate attached to said frame, shaped to substantially conform to a subject'"'"'s face and having at least one opening oriented opposite a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate;

at least one illumination device attached to said frame and aligned with said eye opening to illuminate a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate; and

at least one imaging device attached to said frame and aligned with said eye openings to generate an image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate.

2. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

an image recording device connected to said at least one imaging device for recording images generated by said at least one imaging device.

3. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 2 wherein said image recording device comprises:

a digital data recording device for storing image data from the class of digital recording devices including;

video tape recorder, DVD recorder, computer system, and data memory device.

4. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 2 further comprising:

an image display device connected to at least one of said at least one imaging device and said image recording device for displaying said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate.

5. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

6. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle attached to said frame for enabling a user to position said faceplate against said subject'"'"'s face.

7. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 6 further comprising:

wherein said handle includes a compartment for housing a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

8. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 wherein said at least one illumination device comprises:

infrared source for illuminating said subject'"'"'s eyes with light in the infrared spectrum.

9. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 2 further comprising:

data processing system, connected to at least one of said at least one imaging device and said image recording device, for processing said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate to measure said subject'"'"'s eye gaze tracking and eye behavior in response to tracking a stimulus target.

10. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a cable for interconnecting said image recording device to said at least one imaging device.

11. An image-based system to observe and document eye responses, comprising:

a frame;

a faceplate attached to said frame, shaped to substantially conform to a subject'"'"'s face and having at least one opening oriented opposite a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate;

at least one infrared light emitting diode illumination device attached to said frame and aligned with said at least one eye opening to illuminate a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate;

at least one imaging device attached to said frame and aligned with said at least one eye opening to generate an image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate; and

an image display device connected to said imaging device for displaying said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate.

12. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 11 further comprising:

an image recording device connected to said at least one imaging device for recording images generated by said at least one imaging device.

13. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 11 further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

14. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 11 further comprising:

a handle attached to said frame for enabling a user to position said faceplate against said subject'"'"'s face.

15. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 14 further comprising:

wherein said handle includes a compartment for housing a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

16. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 11 further comprising:

a chin rest attached to said frame to align said subject'"'"'s face with said at least one eye opening.