Vision thermalization for sightless and visually impaired

• US 7,843,488 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Staplevision LLC
• Original Assignee: John J. Stapleton
• Inventors: Stapleton, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CZEKAJ, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US10/914,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,304 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61- 63
• US Class Current: 348/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A Vision Thermalization, “VT” light-to-heat transducer, versatile video transformation system, via Biophysics Resonance of forehead cells with thin film transistors infrared “display” (1 k×0.0015 C×640×480 VGA) and alternative image processing methodology thereof to convert, for the sightless and visually impaired, light waves, or TV received signals or 2D/3D video camera signals into infrared patterns of sensible heat waves such as produced by the product of voltage and current in an active matrix of thin film transistors (AM-TFT), typically used with liquid crystal displays, in order to exploit the viper-like thermal vision sensibility of 10 parts/million (0.003 C/305K) and biophysics resonance of thermo regulating amino acids.

Claims

1. A versatile video transducer system providing alternative, supplementary sight to a blind or visually impaired person comprising:

an input receiving a signal corresponding to a video image; and

a matrix receiving said signal from said input, said matrix being formed of a plurality of thin film elements generating an infrared image corresponding to said video image and being constructed and arranged to be placed in contact with a thermal sensitive organ of the blind person so that the blind person perceives said infrared image from said matrix;

wherein said infrared image is generated by said matrix includes wavelengths of approximately 3.5, 7.0 and 11 microns in biophysics resonance with the tuned sensitivities, absorption spectra and the quantum vibrations, rotations and stretching in specific amino acids common to said organ, cortex and retina.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said video input image is an infrared image.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said matrix is constructed and driven with voltage and current to generate a infrared image having characteristics that are absorbed by specific elements in the organ, said elements being selected from the group consisting of elements from the skin, elements from the cortex and elements from the retina.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said matrix is constructed and driven with voltage and current to generate thermal spectral frequencies that include a quantum absorption frequency of a biological element.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said matrix is constructed and driven with voltage and current to stimulate the resonant frequency of an element of the cortex, skin and retina.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said matrix is constructed and driven with voltage and current to stimulate the biophysics resonance with the absorption frequencies of a thermally sensitive element of a skin.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said matrix generates a infrared image at spectral frequencies including biophysics resonance with the absorption frequencies of thermoreceptors, ganglion cells, amino acid inhibitors and excitors within the skin of the blind person analogous to those in retina.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising mounting means for mounting said matrix on one of the forehead and forearm of the blind person.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said input receives visible light waves incorporating said image.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said input receives a microwave, infrared, ultrasound or the like video signal incorporating said image.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said system converts said light waves and said video signals into infrared images.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a plurality of transistors receives said infrared images from and further generates said infrared images with specific spectral frequencies.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of transistors generates said specific frequency in the range of 3.5 microns to 11 microns.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said receptor is at least one of thermo-receptors, ganglion cells, amino acid inhibitors, glycine excitors and glutamate excitors.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said system receives said images in the form of light waves and video signals.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said matrix to a

thermal sensitive organ of the blind person comprises a band worn on the user'"'"'s forehead.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said matrix to a thermal sensitive organ of the blind person comprises a band worn on the user'"'"'s forearm.

18. A system for providing images to a blind person having a thermal sensitive organ comprising:

a receiver receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an optical image;

a matrix receiving said electronic signal from said receiver, said matrix being formed of a plurality of thin film elements generating an infrared image corresponding to said video image; and

a mounting member arranged and constructed to position said matrix with said thin film elements contacting said thermal sensitive organ so that the blind person perceives said optical image as said infrared image through his thermal sensitive organ;

wherein said infrared image is generated by said matrix includes wavelengths of approximately 3.5, 7.0 and 11 microns in biophysics resonance with the tuned sensitivities, absorption spectra and the quantum vibrations, rotations and stretching in specific amino acids common to said organ, cortex and retina.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each of said thin film elements generates an infrared element output in the infrared range, and wherein, in response to said electronic signal, the output of at least some of said thin film elements change to generate said infrared image.

20. A system for providing images to a blind person having a thermal sensitive organ comprising:

a receiver receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an optical image;

a matrix receiving said electronic signal from said receiver, said matrix being formed of a plurality of thin film elements selectively activated in accordance with said electronic signal to generate an infrared image corresponding to said optical image; and

a mounting member arranged and constructed to position said matrix with said thin film elements contacting the thermal sensitive organ so that the blind person perceives said optical image as said infrared image through his thermal sensitive organ wherein said infrared image is generated by said matrix includes wavelengths of approximately 3.5, 7.0, and 11 microns in biophysics resonance with the tuned sensitivities, absorption spectra and the quantum vibrations, rotations and stretching in specific amino acids common to said organ, cortex and retina.