Eyewear

• US 9,706,941 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JIN Company Limited
• Original Assignee: JIN Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanoh, Shinichiro, Kawashima, Ryuta, Tanaka, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): VALONE, THOMAS F
• Application Number:
  US14/708,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 324647
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/12 Nose pads; Nose-engaging surfaces of bridges or rims
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A problem related to a known eyewear-type electro-oculogram measuring apparatus which detects the eye potential using a pair of electrodes positioned outside both the eyes of a user and a pair of electrodes respectively positioned above and below one eye is that the two pairs of electrodes have had an impact on the skins of users, and discomfort on them. Besides, the electrodes are not excellent in design. The present invention provides eyewear including: a frame; a pair of nose pads; and a first electrode and a second electrode respectively provided on the surface of the pair of nose pads, the first electrode and the second electrode detecting eye potential.

Claims

1. A method for processing eye potential, comprising:

receiving an eye potential detected by a first electrode and a second electrode respectively provided on a surface of a pair of nose pads of an eyewear and operable to detect the eye potential;

determining a visual line of a human wearing the eyewear on the basis of the eye potential if an operation mode in which a visual line detection process is executed has been set;

transitioning from the operation mode to a wait mode in which the visual line detection processing is not executed if it is determined that the eye potentials of both of the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time or longer, the predetermined value indicating that the electrode is distanced from the skin of the human; and

issuing a warning if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode and the second electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the receiving the eye potential includes receiving the eye potential detected by a third electrode provided on a surface of a bridge of a frame of the eyewear;

wherein the operation mode is transitioned to the wait mode if it is determined that the eye potentials of all of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode are substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer; and

wherein the warning is issued if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the warning includes notification of an existence of a distanced electrode.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is zero.

4. A system comprising:

means for communication with an electro-oculogram processing unit connected to or included in eyewear; and

a computer programmed to perform operations including;

determining a visual line of a human wearing the eyewear on the basis of eye potential detected by a first electrode and a second electrode if an operation mode in which a visual line detection processing is executed has been set, wherein the first and second electrodes are respectively provided on the surface of a pair of nose pads of the eyewear;

transitioning from the operation mode to a wait mode in which the visual line detection processing is not executed if it is determined that the eye potentials of both of the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time or longer, the predetermined value indicating that the electrode is distanced from the skin of the human; and

issuing a warning if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode and the second electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising the eyewear.

7. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the operation mode is transitioned to the wait mode if it is determined that the eye potentials of all of the first electrode, the second electrode and a third electrode are substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer, the third electrode being provided on a surface of a bridge of a frame of the eyewear;

and

wherein the warning is issued if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the warning includes notification of an existence of a distanced electrode.

12. The system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined value is zero.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a visual line of a human wearing an eyewear on the basis of eye potential detected by a first electrode and a second electrode if an operation mode in which a visual line detection processing is executed has been set, wherein the first and second electrodes are respectively provided on the surface of a pair of nose pads of the eyewear;

transitioning from the operation mode to a wait mode in which the visual line detection processing is not executed if it is determined that the eye potentials of both of the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time or longer, the predetermined value indicating that the electrode is distanced from the skin of the human; and

issuing a warning if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode and the second electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6,

wherein the operation mode is transitioned to the wait mode if it is determined that the eye potentials of all of the first electrode, the second electrode and a third electrode are substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer, the third electrode being provided on a surface of a bridge of a frame of the eyewear;

and

wherein the warning is issued if it is determined that the eye potential of either one of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode is substantially equal to the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time or longer.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the warning includes notification of an existence of a distanced electrode.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined value is zero.