Vision protection method and systems thereof

• US 10,512,400 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eyes4Lives, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eyes4Lives, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eustaquio, Cal J
• Application Number:
  US16/404,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20190320897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/20 Workers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• 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: A61B 3/08 for testing binocular or stereoscopic vision, e.g. strabismus
• 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 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• 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 3/18 Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 : Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 : Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/024 : Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 : Exercisers for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 : by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 : images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 : for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/056 : with active exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 : Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 : Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 : Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 : Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 : Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 : Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 : the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 : the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 : Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A vision protection method is provided to ensure a viewer to rest his/her eyes after viewing on an electronic device for a certain period, wherein the eyesight protection method includes the steps of detecting at least one of eye activities of the viewer and working parameter of the electronic device in a working mode of the electronic device during the viewer is working on a current work displaying by the electronic device; switching the working mode of the electronic device to a resting mode when an abnormal eye activity of the viewer is detected; and switching the electronic device from the resting mode back to the working mode to resume the display of the current work of the electronic device. Therefore, the viewer is enforced to rest his/her eyes after every certain period.

Claims

1. A system for eyesight protection of a viewer of an electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a camera mounted relative to the display for imaging a viewer in front of the display;

a control module coupled to the display and the camera to;

(a) detect a viewer in front of the display;

(b) initiate a working mode wherein;

i) the display presents working information to the viewer;

ii) the control module triggers a timer counting down a predetermined working time period for the working mode;

iii) the control module monitors one or more parameters of an eye of the viewer using the camera, the one or more parameters comprising monitoring a blinking rate of the eye of the viewer;

iv) the control module analyzes images from the camera to detect a sitting posture of the viewer; and

v) the control module monitors ambient light intensity of the electronic device;

(c) during the working mode, if the control module determines that the blinking rate falls below a predetermined threshold, the control module detects an improper sitting posture of the viewer, or the ambient light intensity is detected below a preset ambient light threshold, a warning is presented on the display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is built-in the electronic device along with the display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to:

(d) switch the working mode of the electronic device to a resting mode after the predetermined working time has lapsed for protecting the viewer from excessive usage of the electronic device; and

(e) switch the electronic device from the resting mode back to the working mode to resume the display of working information on the display after the predetermined resting time has elapsed.

4. A system for eyesight protection of a viewer of an electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a camera mounted relative to the display for imaging a viewer in front of the display;

a control module coupled to the display and the camera to;

(a) detect a viewer in front of the display;

(b) initiate a working mode wherein;

i) the display presents working information to the viewer;

ii) the control module triggers a timer counting down a predetermined working time period for the working mode; and

iii) the control module monitors one or more parameters of an eye of the viewer using the camera, the one or more parameters comprising monitoring a blinking rate of the eye of the viewer;

(c) during the working mode, if the control module determines that the blinking rate falls below a predetermined threshold, a warning is presented on the display;

(d) after the predetermined working time has lapsed, switch the working mode of the electronic device to a resting mode for protecting the viewer from excessive usage of the electronic device; and

(e) switch the electronic device from the resting mode back to the working mode to resume the display of working information on the display after the predetermined resting time has elapsed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the camera is built-in the electronic device along with the display.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein, the control module is further configured to interrupt display of working information on the display when the electronic device is switched from the working mode to the resting mode.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the control module is configured to repeat steps (b) to (e) until the control module determines that the viewer halts operating use of the electronic device, or the viewer has shut the electronic device down.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein, during the working mode, the control module is further configured to monitor ambient light intensity of the electronic device, and when the ambient light intensity is detected below a preset ambient light threshold, a warning is presented on the display.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein, during the working mode, the control module is further configured to analyze images from the camera to detect a sitting posture of the viewer, and wherein, when the control module detects an improper sitting posture of the viewer, a warning is presented on the display.

10. A method for eyesight protection of a viewer of an electronic device including a display, a camera oriented towards a viewer in front of the display, and a control module coupled to the camera and the display, the method comprising:

(a) detecting, by the control module, a viewer in front of the display;

(b) initiating, by the control module, a working mode wherein;

i) the display presents working information to the viewer;

ii) the control module triggers a timer counting down a predetermined working time period for the working mode; and

iii) the control module monitors one or more parameters of an eye of the viewer using the camera, the one or more parameters comprising monitoring a blinking rate of the eye of the viewer;

iv) the control module analyzes images from the camera to detect a sitting posture of the viewer; and

v) the control module monitors ambient light intensity of the electronic device;

(c) during the working mode, if the control module determines that the blinking rate falls below a predetermined threshold, the control module detects an improper sitting posture of the viewer, or the ambient light intensity is detected below a preset ambient light threshold, presenting a warning on the display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) after the predetermined working time has lapsed, switching the working mode of the electronic device to a resting mode for protecting the viewer from excessive usage of the electronic device; and

(e) switching the electronic device from the resting mode back to the working mode to resume the display of working information on the display after the predetermined resting time has elapsed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, when the electronic device is switched from the working mode to the resting mode, the display of working information on the display is interrupted by the control module.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein switching the working mode of the electronic device to the resting mode comprises interrupting display of working information on the display.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein switching the electronic device to the resting mode comprises one of:

i) idling the electronic device for the predetermined resting time period; and

ii) freezing the display on a final image from the working mode for the predetermined resting time period.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating steps (b) to (e) to form a loop continuously until the viewer terminates operating the electronic device so as to provide the viewer opportunities to have intermittent rest of the viewer'"'"'s eyes.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein steps (b) to (e) are repeated until the control module determines that:

i) the control module determines that the viewer halts operating use of the electronic device;

or

ii) the viewer has shut the electronic device down.