Visual training device and visual training method

• US 20060164597A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
• Original Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
• Inventors: Eda, Hideo, Hayakawa, Tomoe, Fujimaki, Norio
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes

Abstract

A visual training device 1 including: a screen arranged facing a subject H having visual impairment; a line of vision detection unit that detects a line of vision of the subject H and outputs line of vision signals indicating the line of vision; a visual field data storage unit that stores visual field data indicating the visible area AR2 and the area of visual impairment AR1 of the subject H; and a screen control unit 53 that, on the aforementioned screen, moves the visible area AR2 specified based on the aforementioned visual field data in correspondence to the movement of the line of vision of the subject H specified by the aforementioned line of vision signals. The display format of the visible area AR2 or a region including the vicinity thereof, is displayed different from the display format of the other region. By doing this, an attitudinal barrier of the person with visual impairment, the subject, can be removed, and the visual training device can allow easy training to be provided.

Claims

1. A visual training device comprising:

a screen arranged facing a subject with a visual impairment;

a line of vision detection unit to operatively detect a line of vision of the subject and outputs line of vision signals indicating the line of vision;

a visual field data storage unit that stores visual field data indicating the visible area and the area of visual impairment of the subject;

and a screen control unit that, on the aforementioned screen, moves the visible area specified based on the aforementioned visual field data in correspondence to the movement of the line of vision of the subject specified by the aforementioned line of vision signals, and that makes the display format of the visible area or the region including the vicinity thereof different from the display format of the other region.

2. The visual training device according to claim 1 wherein the aforementioned screen control unit displays on the screen an image that the subject can recognize, and nothing is displayed in the aforementioned other region.

3. The visual training device according to claim 1 further comprising a response signal receiving unit that receives response signals indicating the response from the subject viewing the screen.

4. The visual training device described in claim 3 wherein the aforementioned screen control unit displays on the screen a virtual space that imitates the actual scene, the virtual scene images is moved corresponding to the response signals relating to the directional indications received by the aforementioned response signal receiving unit from the subject, and the subject is allowed a pseudo-moving experience within the virtual space.

5. A visual training method of:

arranging a screen facing a subject with a visual impairment;

detecting the line of vision of the subject via a line of vision detection unit;

storing in a visual field data storage unit, set up in a specified region of memory, visual field data indicating the visible area and the area of visual impairment in the visual field of the subject; and

using a computer to move on the aforementioned screen the visible area specified based on the aforementioned visual field data in correspondence to the selection of behavior or movement of the line of vision of the subject specified by the aforementioned line of vision signals output from the aforementioned line of vision detection unit, and making the display format of the visible area or the region including the vicinity thereof different from the display format of the other region.

6. A visual improvement training device for subjects with limited fields of vision, comprising:

an image generating unit for providing images that can be viewed by a subject;

a line of vision detection unit to monitor an eye of the subject and provide signals indicative of the subject'"'"'s line of vision relative to images viewed by the subject from the image generating unit;

a visual field data storage unit that stores visual field data including a first area indicating a scene of images visible by a normal eye and a second area indicating images within the visual impairment field of the subject as a portion of the first area;

a control unit that receives the signals indicative of the subject'"'"'s line of vision and controls the image generating unit to provide images from the visual field data storage unit representative of the first area and the second area in correspondence to the movement of the line of vision signals; and

an input control member to enable the subject to change the images provided by the image generating unit to provide a pseudo moving experience within a virtual space.

7. The visual improvement training device of claim 6 wherein the image generating unit can be driven by the control unit to provide distinctive coloration between the first area and the second area.