Method of and arrangement for the enhancement of vision and/or hand-eye coordination

• US 5,812,239 A
• Filed: 10/22/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Eger
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Eger
• Inventors: Eger, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Huy
• Application Number:
  US08/735,006
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 351/203, 351/224, 351/226, 351/243
• US Class Current: 351/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes

Abstract

An arrangement for enhancing vision and/or hand-eye coordination includes a foldable or bendable sheet. The sheet carries a circular array of annular pads, and a light-emitting diode fits in the center of each pad. The pads and light-emitting diodes can be connected to a microprocessor which, in turn, can be connected to a display unit. The microprocessor can be programmed to illuminate the light-emitting diodes in different sequences. The sheet is suspended and a subject stands in front of the sheet. As different light-emitting diodes are illuminated, the subject attempts to follow the motion with her/his eyes. Alternatively, the subject attempts to extinguish an illuminated light-emitting diode by touching, or propelling an object against, the associated pad. The microprocessor can establish a score or rating for the subject, and the results can be shown on the display unit. In exercise or training regimes where the subject must focus on an object, the sheet can be provided with a central opening which permits the subject to look through the sheet and focus at virtual infinity. The opening can also accept a unit which instead allows the subject to focus at optical infinity. In exercise or training regimes where the subject propels an object towards the sheet, the sheet may be provided with small microphones which can record the location and strength of impacts.

Claims

1. An arrangement for enhancing the vision or hand-eye coordination of a subject comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a control system for said light sources; and

means for permitting the subject to fixate at virtual or optical infinity while maintaining said light sources within view of the subject.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said permitting means comprises a carrier for said light sources, said carrier having a substantially transparent portion, and said carrier being designed to support said transparent portion and said light sources within view of the subject.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said carrier is substantially opaque except for said transparent portion.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a substantially transparent filter for covering said transparent portion.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said filter is red and said light sources emit green light, or said filter is blue and said light sources emit red light.

6. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said carrier is foldable or roll-up.

7. The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising at least one audio element for sensing impacts upon said carrier.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an extinguishing element for at least one of said light sources, said extinguishing element being designed to at least partially circumscribe said one light source and to extinguish said one light source in response to touch.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said extinguishing element is circumferentially complete and defines an opening for said one light source.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said control means comprises means for sensing, and for recording data relating to, extinguishing of said one light source by said extinguishing means.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said permitting means comprises lens means, and an object spaced from said lens means by a distance which substantially equals a focal length of said lens means.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein said lens means comprises a pair of lenses having concave sides which face one another.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein said lens means comprises a pair of spaced lenses;

and further comprising a filter insertable between said lenses.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said filter is red and said light sources emit green light, or said filter is blue and said light sources emit red light.

15. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein said permitting means further comprises a holder for said lens means, a housing for receiving said holder, and an illumination source, said object being mounted in said housing, and said illumination source being arranged to illuminate said object.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said permitting means is portable.

17. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a computer, and interchangeable software for said computer programmed to control said light sources.

18. An arrangement for enhancing vision or hand-eye coordination comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a control system for said light sources; and

a foldable or roll-up carrier for said light sources.

19. An arrangement for enhancing vision or hand-eye coordination comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

an audio element;

a carrier for said light sources and said audio element; and

a control system for said light sources and for recording data generated by said audio element in response to impacts on said carrier.

20. An arrangement for enhancing vision or hand-eye coordination comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a control system for said light sources; and

an extinguishing element for at least one of said light sources, said extinguishing element being designed to at least partially circumscribe said one light source and to extinguish said one light source in response to touch.

21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said extinguishing element is circumferentially complete and defines an opening for said one light source.

22. A method of enhancing the vision or hand-eye coordination of a subject comprising the steps of:

fixating at virtual or optical infinity, the fixating step being performed by the subject;

illuminating light sources within view of the subject during the fixating step; and

reacting to illumination of said light sources, the reacting step being performed by the subject.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said light sources are illuminated sequentially.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the reacting step comprises reaching for a light source upon illumination of the same.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the illuminating and reacting steps are performed in a darkened atmosphere and the fixating step comprises observing an illuminated object;

and further comprising the step of filtering illumination from said object.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said light sources emit green light and the filtering step comprises coloring illumination from said object red.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said light sources emit red light and the filtering step comprises coloring illumination from said object blue.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the reacting step comprises extinguishing an illuminated light source by touch.

29. A method of enhancing the vision or hand-eye coordination of a subject comprising the steps of:

distributing light sources within view of the subject;

illuminating said light sources;

reacting to illumination of said light sources, the reacting step being performed by the subject; and

gathering said light sources subsequent to the illuminating and reacting steps.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said light sources are mounted on a carrier and the gathering step comprises folding or rolling up said carrier.

31. A method of enhancing the vision or hand-eye coordination of a subject comprising the steps of:

providing light sources;

illuminating one of said light sources within view of the subject;

reacting to illumination of said one light source by impacting an area around said one light source, the reacting step being performed by the subject; and

recording the sound of the impact.

32. A method of enhancing the vision or hand-eye coordination of a subject comprising the steps of:

providing light sources;

illuminating one of said light sources within view of the subject; and

reacting to illumination of said one light source, the reacting step being performed by the subject and including extinguishing said one light source by touch.