US3689135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for monitoring movement of a subject{40 s eyes
Assignee: A S LABORATORIES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-01-26
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1991-01-26
Abstract
Abstract An eye measuring instrument employing a modulated invisible light source which illuminates the eye and a pair of photocells directed to the interface of portions of the eye with different light reflecting properties. The interfaces selected move in response to eye movement or pupil area change, and the changes in the photocell outputs are a measure of the eye movement or pupil area change.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence R Young
- 👤 Joel S Newman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/113; A61B3/11; A61B3/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of measuring the vertical eye movement of a subject''s eye comprising the steps of coating the subject''s eyelid to make it relatively nonreflective in relation to his eye, directing an invisible light source to the eye; pointing two invisible-light sensing devices in horizontally spaced relation and toward the normal level of the lower edge of the upper eyelid to receive light reflected from about the region of the interface between the eye and the eyelid, and measuring changes in the reflected light sensed by the light sensing devices in response to vertical movement of said eyelid, said step of measuring said changes of reflected light comprising determining the sum of the output signals of said two light sensitive devices, whereby any horizontal movement of said eye will have no substantial effect on said sum of said output signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of measuring the vertical eye movement of a subject''s eye comprising the steps of coating the subject''s eyelid to make it relatively nonreflective in relation to his eye, directing an invisible light source to the eye; pointing two invisible-light sensing devices in horizontally spaced relation and toward the normal level of the lower edge of the upper eyelid to receive light reflected from about the region of the interface between the eye and the eyelid, and measuring changes in the reflected light sensed by the light sensing devices in response to vertical movement of said eyelid, said step of measuring said changes of reflected light comprising determining the sum of the output signals of said two light sensitive devices, whereby any horizontal movement of said eye will have no substantial effect on said sum of said output signals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of monitoring a subject''s eye comprising the steps of illuminating the eye with a stationary beam of pulsed invisible light, pointing an invisible light sensing device toward the interfaces of two eye regions of different light reflective properties operating said light sensing device synchronously with the pulsations of said stationary beam of invisible light thus to eliminate the effects of extraneous signals during the intervals between said pulsations; whereby movement of said interfaces in relation to said sensing device will cause variations in the amount of light sensed; and measuring said variation in said sensed light.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of monitoring a subject''s eye comprising the steps of illuminating the eye with a stationary beam of pulsed invisible light, pointing an invisible light sensing device toward the interfaces of two eye regions of different light reflective properties operating said light sensing device synchronously with the pulsations of said stationary beam of invisible light thus to eliminate the effects of extraneous signals during the intervals between said pulsations; whereby movement of said interfaces in relation to said sensing device will cause variations in the amount of light sensed; and measuring said variation in said sensed light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of monitoring the eye as described in claim 2 further characterized by the steps of sensing the light reflected by two light sensitive devices directed at different portions of the same interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method of monitoring a subject''s eye as described in claim 3 further characterized by the step of aligning said two light sensitive devices at horizontally opposite portions of the interface between the subject''s iris and sclera said step of sensing the light reflected by said two light sensitive devices comprising measuring the difference in output between said two light sensitive devices, said difference in output signals of said two light sensitive devices being substantially unaffected by vertical eye movement; whereby horizontal eye movement may be measured independently of and unaffected by any vertical eye movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method of monitoring a subject''s eye as described in claim 3 further characterized by the step of aligning said two light sensitive devices with diametrically opposite portions of the interface between the iris and pupil of the eye; and measuring the sum of the output signals of said two light sensitive devices, said sum being substantially proportional to the size of the pupil of the eye, whereby horizontal movement of the eye will have no substantial effect on the sum of said output signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A method of monitoring a subject''s eye as described in claim 3 further characterized by the step of aligning said two light sensitive devices in horizontally spaced relation along the interface between the subject''s eye and eyelid coating the subject''s eyelid to make it relatively non-reflective in relation to said eye measuring the sum of the output signals from said two light sensitive devices to sense the vertical position of said eyelid whereby horizontal movement of the eye will have substantially no effect on the sum of said output signals; whereby vertical movement of said eyelid may be sensed independently of and is unaffected by horizontal movement of said eye, and is proportional to vertical eye movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3036568A
Cited
US3450466A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |