US3907434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binaural sight system
Assignee: ZIPCOR Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-30
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1994-08-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a sight system for producing binaural sound representative of the location of a visible object with respect to a listener. It includes means for generating first and second time related signals at an audible frequency. A headset including two independently operable earphones which are connected to the signal generating means for reproducing sound in each of the earphones in response to each of the first and second signals, respectively. The signal-generating means includes two electronic camera devices that generate image signals representative of optical images projected thereonto. The two camera devices are positioned in horizontally spaced relation to have overlapping fields of view. Circuitry of the signal generating means independently connects the right and left camera devices to the right and left earphones, respectively. The camera devices are scanned in opposite directions over the respective fields of view, the right-hand camera device from right to left and the left-hand camera device from left to right. Audible signals are reproduced in the earphones representative of the locations of objects in the overlapping fields of view.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald K Coles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A sight system for producing signals representative of the location of a visible object comprising means for generating first and second time related signals at an audible frequency, two electrically operable stimulating devices connected to said signal-generating means for activating each of said devices in response to said first and second signals, respectively; said signal-generating means including two electronic camera devices that generate image signals representative of optical images projected thereonto, means positioning said camera devices in horizontally spaced relation to have overlapping fields of view, said stimulating devices also being held in horizontally spaced relation, signal circuitry independently connecting the right and left camera devices to the right and left stimulating devices, respectively, and means for synchronously scanning said camera devices in opposite directions over the respective fields of view, the right-hand camera devices scanning from right to left and the left-hand camera device from left to right.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sight system for producing signals representative of the location of a visible object comprising means for generating first and second time related signals at an audible frequency, two electrically operable stimulating devices connected to said signal-generating means for activating each of said devices in response to said first and second signals, respectively; said signal-generating means including two electronic camera devices that generate image signals representative of optical images projected thereonto, means positioning said camera devices in horizontally spaced relation to have overlapping fields of view, said stimulating devices also being held in horizontally spaced relation, signal circuitry independently connecting the right and left camera devices to the right and left stimulating devices, respectively, and means for synchronously scanning said camera devices in opposite directions over the respective fields of view, the right-hand camera devices scanning from right to left and the left-hand camera device from left to right.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 including a frame having said camera devices mounted thereon, and said stimulating devices being in the form of earphones carried by a head band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 2 in which said camera devices are positioned such that said overlapping fields extend over an optical space disposed within an angle having its apex in the region between said camera devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 3 in which said frame has a nose-piece and bows for positioning on the face of a wearer with said camera devices being positioned thereon in the locations corresponding to lenses in spectacles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 3 in which each camera device includes an image lens and a light sensitive electrode disposed to receive the optical image therefrom, said scanning means including circuitry which electrically scans said light-sensitive electrode at a rate in the range of about ten to two thousand times a second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 5 in which said light-sensitive electrode includes a solid-state device having a horizontally arranged array of interconnected photo-diodes, said scanning circuitry including a clock and shift register which is actuated in sequence by clock pulses, the individual stages of the shift register being connected to the array of photo-diodes in sequence thereby to switch the latter in response to sequential actuation of said stages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 6 in which the signal circuitry for each camera and aural device includes an electrical connection between said photo-diodes and the respective ear phone whereby signals produced by the change in photo-conductivity of said photo-diodes are conducted thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 7 in which said electrical connection of said signal circuitry includes an operational amplifier for amplifying the signals produced by said photo-diodes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of producing binaural sound representative of light objects in a predetermined field of view comprising the steps of: a. viewing an object space by two horizontally spaced camera devices that generate time related signals respectively of the visible objects in said space, b. synchronousLy scanning said camera devices over said object space in opposite horizontal directions, the right-hand device from right to left and the left-hand device from left to right, c. generating electrical signals at an audible rate representative of the location and character of the objects viewed by said camera devices, and d. reproducing the audible signals in two horizontally spaced aural devices, respectively, the signals from the right-hand camera device being reproduced by the right-hand aural device and the left-hand camera device being reproduced by the left-hand aural device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of producing binaural sound representative of light objects in a predetermined field of view comprising the steps of: a. viewing an object space by two horizontally spaced camera devices that generate time related signals respectively of the visible objects in said space, b. synchronousLy scanning said camera devices over said object space in opposite horizontal directions, the right-hand device from right to left and the left-hand device from left to right, c. generating electrical signals at an audible rate representative of the location and character of the objects viewed by said camera devices, and d. reproducing the audible signals in two horizontally spaced aural devices, respectively, the signals from the right-hand camera device being reproduced by the right-hand aural device and the left-hand camera device being reproduced by the left-hand aural device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 in which the scanning of each camera device is at a rate within the range of about ten to two thousand cycles per second.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 in which the object space is disposed in front of said camera devices and is included within an angle having its apex located in the region between said camera devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 in which said signals associated with said two camera devices are independently generated thereby and separately conducted to said aural devices, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |