Patent US4726672A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4726672A
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Acuity therapy unit
Assignee: VISUAL ENHANCEMENT Inc
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Filing: 1987-04-08
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2007-04-08
Abstract
Abstract An exercise device for improving poor visual acuity is disclosed in which a subject must identify randomly chosen figures of minimal visual stimulus projected in a darkened chamber. Earphones are provided to aid in the isolation of the subject and provide audio feedback. The device provides effective treatment for certain eye conditions involving poor acuity and is particularly effective in treating the eye condition known as amblyopia.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. O'Brien
- 👤 Gary Diamond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H5/00; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/02; A61B3/028; A61B3/032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An ocular stimulator unit to improve the non-refractive acuity of a user's eyes comprising: a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus; means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on said visual target; a keyboard through which the user can respond to the various figures seen on the visual target; means for comparing said displayed figure with responses from said keyboard; means for informing the user of the correctness or incorrectness of said response; and wherein means are provided for adjusting the apparent size of the displayed figure to maintain the figure displayed at a level of minimal discernable size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ocular stimulator unit to improve the non-refractive acuity of a user's eyes comprising: a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus; means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on said visual target; a keyboard through which the user can respond to the various figures seen on the visual target; means for comparing said displayed figure with responses from said keyboard; means for informing the user of the correctness or incorrectness of said response; and wherein means are provided for adjusting the apparent size of the displayed figure to maintain the figure displayed at a level of minimal discernable size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to permit the user to control the rate of selection and generation of said random figures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the means of controlling the rate of selection and generation of the random figures is a rest control and a run control.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unit is operated in a darkened chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the darkened chamber is an opaque box.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said visual target is capable of being viewed in the dark.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said visual target is chosen from the group of cathode ray tube displays, lighted liquid crystal displays, light emitting diode displays, and lighted transparent or opaque materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said visual target is a light emitting diode display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the apparent size of the displayed figure comprises means for changing the visual distance between the user and the displayed figure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the visual distance is changed by using one or more mirrors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the apparent size of the displayed figure comprises using one or more lenses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparent size of the displayed figure is adjusted by changing the size of characters displayed by the displayed figure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the keyboard contains a series of buttons each corresponding to one of the figures to be generated and displayed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the random figures are selected and generated using a random generator, a character generator, and a display driver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the random generator is a gated clock and counter circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for comparing the displayed figure with the user's response is a right/wrong decision logic circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein audio feedback is provided to the user informing the user of the status of the responses and the unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said audio feedback is provided to the user through earphone speakers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to cover one of the user's eyes during operation of the unit.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in improving the non-refractive acuity of a user's eye, said method comprising; placing before the user's eye a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus; causing the visual target to randomly display at least one of a number of predetermined characters; providing the user with keyboard means capable of being so actuated by the user as to denote any of said characters the user believes he or she discerns upon the visual target; comparing the character denoted through the keyboard with the displayed character to detect and signify whether they coincide with each other; and providing means for adjusting the apparent size of said displayed character to maintain the character displayed at a level of minimal discernable size.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in improving the non-refractive acuity of a user's eye, said method comprising; placing before the user's eye a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus; causing the visual target to randomly display at least one of a number of predetermined characters; providing the user with keyboard means capable of being so actuated by the user as to denote any of said characters the user believes he or she discerns upon the visual target; comparing the character denoted through the keyboard with the displayed character to detect and signify whether they coincide with each other; and providing means for adjusting the apparent size of said displayed character to maintain the character displayed at a level of minimal discernable size.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the visual target provides a luminous image, and said method is practice in a condition of substantial darkness.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method as defined in claim 20, further including the step of adjusting at least one of the following prevailing conditions so as to maintain substantially threshold visibility and discernability of the randomly presented characters: the optical distance between the user's eye and the visual target, the ambient light level, the intensity of character illumination of the display target, and the apparent size of the characters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 20, further including the steps of introducing a flicker-like effect in the image presentation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to adjust the discernability of said figures through phase shifting of said visual target, and wherein said means includes providing a visual target which comprises: a character generator, a display driver and a multiple segment L.E.D. display, phase shifting of segments of said display provided through; a flicker clock with an adjustable clock frequency control; a decoder; and multiple exclusive-OR gates each electrically connected between said flicker clock and said decoder, and one segment of said display.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-22 | 1991-08-24 | 1992-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-22 | 1995-08-24 | 1996-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-22 | 1999-08-24 | 2000-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |