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US4726673A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tachistoscope for presenting stimuli in lateralized form

Assignee: University of Southern California
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Filing: 1986-05-05
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2006-05-05
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Abstract

Abstract A tachistoscope system is presented in which separate images may be sent to the left and right hemispheres of the visual cortex. A subject-worn viewing system having electro-optical valves is used to cover the right and left visual fields of the subject and the valves are operable in response to control signals. These control signals also synchronize the inputs from 2 television cameras with the opening of the valves. An alternative embodiment employs lenses of different colors arranged to cover the right and left visual fields of the subject and means for displaying colored areas of output.

Inventors

  • 👤 David H. Blankenhorn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 06:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/02; A61B3/06; A61B3/066

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form to a viewer, which comprises: means for displaying different visual outputs at different times; a viewing system having a plurality of light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the viewer; and means for controlling the display of the visual outputs and the operation of the viewing system so that the outputs are displayed and the valves are operated in synchrony, whereby different images may be presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 97 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form to a viewer, which comprises: means for displaying different visual outputs at different times; a viewing system having a plurality of light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the viewer; and means for controlling the display of the visual outputs and the operation of the viewing system so that the outputs are displayed and the valves are operated in synchrony, whereby different images may be presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual outputs are video outputs and the light valves are electro-optical light valves.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 131 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; means for supplying two different video outputs in accordance with said synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having a plurality of electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the viewer, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and controller means for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves based on the synchronization signals so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 131 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; means for supplying two different video outputs in accordance with said synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having a plurality of electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the viewer, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and controller means for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves based on the synchronization signals so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for supplying two different video outputs comprises two video cameras.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for supplying two different video outputs utilizes magnetic storage media.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for supplying two different video outputs comprises two computer-based image generation systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the viewing system also includes two thin spacers separating the optical light valves covering the right and left visual fields of each eye of the viewer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; video camera means for supplying two different video outputs in accordance with the synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having four electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the right and left visual fields of the viewer and two spacers for separating the valves covering the different visual fields of each eye, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and a controller for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; video camera means for supplying two different video outputs in accordance with the synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having four electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the right and left visual fields of the viewer and two spacers for separating the valves covering the different visual fields of each eye, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and a controller for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left sides and right sides of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 74 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing visual outputs, comprising the steps of: displaying two different visual outputs to the viewer at different times; and operating a viewing system, including a plurality of light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the subject, in synchrony with the display of the visual outputs so that different outputs are presented to different sides of the retinas of the subject.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 74 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing visual outputs, comprising the steps of: displaying two different visual outputs to the viewer at different times; and operating a viewing system, including a plurality of light valves arranged to cover the left and right visual fields of the subject, in synchrony with the display of the visual outputs so that different outputs are presented to different sides of the retinas of the subject.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 153 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing a television set, comprising the steps of: providing a video synchronization signal for governing the operation of means for supplying two different video outputs; supplying two different video outputs governed in accordance with the synchronization signal; displaying the different video outputs on the television set at different times; operating a viewing system, including a plurality of electro-optical valves arranged so as to cover the left and right visual fields of a viewer; and regulating the display of the video outputs on the television set and the operation of the valves of the viewing system so that the television set and viewing system are driven in synchrony based on the synchronization signal, whereby different video outputs are presented to the right and left fields of vision of each eye of the viewer and visual stimuli are presented in a lateralized form to the viewer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 153 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing a television set, comprising the steps of: providing a video synchronization signal for governing the operation of means for supplying two different video outputs; supplying two different video outputs governed in accordance with the synchronization signal; displaying the different video outputs on the television set at different times; operating a viewing system, including a plurality of electro-optical valves arranged so as to cover the left and right visual fields of a viewer; and regulating the display of the video outputs on the television set and the operation of the valves of the viewing system so that the television set and viewing system are driven in synchrony based on the synchronization signal, whereby different video outputs are presented to the right and left fields of vision of each eye of the viewer and visual stimuli are presented in a lateralized form to the viewer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 134 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; means for supplying three different video outputs in accordance with said synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having a plurality of electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the left, right and center visual fields of the viewer, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and controller means for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves based on the synchronization signals so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left and right sides and center area of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 134 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: means for generating video synchronization signals; means for supplying three different video outputs in accordance with said synchronization signals; a television set for displaying video outputs; a viewing system having a plurality of electro-optical light valves arranged to cover the left, right and center visual fields of the viewer, the valves operable in response to electrical control signals; and controller means for transmitting different video outputs to the television set and providing different control signals to the light valves based on the synchronization signals so that the valves are driven in synchrony with the different video outputs, whereby different images may be separately presented to the left and right sides and center area of the retinas of the viewer resulting in hemianoptical stimulation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 83 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: a viewing system having a plurality of different sets of colored lenses which are adapted for transmitting colored images on a mutually exclusive basis and are arranged to cover different visual fields of the viewer so that each visual field is viewed by the subject through lenses of a separate color; means for sequentially displaying different colored images suitable for being transmitted by said sets of lenses on a mutually exclusive basis.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 83 words
An apparatus for presenting visual stimuli in lateralized form, which comprises: a viewing system having a plurality of different sets of colored lenses which are adapted for transmitting colored images on a mutually exclusive basis and are arranged to cover different visual fields of the viewer so that each visual field is viewed by the subject through lenses of a separate color; means for sequentially displaying different colored images suitable for being transmitted by said sets of lenses on a mutually exclusive basis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said viewing system includes two sets of different colored lenses, the colors of which are chosen from the group consisting of red, blue and green.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 82 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing visual images, comprising the steps of: arranging sets of lenses having different colors adapted for viewing images having different colors on a mutually exclusive basis so that the sets cover different visual fields of the subject corresponding to the left and right visual cortexes of the subject; displaying to the subject at different times different visual images having different colors which may be viewed through colored lenses on a mutually exclusive basis.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 82 words
A method for accomplishing hemianoptical stimulation of a subject viewing visual images, comprising the steps of: arranging sets of lenses having different colors adapted for viewing images having different colors on a mutually exclusive basis so that the sets cover different visual fields of the subject corresponding to the left and right visual cortexes of the subject; displaying to the subject at different times different visual images having different colors which may be viewed through colored lenses on a mutually exclusive basis.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1662054A Cited
US2196904A Cited
US3837734A Cited

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

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