US5508759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual axis detection apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1994-12-27
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Granted: 1996-04-16
•
Expires: 2014-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for detecting the visual axis of an observer in accordance with light reflected by a photo-sensor by illuminating an eye of the observer includes a controller means for controlling the accumulation time of the photo-sensor or a quantity of light emitted by a light projector so that the reflected light is sufficient to permit the detection of the visual axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuki Konishi
- 👤 Yasuo Suda
- 👤 Akihiko Nagano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means having a plurality of sensor elements for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and producing an electrical signal; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the electrical signal; photometering means for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer and producing a photometering signal; and control means for controlling the accumulation time of the electrical energy in accordance with the photometering signal of said photometering means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means having a plurality of sensor elements for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and producing an electrical signal; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the electrical signal; photometering means for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer and producing a photometering signal; and control means for controlling the accumulation time of the electrical energy in accordance with the photometering signal of said photometering means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising exposure control means for controlling the exposure of a film in accordance with the photometering signal of said photometering means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising light emission quantity control means for controlling the light emission quantity of said light emission means in accordance with the photometering signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the storing of light by said storing and photometering means; and control means for controlling the light emission quantity of said light emission means in accordance with the photometering performed by said storing and photometering means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the storing of light by said storing and photometering means; and control means for controlling the light emission quantity of said light emission means in accordance with the photometering performed by said storing and photometering means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising exposure control means for controlling the exposure of a film in accordance with the photometering of said storing and photometering means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising control means for controlling the accumulation of time of the storing and photometering means in accordance with the photometering performed by said storing and photometering means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A visual detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said storing and photometering means comprises a single means performing both functions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said storing and photometering means comprises separate means for storing and means for photometering, wherein said storing means produces an electrical signal, wherein said photometering produces a photometering signal, wherein said forming means forms information relating to the visual axis in accordance with the electrical signal, and wherein said control means controls the light emission quantity in accordance with the photometering signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eyeball of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eyeball, for detecting an image of the eyeball and for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball; forming means for forming information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling said photodetecting means so that said photodetecting means outputs a proper electrical signal used by said forming means to form information relating to the visual axis in accordance with the photometering performed by said photodetecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eyeball of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eyeball, for detecting an image of the eyeball and for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball; forming means for forming information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling said photodetecting means so that said photodetecting means outputs a proper electrical signal used by said forming means to form information relating to the visual axis in accordance with the photometering performed by said photodetecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means controls the accumulation time of said photodetecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for photodetecting and photometering means comprises a single means performing both functions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said photodetecting means comprises separate means for detecting an image of the eyeball and means for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball, wherein said detecting means produces an electrical signal, wherein said photometering means produces a photometering signal, wherein said control means controls said photodetecting means to output a proper electrical signal in accordance with the photometering signal produced by said photometering means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eyeball of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eyeball, for detecting an image of the eyeball and for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball; forming means for forming information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling the detecting of an image of the eyeball by said photodetecting means in accordance with the photometering performed by said photodetecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eyeball of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eyeball, for detecting an image of the eyeball and for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball; forming means for forming information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling the detecting of an image of the eyeball by said photodetecting means in accordance with the photometering performed by said photodetecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means controls the accumulation time of said photodetecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A visual axis detection apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said photodetecting means for photodetecting and photometering comprises a single means for performing these functions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A visual axis detection apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said photodetecting means comprises separate means for detecting an image of the eyeball and means for photometering the vicinity of the eyeball, wherein said detecting means produces an electrical signal and said photometering means produces a photometering signal, wherein said forming means forms information relating to the visual axis in accordance with the electrical signal, and wherein said control means controls said detecting means in accordance with the photometering signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the storing by said storing and photometering means; and control means for controlling the accumulation time of the electrical energy in accordance with the photometering by said means for storing and photometering means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in a form of electrical energy and for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer; means for forming information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the storing by said storing and photometering means; and control means for controlling the accumulation time of the electrical energy in accordance with the photometering by said means for storing and photometering means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for storing and photometering comprises a single means performing both functions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A visual axis detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for storing and photometering comprises separate means for storing and means for photometering.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in the form of electrical energy and producing an electrical signal; means for generating information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the photometering means for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer and producing a photometering signal; and control means for controlling an emission amount of said light emission means based on the photometering signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: light emission means for illuminating an eye of an observer; means, having a plurality of sensor elements, for storing light from the eye in the form of electrical energy and producing an electrical signal; means for generating information relating to the visual axis of the observer in accordance with the photometering means for photometering the vicinity of the eye of the observer and producing a photometering signal; and control means for controlling an emission amount of said light emission means based on the photometering signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
74 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eye of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eye, for detecting an image of the eye; generating means for generating information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling an emission amount of said illumination means in accordance with an output of said photodetecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
A visual axis detection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an eye of an observer; photodetecting means, receiving light reflected by the eye, for detecting an image of the eye; generating means for generating information relating to a visual axis of the observer in accordance with the image detecting by said photodetecting means; and control means for controlling an emission amount of said illumination means in accordance with an output of said photodetecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH02209125A
Cited
JPH02264632A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-16 | 1999-10-16 | 2000-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-16 | 2003-10-16 | 2004-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-16 | 2007-10-16 | 2008-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |