Patent ID: 7308314
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: A61F,A61N

Abstract:
1. A sensory substitution device, comprising: an imaging device comprising a thermal imaging array for sensing thermal characteristics of a scene external to the sensory substitution device, wherein the thermal imaging array is a passive far infrared imaging array; and a visual prosthesis, operably coupled with the imaging device, adapted to continuously receive input based on the scene sensed by the thermal imaging array and to convey information based on the scene to a user of the sensory substitution device, wherein the visual prosthesis is adapted for use by blind or low-vision persons and where the visual prosthesis is also adapted to continuously and simultaneously convey to the user different visual information corresponding to portions of the scene having different thermal characteristics; wherein the visual prosthesis is a low effective bandwidth information channel visual prosthesis and comprises one of a retinal implant, a tactile interface, and a haptic interface.