Patent ID: 12239602

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of a vision training device and related methods according to the present disclosure are described with reference to the appended drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the following explanation is merely exemplary in describing the devices and methods of the present disclosure. Accordingly, any number of reasonable and foreseeable modifications, changes, and/or substitutions are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a vision training device in which an upper cover is removed according to an embodiment, andFIG.2is an exploded perspective view of the vision training device ofFIG.1. Referring toFIGS.1and2, a vision training device according to an embodiment includes a main body100, temples200that support the main body100against the head so that the main body100can be supported on the forehead, and a front cover300coupled to the front surface of the main body100. The front cover300has a user input unit700that receive various user inputs from the user. A pair of lens units410and420each including a plurality of lenses coupled thereto and a driving support unit500are disposed between the main body100and the front cover300. The user can wear the vision training device on the head using the temples200similarly to glasses. The front cover300may be transparent such that a user wearing the vision training device may see through the cover300to observe a target.

The main body100includes a curved forehead support110that comes into contact with face areas around the eyes of the user, a pair of ocular holes120formed through the forehead support110, a nose pad130that accommodates the nose of the user, a lower cover140that covers the lower part of the main body100, and a front cover coupling portion150that is formed to protrude from the front surface of the main body100and couple with the front cover300.

The forehead support110is formed on the back surface of the main body100. The forehead support110has a shape which is curved in a direction from the rear of the main body100to the front of the main body100so that it can comfortably come into contact with the head of the user when the user wears the vision training device.

The ocular holes120are a pair of openings formed through the forehead support110. The ocular holes120are aligned with the eyes of the user when the user wears the vision training device. The ocular holes120may be formed in a circular or transversely elongated oval shape.

The lower cover140is preferably opaque and formed in a plate shape protruding from the front surface of the main body100, and includes the front cover coupling portion150which is formed on the upper surface thereof and coupled with the front cover300.

The temples200have a temple shape of glasses and are coupled to the back surface of the main body100. The temples200and may be replaced with a strap or a band that can support a wearing state of the vision training device.

A lens assembly400includes the pair of lens units410and420and a pair of shaft supports430and440supporting rotational shafts of the lens units410and420. The lens assembly400includes an interval adjusting unit450for adjusting an interval or distance between the pair of lens units410and420. The pair of lens units410and420have similar configurations, and the pair of shaft supports430and440have similar configurations, and for the sake of convenience of description, one of the lens units410and420and one of the shaft supports430and440will be described.

The lens unit420includes a lens holder that includes a plurality of lens installation holes. The lens holder may be circular and the installation holes may be arranged radially. A plurality of lenses are disposed in the plurality of lens installation holes. The lenses may have different diopter values. For example, the lenses may have diopter values that change sequentially such as −2, −1, 0, +1, and +2. The lenses may be soft or hard lenses. The lenses may be color lenses having different colors. A lens for any other purposes such as a lens to block the line of sight of the user, a polarizing lens, or a color filter may be included.

The lens unit410rotates by driving of a drive motor600, so that a lens placed in a line of sight direction of the user may be switched to another lens having a diopter value different from that of the lens.

The shaft support440supports the rotational shaft of the lens unit420. The shaft support440has front and back surfaces with which parts of the surfaces of the lens unit420are covered. A first opening442and a second opening are formed respectively on the front surface and the rear surface of the shaft support440. The first opening442and the second opening are formed in the shaft portion440to be positioned within the line of sight direction of the user through the ocular hole120.

The interval adjusting unit450includes racks452and454extending in directions facing each other from the pair of lens units410and420, a pinion456that mesh with the racks452and454, and a dial458that rotationally drives the pinion456. The interval adjusting unit450adjusts the interval or distance between the pair of lens units410and420in accordance to a distance between the eyes depending on each user. The user may rotate the dial458to adjust the distance between the pair of lens units410and420in accordance with a distance between his/her eyes. The interval adjustment between the pair of lens units410and420may be performed by rotationally driving the pinion460by a motor.

The drive motor600rotates the lens units410and420under control of a control unit800. At least one lens placed in the line of sight direction of the user is switched to a lens having a different diopter value with the rotational driving of the lens units410and420. The drive motor600may be implemented by a DC motor but is not limited thereto. The drive motor600may be implemented by other motors capable of rotating the lens units410and420at a rotation angle that may be constant.

The drive motors600for rotating the lens units410and420are disposed in the driving support unit500. The driving support unit500has a drive motor coupling groove510in which the drive motor600is accommodated and a third opening520which is collinear with the first opening442of the shaft support440.

Although the vision training device according to the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS.1and2as including a pair of lens units, the vision training device according to the embodiment may include only one lens unit. When the vision training device includes only one lens unit, the measurement of the status of the personal vision of the user and the vision training may be performed for the left eye or the right eye using a single lens unit.

FIG.3is a block diagram of the vision training device according to an embodiment.

The user input unit700is disposed on a side of the front cover300of the vision training device. The user input unit700includes a plurality of user input buttons710,720,730,740,750, and760. The examples of the buttons include a power button710, a user selection button720, an upward button730, a downward button740, a measurement mode selection button750, and a training mode selection button760. The control unit800receives the user input through the user input unit700and controls the vision training device such that an operation corresponding to the user input is performed. The button-shaped user input unit700may be replaced with a keypad, a touch screen, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the user input unit700is disposed in the vision training device, but the user input unit700may be implemented by a wired or wireless remote controller, an application in a mobile device such as a smart phone, or the like. The user input unit700can be implemented by a voice recognition technique using a microphone.

A communication unit900performs wired or wireless communication with an external device such as a smart phone, a tablet PC, a user server, or the like. The vision training device can perform transmission and reception of data with the external device through the communication unit900.

A memory1000stores user information, vision data, training data, and various types of data necessary for the operation of the vision training device. The memory1000causes data stored therein to be provided to the control unit800or the communication unit900or stores provided data under the control of the control unit800.

A sensor module1100may be disposed at a predetermined position in the main body100. In an example, the sensor module1100may output infrared light toward the eye of the user and receive infrared light reflected from the eye. The sensor module1100may check whether or not the eye of the user is in an accommodated state. The sensor module1100may check whether or not the eye of the user transitions from an accommodated state to a non-accommodated state or from the non-accommodated state to the accommodated state. The sensor module may be implemented by a principle similar to an examination principle of an auto refractor. For example, the sensor module may include a light output unit that outputs infrared light toward the eye of the user, a light detecting unit that detects reflected light reflected from the eye of the user, and a refraction evaluating unit that calculates the focal length of the detected reflected light and calculates a position at which infrared light output toward the eye focus on the eye using the focal length. The sensor module1100may determine that the eye of the user is in the accommodated state when the focus of the infrared light output toward the eye focuses on the retina. The sensor module1100may transmit an accommodation reflex confirmation signal to the control unit800when the eye of the user is determined to be in the accommodated state. The sensor module1100may transmit an accommodation state change confirmation signal to the control unit800when the eye of the user transitions from the accommodated state to the non-accommodated state or from the non-accommodated state to the accommodated state.

The control unit800performs control such that the drive motor600is rotationally driven at determined time intervals. The control unit800may adjust a rotation angle of the lens units410and420rotated by the drive motor600. The control unit800may rotate the lens units410and420at a set rotation angle such that lenses placed in the line of sight direction of the user are switched to lenses having different diopters. The control unit800may change the rotation direction and rate of the drive motor600.

FIG.4is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary measurement mode operation of the vision training device according to an embodiment, andFIG.5is a reference diagram for describing the measurement mode operation. The measurement mode operation of the vision training device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference toFIGS.4and5.

The user pushes the power button710of the user input unit700, so that electric power is applied to the vision training device. The user wears the vision training device and then selects the measurement mode by pushing the measurement mode selection button750of the user input unit700(S110). A target image which can be recognized by the user is arranged in front of the vision training device. The target image may be an object located at a distance, for example, a distance of 30 cm to 40 cm or an image displayed on a display of a smartphone or the like. Alternatively, the target image may be displayed on a display of the vision training device. A blocking lens419may be used to block the eye of the user. When the blocking lens419is placed in front of the eye of the user, the eye of the user is blocked so that the eye of the user does not recognize the target image. The blocking lens419may be used when monocular measurement or a monocular training operation is performed.

A primary lens415with a diopter of zero is placed in the line of sight of the user when the user uses the vision training device with an eye having correct vision or a corrected eye such as an eye wearing a contact. If the user uses the vision training device with a non-corrected eye, the user can select an arbitrary lens to be placed in the line of sight by pushing the upward button730or the downward button740of the user input unit700. When there is an accommodation time which is already measured, the control unit800can select a lens with the shortest accommodation time as a lens to be placed in the line of sight of the user. This is because the lens with the short accommodation time is a lens with a diopter closest to the vision of the user.

When the user recognizes the target image through the primary lens415, the eye of the user enters the accommodated state in which the target image is clearly recognized. When the user pushes the user selection button720or the up button730or the down button740in the accommodated state, the primary lens415is switched to a first test lens417. The control unit800may cause the first test lens417to be exposed, for example by driving the drive motor600, for performing the measurement mode operation to the line of sight of the user (S120). The user does not recognize the target image clearly because the lens which the eye of the user is not accommodated is placed and the eye of the user enters the non-accommodated state.

The control unit800checks whether or not the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is input through the user input unit700at step (S130). The accommodation reflex confirmation signal is a signal indicating that the user recognizes the target image through the test lens clearly. In other words, the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is a signal indicating that the eye of the user is in the accommodated state.

The accommodation reflex confirmation signal may be selectively input via the user input unit700or the sensor module1100.

In the case of the input via the user input unit700, if the user pushes the user selection button720of the user input unit700when the user recognizes the target image clearly through the first test lens417, the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is input via the user input unit700. In the case of the input via the sensor module1100, the sensor module1100repeatedly checks whether or not the eye of the user enters the accommodated state at set intervals, and transmits the accommodation reflex confirmation signal to the control unit800when the eye of the user enters the accommodated state.

When the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is provided to the control unit800, a period of time from a time at which the first test lens417is placed in the line of sight of the user to a time at which the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is input is stored as an accommodation time t1for the first test lens417.

The measurement mode operation may be performed for each of the lenses in the lens unit420. The accommodation time for each lens is measured according to the lens switching direction. For example, when the accommodation time of the first test lens417is measured, the accommodation time t1when the lens is switched to the first test lens417and an accommodation time t2when the first test lens417is switched to a second test lens418are measured. This is because the accommodation time for the first test lens417with the same diopter value is measured, but the accommodation time may vary depending on the diopter value of the lens to which the eye of the user has already accommodated before recognizing the target image through the first test lens417.

The accommodation times t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, and t6for the measured lenses415,416,417and418are stored in the memory1000and used as data for training time settings.

The measurement mode described above is a mode for measuring the accommodation time of the eye of the user to the lens, and the accommodation level of the eye of the user to the lens can be used as an important parameter for evaluating the status of the personal vision of the user in association with the accommodation power of the user. With the measurement mode, it is possible to detect the status of the personal vision of the user and provide customized vision training in which the status of the personal vision is reflected, whereby the visual improvement effects can be increased.

FIG.6is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary training mode operation of the vision training device according to an embodiment.

The user pushes the power button710of the user input unit700, so that the electric power is applied to the vision training device. The user wears the vision training device and then selects the training mode by pushing the training mode selection button760of the user input unit700.

When the training mode is selected, the control unit800sets a training time for each lens based on the accommodation time stored in the memory1000(S210) and starts the training mode operation (S220). The training time includes a period of time in which a selected lens is exposed to the line of sight of the user. An initial training time may be set to be equal to or slightly longer or shorter than the stored accommodation time. As the user repeatedly performs the vision training, the accommodation time is reduced, and the training time is reduced gradually. The vision training effects can be increased since the vision of the user is improved by the repetitive vision training.

When the user turns on the power button and selects the training mode, the control unit800controls the drive motor600such that a selected first lens among a plurality of lenses is exposed to the line of sight of the eye of the user (S230). The first lens may be a lens which is set by the user or a lens which is selected by the control unit. Preferably, the lens with the shortest accommodation time or the shortest training time is selected as the first training lens. The lens with the short accommodation time or the like is regarded as a lens with a diopter closest to the status of the person vision of the user and thus provides comfortable accommodation of the eye of the user, thereby improving the training effects.

When the training time set for the first lens is passed (S240), it is checked whether or not there is a lens which is set for the next training (S250). When there is a lens which is set for the next training, the lens selected as the first lens for training is switched to the lens set for the next training (S260).

The training process of exposing the switched lens to the line of sight of the user during the set training time is repeated. As a lens switching method, a method of automatically switching the lens in accordance with settings performed by the control unit800or a method of manually switching the lens in accordance with settings performed by the user via the user input unit700may be used. A sequential switching method in which a training start lens is set, and then the lens is sequentially switched in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or an alternate switching method in which a pair of adjust lenses are alternately switched may be used.

The accommodation reflex confirmation signal indicating that the eye of the user has accommodated to the lens may be input during the training time for the first lens (S270). The accommodation reflex confirmation signal may be selectively input via the user input unit700or the sensor module1100as described above. When the accommodation reflex confirmation signal is input, it is that the adjuster muscle of the eye of the user has accommodated before the training time expires, and the vision of the user has accommodated to the lens earlier due to the training effects. The accommodation time may be stored (S280), the training effects of the user are evaluated, and the accommodation time is reflected when the next training time is set.

The lens switching method or a range of lenses to be switched may be set automatically by the control unit800or may be set manually by the user.

A sequential switching method in which a training start lens is set, and then the lens is sequentially switched in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or an alternate switching method in which a pair of adjust lenses are alternately switched may be used.

As the range of the lenses to be switched, all the lenses may be set by the control unit800in a particular case, but arbitrary lenses may be selected directly by the user through the user input unit700. Less than all of the lenses may also be selected by the control unit800.

Through the repetition of the above-described training operation, the crystalline lens adjuster muscle of the user repeats relaxation and contraction, and as a result, the muscle strength of the crystalline lens adjuster muscle is enhanced, thereby improving the vision of the user.

The vision training device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can provide customized vision training of measuring the accommodation response of the eye of the user to each lens in the measurement mode, setting the training conditions on the basis of the measured accommodation response, and performing the training operation, so that the vision training effects can be improved through such vision training.

In the above-described embodiment, the lens holder of the vision training device has been described as having a circular shape and switching the lens with the rotation, but this is not limiting. For example, the lens holder of the vision training device may have a configuration in which lenses are disposed in a line, and the lens is switched in a sliding manner.FIG.7is a front view illustrating a lens holder with a sliding switching mechanism.

A sliding lens assembly400′ with a sliding switching mechanism includes a pair of lens holders460awhich are configured to move in a transverse direction with an intermittent operation of the drive motor. Although the lens holder460ais illustrated as moving in the transverse direction inFIG.7, the lens holder460amay be configured to move in a longitudinal direction.

The lens assembly400′ includes a lens switching driving unit480and rack moving units470adisposed above and below the lens switching driving unit480. The rack moving unit470ahas a body which extends in the transverse direction and teeth which protrude from the body toward the lens switching driving unit480and meshes with the lens switching driving unit480. The pair of rack moving units470acan be moved away from each other with clockwise rotation of the lens switching driving unit480or can be brought close to each other with counterclockwise rotation of the lens switching driving unit480.

A lens holder460ais detachably coupled to a free end side of the rack moving unit470a. The lens holder460ahas a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the rack moving unit470, and a plurality of lenses461aare disposed side by side along the longitudinal direction. Lenses461amay be detachably installed in the lens holder460a.

A slit471ais formed in the rack moving unit470aso that the rack moving unit470acan be supported inside the main body100to be movable in the transverse direction. The slit471aextends along the longitudinal direction of the rack moving unit470a, and a plurality of support rollers473aare inserted into the slit471a. The support rollers473aare fixedly installed in the main body100and inserted into the slit471ato support the rack moving unit470aso that the rack moving unit470ais movable.

With this structure, in the lens assembly400′ with the sliding switching mechanism, the lens holders460acan be brought away from or close to each other according to the rotation direction of the lens switching driving unit480. As the lens holders460aare brought away from or close to each other, the lens461aplaced in front of the eye of the user in the line of sight direction can be switched, so that the ciliary muscle of the user is enhanced.

The revolver-type lens assembly400and the slide-type lens assembly400′ described above may be modified in various forms depending on designs, but such modifications are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

While various embodiments in accordance with the disclosed principles have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting.

Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.

Although the invention(s) is/are described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.

Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The terms “coupled” or “operably coupled” are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless stated otherwise. The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a method or process that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more operations possesses those one or more operations but is not limited to possessing only those one or more operations.