Display Shutter System for Myopia Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prolonged use of computer displays, computer games, and televisions can lead to myopia due to prolonged eye convergence and ciliary muscle spasms, causing eye strain and potentially resulting in nearsightedness or developmental myopia.

Innovation Solution

The method involves shifting the electronic image on the display horizontally between the left and right eyes according to a time pattern, typically between 30 Hz to 120 Hz, using shutters to alternately open and close over each eye, allowing each eye to view the image without substantial convergence, thereby reducing eye strain and ciliary muscle spasms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the display is positioned near the user to appear larger, then the image size is improved, but eye convergence and ciliary muscle spasms increase causing functional myopia

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage sizeVSAvoideye convergence and ciliary muscle spasms

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the viewing experience into alternating left-eye and right-eye viewing periods using shutters, allowing each eye to view the display without convergence while maintaining the perception of a single image through temporal integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic alternation between left-eye and right-eye viewing at frequencies between 30-120 Hz, creating a temporal pattern that maintains image perception while eliminating sustained convergence demand on the ciliary muscles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If prolonged accommodation occurs to focus on near displays, then the lens can bring the display into focus, but functional myopia and eye strain result

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus capabilityVSAvoidfunctional myopia and eye strain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-positions the display at a distance where minimal accommodation is required, and uses alternating shutter control to maintain this relaxed state throughout viewing, preventing the development of functional myopia

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically alternates which eye views the display, allowing the accommodative system to remain in a relaxed state while maintaining binocular vision through temporal multiplexing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the image is shifted horizontally for alternating eye viewing, then convergence is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye convergenceVSAvoidshutter and image shifting mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces shutters as an intermediary device that controls which eye views the display at any given time, simplifying the optical requirements while achieving the goal of reduced convergence through temporal separation of viewing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7543938B2Methods and devices for prevention and treatment of myopia and fatigue

Publication Date: 2009.06.09 MEDICAL VISION INC

AI summary

An electronic image shown on a display can be shifted to the left for left eye viewing and shifted to the right for right eye viewing. A left eye shutter can be positioned over the left eye and a right eye shutter positioned over the right eye. The left eye shutter can open when the image shown on the display is shifted to the left, and the right eye shutter can open when the image shown on the display is shifted to the right, such that each eye can view the image without substantial convergence. In addition to relieving convergence, embodiments of the present invention may relieve prolonged ciliary muscle spasms that can result in pseudomyopia, and may also decrease the onset and severity of myopia, for example developmental myopia.