Gaze Evaluation Device for ASD Diagnosis Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current evaluation methods for developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), lack accuracy in determining the likelihood of the condition based on gaze patterns, as they fail to effectively differentiate between individuals with and without ASD.

Innovation Solution

An evaluation device and method that utilizes a display to show evaluation purpose images, detects gaze points, sets determination areas, and calculates the number of areas gazed at over a predetermined period to assess the likelihood of a developmental disability, using a gaze point detecting unit, area setting unit, determination unit, and arithmetic unit to generate evaluation data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional gaze-based evaluation methods are used, then the evaluation process is simple, but the measurement precision of developmental disability diagnosis is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidevaluation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple determination areas with different weights, allowing the system to segment the gaze evaluation into distinct zones. This segmentation enables more precise measurement of gaze patterns by tracking which specific areas the subject focuses on, thereby improving diagnosis accuracy without requiring overly complex equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different determination areas are assigned different weights based on their diagnostic importance. Areas more relevant to detecting developmental disabilities receive higher weights, allowing the system to focus measurement precision on critical regions while maintaining overall system manageability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If multiple determination areas with weights are used, then the evaluation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze pattern measurement accuracyVSAvoidarea setting and calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically calculates the total weighted value by summing the weights of determination areas where the gaze point is detected, eliminating the need for manual evaluation. This self-service approach maintains high measurement precision while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual gaze evaluation with an automated computer-based system that detects gaze points and calculates weighted values algorithmically. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated computation improves precision while managing system complexity through software rather than hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If weighted determination areas are implemented, then the evaluation distinguishes better between ASD and typical development, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferentiation accuracyVSAvoidevaluation process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic calculation of the total weighted value without requiring operator intervention in the computation process. The evaluation device itself executes the weighted sum calculation, maintaining high differentiation accuracy while simplifying operator tasks to merely observing the automated results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automated output of the total weighted value, giving immediate feedback on the evaluation result. This feedback mechanism maintains high differentiation accuracy while improving ease of operation by eliminating manual calculation steps and providing clear, automated results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3878373B1Evaluation device, evaluation method, and evaluation program
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 JVC KENWOOD CORP
  • EP3878373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3878373B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3878373B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An evaluation device includes a display 101S configured to display at least one image; a gaze point detecting unit 214 configured to detect positional data of a gaze point of a subject who observes the display 101S; an area setting unit 216 configured to set determination areas on the display 101S; a determination unit 218 configured to determine, based on the positional data of the gaze point, whether or not the gaze point is present inside the determination areas; an arithmetic unit 220 configured to calculate, based on a determination result by the determination unit 218, a total number of the determination areas in each of which the gaze point is present for a predetermined period; and an evaluation unit 224 configured to obtain evaluation data of the subject based on the total number, calculated by the arithmetic unit 220, of the determination areas in each of which the gaze point is present.