Ophthalmologic Visual Target Segmentation for Eyestrain Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ophthalmologic apparatuses fail to accurately determine the timing of binocular fusion disruption due to the inability to detect ocular position displacement when brightness differences between visual targets presented to the left and right eyes are increased, leading to inaccurate estimation of eyestrain levels.

Innovation Solution

An ophthalmologic apparatus that includes a visual target presenting mechanism to create a controlled brightness difference between left and right eye visual targets, facilitating easier detection of ocular position displacement and enabling precise estimation of eyestrain through adjustments in convergence angle and visual target presentation distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the brightness difference between visual targets presented to left and right eyes is increased, then the detection of ocular position displacement becomes easier, but the conventional apparatus fails to detect it accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of ocular position displacementVSAvoidtiming of binocular fusion disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The visual target is divided into a corresponding portion and a remaining portion. The corresponding portion is used for binocular fusion and eyestrain estimation, while the remaining portion serves as a reference for detecting ocular position displacement. This segmentation allows the detection system to distinguish between actual fusion disruption and mere position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The remaining portion of the visual target acts as an intermediary reference element. By maintaining a constant brightness difference for this portion while varying it for the corresponding portion, the system creates a stable reference frame against which ocular position displacement can be measured, enabling accurate detection even when brightness differences are increased.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If the brightness of visual targets is increased to improve detection, then ocular position displacement becomes more detectable, but the conventional apparatus still cannot determine binocular fusion disruption timing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness of visual targetVSAvoidbinocular fusion disruption timing
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the visual target are assigned different brightness characteristics. The corresponding portion's brightness is varied to stimulate eyestrain, while the remaining portion's brightness is controlled to provide a stable detection reference. This local differentiation in brightness quality enables reliable detection without compromising fusion disruption timing determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the visual target configuration is simplified to improve measurement, then the apparatus can operate more easily, but it cannot properly estimate eyestrain level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual target configurationVSAvoideyestrain level estimation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The visual target is segmented into two functional portions: the corresponding portion for inducing and measuring eyestrain through brightness variation, and the remaining portion as a detection reference. This segmentation achieves sophisticated measurement capability without requiring complex overall target configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4620379A1Ophthalmologic apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP4620379A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4620379A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4620379A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ophthalmologic apparatus (1) includes a visual target presenting mechanism (44) that is configured to present a left-eye visual target (OtL) to a left subject eye (EL) and a right-eye visual target (OtR) to a right subject eye (ER). The left-eye and right-eye visual targets (OtL, OtR) have corresponding configurations and respectively include a corresponding portion (s1L, s1R) and a remaining portion (s2L, s2R). The visual target presenting mechanism (44) is configured to increase a brightness difference between the corresponding portions (s1L, s1R) and maintain a brightness difference between the remaining portions (s2L, s2R).