Visual Assistance System for Obscured Field Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with visual impairments, such as those resulting from stroke, face challenges in accessing information from obscured regions of their visual field, with existing solutions like optical prisms causing optical distortions and limited effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that provide a viewer with a visual aid by selecting image data indicative of characteristics in obscured regions and displaying a viewer support image on a display screen, allowing for real-time adjustments in contrast, sharpness, luminance, transparency, size, and position to minimize optical distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If optical prisms are used to shift the visual field, then the visual field can be expanded, but optical distortions and visual confusion are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture an image of the scene and displays a copy of the obscured region on a display screen. This digital copy allows the viewer to see information from the obscured region without using optical prisms, thereby avoiding optical distortions while still expanding the effective visual field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical system (prisms) with an electronic system consisting of a camera, processor, and display screen. This substitution eliminates the optical distortions inherent in prism-based solutions while achieving the same goal of providing visual information from obscured regions.
2Loss of information
If a display screen is placed in the visual field to show obscured region information, then information about obscured regions is provided, but visual confusion may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual qualities to different regions of the display. The display screen shows information specifically from the obscured region with enhanced visibility characteristics, while the rest of the visual field remains natural. This localized enhancement provides information without creating overall visual confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that captures the scene, identifies obscured regions, and selectively displays information from those regions. This intermediary process filters and organizes visual information before presentation, reducing visual confusion while maintaining information delivery.
3Area of stationary object
If fixed optical devices are used to assist vision, then visual field expansion is achieved, but the effect is always present and cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic system where the display screen content can be adjusted in real-time based on viewer needs. The system can control visibility, position, and characteristics of the displayed information, allowing adaptation to different situations and viewer preferences, unlike fixed optical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system that can adapt to various visual impairment conditions and scenarios. The display screen can show different types of information from different obscured regions, and can be adjusted or removed based on situational needs, providing universal applicability across different use cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed. A method comprises selecting, from image data associated with an image of a scene, a subset of image data indicative of characteristics of the scene in at least one obscured region in a visual field of a viewer where the visual field is obscured; and displaying at least one viewer support image, generated based on the selected subset of image data, on at least one display screen located in the visual field; whereby the viewer support image is displayed on the display screen such that the viewer support image appears in a predetermined area in the visual field spaced apart from the obscured region in the visual field.