IP Library Granted Patent US 9,572,488
Granted Patent B2
US 9,572,488 · App. 14/496,435 · Granted Feb 21, 2017

Head mountable device for measuring eye movement

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,572,488
App. No.
14/496,435
Granted
Feb 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A head mountable device for measuring eye movement includes: a frame; a camera system comprising a first camera, wherein the camera system is coupled to the frame, and is configured to obtain a first set of images of a first eye of a user; and a first liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to the first eye based at least in part on a first control signal, the first LCD shutter is configured to operate in a first primary mode and a first secondary mode, wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the first eye in the first secondary mode than in the first primary mode.

Claims (26)

1. A head mountable device for measuring eye movement, the head mountable device comprising:

a frame;

a camera system comprising a first camera, wherein the camera system is coupled to the frame, and is configured to provide a first set of images of a first eye of a user to a processing unit that is configured to process the first set of images of the first eye; and

a first liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to the first eye based at least in part on a first control signal, the first LCD shutter is configured to operate in a first primary mode and a first secondary mode, wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the first eye in the first secondary mode than in the first primary mode.

2. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first mirror for mirroring images of the first eye towards the first camera.

3. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to a second eye of the user based at least in part on a second control signal, the second LCD shutter being configured to operate in a second primary mode and a second secondary mode, wherein the second LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the second eye in the second secondary mode than in the second primary mode.

4. A head mountable device for measuring eye movement, the head mountable device comprising:

a frame;

a camera system comprising a first camera, wherein the camera system is coupled to the frame, and is configured to provide a first set of images of a first eye of a user; and

a first liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to the first eye based at least in part on a first control signal, the first LCD shutter is configured to operate in a first primary mode and a first secondary mode, wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the first eye in the first secondary mode than in the first primary mode;

a second liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to a second eye of the user based at least in part on a second control signal, the second LCD shutter being configured to operate in a second primary mode and a second secondary mode, wherein the second LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the second eye in the second secondary mode than in the second primary mode;

wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to control passage of light through the first LCD shutter based on the first control signal and a common control signal, and wherein the second LCD shutter is configured to control passage of light through the second LCD shutter based on the second control signal and the common control signal.

5. The head mountable device according to claim 4 , wherein the first control signal, the second control signal, and/or the common control signal comprises alternating current (AC) signal(s) and/or bipolar square wave voltage signal(s).

6. The head mountable device according to claim 4 , wherein a voltage of at least one of the first control signal, the second control signal, and the common control signal is anywhere from 2 to 14 volts.

7. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera system is configured to provide a second set of images of a second eye of the user.

8. The head mountable device according to claim 7 , wherein the camera system comprises a second camera configured to provide the second set of images.

9. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera system is configured to provide the first set of images with a first frame rate, the first frame rate being sufficient to enable detection of eye saccades of the first eye.

10. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , further comprising the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a processing unit output based on the first set of images.

11. The head mountable device according to claim 10 , wherein the first control signal is controlled by the processing unit.

12. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , further comprising an interface for providing a device output based on the first set of images.

13. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame accommodates the camera system and the first LCD shutter.

14. A method performed by a head mountable device, the head mountable device comprising a frame, a camera system coupled to the frame and comprising a first camera, and a first liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to a first eye of a user based at least in part on a first control signal, the first LCD shutter being configured to operate in a first primary mode and a first secondary mode, wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the first eye in the first secondary mode than in the first primary mode, the method comprising:

adjusting passage of light to the first eye by operation of the first LCD shutter; and

providing a first set of images of the first eye by the camera system for processing by a processing unit.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising providing a device output based on the first set of images.

16. The head mountable device according to claim 1 , further comprising the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is located at the frame.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE FROM 01-06-2024 TO 01-06-2025 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER REEL AND FRAME 069859/0113. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: NATUS ACQUISITION II, LLC
Reel/Frame 071943/0858 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 071285/0658 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2025
From: NATUS ACQUISITION II LLC
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071119/0458 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: NATUS ACQUISITION II, LLC
Reel/Frame 069859/0113 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 060799/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2017
From: GN OTOMETRICS A/S
To: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 041649/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2016
From: MACDOUGALL, HAMISH; WEBER, KONRAD P.; ANDERSEN, ANDERS THØSING; KOPILEWICZ, IZAAK
To: GN OTOMETRICS A/S
Reel/Frame 040456/0875 →