IT201900001461A1 - ELECTRONIC TELESCOPIC DEVICE FOR THE visually impaired - Google Patents

Description

TITLE

ELECTRONIC TELESCOPIC DEVICE FOR THE visually impaired

DESCRIPTION

The present patent relates to telescopic devices or aids for the visually impaired and in particular concerns a new electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired with augmented reality.

Telescopic aids for the visually impaired are known, the use of which is practically necessary, particularly by subjects with pathologies affecting the visual system, with vision less than 1/10.

The main function of these devices is to allow the clearest vision of distant objects and also, with appropriate adjustments and implementations of lenses for near vision, they can also be used for near reading.

The construction principles of telescopic devices or aids for the visually impaired are similar to those of astronomical telescopes, essentially consisting of an objective and a lens.

Monocular telescopic aids are known, more suitable for short times of use, but it is also possible to mount the telescopes in front of both eyes, for binocular vision.

Telescopic aids of the so-called "Galilean" type are known, which are compact, light and inexpensive, especially used for low magnifications and useful for performing short readings of signs and indications on the street, in museums and theaters. They can be made in small sizes, pocket-sized and usable when necessary, but also mounted on the glasses for a more continuous use.

For close-up viewing, additional magnifying lenses can easily be attached to the telescopic aids.

With Galilean-type telescopic aids, for example, it is possible to have a 2x magnification that allows you to recognize objects in the distance, for example to recognize road signs or people's faces while outdoors or in leisure time activities.

Telescopic aids of the so-called "Keplerian" type are also known, having medium-high magnifications, with a wider field of view than the aids of the "Galilean" type. On the other hand, these "Keplerian" aids are more bulky and less transportable.

Currently known telescopic aids can be with fixed or variable focus, respectively more suitable for viewing a certain extension of space or for a wider focus, but which can sometimes be complex to create and set by the visually impaired user. lacking specific skills.

Monocular use is the most suitable for short times of use; however, you can mount the telescopes in front of both eyes.

A further serious drawback of the currently known devices consists in the fact that they cannot be usefully used by the visually impaired subject while in motion, since such devices are unable to keep an object or persons moving relative to them in focus. For this reason, the visually impaired person is, for example, unable to recognize the people he meets while walking.

To obviate all the aforementioned drawbacks, a new electronic telescopic device, monocular or preferably binocular, for the visually impaired with augmented reality has been studied and implemented.

One of the main tasks of the present invention is to allow the visually impaired subject who wears it to see things and people while walking or moving in general and therefore to also be able to recognize people while the subject is in motion, thanks to continuous focusing. and automatic images, implemented by the new device.

Another of the main tasks of the present invention is to allow viewing even with very high magnification factors, furthermore displaying augmented reality images superimposed on real images. Another object of the present invention is in fact to use augmented reality technology for displaying, on real images, points of interest, obstacles, pedestrian crossings or road signs in general, etc. Another object of the present invention is to maintain a good width of the visual field even with high magnifications.

These and other direct and complementary purposes are achieved by the new electronic telescopic device, monocular or preferably binocular, for the visually impaired, consisting in its main parts of:

- a wearable frame in the form of spectacles, ie in turn substantially comprising a pair of lens rings, joined together by a central bridge, and two lateral rods or temples, right and left; said frame is preferably shaped in such a way as to completely envelop the user's face, to allow the maximum width of the visual field;

- at least one or preferably a pair of displays mounted in said rings of the frame, each display comprising a lens and an LCD layer, with selectively variable transparency,

- at least one and preferably at least two cameras, equipped with macro and telescopic lenses, suitable for applying selectively variable magnification factors, both to near and distant objects; said cameras are suitably mounted on said frame, for example in a central position and / or above said rings,

- at least one electronic control unit mounted in said mount, able to acquire and process the images shot by said video cameras and to project them selectively on one or both of said displays.

The new telescopic device is also equipped with depth sensors and / or electronic devices in general with autofocus, connected to these cameras for continuous and automatic focusing of the images. The focus is not controllable by the user but takes place automatically according to the object observed by the camera.

Thanks to this, the visually impaired person wearing the new device can clearly see and recognize things and people even while on the move.

The new electronic telescopic device can therefore be used in two ways, namely a first mode in which the user can see through said lens, while the LCD layer can display images of interest superimposed on the real images visible through said lens, and a second mode where the images displayed on said LCD layer can be enlarged and enhanced according to a combination of enlargements, filters and digital processing which increase resolution, contrast and sharpness of the displayed image.

Said cameras are preferably of high resolution, for example between 16 and 24 megapixels, and, as mentioned, equipped with macro and telescopic lenses to obtain magnification factors up to 10x of the optical type and up to 20x of the digital type.

It can also be envisaged that said cameras can also take photographs, which can subsequently be viewed on said displays or on other electronic devices that can be connected to the new telescopic device, enlarged and processed in general.

Said depth sensors are preferably mounted in proximity to said cameras.

Said electronic control unit is preferably completely inserted inside said frame and preferably inside one of said rods or temples.

The new telescopic device also comprises at least one power supply battery, also installed inside the frame and preferably inside one of said rods or temples.

It can be envisaged that at least said rod or temple in which said battery is installed can be removable, for example by means of quick coupling / release devices, to quickly replace it with an identical rod or temple with charged battery. Said quick coupling / uncoupling devices are suitably adapted to guarantee the electrical connection.

The new device is also equipped with electronic connection means, for example a USB or other type socket, connected to said electronic control unit and to said battery and with which it is possible to transfer contents, such as videos, photographs or other data. , on a personal computer or on an electronic device in general, as well as to recharge said battery.

The new telescopic device also preferably comprises at least one internal memory card reader or at least one internal memory, for saving data, videos and photographs.

This electronic control unit is equipped with an adequate operating system, for example but not exclusively Android OS on multi core ARM SoC.

The new device is also equipped with an interface or buttons or command organs for controlling some functions such as: zoom increase / decrease commands, key for false colors AR ON-OFF, key for taking pictures, power key / shutdown, etc.

Said keys are for example distributed on said frame in a position easily accessible by the user, such as for example on said temples, on the surfaces facing outwards.

The characteristics of the new electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawing table, attached as a non-limiting example. Figure 1 shows a schematic embodiment of the new electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), where some of its component parts are shown.

The new electronic telescope device (1) for the visually impaired can be of the monocular or binocular type.

A possible embodiment of the device (1) in the binocular version is described below.

The new electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1) comprises a frame or frame (10) that can be worn in the form of glasses, i.e. in turn substantially comprising a pair of lens-holder rings (11, 12), joined together by a central bridge (15 ), and two lateral rods or temples, right (14) and left (13) with reference to the user who wears it.

Said frame (10) is preferably shaped in such a way as to completely envelop the user's face, to allow the maximum width of the visual field.

In each of said lens-holder rings (11, 12) a display (21, 22) is mounted which in turn comprises a lens coupled to an LCD, and has selectively variable transparency.

Said displays (21, 22) can therefore be selectively used as normal lenses, for viewing through them, and / or as image viewers.

In the binocular version of the device, one of said displays (21, 22) with the functions described and claimed below is mounted in both said rings (11, 12) of the mount (10).

However, in the monocular version of the device (1) it can be envisaged that the device (1) is equipped with a single display mounted in one of said lens-holder rings (11, 12) while in the other a normal, graduated or neutral.

Also mounted on said mount (10) is at least one and preferably at least two cameras (31, 32), equipped with macro and telescopic lenses, suitable for applying selectively variable magnification factors, both to near and distant objects.

In the example in the figure, said cameras (31, 32) are installed in a module (30) which is in turn positioned in a central position, between said two rings (11, 12) or above the central bridge (15).

The device (1) also comprises one or more depth or other type sensors, installed on said mount (10), for example on said module (30) or in proximity of said cameras (31, 32). Said depth sensors are connected to said cameras (31, 32) for continuous and automatic focusing of the images. Focusing is therefore not controllable by the user but takes place automatically according to the object observed by the camera (31, 32).

The new device (1) also comprises at least one electronic control unit (40) mounted in said mount (10) and able to acquire and process the images shot by said cameras (31, 32) and to project them selectively on said displays (21, 22) and the data acquired by said sensors.

The display of images / videos in real time by the cameras (31, 32) on said displays (21, 22) can be automatic, according to the operating program installed in said electronic control unit (40) or it can be controlled by the user.

Said electronic control unit (40) is preferably completely inserted inside said frame (10) and preferably inside one of said rods or temples, for example in the right one (14).

The new telescopic device (1) also comprises at least one power supply battery (50), also installed inside the mount (10) and preferably inside one of said rods or temples, for example in the left one ( 13).

The new device is also preferably equipped with electronic connection means, for example a USB or other type socket, connected to said electronic control unit (40) and to said battery (50) and with which it is possible to transfer the contents, such as videos, photographs or other data, on a personal computer or on an electronic device in general, as well as to recharge said battery (50).

The new device is also equipped with an interface or buttons or command organs for controlling some functions such as: zoom increase / decrease commands (62, 63), key for false colors AR ON-OFF (64), button for taking pictures, on / off button (61), etc.

Said keys are for example distributed on said frame in a position easily accessible by the user, such as for example on said temples (13, 14).

These are the schematic modalities sufficient for the skilled person to realize the invention, consequently, in concrete application there may be variations without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept.

Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and to the attached table, the following claims are expressed.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1) comprising a frame (10) that can be worn in the form of spectacles, ie in turn substantially comprising a pair of lens-holding rings (11, 12) and means, rods or temples (13, 14) for binding said frame (10) to the user's head, characterized in that it also includes: - at least one display (21, 22) mounted in at least one of said rings (11, 12), said at least one display (2122) comprising at least one lens and one LCD layer, with selectively variable transparency; - at least one video camera (31, 32) adapted to apply selectively variable magnification factors and mounted on said mount (10); - at least one electronic control unit (40), able to acquire and process the images shot by said cameras and to selectively project them on said at least one display (21, 22), so as to selectively allow viewing through said lens of said display (21, 22) and / or the display of one or more images acquired by said at least one video camera (31, 32). 2. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more depth sensors and / or electronic devices for autofocus, connected to said at least one camera (31, 32) for continuous and automatic focus of images. 3. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said electronic control unit (40) is also configured to modify said images displayed on said at least one display (21, 22), for example with zoom functions and digital processing in general. 4. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per claim 1, characterized in that said at least one video camera (31, 32) has the function of taking a photo for the acquisition of photographs. 5. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two of said displays (21, 22), each mounted in one of said rings (11, 12). 6. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two of said video cameras (31, 32). 7. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (10) comprises a pair of lateral rods (13, 14), and where said electronic control unit (40) is at least one supply battery (60) are inserted inside said rods or temples (14). 8. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per claim 7, characterized in that at least said rod or temple (13) of said frame (10) in which said at least one battery (50) is installed, in turn of rechargeable type, it can be removed by means of quick coupling / release devices, in order to quickly replace it with an identical rod or temple with charged battery, and where said quick coupling / release devices are suitable for guaranteeing the electrical connection. 9. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises one or more electronic connection means, for example a USB or other type socket, connected to said electronic control unit (40) and / or to said battery (50), for data transfer and / or to charge the battery. 10. Electronic telescopic device for the visually impaired (1), as per the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises one or more interfaces or buttons or command members for controlling certain functions such as: zoom increase / decrease commands ( 62, 63), key for false colors AR ON-OFF (64), key for taking pictures, on / off key (61), etc.