The invention/innovation relates to a magnifying optical device in the form of an illuminated magnifier, which has at least one handle element and one illuminating device for illuminating the object to be viewed and which is provided with a sensor device.
Such an illuminated magnifier emerges from DE 102 38 389 A1. The illuminated magnifier according to this state of the art involves a Visolette magnifier which can be placed directly on a document. This known illuminated magnifier has a grip element in the form of a pot-shaped edge for the magnifier body, with which the magnifier body can be pushed over the document to be viewed. In addition, a sensor that is used for switching on an illuminating device already emerges fiom the known Offenlegungsschrift. In the state of the art, the sensor reacts to the hand of the user. For this purpose, it is arranged in the side area of the handle.
The invention/innovation is supported on the task of constructing a magnifying optical device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 such that it is improved in terms of its switch-on device. This task is achieved in that the sensor device provided for switching on the illuminating element is directed towards a support carrying the illuminated magnifier. For this purpose, a sensor element of the sensor device can be directed towards the support, wherein the sensor device is constructed, e.g., as a push switch, and the sensor element is constructed as an element acting mechanically on the support. It is especially advantageous for the sensor device to be constructed as an optical sensor that interacts with the support, because then the sensor can react, e.g., to changes in brightness or contrast in the area of the support. Such an optical sensor can be arranged in a recess that is open towards the support or behind a window or a filter disk facing towards the support, and can have a light-emitting and a light-sensitive area. In an especially advantageous way, the sensor element is arranged on or in the lower end of a mounting foot that forms a support area for the illuminated magnifier, with the mounting foot being arranged on the side of the handle element facing away fiom the magnifier body.
In an improvement or alternative construction of the invention, the sensor can be a sensor analyzing the color of the document to be viewed with the illuminated magnifier, with the illuminating device being designed for the emission of different colors and being controllable by the sensor in terms of its color emission. Such an illuminated magnifier selects the color of the illumination as a function of the color composition, in particular, of a mean color composition and brightness, so that an optimum, i.e., contrast-promoting illumination in the appropriate spectral range is guaranteed for a visually impaired person. In addition, it is also conceivable to control the brightness automatically as a function of the brightness of the document.
Such a sensor can be designed as a color camera. Such color cameras are available today as miniature components, so that the precise construction of the sensor does not need to be discussed in more detail. Such a color camera delivers an output signal that can be fed to a color analyzing unit whose output signal controls a color control circuit of the illuminating device. In combination with such a color-analyzing sensor device, an illuminating device is offered that is constructed as an LED or LED group that is variable in terms of its color.
The invention is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments in the drawing figures. Shown are:
At first reference is made to drawing
With reference to
With reference to
It should be noted that the entire electronic [system] of the color analysis sensor 30 could be switched on by means of the sensor device 6 for a combination arrangement of a sensor 6 and a color analysis sensor 30. The arrangement of a color analysis sensor with a light source that can be controlled in terms of its colors is especially suitable when the magnifying optical device is used in connection with a color camera by means of which a visually impaired person can view the material to be read via a television monitor. Then especially good contrast properties are provided.
It should be noted that the color control device does not necessarily have to convert the light source in terms of its color emission to red, blue, or green light or the like, but instead, through the combination of light sources of different colors or color-shifting light-emitting diodes, only small color shifts towards the red or blue range can be sufficient to improve the contrast properties. In addition, the brightness of the color emission can naturally also be adapted to the support.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE2005/001482 | 8/23/2005 | WO | 00 | 1/29/2008 |