Patent Application
20150062372
The present invention relates to a vision enhancing device for recording an object whereon text and/or at least one picture are visible, and for displaying the recorded object on a screen, said vision enhancing device being provided with:
Such a vision enhancing device is known in practice and is for example sold under the name “Optelec Clearview 2004-2012 generation” and is used by visually impaired persons. The object may for example be a newspaper or a magazine, comprising text and/or at least one picture. In use, the object is usually positioned on a flat table surface of the object presenting unit below the light sensitive sensor. By means of the light sensitive sensor the object is recorded and an image of the recorded object is projected on the screen. Also the sensor may comprise a zoom lens to enlarge the image for better viewing of certain parts of the text and/or at least one picture on the screen. By means of the processing means it is furthermore possible to enlarge or otherwise modify the image for better viewing of certain parts of the text and/or at least one picture. To position the object optimally with respect to the light sensitive sensor the object can be moved relative to the image field of the light sensitive sensor by displacing the table surface relative to the bottom plate in two opposite directions in a horizontal plane. Although the known vision enhancing enhancing device works more than satisfactory with objects having an A4 or letter size, using the vision enhancing enhancing device also for larger objects, such as e.g. having an A3 size or objects having, larger length dimensions, requires a relative bulky vision enhancing enhancing device having a large passive, i.e. stow away footprint. Furthermore, when handling objects having a larger size, there exists a risk that the position of the object is changed involuntarily e.g. by unintentionally touching the object.
Also there is a large (perceived) footprint, especially with regards to the area behind the monitor. Furthermore the position of stand at the back together with the position of the light sensitive sensor often causes the light sensitive sensor to look at the bottom part of the object in the starting position of the table, this has the following implications: 1. The table has to move towards the user if the user wants to read the top of the object, in this case the table movement can be limited if a user is closely positioned to the table 2. a document that has a larger length dimension than A4 or letter, for instance some newspapers, have to be folded over a horizontal axis in order to read the whole document 3. For a user who reads from top to bottom, it is illogical to start at the bottom of the page. Moreover, when using the light sensitive sensor for providing an overview image on the of objects having a larger size, such as for example A3, the light sensitive sensor needs zoom factors in a relatively large range. For example a zoom factor 1 is required for providing the overview and zoom factors 3:54 or 1.5:28 for providing an enlarged image of a selected portion of the object on the screen. Thus a relatively large and thereby costly zoom range is required such as a zoom range from 1-52 or 1-28. Furthermore getting a full overview also requires either positioning the light sensitive sensor further away from the original object, which can have negative consequences on the design of the system, or a special lens is required, which can add additional costs and can have a negative impact on the image quality.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved vision enhancing enhancing device which meets at least some and possibly each of the above indicated problems.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention the vision enhancing device is characterized in that the upstanding stand is arranged to be positioned at a left or right side of the sensor and/or (a middle of) the screen (when viewed from a user position in front of the screen). Thus the upstanding stand is arranged to be positioned at a left or right side of (a middle of) the screen or sensor if the device is viewed from a user position in front of the screen and/or if the screen is mounted to the stand and viewed from a user position in front of the screen. This aspect of the invention is based on the insight that the problems related to the known vision enhancing device are at least partly the result of the fact that the stand is positioned behind the screen when viewed from the user. This positioning behind the screen requires a large depth of the vision enhancing device for displacing the table, especially when using large objects, having a length dimension larger than letter or a4 format, which makes the vision enhancing device bulky and requires a large desktop for supporting the vision enhancing device. By positioning the upstanding stand at a side, i.e. at a left or right side of the screen, the vision enhancing device can be arranged to have less depth, making it easier to move the table top forward and backward, i.e. away from or toward the user, respectively. In addition this arrangement provides a perception of free space and potentially a perceived smaller footprint as when using a monitor, for instance with a screen diagonal of 22 inch or 24 inch, the perceived width of the system is determined by the width of the monitor. Preferably at least an upstanding arm of the stand can be said to be complete on the left side (or the right side) of the sensor and/or the middle of the screen.
In a special embodiment the vision enhancing device comprises a stand which is displaceably mounted to the bottom plate in a direction from left to right or vice versa (when viewed from a position in front of the screen) in a horizontal direction parallel to the screen. In another embodiment the screen is displaceably mounted to the stand for displacing the screen relative to the stand in two opposite directions parallel to the screen. Such special embodiments enable reducing the footprint for stowaway or for use with relatively small objects such as A4 paper. In such embodiments preferably the vision enhancing device comprises first releasable tightening means arranged for, when tightened, fixing the position of the stand relative to the bottom plate and for, when released, allowing displacement of the stand relative to the bottom plate. More preferably the vision enhancing device comprises second releasable tightening means arranged for, when tightened, fixing the position of light sensitive sensor and/or the screen relative to the stand and for, when released, allowing displacement of the screen relative to the stand. In an advantageous embodiment the vision enhancing device can be realized in a compact manner when the upstanding stand is C-shaped and comprises a lower substantially horizontal arm, an upstanding arm and a substantially horizontal upper arm, wherein the bottom plate is provided with a connecting member for connecting the lower arm of the C-shaped upstanding stand to the bottom plate.
According to another aspect of the invention the vision enhancing device is characterized in that the device comprises at least one first table top which is removably mounted to the table, said first table top being arranged for supporting an object to be displayed on the screen.
This aspect of the invention is based on the insight that the problems related to the known vision enhancing device are at least partly the result of the fact that the supporting surface of the table for supporting an object to be displayed on a screen is fixedly attached to the object presenting table, thereby reducing the flexibility of the vision enhancing device. By removably mounting a first table top to the table, the flexibility of the vision enhancing device according to the invention can be improved, as a result of which it can be possible to use the vision enhancing device for objects of various sizes.
In an advantageous embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention the device comprises interchangeable first and second table tops arranged for supporting an object to be displayed on the screen, said second table top being arranged for being removably mountable to the table. In this manner it is possible to change between table tops that are adapted to the size of the object, while the passive footprint of the vision enhancing device can remain relatively small, e.g. by removing a table top from the table. It is then particularly advantageous when the first table top has a first width dimension and a first length dimension, preferably being able to hold a A4 or Letter sized document and wherein the second table top has a second length dimension and a second width dimension, preferably being able to hold A3 sized documents. Preferably the vision enhancing device is arranged for allowing displacement of the table relative to the bottom plate and for allowing displacement of the stand relative to the bottom plate for obtaining a footprint which is formed by all possible positions of a respective table top relative to the bottom plate which is about twice the surface area of the respective table top. Thus the table can preferably at least be displaced relative to the bottom plate over its own full length and width. In particular when used with interchangeable table tops, such a displaceable mounting of the stand can readily convert the vision enhancing device from an operating position having a large footprint, e.g. when using objects having A3 size, to a stowaway position having a relatively small footprint, and vice versa.
In a user friendly embodiment the vision enhancing device according to the invention further comprises a user control input unit for controlling at least part of the operation of the vision enhancing device, said user control input unit being mounted to the table, which comprises a recess for docking the user control input unit. By providing the control unit on the table and e.g. not in the housing of the screen or located nearby the screen, a user of the vision enhancing device can place an object on the table top, position the object together with the table top in a desired position and control the operation of the vision enhancing device without lifting his or her hands from the table. In particular when the user control input unit is removably mounted to the table, said user control input unit preferably being a wireless user control input unit, the operation of the vision enhancing device can be very user friendly. Since the user control input unit is not hard-wired to the table but only has its cradle on the table, the user control input unit can also be used when not positioned in the table. In this manner it is possible in a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide e.g. control buttons on all sides of the user control input unit. Thus preferably the user control input unit is provided with two opposite sides wherein each side is provided with at least one control button and wherein the vision enhancing device is arranged such that the control input unit can be inserted in the recess such that upon selection either the first side is directed upwardly, permitting control of the at least one button provided on the first side; or the second side is directed upwardly permitting control of the at least one button provided on the second side, or such that upon selection either the first side is directed towards the user position for controlling the at least one button provided on the first side or the second side is directed toward the user position for controlling the at least one button provided on the second side. In particular the second side may comprise more control buttons than the first side. Thus, for example, the first side can be directed upwardly for providing basic control functions, and the second side can be directed upwardly for providing basic as well as more advanced control functions.
According to another aspect of the invention the vision enhancing device is arranged for positioning the light sensitive sensor above the bottom plate, and preferably for positioning the screen above the bottom plate.
A very user friendly vision enhancing device which is able to provide images of all the parts of an object placed on a table top is provided in an embodiment in which the vision enhancing device is arranged for allowing displacement of the table relative to the bottom plate and for allowing displacement of the stand relative to the bottom plate for obtaining a footprint for a respective table top which is about twice its surface area.
In a further embodiment of the invention the light sensitive sensor comprises an overview camera for providing overview recording signals of the object representing an image of the complete object; and a separate optical zoom camera, wherein the optical zoom camera is arranged for, in use, providing enlarged recording signals of the object representing an image of a part of the text and/or the at least one picture on the object, said processing means being arranged for optionally processing the overview recording signals such that the complete object is displayed on the screen, and for optionally processing the enlarged recording signals such that a part of the text and/or the at least one picture is displayed enlarged on the screen. By combining two separate cameras it is possible to extend the zoom range up to e.g. 54× or 27× by using standard available, inexpensive cameras. The overview camera provides a full overview of the object on the screen (for example by a fixed zoom factor 1)) while the optical zoom camera, preferably having a zoom range of 18, can provide a magnification from e.g. 1.5× to 27× or from 3× to 54×. Of course the overview camera may also provide smaller or larger magnifications than zoom factor lx, depending on the maximal size of the object to be overviewed.
In a further embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention the processing means is arranged for, in use and upon user input, displaying the overview of the object and the enlarged part of the object alternately or simultaneously. In this manner the user can switch from one camera to the other, or simultaneously view the images to quickly find the magnified text on the object.
In a still further embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention the light sensitive sensor further comprises a separate OCR-camera for obtaining OCR-recording signals, wherein the OCR-camera is arranged for, in use, providing the OCR-recording signals representing at least a part of the recorded object to the processing means for performing image analysis and/or image processing, and wherein the processing means are arranged for displaying the image analysis and/or processed images on the screen. In this manner image processing, such as image enhancement, contrast adjustment, or text recognition etc. can be performed by a specifically suited OCR-camera, thereby improving the visibility and the viewable size the images and/or textual information displayed on the screen. Preferably at least two, preferably all, cameras are mounted in a single housing for providing a compact vision enhancing device.
In a further embodiment of the invention a vision enhancing device is provided wherein the object presenting unit further comprises an intermediate mid-table, the table being mounted to the bottom plate via the intermediate mid-table, said intermediate mid-table being mounted on the bottom plate so as to be displaceable back and forth in a first direction of a horizontal plane, said first direction preferably being parallel to the screen, and wherein said table is mounted to the intermediate mid-table so as to be displaceable back and forth in a second direction of a horizontal plane, said second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, said object presenting unit further comprises a user operable first mechanical brake for, upon activation, preventing, or providing resistance to, displacement of the table in the first direction and a user operable second mechanical brake for, upon activation, preventing, or providing resistance to, displacement of the table in the second direction, wherein the mechanical brakes are operable independently from each other. In this manner a robust mechanical brake and friction function can be provided independently for both directions, which mechanical brake can be operated in an easy manner by a user of the vision enhancing device.
Preferably said first mechanical brake comprises a rigid longitudinal ridge fixed on the bottom table, said ridge extending in the first direction, at least a first rigid longitudinal ruler which is swivelably mounted on the intermediate mid-table around a swivel axis that extends in the first direction, and a plunger mounted on the intermediate mid-table, which plunger is—under user control—arranged for being positioned from an idle position to an active position, in which active position the plunger pushes the first ruler against the longitudinal ridge and in which idle position the ruler is free from the longitudinal ridge. Such a first mechanical brake can function effectively and reproducibly over an extended period of time. A particularly mechanical robust and compact vision enhancing device can be realized when the first mechanical brake comprises a wheel arranged for positioning said plunger in the idle position or the active position, said wheel being rotatable by a first worm wheel mounted on the intermediate mid-table, said first worm wheel being rotatable by means of a first control rod, wherein the first control rod is slidable along a longitudinal direction of the first control rod within the first worm wheel. Preferably a free end of the first rod is provided with a first gear wheel which is in engagement with a first rack that is slidably attached to the table in a direction parallel to the first direction.
Preferably said second mechanical brake comprises a rigid longitudinal brake rod attached to the table and extending in the second direction, and a brake shoe, which brake shoe is—under user control—arranged for being positioned from an idle position to an active position, in which active position the brake shoe engages the longitudinal brake rod and in which idle position the brake shoe is free from the longitudinal rod. Such a second mechanical brake can function effectively and reproducibly over an extended period of time. A particularly mechanical robust and compact vision enhancing device can be realized when the second mechanical brake comprises a brake shoe formed by two translatable rotatable brake shoe portions positioned at either side of the longitudinal brake rod, said rotatable brake shoe portions being translatable relative to each other by a second worm wheel mounted on the intermediate mid-table, said second worm wheel being rotatable by means of a second control rod, wherein the second control rod is slidable along a longitudinal direction of the second control rod within the second worm wheel. Preferably a free end of the second control rod is provided with a second gear wheel that is in engagement with a second rack that is slidably attached to the table in a direction parallel to the first direction. Preferably the vision enhancing device is provided with an eccentric that is engaged by the second worm wheel on the one hand for rotation of the eccentric upon rotation of the second worm wheel and which eccentric engages the brake shoe portions such that if the eccentric is rotated by the worm wheel in a first direction, a distance between the brake shoes is decreased for engaging or more engaging the brake rod and such that when the eccentric is rotated by the worm wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the distance between the brake shoes is increased for disengaging or less engaging the brake rod.
In a still further embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention the first rack is connected to a first handle, the second rack is connected to a second handle, said first and second handles being positioned below the recess. In this manner the handles can be positioned at one level, and next to each other, on the table for easy access and engagement by a user, which makes the vision enhancing device extremely user friendly in operation. It is noted that brakes may be arranged for fixing the movable table and/or for (steplessly) controlling the force required for moving the table relative to the bottom plate.
A particularly elegant and mechanical compact construction of the vision enhancing device can be realized when a wheel axle on which the wheel is rotatably mounted and the eccentric axle around which the rotatable eccentric is rotatably mounted coincide with each other.
In an embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention in which the longitudinal brake rod is slidably received in a guiding channel, said guiding channel being mounted on the intermediate mid-table so that the backward and forward movements of the table top can be performed in a reproducible manner over an extended period of time.
To further clarify various aspects of embodiments of the present invention and additional features and advantages of the embodiments, a more particular description of various aspects and features will be rendered with reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting its scope, nor are the figures necessarily drawn to scale.
The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1D′ a portion of the device provided with the control input unit of
FIG. 1D″ a portion of the device provided with the control input unit of
FIG. 2A′ shows an alternative embodiment of a vision enhancing device according to the invention in a rear view in perspective, showing releasable tightening means for fixing the position of the stand relative to the bottom plate wherein the screen is attached to a separate stand as is schematically shown.
In
A first table top 7 (
In
Please note that if table top 9 is located on the table, than the unit 10 may selectively positioned in the recess 14 as discussed above for recess 13. In
In
It is noted that in an alternative embodiment the screen may also be positioned on about the same position as indicated in
As indicated in
The vision enhancing device 15 furthermore comprises a light sensitive sensor 22 mounted in a single housing 23, which is mounted to the upstanding stand 16. The light sensitive sensor 22 can, in use, obtain recording signals of an object placed on a table top which signals are indicative for the text and/or the at least one picture on the object. In the shown embodiment the vision enhancing device 15 is provided with processing means 24 for processing the recording signals into video signals, which are supplied to, and can be displayed as an image on, a screen 25 mounted to the upstanding stand 16. In a preferred embodiment the processing means 24 are located within the housing 23 close to the sensor 22. In the shown embodiment the processing means 24 is included in the same housing as the screen 25, but in other embodiments of the invention (not shown) additional processing means can be included in a separate, stand alone personal computer or in the housing that holds the light sensitive sensor.
The screen 25 and the sensor 22 are displaceably mounted to the upper arm 19 in the direction FD from left to right or vice versa so that the light sensitive sensor 22 and the screen 25 can be positioned above the bottom plate 2 and in particular above the table top carrying the object. Thus it holds in this example that the screen 25 and the sensor 22 are displaceably mounted to the upper arm 19 in the direction FD from left to right along a straight line or vice versa so that the light sensitive sensor 22 and the screen 25 can be positioned above the bottom plate 2 and in particular above the table top carrying the object. The light sensitive sensor may be positioned by means of the sensor being displaceably mounted to the upper arm and the bottom plate to be displaceably mounted to the lower arm such that the light sensitive sensor is positioned vertically above (see vertical line V in
According to the invention the upstanding stand 16 is arranged to be positioned at a left or right side of the screen 25, which is clearly indicated in
From
As mentioned above the vision enhancing device 15 is used for recording an object 28 (
In the embodiment shown in
The light sensitive sensor 22 according to the embodiment of
With reference to
The said first mechanical brake comprises a rigid longitudinal ridge 36 fixed on the bottom table 2 and extends in the first direction FD. Furthermore, the first mechanical brake comprises a first rigid longitudinal ruler 37 which is swivelably mounted on the intermediate mid-table 3 around a swivel axis 37A (
The first eccentric 102 of the first mechanical brake can position the plunger 38 either in the idle position or the active position, which eccentric is rotatable by means of a wheel 39 that is rotatable by a first worm wheel 40 mounted on the intermediate mid-table 3. The first worm wheel 40 is rotatable by means of a first control rod 41, which fits into a through hole of the first worm wheel 40. The first control rod 41 is slidable within the first worm wheel 40 in a direction 1. A free end of the first rod 41 is provided with a first gear wheel 42, which is in engagement with a first rack 43 that is slidably attached to the table 6 in a direction parallel to the first direction FD. The first rack 43 is connected to a first handle 44 positioned below the recess of a table top mounted on the table. The first handle 44 is user operable to slide the first rack 43 relative to the table 6 as a result of which the first gear wheel 42 is brought into rotation thereby rotating the first worm wheel 40 and the wheel 39 and the first eccentric 102 to position the plunger 38 in the desired position for either enabling or disabling displacement in the first direction FD.
The second mechanical brake comprises a rigid longitudinal brake rod 45 attached to the table 6 and extending in the second direction SD. A brake shoe 46 of the second mechanical brake can—under user control—be positioned in an idle position (
It can be seen in
The vision enhancing device is provided with the second eccentric 104, which is engaged by the second worm wheel on the one hand for rotation of the second eccentric upon rotation of the second worm wheel, and which second eccentric 104 engages the brake shoe portions such that when the second eccentric is rotated by the second worm wheel 47 in a first direction, a distance between the brake shoes is decreased for engaging or more engaging the brake rod and such that if the eccentric is rotated by the worm wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the distance between the brake shoes is increased for disengaging or less engaging the brake rod. The free end of the second control rod is provided with a second gear wheel, which is in engagement with a second rack that is slidably attached to the table in a direction parallel to the first direction. A wheel axle on which the wheel is rotatably mounted, and the axle around which the rotatable first eccentric is rotatably mounted, and the axle around which the rotatable second eccentric is rotatably mounted, coincide with each other (see
The displacement of the table 6 relative to the intermediate mid-table 3 in the second direction SD is realized in a manner known per se by means of a rail construction 54 (
In
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011373 | Sep 2013 | NL | national |
