US4330169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for aiding vision
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-09-07
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Granted: 1982-05-18
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Expires: 1999-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A microscope with a flexible fiber-optic bundle used as a scanner is provided to assist the vision of people; particularly to enable persons with vision defects to read. The eyepiece of the microscope spreads the enlarged images onto the functional portion of the retina of the user. A lenticular screen is used as a diffuser in the microscope. The person moves one end of the fiber-optic bundle along the material to be viewed in order to scan it. The flexibility of the fiber-optic bundle facilitates the scanning motion. The character images are broken up into small segments by the fibers. In each segment the light intensity is substantially the average of the light received by that fiber of the bundle. Thus, confusing background details of the paper, etc., on which the matter is written, are substantially subdued or eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W. Kantor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/103; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A device for aiding in the reading of written matter, said device comprising, in combination, a microscope and flexible light conduit means for transmitting to the object plane of said miscroscope images to be viewed by the person using said device. said microscope producing a substantial magnification and having an eyepiece consisting of a wide-angle lens, said magnification and angle of said wide-angle lens being sufficient to project said images over an area of the human retina substantially greater than the area of the macula lutea.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A device for aiding in the reading of written matter, said device comprising, in combination, a microscope and flexible light conduit means for transmitting to the object plane of said miscroscope images to be viewed by the person using said device. said microscope producing a substantial magnification and having an eyepiece consisting of a wide-angle lens, said magnification and angle of said wide-angle lens being sufficient to project said images over an area of the human retina substantially greater than the area of the macula lutea.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said light conduit means is a fiber-optic bundle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device in claim 1 in which said microscope includes an objective lens, and means for holding one end of said flexible light conduit means securely at the object plane of said objective lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said microscope includes eyepiece and objective lenses, and a diffuser between said eyepiece and objective lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 4 in which said diffuser is a lenticular screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as in claim 1 including a scanning device on one end of said conduit means for scanning written matter on sheet material, said device having focusing means for focusing images onto the said one end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said magnification is in the approximate range of 30 to 300, and said angle is over sixty degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 6 in which said focusing means includes reducing means for reducing the size of images to be transmitted to said conduit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 1 including a bundle of tapered optical fibers coupled to one end of said conduit means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1 including lamp means positioned adjacent one end of said conduit means to illuminate the matter being viewed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A vision aid device comprising, in combination, dividing means including a fiber-optic bundle for dividing images to be seen into relatively small segments, in each of which segments the light is averaged over the cross-sectional area of the segment, means for magnifying an array of said segments forming said image, and projecting means comprising a wide-angle lens for projecting said array onto a substantial portion of the operative section of the user's retina outside of the macula lutea.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A vision aid device comprising, in combination, dividing means including a fiber-optic bundle for dividing images to be seen into relatively small segments, in each of which segments the light is averaged over the cross-sectional area of the segment, means for magnifying an array of said segments forming said image, and projecting means comprising a wide-angle lens for projecting said array onto a substantial portion of the operative section of the user's retina outside of the macula lutea.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as in claim 1 or claim 11 including scanning means for scanning graphic material to be viewed, said scanning means including focusing means having a relatively great depth of field so as to reduce the precision required for the location of said focusing means relative to said graphic material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-17 | 1985-11-16 | 1986-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-17 | 1989-11-16 | 1990-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-17 | 1993-11-16 | 1994-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |