Night vision devices for the visually impaired

Abstract

MicroOptical's low vision program builds on our commercial and industrial eyeglass based displays to address the needs of individuals with low vision. In several of these programs the goal is to integrate cameras into display configurations appropriate to the information being displayed. Patient trials are used to refine the design approach, set specifications, and guide the iteration of the product design in order to best meet the needs of the user community.

In this paper we describe the development of an integrated headset targeting the needs of patients with tunnel vision — caused, for example, by Retinits Pigmentosa and Glaucoma, and of people with night blindness. The goal of the program was to integrate a camera and see-through display in a comfortable headset similar in appearance to ordinary eyeglasses. In this case, the see-through nature of MicroOptical's display is a key feature, as it allows the user to utilize their entire field of vision; see-around is not an option due to the users' own restricted field. The camera design is based on a CCD sensor to maximize low light sensitivity and included infrared LED's for auxiliary illumination. This extends the useful range of camera operation to below 0.2 ft-cd. Image processing algorithms are integrated into the drive electronics to further enhance the utility of the device. We will discuss the engineering tradeoffs, design considerations, and preliminary results from the user trials.

Footnotes

 This research was supported by NIH grant R44 EY 12912.