# US 10,444,833 B2 · Methods and apparatus for vision enhancement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,444,833 B2 - Document ID: US10444833B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/137,003 - Filed: 2018-09-20 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-10 - Assignees: Irisvision, Inc. - Applicants: IrisVision, Inc. - Inventors: Frank S. Werblin; Robert Massof; Yuval S. Boger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10444833B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - G02B 27/017: {Head mounted} - G02B 2027/0138: {comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera} - G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems} - G06F 2203/04805: Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection - H04N 5/772: {the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A system and methods for the enhancement of a user's vision using a head-mounted and user-controllable device including a magnification bubble having variable attributes wherein a portion of the scene is magnified within the complete scene, wherein the user is able to modify, in real-time, how the images are processed including the attributes of the magnification bubble. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable user vision-enhancement system comprising: a memory including a stored program; a camera mounted to view a scene in front of a user and operable to obtain input video images of a scene; a processor programmed to execute the stored program to transform the input video images of the scene into a stream of output video images of the scene wherein each output video image has a magnification bubble that enlarges a portion of the output video image of the scene within a peripheral portion of the scene; wherein the magnification bubble has variable attributes where the processor is programmed to vary attributes of the magnification bubble including at least one of the position of the magnification bubble, a size of the magnification bubble, a shape of the magnification bubble, and a magnification power of the magnification bubble, in the scene in the stream of output video images in response to an input signal; and a digital display disposed to be viewed by the user that displays the output video images. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the magnification bubble has an central area and a surrounding area wherein the central area has a magnification greater than the peripheral area of the scene and the surrounding area has a magnification greater than the peripheral area of the scene but less than the magnification of the central area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 2 wherein the magnification of the surrounding area decreases gradually from the magnification of the central area to the peripheral area of the scene providing a smooth transition between the two. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 3 where the peripheral area of the scene can be uniformly magnified or unmagnified. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 further comprising a user-operable controller for generating an input to the processor by which various attributes of the magnification bubble can be modified. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the scene is presented to the user according to an image transformation that maps the captured image, pixel-by-pixel, to an image that is more useful to the user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 further comprising: a head-mounted apparatus comprising the camera wherein the camera is a digital video camera with a wide field of view, an image processing system capable of processing the camera images sufficiently rapidly to provide real-time processed images, and a high-resolution digital display that presents a pair of images, one to each eye of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the stored program includes a vision-enhancement application (VE App) that provide a menu of options that allow for the modification of the output images from input images such as by executing image-processing algorithms having parameters, where the parameters are changeable through the menu by setting parameter values for at least one of magnification, the size and shape of magnification bubble, placement of the magnification bubble, color enhancement functions such as contrast and blur, ambient light level and edge enhancement of the entire output image, and portions of the image, enhancing orientation, location, or positioning of output images. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 further comprising: a pair of goggles having a pair of lenses through which the user views the output video images wherein spacing between lenses is adjustable to match interpupillary distance between the user's eyes refractive error correction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 9 wherein the lensed include refractive error correction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 5 wherein the controller is one of a Bluetooth game controller, a voice controller, and a gesture controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 further comprising a head-mounted apparatus comprising the camera, and the digital display and wherein the processor is remote from the head mounted apparatus and communicates with the camera and the digital display by wire or wireless communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The portable user vision-enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the magnification bubble is stationary on the user screen and positioned by head movements of the user.