# US 10,871,824 B2 · Binocular system for entering commands

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- Number: US 10,871,824 B2
- Document ID: US10871824B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/444,561
- Filed: 2019-06-18
- Published: 2019-12-26
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-26
- Assignees: Alcon Inc.
- Applicants: Alcon Inc.
- Inventors: Martin Eil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871824B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- A61B 3/113: for determining or recording eye movement
- G02B 21/20: Binocular arrangements
- G02B 21/368: {details of associated display arrangements, e.g. mounting of LCD monitor}
- G02B 23/10: reflecting into the field of view additional indications, e.g. from collimator
- G02B 25/001: {Eyepieces}
- G02B 27/0093: {with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking}
- G02B 27/106: {for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G02B 27/145: {having sequential partially reflecting surfaces}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

In certain embodiments, a binocular system for entering commands includes a computer and a binocular eyepiece. The computer generates a virtual graphical user interface (GUI) with one or more graphical elements, where each graphical element corresponds to a command. The binocular eyepiece includes of eyepieces. Each eyepiece has an optical path that directs an image of an object towards a corresponding eye of a pair of eyes. The optical path of at least one eyepiece directs the virtual GUI towards the corresponding eye. At least one eyepiece is associated with an eye-tracker that tracks movement of the corresponding eye relative to the virtual GUI to yield a tracked eye. The computer interprets movement of the tracked eye relative to the virtual GUI as an interaction with a selected graphical element, and initiates the command corresponding to the selected graphical element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A binocular system for entering commands, comprising:
a computer configured to generate a virtual graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more graphical elements, each graphical element corresponding to a command; and
a binocular eyepiece comprising a plurality of eyepieces, each eyepiece having an optical path, each optical path configured to direct an image of an object towards a corresponding eye of a pair of eyes:
the optical path of at least one eyepiece configured to direct the virtual GUI towards the corresponding eye, wherein the eyepiece with the optical path configured to direct the virtual GUI comprises a beam-splitter configured to:
receive the virtual GUI;
receive the image; and
direct the virtual GUI and the image along the optical path towards the corresponding eye; and
at least one eyepiece is associated with an eye-tracker configured to track movement of the corresponding eye relative to the virtual GUI to yield a tracked eye; and
the computer further configured to:
interpret a movement of the tracked eye relative to the virtual GUI as an interaction with a selected graphical element; and
initiate the command corresponding to the selected graphical element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the eye-tracker comprises:
one or more sensors configured to track the movement of the tracked eye.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the eye-tracker comprises:
one or more illuminators configured to illuminate the tracked eye; and
one or more sensors configured to track the movement of the tracked eye.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one eyepiece comprising the eye-tracker comprises a beam-splitter configured to:
receive the image and direct the image along the optical path towards the corresponding eye; and
receive light reflected from the corresponding eye and direct the light towards a sensor of the eye-tracker.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the eyepiece with the optical path configured to direct the virtual GUI also comprises the eye-tracker.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of eyepieces comprise:
a first eyepiece comprising the eyepiece with the optical path configured to direct the virtual GUI; and
a second eyepiece comprising the eye-tracker.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the optical paths of the plurality of eyepieces are each configured to direct the virtual GUI towards the corresponding eyes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of eyepieces each comprise an eye-tracker.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical elements comprise at least one of the following:
an OK element corresponding to a command to accept;
a PLUS element corresponding to a command to increase; and
a MINUS element corresponding to a command to decrease.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical elements comprise at least one of the following:
a previous element corresponding to a command to move forwards; and
a next element corresponding to a command to move backwards.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical elements comprise an options element corresponding to a command to display one or more menus of options.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a mount configured to attach to a medical device.

### Claim 13

A method for entering commands using a binocular system, comprising:
generating, by a computer, a virtual graphical user interface (GUI) comprising one or more graphical elements, each graphical element corresponding to a command;
directing, by an optical path of each eyepiece of a plurality of eyepieces of a binocular eyepiece, an image of an object towards a corresponding eye of a pair of eyes;
directing, by the optical path of at least one eyepiece, the virtual GUI towards the corresponding eye;
tracking, by an eye-tracker associated with at least one eyepiece, movement of the corresponding eye relative to the virtual GUI to yield a tracked eye;
receiving, by a beam-splitter of the at least one eyepiece comprising the eye-tracker, the image and directing the image along the optical path towards the corresponding eye; and
receiving, by the beam-splitter, light reflected from the corresponding eye and directing the light towards a sensor of the eye-tracker;
interpreting a movement of the tracked eye relative to the virtual GUI as an interaction with a selected graphical element; and
initiating the command corresponding to the selected graphical element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
tracking the movement of the tracked eye with one or more sensors.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
illuminating the tracked eye with one or more illuminators; and
tracking the movement of the tracked eye with one or more sensors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving the virtual GUI by a beam-splitter of the eyepiece with the optical path configured to direct the virtual GUI;
receiving, by the beam-splitter, the image; and
directing, by the beam-splitter, the virtual GUI and the image along the optical path towards the corresponding eye.