US 8,132,910 B2Granted

Contrast sensitivity testing and/or training using circular contrast zones

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsGraham B. Erickson, Alan W. Reichow, Herb Yoo

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Abstract

The contrast sensitivity of an individual may be tested and/or trained using a plurality of circular contrast zones. The individual may select the circular contrast zone having a different degree of contrast than the other circular contrast zones. For example, the individual may select the circular contrast zone having the highest or lowest contrast of a displayed plurality of circular contrast zones. A plurality of circular contrast zones may be displayed with a spatial arrangement that facilitates inputting a selection of one of the plurality by the individual. A variety of input devices may be used to receive a selection from an individual. Both the accuracy and speed of an individual's contrast sensitivity may be tested and/or trained in accordance with the present invention.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for testing or training the contrast sensitivity of a subject, the method comprising:

(a) providing a display device viewable to the subject;
(b) providing an input device accessible to the subject;
(c) displaying, on the display device, a plurality of circular contrast zones, each of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a Michelson contrast value, one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher Michelson contrast value than the other circular contrast zones of the plurality of circular contrast zones;
(d) receiving, at the input device, an input from the subject, the input being in response to displaying the plurality of circular contrast zones, the input designating which of the plurality of circular contrast zones the subject perceives to have the highest contrast of the plurality of circular contrast zones;
and
(e) determining whether the input correctly identified the circular contrast zone having the higher Michelson contrast value than the other circular contrast zones of the plurality of circular contrast zones.

3 more elements

A system for testing or training the contrast sensitivity of a subject, the system comprising:

a display device that displays a plurality of spatially arranged circular contrast zones for viewing by the subject;
an input device that receives inputs from the subject to select one of the plurality of spatially arranged circular contrast zones displayed on the display device;
and
a test unit operably connected to the display device and the input device, the test unit operable to:
(i) cause the display device to display a plurality of circular contrast zones, each of the plurality of circular contrast zones having the same total pigmentation and one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the other displayed circular contrast zones;
(ii) receive an input from the input device selecting one of the plurality of circular contrast zones;
(iii) determine whether the input received from the input device selected the one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the other displayed circular contrast zones;
(iv) if the input received from the input device selected the one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the other displayed circular contrast zones, repeating (i)-(iii) with a lower contrast for the one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the other displayed circular contrast zones;
and
(v) if the input received from the input device did not select the one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the others, repeating (i)-(iii) with a higher contrast for the one of the plurality of circular contrast zones having a higher contrast than the other displayed circular contrast zones.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/084,744Filed 12 Apr 2011 · continuation
Priority: 9 Jul 2009
Published: US 2011/0007267 A14 Aug 2011
Granted: 13 Mar 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61B 3/02
Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes: subjective types, i.e. testing apparatus requiring the active assistance of…
A61B 3/0033
Operational features thereof: characterised by user input arrangements
A61B 3/022
Subjective types, i.e. testing apparatus requiring the active assistance of the patient: for testing contrast sensitivity
A61H 5/00
Exercisers for the eyes

Family

Application12/500,353Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Jul 2009
US 2011/0187994 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Aug 2011
US 7,942,525 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2011/0007267 A1Published application
US 8,132,910 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.