Method for determining the dominant eye

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723982-B2
Application number	US-201214001743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2012
Priority date	Mar 11, 2011
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A method is provided for determining the dominant eye of a person using equipment designed to acquire at least one image of the face of the person, then process the image, and finally return information enabling the person to know which eye is the dominant eye thereof. The method uses a sighting device that is identifiable and locatable in relation to the equipment, with the viewing being carried out through a window with both eyes open. The size of the window is such that it does not allow the person to see said target with both eyes at the same time. The equipment acquires at least one image for viewing the position of both eyes of the person, processing the image by performing calculations while taking into account the position of a central point located between both eyes, the position of the target and the position of the window.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for determining the dominant eye of an individual, comprising the following steps:
positioning the individual in front of an apparatus designed to acquire at least one frontal image of said individual, then to process said image and lastly to reconstruct information allowing the individual to ascertain their dominant eye;
viewing, by means of a sighting device equipped with an optical window, a target that is identifiable and discernible relative to the apparatus, this viewing being carried out through said window and with both eyes open, the dimensions of said window being such that they do not allow the individual to see said target with both eyes at the same time;
acquiring, using the apparatus, at least one image, or at least a first and second image, wherein said at least one image, or together, said at least first and second image, provide imaging of at least the position of the two eyes of the individual and of the optical window to be seen;
calculationally processing said at least one image, or said at least a first and second image, the calculations taking into account the position of a central point located between the two eyes of the individual, the position of the target and the position of the window; and
reconstructing, using the apparatus, the information indicating the dominant eye of the individual, said information being derived from the calculational processing.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sighting device is portable, and in that the individual manually adjusts the position of this device in order to see the target.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the means for acquiring the image is a camcorder.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein both eyes of the individual and the optical window appear simultaneously in a given image.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus acquires at least two images, a first image that is a zoomed-out view in which both the eyes of the individual and the optical window feature at the same time, and a second image that is a zoomed-in view of the eyes of the individual and that allows the position of a central point located between the eyes to be precisely identified, the processing of the first image being carried out on the basis of information gathered from the second image.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the individual wears a pair of spectacles, to which a clip equipped with at least one marker is fastened, at least one of the markers being intended to pinpoint a central point between the eyes.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the calculational processing is based on the position of a first straight line joining the target and the window, and a second straight line connecting said target to a central point located between the two eyes, said positions being determined relative to a reference straight line passing through the target and lying parallel to the sighting axis of the means ( 3 ) for acquiring the image.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the calculational processing has at least two steps, the first of which is determining a first angle (θv) between the first straight line and the reference straight line, and a second angle (θc) between the second straight line and said reference straight line, and the second of which is comparing said angles to each other.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus employs a display screen to deliver a processed image on which appears, overlaid, on at least one image, at least one identifier indicating the dominant eye of the individual.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the identifier is a line joining the dominant eye of the individual to the optical window of the sighting device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sighting device is equipped with at least one pinpointing marker, at least one of which allows the position of the optical window to be identified.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical window is a through-orifice.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a fixed column, and in that the target is placed on said column.

14. A portable sighting device comprising:
a thin board having an optical window, the dimensions of said board being compatible with easy manual manipulation when held in the hand of an individual, said board having a first face and an opposite, second face;
a base centered on said optical window, said base comprising a protrusion centered on said optical window and extending from the second face of said board, so that an individual holding said board with the first face of said board facing the individual may, when viewing through the optical window, observe an object through said protrusion;
at least one first marker positioned on the protrusion, the at least one first marker representing the position of the optical window; and
at least two lateral markers positioned on the protrusion, a first of the at least two lateral markers positioned on a first side of the at least one first marker and a second of the at least two lateral markers positioned on a second side of the at least one first marker, the at least two lateral markers positioned on the protrusion to assist in pinpointing the orientation of the sighting device, in order to allow said optical window to be pinpointed on a target image in the case where the board is inclined, wherein,
positioning the individual in front of the first face of the board allows acquiring at least one frontal image of the individual,
with the individual holding the board with the first face of the board facing the individual and the individual viewing through the optical window and observing the object through the protrusion, the object being a target that is identifiable and discernible relative to the sighting device, this viewing being carried out through said optical window and with both eyes open, the dimensions of said optical window being such that they do not allow the individual to see said target with both eyes at the same time, allows acquiring, using an apparatus, at least one image, or at least a first and second image, wherein said at least one image, or together, said at least first and second image, provide imaging of at least the position of the two eyes of the individual and of the optical window to be seen, and
the at least one image, or the at least a first and second image allowing calculationally processing that take into account the position of a central point located between the two eyes of the individual, the position of the target and the position of the optical window, and allow reconstructing, using the apparatus, of information indicating the dominant eye of the individual, said information being derived from the calculational processing.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein that the optical window is adjustable so that the dimension thereof is such that an individual viewing said target images therethrough cannot see said target image with both eyes at the same time, the board partially covering their view cone.

Assignees

• Haddadi Ahmed
• Essilor Int

Inventors

• Haddadi Ahmed

Classifications

• A61B3/0091

  Fixation targets for viewing direction · CPC title

• A61B3/0066

  with identification means for the apparatus · CPC title

• A61B3/14 Primary

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title

• A61B3/113 Primary

  for determining or recording eye movement · CPC title

• A61B3/18

  Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus · CPC title