Vision Assistive Devices and User Interfaces

Abstract

Vision assistive device and user interface are disclosed. In some embodiments, a vision assistive device includes a housing having a base for positioning the housing on a surface; one or more imaging units disposed along a top portion of the housing, each imaging unit being angled downward so a central axis of the imaging unit forms an acute angle with the surface so the imaging unit captures a target image from a target object; and a control system accommodated within the housing, the control system being connected to the one or more imaging units to process the target image captured by each imaging unit and to output the target image to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vision assistive device comprising:
 a housing having a base for positioning the housing on a surface, an opening, a top portion, and a front wall, back wall, and side walls connecting the base to the top portion and together defining an inner volume of the housing;   a neck slidably positioned within the opening of the housing, the neck having an up-position and down-position;   multiple cameras positioned upon the neck such that the cameras are positioned within the inner volume of the housing with the neck in the down-position and the cameras are positioned out of the inner housing when in the up-position so as to capture a target image from a target object;   a control system accommodated within the inner volume of the housing, the control system being connected to the multiple cameras to process the target image.   
     
     
         2 . The vision assistive device of  claim 1  wherein the cameras are positioned substantially over an edge of the target object positioned on the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The vision assistive device of  claim 1  wherein two cameras are provided that are spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The vision assistive device of  claim 3  wherein the two cameras are configured to capture overlapping portions of the target image. 
     
     
         5 . The vision assistive device of  claim 4  wherein the control system is programmed to combine the overlapping portions. 
     
     
         6 . The vision assistive device of  claim 1  wherein a central axis of the cameras forms an acute angle with a plane defined by the front wall of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The vision assistive device of  claim 1  further comprising a screen located between the base and the top portion of the housing for outputting the target image to the user. 
     
     
         8 . The vision assistive device of  claim 7  further comprising one or more rollers for scrolling through the target image displayed on the screen and enlarging desired portions of the target image. 
     
     
         9 . The vision assistive device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, motion detection sensor and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A vision assistive device comprising:
 a housing having a base for positioning the housing on a surface;   a retractable arm positioned within the housing;   a camera positioned upon the arm and configured to capture a target image from a target object positioned substantially perpendicular to the housing;   a screen integrated with the housing; and   a control system accommodated within the housing, the control system being connected to the camera to process data corresponding to the image captured by the cameras and to output the target image to a user on the screen.   
     
     
         11 . The vision assistive device of  claim 10  wherein a plurality of cameras are included upon the arm. 
     
     
         12 . The vision assistive device of  claim 10  wherein the arm spaces the camera away from the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The vision assistive device of  claim 10  wherein a central axis of the camera forms an acute angle with a plane defined by the front wall of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The vision assistive device of a  claim 10  further comprising one or more analog controls for controlling one or more functionalities of the vision assistive device, the one or more functionalities being selected from the group consisting of alarm clock, calendar, security surveillance, digital frame, games, medication reminders and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The vision assistive device of  claim 10  further comprising one or more rollers for scrolling through the target image displayed on the screen and enlarging desired portions of the target image. 
     
     
         16 . A vision assistive device comprising:
 a housing having a base for positioning the housing on a surface;   a camera disposed along an adjustable arm, the arm selectively adjusting the position of the camera so that it is angled downward so a central axis of the camera forms an acute angle with the surface so the camera captures a target image from a target object; and   a control system accommodated within the housing, the control system being connected to the camera to process the target image captured by each imaging unit.   
     
     
         17 . The vision assistive device of  claim 16  wherein the camera is a CMOS camera. 
     
     
         18 . The vision assistive device of  claim 16  wherein the camera unit is configured to capture multiple portions of the target image with different focus positions and the control system is configured to combine the multiple portions. 
     
     
         19 . The vision assistive device of  claim 16  comprising two cameras spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         20 . The vision assistive device of  claim 19  wherein the cameras are configured to capture overlapping portions of the target image.