Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Eye examining or testing instrument – Objective type
Patent
1998-09-23
2000-04-04
Manuel, George
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Eye examining or testing instrument
Objective type
A61B 310
Patent
active
060452269
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a method as well as a device for measuring the visual attention of persons or animals for a visible object. Here, the term "object" should be interpreted in a broad sense. Thus, it comprises, among other things, material objects, such as products placed in shops or department stores, museum and exhibition works, e.g. with a view to the protection thereof, security apparatus, in order to determine whether there is a suspicious interest for said items, etc. Further, advertising in the most general sense, e.g. advertisement programmes, commercials, posters, advertisement bills, billboards, etc. Furthermore, it comprises "living objects", both human beings and animals, in which the attraction exerted on them must be measured.
In research of consumer behaviour, one generally employs methods and devices, through which no data can be produced without active cooperation of the respondent. It is true, that selected testees or respondents are of course willing to cooperate, but such a method has the disadvantage, that one is fully dependent on the faultless cooperation of the respondents. That is the reason why the results are not reliable.
For evaluating the marketability of a product placed in a department store, videocameras recording potential customers are used. From the recorded images it is determined to what extent the product to be evaluated attracts the attention of the public. Here, a disadvantage is that the use of videocameras infringes the privacy of arbitrary spectators, and that furthermore evaluating the recorded images is time-consuming and inaccurate.
According to the invention, a method has been developed for measuring the visual attention of persons or animals for a visible object, in which all of the above disadvantages have been avoided.
The method according to the invention is characterized in that from the vicinity of the object, a radiation beam is sent out to an observation area, where persons or animals are present, and that radiation reflected at the retina of the eyes is selectively detected and is transformed into an evaluation signal.
Since visible radiation might have a disturbing influence on the public, non-visible radiation is preferable. The method according to the invention at one hand has the advantage, that no active cooperation of respondents is required, yet only passive cooperation of arbitrary persons or animals, through which reliable information can be provided. Furthermore, there is no infringement of privacy, since only reflections of the eye are the standard for the measurement.
The invention efficiently employs the principle of retro-reflection at eyes, known per se, which can be realized in many ways and occurs when taking pictures with flashlight, among other things. When a person or animal turns his eyes to the flashlight, the light reflected at the eyes will be caught by the camera objective and cause (over)exposure at the position where the eyes fall on the film image of the camera. With the invention, this retro-reflection is efficiently employed, in order to determine, whether or not a person or animal present in a chosen area of observation is looking at the object to be evaluated.
According to the invention, it is possible to realize the evaluation in such a way, that the area of observation is covered by radiation which is received by suitable receiving systems.
However, it is also possible to employ a scanning beam covering the area of observation stepwise. With this method, the method is characterized in that the radiated beam is a substantially parallel beam being led scanningly across the area of observation, and that e.g. radiation reflected coaxially with the scanning beam is selectively detected and is taken as a standard for radiation reflected at the retina of eyes.
The radiation reflected coaxially with the scanning beam will then be said radiation retro-reflected at the pupil of the eye.
However, it is also possible to work with the radiation reflections on the cornea. With this method, the invention is characterized in t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4848340 (1989-07-01), Bille et al.
patent: 4931865 (1990-06-01), Scarampi
patent: 5325133 (1994-06-01), Adachi
Eyelight Research N.V.
Manuel George
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