The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 13, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 19, 2007
Robert J. Greenberg, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Richard P. Williamson, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Joseph H. Schulman, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Reza P. Rassool, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Lee J. Mandell, West Hills, CA (US);
Abraham N. Seidman, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Robert J. Greenberg, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Richard P. Williamson, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Joseph H. Schulman, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Reza P. Rassool, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Lee J. Mandell, West Hills, CA (US);
Abraham N. Seidman, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., Sylmar, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a 'high' resolution input device to a 'low' resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.