Kent A Stevens

US Patent:

58925708, Apr 6, 1999

Filed:

Nov 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/977186

Inventors:

Kent A. Stevens - Eugene OR

Assignee:

State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher
Education on Behalf of the University of Oregon - Eugene OR

International Classification:

A61B 302

US Classification:

351237

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for the evaluation and measurement of metamorphopsia. The apparatus includes a pattern generator that displays a deformable pattern, such as an Amsler grid, on a computer monitor. The rectilinear grid includes substantially parallel and equally spaced lines that intersect at vertices. An input device, such as a mouse, is used by a patient or technician to detect areas of the pattern where the cursor is not visible to the subject, so that areas of scotoma can be marked. The input device is also used to adjust the positions of the vertices, and distort the grid, until the grid appears substantially rectilinear to the subject. The deformations of the pattern are then recorded, and can be retrieved for comparison to subsequent test results so that changes in visual field deficits or metamorphopsia can be sensitively detected, and even corrected by a lens that distorts images in the same pattern. The present invention provides a very sensitive test for metamorphopsia that detects early retinal changes at a time when therapeutic intervention may be more helpful. The test can also be conveniently used at home, for example on a personal computer, so that the subject can be tested frequently and easily.

US Patent:

53632974, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Jun 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/894101

Inventors:

Noble G. Larson - Arlington MA
Kent A. Stevens - Eugene OR

International Classification:

G06F 1544

US Classification:

364410

Abstract:

A system for the accumulation of detailed moment-to-moment information concerning the movements of players and of the ball in a sporting contest. One or more cameras (11, 12, 14) are situated so as to cover the entire playing area (10) of the event. The output of at least one of these cameras is provided to a digital image processor (22), which tracks the movements of the images, or silhouettes, of players in the camera images. By employing multiple camera views of the same playing area, the tracking processor can, in most cases, resolve ambiguities arising from overlaps in any one view. For the remaining, unresolved, cases, one or more human operators, provided with the same or similar camera views, are employed, through an interactive interface. The operators are provided with apparatus (30) for identifying players, through a query/response method, as requested by the tracking processor (22). The operators also provide initial player identification at the start of the event, and following breaks in the action, using the same apparatus.