Controllers for dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. A controller is in communication with the one or more strips and is programmable to monitor a temperature of the one or more strips to provide a treatment therapy above a threshold temperature. Additionally forceps for mechanically expressing the Meibomian glands may be included with the strips and/or controller.

The present invention is a depth sensing visual prosthesis. By depth sensing objects within an image, items located at a certain depths from the user can be removed to declutter an image. The resulting image presents only objects within a range of depth from the visual prosthesis user. Depth sensing can be accomplished in various ways including structured light, time of flight, or preferably, a stereo camera pair.

The present invention is a depth sensing visual prosthesis. By depth sensing objects within an image, items located at a certain depths from the user can be removed to declutter an image. The resulting image presents only objects within a range of depth from the visual prosthesis user. Depth sensing can be accomplished in various ways including structured light, time of flight, or preferably, a stereo camera pair.

A method for providing information to a user, preferably including: determining environmental information; determining a set of features based on the information; determining output parameters based on the features; and controlling a sensory output system to generate outputs based on the output parameters. A sensory output device, preferably including a plurality of sensory output actuators. A system for providing information to a user, preferably including one or more: sensory output devices, sensors, and computing systems.

A method for providing information to a user, preferably including: determining environmental information; determining a set of features based on the information; determining output parameters based on the features; and controlling a sensory output system to generate outputs based on the output parameters. A sensory output device, preferably including a plurality of sensory output actuators. A system for providing information to a user, preferably including one or more: sensory output devices, sensors, and computing systems.

A device for improving environmental perception for blind or visually impaired users, including a set of mechanical actuators intended to be in contact with the skin of a user, at least one digital camera designed to acquire a current digital image of an environment facing the user, a processing circuit connected to the camera for receiving pixel signals from the acquired digital image and converting at least one portion of the pixel signals into control signals, each of which powers a mechanical actuator of the set of actuators, an eye-tracking module for tracking each eye of the user to identify a gaze direction of the user. The processing circuit then selects, in the environment filmed by the camera, an area of acquired current image which is a function of the gaze direction and converts the pixel signals of said area into control signals, each of which powers an actuator of the set to stimulate the user's skin.

A device for improving environmental perception for blind or visually impaired users, including a set of mechanical actuators intended to be in contact with the skin of a user, at least one digital camera designed to acquire a current digital image of an environment facing the user, a processing circuit connected to the camera for receiving pixel signals from the acquired digital image and converting at least one portion of the pixel signals into control signals, each of which powers a mechanical actuator of the set of actuators, an eye-tracking module for tracking each eye of the user to identify a gaze direction of the user. The processing circuit then selects, in the environment filmed by the camera, an area of acquired current image which is a function of the gaze direction and converts the pixel signals of said area into control signals, each of which powers an actuator of the set to stimulate the user's skin.

A system for providing information about an environment to a user within the environment is featured. An electronic processor is configured to receive input including a user selection of an object of interest from among potential objects of interest. The electronic processor is further configured to provide output to guide the user to move the detection apparatus to position the object of interest near a reference point on a field of view of the detection apparatus, obtain multiple images of the object of interest during the user's movement of the detection apparatus, and crop each of the images to keep the object of interest near a reference point on each of the images.

A system for providing information about an environment to a user within the environment is featured. An electronic processor is configured to receive input including a user selection of an object of interest from among potential objects of interest. The electronic processor is further configured to provide output to guide the user to move the detection apparatus to position the object of interest near a reference point on a field of view of the detection apparatus, obtain multiple images of the object of interest during the user's movement of the detection apparatus, and crop each of the images to keep the object of interest near a reference point on each of the images.

A route guidance and obstacle avoidance system for the visually impaired includes a main body assembly worn around the body of the user and a headset assembly worn around the head of the user. The system incorporates obstacle avoidance technology and navigation technology to generate a 3D audio output to a user so as to generate an audible virtual environment reflective of the physical environment of the user. The assemblies include line of sight sensors, a central processing unit, a navigation module, and a camera assembly. Obstacles are detected and classified with a location and distance, and are concurrently processed with real time navigation that is adjusted to instruct not only how to get to a location but also how to avoid obstacles.