Patent landscape report on assistive devices for visually and hearing impaired persons
Download 13.52 Mb.
|
Figure 27 – Method and system for normalizing a spectral profile in relation to an audio signal highlighted in patent US8401657B1. 
Figure 28 – Analysis of Major Subject Matter within Restorative Technology in the Assistive Devices and Technologies for Visually and Hearing Impaired Persons Technology Landscape Raw data for figure 28: 1.1.1 Intraocular Devices: 5019, 1.1.2 Extra ocular Devices: 287, 1.1.3 Vision Implants - other: 661, 1.1.4 Permanent Vision Restoration: 551, 1.1.5 Non Permanent Vision Restoration: 1005, 1.1.6 Cochlear Implants: 2266, 1.1.7 Internal Hearing Aid: 983, 1.2.1 External hearing Aid: 2393, 1.2.2 Permanent Hearing Restoration: 23, 1.2.3 Non Permanent Hearing Restoration: 160. Assistance Technology related to vision proved difficult to accurately classify with many of the innovation contained being general in nature. This vision assistance – other23 classification (6010 inventions) contained such inventions where a user’s vision was relieved of discomfort, therapeutic treatment of eyes to assist vision, and general assistance devices e.g. object tracking for artificial vision, covered in WO2011038465A124. 
Figure 29 – Method and system for tracking objects in video data for artificial vision highlighted in patent WO2011038465A1. Another example of technology in this broad classification (2.1.3) includes Braille printer innovation involving 3D related technology. This type of innovation is shown in JP03775613B225 which covers “Irregular image production method using thermal printer”. It involves the use of a thermal printer’s headr to heat recording sheet with thermal expansion property. This technology can be used for producing printed Braille-points such as those on stamps and has the advantage of reducing irregular image depending on the 3D information provided. 
Figure 30 - Irregular image production method using thermal printer involves using thermal head of thermal printer to heat recording sheet having thermal expansion property as highlighted by JP03775613B2 Voice / language recognition technology, speech processing or voice conversion to text technology was the highest represented technology in terms of hearing enhancement (3696 inventions). 
Figure 31 – Analysis of Major Subject Matter within Assistance Technology in the Assistive Devices and Technologies for Visually and Hearing Impaired Persons Technology Landscape Enhancement technology has a more even spread across the various classifications. Technology in relation to the display of information (2283 inventions) including innovation covered in US6384743B1 26, highlighting touch screen technology for the vision impaired. 
Figure 32 – A touch screen system for the vision-impaired highlighted in patent US6384743B1. Image encoding and translation technology (2096 inventions), including US2013194402A1 27, which highlights innovation representing visual images by alternative senses. 
Figure 33 – A method of representing visual images by alternate senses highlighted in patent US6384743B1. Spatial resolution / vision quality (2030), for example EP2677982A128, covering technology such as optical devices for the visually impaired. 
Figure 34 – An optical device for a visually-impaired individual highlighted in patent EP2677982A1. These 3 technology categories were all strongly represented in terms of vision enhancement technology. For hearing, sound coding / translation was the highest represented technology (1832 inventions). US8087936B229 is a good example or representative technology in this category. This patent pertains to innovation directed to systems and methods for verbal communication from a speech impaired individual. 
Figure 35 – Flow chart depicting means for a speech impaired individual to communicate with a service provider as highlighted in patent US8087936B2. 
Figure 36 – Analysis of Major Subject Matter within Enhancement Technology in Assistive Devices and Technologies for Visually and Hearing Impaired Persons Technology Landscape Raw data for Figure 36: 3.1.1 Display of Information: 2283, 3.1.2 Special Resolution Vision Quality: 2030, 3.1.3 Color Brightness Enhancement: 449, 3.1.4 Image Encoding Translation: 2096, 3.1.5 Electric Electronic Stimulation- Vision: 1664, 3.1.6 Vision Enhancement - other: 473, 3.2.1 Sound Coding Translation: 1832, 3.2.2 Acoustic Transducers Hearing Quality: 322, 3.2.3 Electric Electronic Stimulation - Hearing: 1261, and 3.2.4 Hearing Enhancement - other: 503. The ‘additional’ technology segmentation categories which contain additional innovation not specifically covered by restorative / assistance / enhancement device technology, is shown below. Inventions consistent with the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty, namely associated with technologies facilitating access to published works for print disabled persons, and also such technologies for hearing impaired persons (4382 inventions total) were the highest populated combined categories. This was followed by innovation related to hardware associated with visual and hearing impaired devices (3026 inventions). An example of this type of technology is covered in US 20120268366A1 31, which highlights a method for providing visual compensation using digital camera to capture image of user of i.e. mobile telephone, and involves setting electronic visual display to normal font size if eyeglasses are detected as present in image. 
Figure 37 – Analysis of Major Subject Matter within the Additional Related Technology in the Assistive Devices and Technologies for Visually and Hearing Impaired Persons Technology Landscape Raw data for Figure 37: 4.1 Related to both Hearing and Vision: 2208, 4.2.1 Technologies facilitating access to published works – vision: 1608, 4.2.2 Technologies facilitating access to published works – hearing 2721, 4.3 Disposable Limited Use Technology: 362, 4.4 Biodegradable or Recyclable: 203, 4.5 Design Shape: 1179, 4.6 Hardware: 3026, 4.7 Software: 840. Directory: edocs edocs -> Commissioner ajit pai edocs -> Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D edocs -> Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D edocs -> Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D edocs -> Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D edocs -> Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D edocs -> Federal Communications Commission fcc 15-77 Before the Federal Communications Commission edocs -> Statement of commissioner ajit pai Download 13.52 Mb. Share with your friends:
|