System and method for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method for protecting health of a user during operating a display device, and more specially for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] In the new era of digital data and Internet, computer plays more and more important role in our life, work and entertainment, it becomes one of the hi-tech products on which we depend greatly in our daily life.

[0005] However, according to recent medical research, people suffer discomforts from long-term computer usage. Among all computer repetitive stress injuries (CRSI), injuries the most been often complained of are Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) caused by long-term concentrating on screen of a display device, repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging with mouse. Generally speaking, computer users who use computer continuously over two hours per day are prone to comprising CVS. Reduced blinking frequency caused by long-term concentrating on the screen will make the moisture of the eyes vaporize rapidly and let people feel dryness on eyes, and further induce chronic conjunctivitis and xerophthalmia. The flickering screen and reflex also aggravate eyestrain even further, so poor eyesight gets worse. The users often claim eyestrain, headache and tiredness. The CTS occurs from repeated physical movements doing damage to tendon, nerves, muscles and other soft body tissues of hands. The thousands of repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging with mouse slowly accumulate damage to the wrists and cause numbness and pain.

[0006] Those who suffer from the CVS and the CTS should run for proper medical therapy immediately, otherwise, they would suffer permanent injury or painful sequel. However, compared with all the time and money it might involve during the therapy, the CVS and the CTS are far easier to prevent than to cure once contracted. Usually doctors suggest computer users to shorten the time to use computer and take regular break and hereby prevent the CVS and the CTS.

[0007] There are lots of systems and methods for preventing computer repetitive stress injuries. For instance, an U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,525 issued on Jun. 13, 2000 and entitled “Method for Preventing the Injury of Eyesight during Operating a Device with a Display” discloses a method for preventing the injury of eyesight during operating a device with a display. The method comprises steps of: (A) presetting a value of a second interval (T2); (B) accumulating the operating time of said device; (C) if the accumulating time reached the value of the second interval (T2), a menu showing on said display to remind user to relax eyes, if the user chooses to relax eyes from the second pattern, executing step (D), otherwise executing step (E); (D) displaying a moving pattern(s) which can relax user's eyes, after said moving pattern being terminated, the process returns to said step (A); and (E) decreasing the value of the second interval (T2) and returning to said step (A). However, the invention is built upon the operating system which is a platform the invention runs on. Therefore, when the operating system encounters malfunction and not work normally, the invention also does not work. In addition, the invention does not mention to remind user to take exercises for relaxing body.

[0008] Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method which can prevent a user from eye and bodily injury caused by long-term concentrating on screen of the display device and is independent of the operating system.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a system for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device.

[0011] To accomplish the main object, a system for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a storage unit for storing a first program and a second program; a timer for respectively measuring corresponding running times of the first and second programs; a counter for counting a running count of successively running the first program; a control unit for running the first and second programs stored in the storage unit and outputting control signals; an OSD (On Screen Display) component for receiving the control signals and outputting OSD data; and a display unit for displaying the OSD data in a first and second modes corresponding to the first and second programs.

[0012] To achieve the other object, a method for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) presetting a value of an interval and a number; (b) setting a waiting time for running a first program, a running time and a running count of the first program, and a running time of a second program as “0;” (c) measuring the waiting time; (d) if the waiting time has reached a preset threshold value of the interval, running the first program to display a series of dynamic icons for reminding a user to relax his/her eyes; (e) after the first program being terminated, increasing the running count once; (f) if the running count has not reached a preset threshold value of the number, going to step (c), otherwise, running the second program to display a comfort display for reminding the user to relax his/her body; and (g) after the second program being terminated, going to step (b).

[0013] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of hardware infrastructure of a system for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device (hereinafter, “the system”) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a microprogrammed control unit (MCU) 10, a keypad unit 11, an on screen display (OSD) component 12, an analog/digital (A/D) converting circuit 13, a scalar 14, a digital/analog (D/A) converting circuit 15, and a displaying unit 16. The MCU 10 comprises a control unit 100, a storage unit 101, a timer 102, and a counter 103.

[0021] The storage unit 101 stores a first program and a second program applied to implement the present invention. The first program is run to display a series of blinking icons to remind the user to blink their eyes. The second program is run to display a comfort display to remind the user to take exercises. The timer 102 respectively measures corresponding running times of the two programs. The counter 103 counts a continuous running count of the first program.

[0022] The keypad unit 11 generates a command signal in response to operations of the user, and outputs the command signal to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 runs the programs and outputs a control signal in accordance with the command signal. The OSD component 12 receives the control signal, and outputs OSD data such as a series of blinking icons for reminding users to blink and pattern data for reminding users to take exercises. The A/D converting circuit 13 converts analog signals (i.e., computer signals) into digital signals. The scalar 14 overlays image signals from a computer with the OSD data to generate resultant signals. The D/A converting circuit 15 converts the resultant signals into corresponding analog signals. The displaying unit 16 displays the analog signals received from the D/A converting circuit 15.

[0023] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an OSD menu comprising a functional item for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device. The OSD menu 1 comprises a plurality of function control targets such as horizontal size, vertical size, horizontal-position, vertical-position, etc. The function control target with an eye symbol (labeled 2) represents an eyesaver application program comprising the first and second programs for implementing the present invention. When the eye symbol 2 is activated, an eyesaver settings menu 3, such as that shown in FIG. 3, is displayed.

[0024] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an eyesaver settings menu according to the present invention. The eyesaver settings menu 3 comprises a plurality of parameters and preset threshold values thereof, and a check box for activating the eyesaver application program if necessary. The parameters comprise a blinking interval, a blinking duration, a blinking threshold count, and a comforting duration. The blinking interval is a waiting time for running the first program again. The blinking duration is a preset running time of the first program. The blinking threshold count is a running count of successively running the first program. The comforting duration is a preset running time of the second program. The value of each parameter has a default setting, such as that shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the value of each parameter can be changed according to the user's requirements, with the changed parameters being stored in the OSD component 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the values of the parameters are all default settings.

[0025] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a series of four blinking icons which are shown one after the other on a screen of the displaying unit 16, the blinking icons functioning to remind a user to blink. When a waiting time for running the first program reaches a preset threshold value of the blinking interval, the first program stored in the storage unit 101 is run. Thereupon the blinking icon (labeled 4 in the first screen display of FIG. 4) is displayed in a top right corner of the screen of the displaying unit 16. The blinking icon changes dynamically so as to simulate blinking actions of a user, as shown in the second through fourth screen displays of FIG. 4. The blinking actions can be any suitable actions such as eye blinking, eye closing, eye opening, and the like. Through the blinking icons, the user is reminded to do various blinking actions to relieve his/her eyes from tiredness. In addition, once the running time of the first program reaches a preset threshold value of the blinking duration, the blinking icons can be automatically hidden. Further or alternatively, the blinking icons can be also manually hidden, by way of the user operating the keypad unit 11 to input an appropriate command. The blinking icons are a series of eye symbols comprising an eye blinking symbol, an eyeball rotation symbol, an eye closing symbol, an eye opening symbol, and the like. Here, it must be notified that any other type of dynamic icons, which are operated in a similar manner and remind the user to relieve his/her eyes from tiredness, should be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a first and a last of a series of successive screen displays of the displaying unit 16, the last screen display being a comfort display, the comfort display functioning to remind a user to take exercises. When the running count of successively running the first program reaches a preset threshold value of the blinking threshold count, the second program stored in the storage unit 101 runs. Thereupon, the screen in a normal mode (such as that shown in the first screen display of FIG. 5) gradually changes to a faint mode (such as the last screen display of FIG. 5). The last screen display in the faint mode is called the comfort display. The comfort display is used for reminding the user to pause from working on the computer, and to take some exercises, such as eye exercises, wrist exercises, neck exercises, waist exercises, and the like. These exercises should be of the kind for preventing repetitive stress injuries. When the running time of the second program reaches a preset threshold value of the comforting duration, the screen is automatically switched to the normal mode. That is, the second program has finished. Alternatively, the user can manually stop displaying the comfort display. The user operates the keypad unit 11 to input an appropriate command, whereupon the screen is switched to the normal mode. Here, it must be notified that any other type of modes, which are operated in a similar manner and remind the user to relieve his/her bodies from tiredness, should be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a preferred method for avoiding eye and bodily injury from using a display device, in accordance with the present invention. In step S20, the control unit 100 detects that video signals are output from the displaying unit 16, and initializes a plurality of variables as “0.” The variables comprise a waiting time for running the first program, a running time and a running count of the first program, and a running time of the second program. In step S21, the timer 102 measures the waiting time for running the first program. In step S22, the control unit 100 determines whether the waiting time for running the first program has reached a preset threshold value of the blinking interval. If the waiting time for running the first program has not reached the preset threshold value of the blinking interval, the procedure returns to step S21 described above.

[0028] If and when the waiting time for running the first program has reached the preset threshold value of the blinking interval, in step S23, the control unit 100 determines whether the running count of the first program has reached a preset threshold value of the blinking threshold count. If the running count of the first program has reached the preset threshold value of the blinking threshold count, the procedure goes to step S28 described below.

[0029] In contrast, if the running count of the first program has not reached the preset threshold value of the blinking threshold count, in step S24, the displaying unit 16 runs the first program to display the blinking icons, and the timer 102 measures the running time of the first program. Then in step S25, the control unit 100 determines whether the running time of the first program has reached a preset threshold value of the blinking duration. If the running time of the first program has not reached the preset threshold value of the blinking duration, the procedure returns to step S24 described above. If and when the running time of the first program has reached the preset threshold value of the blinking duration, in step S26, the counter 103 adds one to the running count of the first program. Then in step S27, the control unit 100 resets the waiting time for running the first program and the running time of the first program as “0,” and the procedure returns to step S21 described above.

[0030] In step S28, the displaying unit 16 runs the second program to display a comfort display reminding a user to take exercises, and the timer 102 measures the running time of the second program. Then in step S29, the control unit 100 determines whether the running time of the second program has reached a preset threshold value of the comforting duration. If the running time of the second program has not reached the preset threshold value of the comforting duration, the procedure goes back to step S28 described above. If and when the running time of the second program has reached the preset threshold value of the comforting duration, the procedure goes back to step S20 described above.

[0031] Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of a preferred embodiment and preferred method, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment and method without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.