Kowa‘s patented ophthalmic photographing apparatus uses invisible light to easily detect a subject’s pupil diameter. The device includes an illumination unit, imaging element, and processor. By analyzing images captured under specific conditions, the processor accurately measures the pupil diameter based on luminance values. GlobalData’s report on Kowa gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Kowa, Eye-tracking wearables was a key innovation area identified from patents. Kowa's grant share as of May 2024 was 41%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Ophthalmic photographing apparatus for detecting pupil diameter
The granted patent (Publication Number: US11998274B2) describes an ophthalmic photographing apparatus designed to capture images of a subject's eye using invisible light. The apparatus includes an anterior ocular segment illumination unit, an imaging element sensitive to invisible light, and a processor for image processing. When an index is projected onto the anterior ocular segment and meets specific criteria, the processor initiates pupil diameter detection by analyzing the reflected light from the anterior ocular segment. By scanning luminance values along a virtual line intersecting the boundary between the iris and pupil, the processor can accurately determine the pupil diameter based on changes in luminance values.
Furthermore, the ophthalmic photographing apparatus includes a feature where the processor can detect the pupil diameter when an index for distance measurement is at a predetermined position within the image. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a switching unit to alternate between imaging the ocular fundus and the anterior ocular segment on the imaging element. Once the pupil diameter detection is complete, the processor can switch the imaging region from the anterior ocular segment to the ocular fundus. The processor can also scan luminance values along multiple virtual lines to detect the pupil diameter accurately from various boundary points, enhancing the precision of the measurements taken by the apparatus.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Kowa, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
