US Patent 7113828 Visual restoration aiding device

A visual restoration aiding device including an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes placed on or under a retina of an eye of the patient for applying an electrical stimulation pulse signal to cells constituting the retina; a photographing unit which photographs an object to be recognized by the patient; a converting unit which converts photographic data transmitted from the photographing unit to data for electrical stimulation pulse signals; and a control unit which outputs an electrical stimulation pulse signal through each electrode based on the data for electrical stimulation pulse signals so as not to simultaneously output the electrical stimulation pulse signals through electrodes arranged within a distance that electrical stimulation pulse signals outputted through the electrodes will interfere with each other and which switches between the electrodes used for outputting the electrical stimulation pulse signals and the electrodes unused for outputting the electrical stimulation pulse signals.