Optoelectronic eye examination system
First Claim
1. An optoelectronic eye examination apparatus comprising:
- an electronically controlled refractive device, positioned between an image and an eye of a viewer, for adjusting the image presented to the eye of the viewer to determine visual response.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optoelectronic eye examination apparatus is shown that can test the eyes for refraction errors and color blindness with the additional capability to perform eye strain relief and eye muscle exercises. This invention with its various embodiments exploits the electronic programmability features of Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) combined with fixed refractive power lenses in a unique thin-lens cascaded arrangement to form an eye examination instrument that provides (a) an assessment of the present state of the refractive powers of the eye; i.e., an update in Diopters of the change in eye wear prescription required for improved vision, (b) an assessment of the color vision capability of the eyes, and (c) a visual platform to subject the eye to image-based muscular and neural processing leading to eye strain relief and other neural/human benefits. The instrument is divided into several sub-modules that include the light source optics, image generation optics via programmable amplitude mode SLM, fixed refractive power optics and optional beam delay optics, SLM-based electronically programmable lens (serves as the adjustable weak lens), and a controller to provide feedback to the programmable optics with input from the human under test and/or a objective image quality and refractive power test system. The preferred no-moving parts embodiment of the invention is based on liquid crystal (LC) optics with a transmissive LC programmable lens for refractive power control and LC SLM for vision image generation required for various eye tests and measurements. For instance, the SLM image generator can produce rapid near zero dark phase test image rotation via software control, implementing astigmatism measurements. An alternate embodiment of this invention uses a reflective lens arrangement via a LC SLM or a mirror-based SLM that function as the weak lens. Both these embodiments have a shutter arrangement that in one shutter state allows external light from an infinity image to impinge on the eye so as to prevent the eye from near field accommodation during far field (e.g., greater than 10 feet standard vision chart distance) testing. In addition, in the other shutter state, only light from the image generation LC display strikes the eye. Another embodiment of the invention introduces the use of a fixed bias lens in close cascade with the SLM-based lens. The purpose of the bias lens is via the thin-lens formula approximation, add to the Dioptric power of the combined eye refractive power test system to cover a wider power range than possible with a single SLM-based lens. Here, bias lenses of various powers can be attached in a wheel where rotating the wheel brings the desired bias lens in line with the SLM-based lens optical axis. Both a transmissive LC lens or a reflective lens such as via an actuated mirror device or an LC device can be used to form this embodiment of the invention. Additional embodiments of the invention use multiple cascaded SLMs to increase the Dioptric power and measurement capability of the vision testing instrument.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An optoelectronic eye examination apparatus comprising:
an electronically controlled refractive device, positioned between an image and an eye of a viewer, for adjusting the image presented to the eye of the viewer to determine visual response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A portable optoelectronic apparatus for testing color vision, refraction errors, and performing eye exercises, comprising:
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a light source for providing a light beam;
an electronically controlled liquid crystal image generator for selectively transmitting the light beam to produce an image;
an electronically controlled liquid crystal lens for adjusting the image;
an electronically controlled liquid crystal optical switch for optically switching light from a far field source into the light beam path, and a controller for electronically controlling the image generator and the lens to provide an adjusted image to a viewer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification