PHOROPTER, AND METHOD FOR MEASURING REFRACTION USING A PHOROPTOR OF SAID TYPE

• US 20170027435A1
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: TEJEDOR DEL RIO, Vincent, BOUTINON, Stephane, NAUCHE, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 10,492,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0075 provided with adjusting devices, e.g. operated by control lever manipulators B25J
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0285 Phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/036 for testing astigmatism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0081 having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power variable magnification in general G02B15/00

Abstract

A refractor (100) includes: an enclosure having a front face containing a first optical window and a back face containing a second optical window aligned with the first optical window along an optical axis of observation; and at least one vision compensating device making it possible to observe along the optical axis of observation. The vision compensating device includes, between the first window and the second window, a first optical element having a spherical power along the optical axis, the spherical power being variable. The enclosure is mounted on an orientable holder (104) that is rotatable relative to a stationary portion (102) about a horizontal axis (H). A method for measuring refraction employing such a refractor is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Refractor comprising:

an enclosure comprising a front face containing a first optical window and a back face containing a second optical window aligned with the first optical window along an optical axis of observation; and

at least one vision compensating device making it possible to observe along the optical axis of observation,

characterized in that wherein;

the vision compensating device comprises, between the first window and the second window, a first optical element having a spherical power along the optical axis, said spherical power being variable; and

wherein;

the enclosure is mounted on an orientable holder that is rotatable relative to a stationary portion about a horizontal axis.

2. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the vision compensating device is designed to generate a cylindrical correction of variable cylinder axis and of variable power.

3. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the vision compensating device comprises a second optical element of cylindrical power and a third optical element of cylindrical power, the second optical element and the third optical element being rotatably adjustable about the optical axis independently of each other.

4. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the enclosure is mounted on an arm hinged relative to the orientable holder about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis.

5. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the enclosure is mounted on the orientable holder in a position that is adjustable along the horizontal axis.

6. Refractor according to claim 1, in which a wheel is rotatably mounted in the enclosure about an axis parallel to the optical axis and bears at least one complementary element intended to be placed in front of the optical axis.

7. Refractor according to claim 1, comprising means for movably mounting a diasporameter on the front face of the enclosure in a first position, in which at least one prism of the diasporameter is aligned with the optical axis, and in a second position, in which the diasporameter leaves free the first optical window.

8. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the enclosure has a lower face and in which the distance, in projection onto a vertical plane, between the optical axis and the lower face is smaller than 30 mm.

9. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the position of the orientable holder is rotatably adjustable about the horizontal axis by means of an actuator.

10. Refractor according to claim 1, in which the stationary portion comprises means for positioning a portion of the head of a user.

11. Refractor according to claim 10, in which the stationary portion is dimensioned so that said horizontal axis passes through the eyes of said user.

12. Refractor according to claim 11, in which the stationary portion is dimensioned so that the horizontal axis passes through the centre of rotation of at least one eye of said user.

13. Refractor according to claim 1, comprising at least one image capturing device having a line of sight, in which the image capturing device is mounted in the refractor so that the line of sight is essentially parallel to said horizontal axis.

14. Refractor according to claim 13, in which the image capturing device is designed to measure the distance between the eye and the vision compensating device.

15. Refractor according to claim 14, in which the vision compensating device is designed to control the spherical power of the first optical element depending on the measured distance.

16. Method for measuring refraction by means of a refractor according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

inclining the orientable holder relative to the stationary portion;

adjusting the spherical power of the first optical element; and

storing the adjusted spherical power in memory.

17. Measuring method according to claim 16, in which the spherical power is adjusted depending on a distance between an eye of a user and the vision compensating device, which distance is measured by an image capturing device.