Lens inspection system and method
First Claim
1. A system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses, comprising:
- a transport subsystem for moving the lenses into an inspection position;
an illumination subsystem to generate a light beam and to direct the light beam through the lenses in the inspection position;
an imaging subsystem to generate a set of signals representing selected portions of the light beam transmitted through the lenses; and
an image processing subsystem to receive said signals from the imaging subsystem and to process said signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of said lenses;
wherein the illumination subsystem includesi) a light source to generate the light beam,ii) means to direct the light beam generally in a first direction and through lenses in the inspection position,iii) a diffuser located in the path of the light beam to form the light beam with a generally uniform intensity across a transverse cross-section of the light beam,iv) a lens assembly to focus a portion of the light beam passing through the lenses onto an image plane, and to focus a portion of the light beam onto a focal point in front of the image plane to form a diffuse background pattern on the image plane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for inspecting ophthalmic lenses. The system comprises a transport subsystem for moving the lenses into an inspection position, and an illumination subsystem to generate a light beam and to direct the light beam through the lenses. The system further comprises an imaging subsystem to generate a set of signals representing selected portions of the light beam transmitted through the lenses, and a processing subsystem to process those signals according to a predetermined program. The illumination subsystem includes a light source to generate a light beam and a diffuser to form that light beam with a generally uniform intensity across the transverse cross section of the light beam. The illumination subsystem further includes a lens assembly to focus a portion of the light beam onto an image plane, and to focus a portion of the light beam onto a focal point in front of the image plane to form a diffuser background pattern on the image plane.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses, comprising:
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a transport subsystem for moving the lenses into an inspection position; an illumination subsystem to generate a light beam and to direct the light beam through the lenses in the inspection position; an imaging subsystem to generate a set of signals representing selected portions of the light beam transmitted through the lenses; and an image processing subsystem to receive said signals from the imaging subsystem and to process said signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of said lenses; wherein the illumination subsystem includes i) a light source to generate the light beam, ii) means to direct the light beam generally in a first direction and through lenses in the inspection position, iii) a diffuser located in the path of the light beam to form the light beam with a generally uniform intensity across a transverse cross-section of the light beam, iv) a lens assembly to focus a portion of the light beam passing through the lenses onto an image plane, and to focus a portion of the light beam onto a focal point in front of the image plane to form a diffuse background pattern on the image plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for inspecting ophthalmic lenses, comprising:
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moving the lenses into an inspection position; generating a light beam; generally directing the light beam in a first direction and through the lenses in the lens inspection position; focusing a portion of the light beam passing through the lenses onto an image plane to form images of the lenses on said plane; focusing a portion of the light beam onto a focal point in front of the image plane to form a diffuse background pattern on the image plane; generating a set of signals representing the lens images formed on the image plane; processing said signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of the lenses. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses, comprising
a lens holder for holding the lenses in an inspection position; -
an array of pixels; an illumination subsystem to generate a light beam and to direct the light beam through the lenses in the inspection position and onto the pixel array and including i) a light source to generate the light beam, ii) a diffuser located in a path of the light beam to diffuse the light beam, and iii) a lens assembly located in the path of the light beam to focus a portion of the light beam passing through the lenses onto the pixel array, and to focus a portion of the light beam onto a focal point in front of the pixel array to form a diffuse background pattern on the pixel array; an imaging subsystem to generate a set of signals representing the light beam incident on the pixel array; and an image processing subsystem to receive said signals from the imaging subsystem and to process said signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of the lenses. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for inspecting ophthalmic lenses, comprising:
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placing the lenses in an inspection position; generating a light beam; directing the light beam through the lenses and onto an array of pixels to form images of the lenses thereon; locating a diffuser in a path of the light beam to diffuse the light beam; positioning a doublet lens in the path of the light beam to focus a portion of the light beam onto a focal point forward of the pixel array; positioning a field lens in the path of the light beam to focus a portion of the light beam passing through the lenses onto the pixel array; generating a set of signals representing the lens images formed on the pixel array; and processing said signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of the lenses. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification