Computer controlled subjective refractor
First Claim
1. A subjective refractor for determining refractive corrections for each of the patient'"'"'s eyes, said subjective refractor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of optical elements contained in an enclosure, said enclosure being adapted for positioning entirely above the patient'"'"'s eye level, said optical elements including a beam splitter extending downwardly from said enclosure and adapted for positioning in the patient'"'"'s line of sight through which the patient may view his surroundings as said subjective refractor is used;
(b) a movable near vision mirror contained in the enclosure for each of the patient'"'"'s eyes for reflecting light off a near vision testing object and through at least one of said optical elements into the patient'"'"'s eyes;
(c) distance measuring means extending externally from the enclosure for determining a distance between the near vision testing object and the patient'"'"'s eyes;
(d) a target projector for projecting a target through said plurality of optical elements and into said patient'"'"'s eyes, said projector being located in said enclosure;
(e) a plurality of motors for moving at least some of said optical elements;
(f) a motor controller electrically coupled to said motors for monitoring and controlling said motors to thereby adjust positions of said optical elements, said positions corresponding to said refractive corrections; and
(g) a control unit electrically coupled to said motor controller for an operator to enter commands to adjust said projected target and said optical element positions in response to the patient'"'"'s responses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer controlled subjective refractor includes a microcomputer based remote hand control connected to an enclosure which houses the optical elements of the refractor and which controls their operation for the examination of a patient. The enclosure has a beam splitter extending at its bottom and a forehead rest extending near its bottom such that a patient'"'"'s eyes are positioned near the bottom of the enclosure to view into the beam splitter and thereby materially reduce accommodation which would otherwise interfere with the accurate refracting of the patient'"'"'s eyes. Movement and position location of the optical elements are achieved through a microcomputer based electronic controller which is in communication with the microcomputer remote hand control. Additionally, a microcomputer based target projector assembly may be used to selectively project any of a wide number of images comprised of eye charts and the like for testing the patient'"'"'s vision. The subjective refractor thereby provides a network of microcomputer based electronic controls for very accurately positioning a plurality of optical elements and determining their position in order to determine the refractive correction of a patient'"'"'s eyes. The handheld remote control includes an optical display and a number of finger controls through which an operator may actively interact with the subjective refractor as the patient is examined.
96 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A subjective refractor for determining refractive corrections for each of the patient'"'"'s eyes, said subjective refractor comprising:
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(a) a plurality of optical elements contained in an enclosure, said enclosure being adapted for positioning entirely above the patient'"'"'s eye level, said optical elements including a beam splitter extending downwardly from said enclosure and adapted for positioning in the patient'"'"'s line of sight through which the patient may view his surroundings as said subjective refractor is used; (b) a movable near vision mirror contained in the enclosure for each of the patient'"'"'s eyes for reflecting light off a near vision testing object and through at least one of said optical elements into the patient'"'"'s eyes; (c) distance measuring means extending externally from the enclosure for determining a distance between the near vision testing object and the patient'"'"'s eyes; (d) a target projector for projecting a target through said plurality of optical elements and into said patient'"'"'s eyes, said projector being located in said enclosure; (e) a plurality of motors for moving at least some of said optical elements; (f) a motor controller electrically coupled to said motors for monitoring and controlling said motors to thereby adjust positions of said optical elements, said positions corresponding to said refractive corrections; and (g) a control unit electrically coupled to said motor controller for an operator to enter commands to adjust said projected target and said optical element positions in response to the patient'"'"'s responses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A subject refractor for determining refractive corrections for each of a patient'"'"'s eyes at least for far vision distances, said refractor comprising a plurality of optical elements, at least some of which are moveable, a first computer for monitoring and controlling the movement of said moveable optical elements, a second computer including a target projector for projecting a target through said optical elements and into the patient'"'"'s eyes, and a third computer, said third computer including a plurality of finger controls for an operator to input commands, said third computer being electronically connected with said first and second computer so that said first and second computers carry out said operator commands.
Specification