Illumination system for ophthalmic lens inspection
First Claim
1. An illumination and imaging subsystem for use with a contact lens inspection system having a lens carrier holding a plurality of contact lenses in a fluid solution, wherein the fluid solution forms an optical lens having a positive optical power, the illumination and imaging subsystem comprising:
- a strobe lamp for generating light pulses;
an electric power source connected to the strobe lamp to provide electric power for the strobe lamp;
triggering means to activate the electric power source to supply electric power to the strobe lamp to generate light pulses in response to the presence of the lens carrier;
a camera for receiving images of the contact lenses;
a reflector surrounding at least a portion of the strobe lamp and forming an opening to direct light from the strobe lamp, through the contact lenses and into the camera to produce images of the contact lenses in the camera;
wherein the camera includes a variable focus lens to compensate for the positive optical power of the fluid solution and to focus the contact lens images in the camera;
a diffuser located between the strobe lamp and the lens carrier to diffuse the light from the lamp; and
means defining an aperture, between the diffuser and the lens carrier, to limit the cone angle of the light incident on the lenses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing diffuse illumination in the inspection of ophthalmic lenses for use in conjunction with a computer-based lens inspection apparatus. Below a package containing an ophthalmic lens in deionized water is an optical diffuser made of flashed opal and below that a light source such as a strobe light. The strobe lamp firing is initiated by the image processing system which is in turn triggered by a signal generated by the arrival of a package containing a lens to be inspected. In the preferrerd embodiment, an arc tube is employed wherein light output diminishes by darkening only in one end of the tube, that end placed outside the reflector.
51 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An illumination and imaging subsystem for use with a contact lens inspection system having a lens carrier holding a plurality of contact lenses in a fluid solution, wherein the fluid solution forms an optical lens having a positive optical power, the illumination and imaging subsystem comprising:
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a strobe lamp for generating light pulses; an electric power source connected to the strobe lamp to provide electric power for the strobe lamp; triggering means to activate the electric power source to supply electric power to the strobe lamp to generate light pulses in response to the presence of the lens carrier; a camera for receiving images of the contact lenses; a reflector surrounding at least a portion of the strobe lamp and forming an opening to direct light from the strobe lamp, through the contact lenses and into the camera to produce images of the contact lenses in the camera; wherein the camera includes a variable focus lens to compensate for the positive optical power of the fluid solution and to focus the contact lens images in the camera; a diffuser located between the strobe lamp and the lens carrier to diffuse the light from the lamp; and means defining an aperture, between the diffuser and the lens carrier, to limit the cone angle of the light incident on the lenses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
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Original AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
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InventorsEbel, James A., Edwards, Russell J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Pham, Hoa Q.
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Application NumberUS08/743,568Time in Patent Office687 DaysField of Search356/121-123, 356/124-127, 356/445-446, 356/239-240, 356/238, 356/129, 250/223 R, 250/223 B, 362/113, 362/341, 362/197, 362/296, 351/219, 351/229, 351/243, 351/245, 351/159US Class Current356/124CPC Class CodesG01M 11/0207 Details of measuring devicesG01M 11/0214 Details of devices holding ...
