EP0167327A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keratograph autoscanner system
Assignee: KERA CORP
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Filing: 1985-06-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A computer-controlled system for displaying an image of a kerotograph taken by a video camera on a video monitor and determining the position/dimensions of the Placido rings on the keratograph, then selectively correcting the measured data. An interface circuit is provided which digitizes and stores in the computer memory one video scan line at a time, and contains ring data storage and logic for superimposing ring data on the keratograph image.
Inventors
- 👤 Houston Browning Mount
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising video means for generating electronic signals representative of the image by line scanning; means for digitizing the video signals a scan line at a time; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for storing the image in the form of the digitized scan line data, and being adapted for detecting and storing intersection address locations of the contour lines along selected reference lines; and a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image and intersection locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising video means for generating electronic signals representative of the image by line scanning; means for digitizing the video signals a scan line at a time; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for storing the image in the form of the digitized scan line data, and being adapted for detecting and storing intersection address locations of the contour lines along selected reference lines; and a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image and intersection locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of Claim 1 wherein the computer means is adapted to: detect the intersection addresses based upon highest-magnitude peak values of the digitized video signals along the selected reference lines, and to correct intersection addresses by selectively writing in high or low values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of Claim 2 further comprising adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer means for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor image to thereby generate the address of the intersection correction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of Claim 2, further comprising adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer game paddle interface circuit for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor image to thereby generate the address of the intersection correction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of Claim 1, further comprising a printer responsive to the computer for printing the intersection locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of Claim 1 wherein the video means comprises a microscope and a video camera adapted for receiving optical images from the microscope.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising video means for generating electronic signals representative of the image; means for digitizing the video signals; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for detecting and storing the intersection address locations of the contour lines along selected reference lines based upon the highest-magnitude peak values of the digitized video signals along the selected reference lines; a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image and intersection locations; and wherein the computer means is adapted for correcting intersection addresses by selectively writing in high or low values.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising video means for generating electronic signals representative of the image; means for digitizing the video signals; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for detecting and storing the intersection address locations of the contour lines along selected reference lines based upon the highest-magnitude peak values of the digitized video signals along the selected reference lines; a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image and intersection locations; and wherein the computer means is adapted for correcting intersection addresses by selectively writing in high or low values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of Claim 7, further comprising adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer means for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor to thereby generate the address of the intersection location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of Claim 7, further comprising adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer means game paddle interface circuit for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor image to thereby generate the address of the intersection correction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of Claim 7, further comprising a printer responsive to the computer for printing the intersection locations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of Claim 7 wherein the video means is a video camera adapted for line scanning and wherein the digitizing means is adapted for digitizing a scan line at a time and transferring the digitized scan line data to the computer memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of Claim 7 wherein the video means comprises a video camera adapted for line scanning and a microscope adapted for transferring images having contour rings superimposed thereon to the video camera; and wherein the digitizing means is adapted for digitizing a scan line at a time for transferring the digitized scan line data to the computer memory.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising a video camera for generating electronic signals representative of the image by line scanning; means for digitizing the video signals a scan line at a time; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for storing the image in the form of the digitized scan line data, and being adapted for detecting and storing the intersection addresses of the contour lines along selected reference lines based upon the highest-magnitude peak values of the digitized video signals along the selected reference lines; a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image locations; adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor image to thereby generate the address of the intersection corrections; and an interface circuit comprising the signal digitizing means; buffer storage for transferring the digitized scan line data to the computer memory; intersection address storage means for storing the intersection addresses of the contour lines along the selected reference lines and for storing the corrected intersection addresses; a logic circuit adapted for selectively receiving the video signals and the intersection addresses to responsively superimpose the address locations on the monitor image; and a multiplex circuit responsive to field signals and horizontal and vertical sync signals inherent to the video image for controlling transfer of the digitized scan line data to the computer means and transfer of the intersection address data to the intersection address storage means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for analyzing an image of an object which includes superimposed contour lines, comprising a video camera for generating electronic signals representative of the image by line scanning; means for digitizing the video signals a scan line at a time; computer means responsive to the digitized video signals for storing the image in the form of the digitized scan line data, and being adapted for detecting and storing the intersection addresses of the contour lines along selected reference lines based upon the highest-magnitude peak values of the digitized video signals along the selected reference lines; a monitor controlled by the video means and stored addresses for displaying the image locations; adjustable correction control means interfacing with the computer for selectively positioning correction cursors on the monitor image to thereby generate the address of the intersection corrections; and an interface circuit comprising the signal digitizing means; buffer storage for transferring the digitized scan line data to the computer memory; intersection address storage means for storing the intersection addresses of the contour lines along the selected reference lines and for storing the corrected intersection addresses; a logic circuit adapted for selectively receiving the video signals and the intersection addresses to responsively superimpose the address locations on the monitor image; and a multiplex circuit responsive to field signals and horizontal and vertical sync signals inherent to the video image for controlling transfer of the digitized scan line data to the computer means and transfer of the intersection address data to the intersection address storage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of Claim 13, further comprising a printer responsive to the computer for printing the intersection locations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of Claim 13 wherein the video means further comprises a microscope and the video camera is adapted for receiving optical images from the microscope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of Claim 13 wherein the video means further comprises a microscope having contour rings superimposed thereon and being adapted for transferring images to the video camera.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for determining the topography of a corneal surface, comprising providing a video corneal image comprising a matrix of scan lines and superimposed reference curves such as Placido rings or mires; digitizing the image matrix one scan line at a time for determining the intersectional position of the reference curves along at least one selected axis; checking the accuracy of the detected reference line positions by displaying the reference line positions on the video image; and selectively positioning display cursors at correct reference line positions on the image for controlling correctional movement of the detected reference line positions.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for determining the topography of a corneal surface, comprising providing a video corneal image comprising a matrix of scan lines and superimposed reference curves such as Placido rings or mires; digitizing the image matrix one scan line at a time for determining the intersectional position of the reference curves along at least one selected axis; checking the accuracy of the detected reference line positions by displaying the reference line positions on the video image; and selectively positioning display cursors at correct reference line positions on the image for controlling correctional movement of the detected reference line positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of Claim 17 wherein the video corneal image is of a keratograph.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of Claim 17 wherein the corneal image is a real time image provided by optically reflecting the reference curves from a cornea.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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