US3758201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system for improved eye refraction
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-15
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Eye refraction optical system including birefringent and variable power lens means in optical alignment with target structure providing target area to be viewed simultaneously in light of two different groups of polarized light rays, said birefringent and variable power lens means including birefringent means for effecting a slightly different dioptric power for the viewed target area for one of said groups from that of the other and also including movable refractive lens means for changing the effective dioptric power of both target areas simultaneously for choice by patient of image of best focus.
Inventors
- 👤 Neille S Mac
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/02; G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
An eye refraction optical system comprising birefringent and continuously variable power lens means and a resolution target disposed in spaced relation to each other along a common optical axis, said resolution target being of such known kind as to direct two different beams of orthogonally related polarized light along a path including said optical axis toward said lens means and an eye refraction position of said system, said birefringent and variable power lens means being of such construction and arrangement as to allow two different images of said target as provided by said two differently polarized beams of light to be viewed simultaneously therethrough from said eye refraction position, said birefringent and variable power lens means including a pair of nested plano-spherically curved birefringent lens elements forming a plano faced doublet, the plano faces thereof being oriented essentially orthogonal to the system optical axis, the optic axes of the pair of birefringent lens elements being disposed essentially orthogonal to each other and in a plane essentially orthogonal to the system optical axis, the optic axes being further oriented with respective ones of the two different beams of orthogonally related polarized light from said resolution target, the pair of nested birefringent lens elements serving to provide a slightly different predetermined amount of dioptric power in the polarized light in one of said beams in comparison to that provided the polarized light of the other of said beams, said birefringent and variable power lens means also including at least one refractive lens element which is so movable in such system and of such optical characteristics as to allow one of said images of said target to be viewed from said eye position at a selected dioptric power while the other of said images is simultaneously viewed at a slightly different dIoptric power, the difference therebetween being provided by said pair of birefringent lens elements, whereby comparison of said images and selection of image of best focus may be readily accomplished.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
An eye refraction optical system comprising birefringent and continuously variable power lens means and a resolution target disposed in spaced relation to each other along a common optical axis, said resolution target being of such known kind as to direct two different beams of orthogonally related polarized light along a path including said optical axis toward said lens means and an eye refraction position of said system, said birefringent and variable power lens means being of such construction and arrangement as to allow two different images of said target as provided by said two differently polarized beams of light to be viewed simultaneously therethrough from said eye refraction position, said birefringent and variable power lens means including a pair of nested plano-spherically curved birefringent lens elements forming a plano faced doublet, the plano faces thereof being oriented essentially orthogonal to the system optical axis, the optic axes of the pair of birefringent lens elements being disposed essentially orthogonal to each other and in a plane essentially orthogonal to the system optical axis, the optic axes being further oriented with respective ones of the two different beams of orthogonally related polarized light from said resolution target, the pair of nested birefringent lens elements serving to provide a slightly different predetermined amount of dioptric power in the polarized light in one of said beams in comparison to that provided the polarized light of the other of said beams, said birefringent and variable power lens means also including at least one refractive lens element which is so movable in such system and of such optical characteristics as to allow one of said images of said target to be viewed from said eye position at a selected dioptric power while the other of said images is simultaneously viewed at a slightly different dIoptric power, the difference therebetween being provided by said pair of birefringent lens elements, whereby comparison of said images and selection of image of best focus may be readily accomplished.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination defined in claim 1 and wherein said birefringent and variable power lens means includes two birefringent lens elements having their respective optic axes disposed in orthogonal relation to each other and in perpendicular relation to said common optical axis, said two birefringent lens elements providing equal amounts of dioptric power but of opposite sign to said two beams of polarized light being transmitted through the optical system from said resolution target to the eye refraction position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination defined in claim 1 and wherein said birefringent and variable power lens means includes at least two refractive lens elements which are adjustable relative to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical system according to claim 1 and wherein said target includes two fields in side-by-side relation to each other and each is arranged to provide polarized light having its plane of polarization in crossed relation to the plane of polarization of the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical system according to claim 1 and wherein said target provides two fields in superimposed relation to each other and each provides polarized light vibrating in a plane disposed in crossed relation to the plane of vibration of the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical system according to claim 1 and wherein cylindrically curved refractive lens means is provided in said system for providing a measurement of the astigmatic error of a patient''s eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical system according to claim 4 and wherein two sheets of polarizing material are mounted in side-by-side relation to each other in front of a resolution chart to form a target and with the planes of polarization thereof at 90* relative to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical system according to claim 1 and wherein said system includes refractive lens means having at least a pair of related lenses which are laterally movable relative to each other in two different directions for providing both spherical and cylindrical variable dioptric powers of equal amounts to both of the images being simultaneously viewed through said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
An optical system according to claim 1 and wherein said system includes a pair of nested plano-spherically curved lens elements one of which is moved axially relative to each other for providing continuously variable amounts of spherical dioptric power to the two different beams being viewed simultaneously through said system and at least one pair of nested plano-cylindrically curved lens elements one of which is movable axially relative to the other for providing continuously variable amounts of cylindrical power to said two different beams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The combination defined in claim 1 and wherein said birefringent and continuously variable power lens means includes at least one pair of nested plano-spherically curved lens elements having spherically curved nested refractive surfaces thereon, the lens elements being movable axially relative to each other for providing continuously variable amounts of spherical dioptric power to the two different beams being viewed simultaneously through said system and at least one pair of plano-cylindrically curved lens elements one of which is movable axially relative to the other for providing continuously variable amounts of cylindrical dioptric power to said two different beams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |