Optometric apparatus and process having independent astigmatic and spherical inputs

Claim 2

Apparatus for generating variable astigmatic effects including variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic rotational alignment along a preselected view path comprising: a lens system including first lens means positioned and arranged for generating variable astigmatic lens power, said variation in astigmatic lens power occurring along first perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path; said first lens means for generating variable astigmatic lens power including at least one lens element in said view path mounted for adjustable movement relative to said view path; said lens system further including second lens means positioned and arranged for generating variable astigmatic lens power, said variation in astigmatic lens power occurring along second substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path; said second lens means for generating variable astigmatic lens power including at least one lens element mounted in said view path for adjustable movement relative to said view path; said first lens means rotationally positioned relative to said second lens means along an axis taken along said view path so that first imaginary planes taken through the first substantially perpendicular axes of said first lens means and including said axis defined along said view path is non-coincident with second imaginary planes taken through the second substantially perpendicular axes of said second lens means and including said axis defined along said view path said lens system producing variable focal distances for lines of differing angular orientation upon variation of said astigmatic power by at least one of said first and second lens means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including: means providing variable spherical lens input along said pre-select view path.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 and wherein said first lens means includes positive and negative counter-rotating cylinder lenses and said second lens means includes positive and negative counter-rotating cylinder lenses.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 and wherein said first lens means includes at least a first lens element movable substantially normal to said view path along a first direction; said first lens element further including a transparent optical media having first and second optical interfaces substantially normal to said optic path with said transparent media disposed between said interfaces, the thickness of said optical media between said optical interfaces including a variation of effective optical thickness measured substantially orthogonal to an x, y Cartesian coordinate axis system disposed substantially parallel to said interfaces, said effective optical thickness variation defined by the terms: A (x3/3 - xy2) wherein: x represents the position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic path; y represents the position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic path; and A is a constant representing the lens power variation; and said second lens means includes said first lens element movable with respect to said optical path along a second direction substantially normal to said optic path and substantially nOrmal to said first direction.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second lens means are rotationally aligned so that said first and second imaginary planes are angularly separated along said view path at an angle of precisely 45*.

Claim 7

Apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotation along a preselected view path comprising: a lens system including a first pair of lens means including first and second cylinder lenses positioned in said view path of opposite cylinder power; means for providing opposite counter-rotation to said first and second cylinder lens elements to provide variable positive and negative astigmatic lens power along a first axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and variable negative and positive astigmatic lens power along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and said first axis; said lens system further including a second pair of lens means including third and fourth cylinder lenses positioned in said view path of opposite cylinder power; means for providing opposite counter-rotation to said third and fourth cylinder lenses to provide variable positive and negative astigmatic lens power along a third axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and variable negative and positive astigmatic lens power along a fourth axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and said third axis; said first and second cylinders rotationally positioned together relative to said third and fourth lens cylinders so that first imaginary planes taken through the first and second substantially perpendicular axes and including an axis defined along said view path are non-coincident with second imaginary planes taken through the third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes of said third and fourth lens cylinders and including said axis defined along said view path said lens system producing variable focal distances for lines of differing angular orientation upon variation of said astigmatic power by at least one of said first and second lens pair means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotation along a preselected view path comprising: a lens system including a first pair of lens means including first and second cylinder lenses positioned in said view path of opposite cylinder power; means for providing opposite counter-rotation to said first and second cylinder lens elements to provide variable positive and negative astigmatic lens power along a first axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and variable negative and positive astigmatic lens power along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and said first axis; said lens system further including a second pair of lens means including third and fourth cylinder lenses positioned in said view path of opposite cylinder power; means for providing opposite counter-rotation to said third and fourth cylinder lenses to provide variable positive and negative astigmatic lens power along a third axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and variable negative and positive astigmatic lens power along a fourth axis substantially perpendicular to said view path and said third axis; said first and second cylinders rotationally positioned together relative to said third and fourth lens cylinders so that first imaginary planes taken through the first and second substantially perpendicular axes and including an axis defined along said view path are non-coincident with second imaginary planes taken through the third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes of said third and fourth lens cylinders and including said axis defined along said view path said lens system producing variable focal distances for lines of differing angular orientation upon variation of said astigmatic power by at least one of said first and second lens pair means.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein said first and second cylinders are rotationally positioned with respect to said third and fourth cylinders so that said first and second imaginary planes are separated by 45* relative to said axes along said view path.

Claim 10

The appparatus according to claim 6 and including means for generating variable spherical lens input along said preselected view path.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 and including at least one scale for indicating counter relative rotation of said first and second lens cylinders and said third and fourth lens cylinders; a first scale indicator for indicating on said scale at one end and moving responsive to relative movement between said first and second cylinders to indicate the counter relative rotation of said cylinders; a second scale indicator for indicating on said scale and movable at the other end responsive to the counter relative rotation of said third and fourth lens cylinders.

Claim 12

An ophthamological instrument comprising at least one lens the maximum lens thickness variation being less than one half the lens diameter, said lens having a thickness parallel to an optic axis through the optic path of said device and measured from a reference surface, said thickness substantially defined by the terms: A (xy2 + 1/3x3) + Dx + E wherein: x and y represent points on a Cartesian coordinate system in a plane normal to the optic axis, A is a constant representing lens power variation in the x direction, D is a constant representing the coefficient of a prism removed to minimize lens thickness and may have a value of zero, and E is a constant representing lens thickness of the optic axis; means defining a view segment through the device for optical viewing of an object by the eye, and displacement means providing controlled lateral motion of The lens and viewing segment relative to each other along a line on the x axis defined by: Y o and a second lens element positioned in said view path, said second lens element including transparent optical media having first and second optical interfaces with said transparent media disposed between said interfaces, the thickness of said optical media between said optical interfaces including a variation of effective optical thickness measured substantially orthogonal to an x, y, Cartesian coordinate axis system disposed substantially parallel to said interfaces, said second effective optical thickness variation defined by the terms: B (x3/3 - xy2) wherein: x represents a position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic axis; y represents a position on a Cartesian coordinate system wherein said y axis is substantially normal to said x axis in said plane; and B is a constant representing the lens power variation; and displacement means for displacing said second lens element along said view path for providing controlled displacement of said lens relative to said view segment to bring an object viewed into best focus for any eye.

Claim 13

An ophthamological instrument comprising at least one lens the maximum lens thickness variation being less than one half the lens diameter, said lens having a thickness parallel to an optic axis through the optic path of said device and measured from a reference surface, said thickness substantially defined by the terms: A (xy2 + 1/3x3) + Dx + E wherein: x and y represent points on a Cartesian coordinate system in a plane normal to the optic axis, A is a constant representing lens power variation in the x direction, D is a constant representing the coefficient of a prism removed to minimize lens thickness and may have a value of zero, and E is a constant representing lens thickness of the optic axis; means defining a view segment through the device for optical viewing of an object by the eye, and displacement means providing controlled lateral motion of The lens and viewing segment relative to each other along a line on the x axis defined by: Y o and a second lens element positioned in said view path, said second lens element including transparent optical media having first and second optical interfaces with said transparent media disposed between said interfaces, the thickness of said optical media between said optical interfaces including a variation of effective optical thickness measured substantially orthogonal to an x, y, Cartesian coordinate axis system disposed substantially parallel to said interfaces, said second effective optical thickness variation defined by the terms: B (x3/3 - xy2) wherein: x represents a position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic axis; y represents a position on a Cartesian coordinate system wherein said y axis is substantially normal to said x axis in said plane; and B is a constant representing the lens power variation; and displacement means for displacing said second lens element along said view path for providing controlled displacement of said lens relative to said view segment to bring an object viewed into best focus for any eye.

Claim 14

An opthalmological instrument comprising: means for providing spherical lens power including at least one lens; second and third lenses arranged in tandem one behind the other along an optic axis; each second and third lens having first and second optical interfaces disposed substantially normal to the optic axis with a transparent lens media disposed between said interfaces, the thickness of said optical media of each of said lenses including a variation of effective optical thickness measured substantially orthogonal to an x, y, Cartesian coordinate axis system disposed substantially normal to the optic axis, said effective optical thickness for said second lens element defined by the term: (+) A (x3/3 - xy2) said effective optical thickness variation for said third lens element defined by the term: (-) A (x3/3 - xy2) wherein: x represents position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic axis; y represents position on a Cartesian coordinate system wherein said y axis is substantially normal to said x axis in said plane; and A is a constant representing the lens power variation per unit translation over a lens surface; first means for displacing said second lens element transversely of said optic axis; and, second means for displacing said second lens element transversely of said optic axis.

Claim 15

An opthalmological instrument comprising: means for providing spherical lens power including at least one lens; second and third lenses arranged in tandem one behind the other along an optic axis; each second and third lens having first and second optical interfaces disposed substantially normal to the optic axis with a transparent lens media disposed between said interfaces, the thickness of said optical media of each of said lenses including a variation of effective optical thickness measured substantially orthogonal to an x, y, Cartesian coordinate axis system disposed substantially normal to the optic axis, said effective optical thickness for said second lens element defined by the term: (+) A (x3/3 - xy2) said effective optical thickness variation for said third lens element defined by the term: (-) A (x3/3 - xy2) wherein: x represents position on a Cartesian coordinate system substantially normal to said optic axis; y represents position on a Cartesian coordinate system wherein said y axis is substantially normal to said x axis in said plane; and A is a constant representing the lens power variation per unit translation over a lens surface; first means for displacing said second lens element transversely of said optic axis; and, second means for displacing said second lens element transversely of said optic axis.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 11 wherein said first means for displacing the second lens element with respect to said optic axis moves said second lens element in a first direction substantially normal to said optic axis; said second means for displacing said third lens element with respect to said optic axis moves said third lens element along a second direction substantially normal to said optic axis and substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

Claim 17

A process for prescribing for a patient an astigmatic eye prescription including variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotational alignment comprising: providing a patient viewing station; providing an image to be viewed along a light path to said image; providing first apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along first and second substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said light path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said first apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens power prescription for said patient at said first apparatus; providing second apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along third and fOurth substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path, said third and fourth axes positioned relative to said first and second axes so that first imaginary planes taken through said first and second substantially perpendicular axes along said view path lie without second imaginary planes taken through said third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes along said preselected view path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said second apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens prescription for said patient at said second apparatus.

Claim 18

A process for prescribing for a patient an astigmatic eye prescription including variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotational alignment comprising: providing a patient viewing station; providing an image to be viewed along a light path to said image; providing first apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along first and second substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said light path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said first apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens power prescription for said patient at said first apparatus; providing second apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along third and fOurth substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path, said third and fourth axes positioned relative to said first and second axes so that first imaginary planes taken through said first and second substantially perpendicular axes along said view path lie without second imaginary planes taken through said third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes along said preselected view path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said second apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens prescription for said patient at said second apparatus.

Claim 19

A process for prescribing for a patient an astigmatic eye prescription including variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotational alignment comprising: providing a patient viewing station; providing an image to be viewed along a light path to said image; providing first apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along first and second substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said light path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said first apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image from said patient viewing station to determine a component of astigmatic lens power prescription for said patient at said first apparatus; providing second apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path, said third and fourth axes positioned relative to said first and second axes so that first imaginary planes taken through said first and second substantially perpendicular axes along said view path are non-coincident with second imaginary planes taken through said third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes along said preselected view path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said second apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens prescription for said patient at said second apparatus; providing a Cartesian coordinate plot having first and second axes; plotting relative to said first axis of said Cartesian coordinate plot the component of astigmatic lens power of said first apparatus; plotting relative to said second axis of said Cartesian coordinate plot the component of astigmatic lens power of said second apparatus to determine a point of an astigmatic prescription for said patient on said Cartesian coordinate plot.

Claim 20

A process for prescribing for a patient an astigmatic eye prescription including variable astigmatic lens power and variable astigmatic lens rotational alignment comprising: providing a patient viewing station; providing an image to be viewed along a light path to said image; providing first apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along first and second substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said light path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said first apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image from said patient viewing station to determine a component of astigmatic lens power prescription for said patient at said first apparatus; providing second apparatus for generating variable astigmatic lens power in said light path along third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes substantially normal to said view path, said third and fourth axes positioned relative to said first and second axes so that first imaginary planes taken through said first and second substantially perpendicular axes along said view path are non-coincident with second imaginary planes taken through said third and fourth substantially perpendicular axes along said preselected view path; varying said astigmatic lens power at said second apparatus responsive to maximum visual acuity of said image to determine a component of astigmatic lens prescription for said patient at said second apparatus; providing a Cartesian coordinate plot having first and second axes; plotting relative to said first axis of said Cartesian coordinate plot the component of astigmatic lens power of said first apparatus; plotting relative to said second axis of said Cartesian coordinate plot the component of astigmatic lens power of said second apparatus to determine a point of an astigmatic prescription for said patient on said Cartesian coordinate plot.