Eye-fundus camera provided with automatic focusing function

Claim 2

An eye-fundus camera comprising: means for obtaining a picture of the fundus of an eye being examined and including illumination means for illuminating the fundus with an illumination light of wavelength within a first range, imaging optical means for forming an image of the illuminated fundus, photodetecting means for detecting the image, and focusing means for causing said optical means to focus the image on said detecting means; mark forming means for forming a detection mark on the fundus with light of wavelength within the first range and light of wavelength within a second range different from the first range, operation of said mark forming means being coordinated with said focusing means; photosensing means disposed in an optical path of said imaging optical means for sensing the detection mark reflected from the fundus; filtering means for filtering the light incident on said photosensing means, said filtering means being able to cut off said light of wavelength within the first range and to transmit light of wavelength within the second range; observation means disposed in an optical path of said imaging optical means for permitting an observer to observe the fundus and the detection mark and also for providing a visual field for observation by the observer; comparative mark providing means for providing a comparative mark locatable in the visual field for observation relative to the detection mark reflected from the fundus in a predetermined relation when said focusing means causes said optical means to focus the image on said photo-detecting means; and control means for operating said focusing means and said mark forming means until the detection mark and the comparative mark are located in the predetermined relation, whereby said focusing means causes said optical means to focus the image on said photo-detecting means.

Claim 3

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first wavelength range is the range of visible light.

Claim 4

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second wavelength range is the range of infrared light.

Claim 5

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filtering means is a wavelength selecting mirror disposed between said imaging optical means and said photo-detecting means.

Claim 6

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said comparative mark providing means further forms a detection mark on said fundus with light of wavelength within the first range and cooperates with said focusing means.

Claim 7

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a barrier filter which is removably interposed in said imaging optical means and which transmits light of wavelength within the second range.

Claim 8

An eye-fundus camera comprising: illumination means for illuminating the fundus of an eye being examined with light in the visible range; means for obtaining a picture of the illuminated fundus and including, in optical order, an objective lens, aperture means, a relay lens, means for selecting an optical path and photographic film said obtaining means being operable to focus an image of the fundus on said photographic film; viewing means optically connected with said selecting means and disposed for viewing said fundus; projection means for projecting on the fundus a first detecting light containing visible rays and infrared rays and a second detecting light containing visible rays; a wavelength selecting mirror disposed between said relay lens and said photographic film for transmitting visible rays but reflecting infrared rays; a linear photosensor array for sensing the position of the first detecting light, as reflected from said fundus and then reflected by said wavelength selecting mirror, relative to a reference position indicating that the image of the fundus is focused on said photographic film, and for producing an output indicative of said sensing; and focus controlling means for operating said obtaining means and projection means to cause said obtaining means to focus the image of the fundus based on one of the output from said linear photosensor array and manual operation of said obtaining means.

Claim 9

An eye-fundus camera comprising: illumination means for illuminating the fundus of an eye being examined with light in the visible range; means for obtaining a picture of the illuminated fundus and including, in optical order, an objective lens, aperture means, a relay lens, means for selecting an optical path and photographic film said obtaining means being operable to focus an image of the fundus on said photographic film; viewing means optically connected with said selecting means and disposed for viewing said fundus; projection means for projecting on the fundus a first detecting light containing visible rays and infrared rays and a second detecting light containing visible rays; a wavelength selecting mirror disposed between said relay lens and said photographic film for transmitting visible rays but reflecting infrared rays; a linear photosensor array for sensing the position of the first detecting light, as reflected from said fundus and then reflected by said wavelength selecting mirror, relative to a reference position indicating that the image of the fundus is focused on said photographic film, and for producing an output indicative of said sensing; and focus controlling means for operating said obtaining means and projection means to cause said obtaining means to focus the image of the fundus based on one of the output from said linear photosensor array and manual operation of said obtaining means.

Claim 10

An eye-fundus camera as set forth in claim 7 which further comprises a barrier filter which is removably interposed between said aperture means and said wavelength selecting mirror and which transmits infrared rays.

Claim 11

An eye-fundus inspection apparatus comprising: a camera having illuminating means for illuminating the fundus of an eye being examined, objective optical means positionable in opposition to the eye being examined, imaging optical means for receiving light from said objective optical means and forming an image of the fundus, image receiving means for detecting the image formed by said imaging optical means, and focusing means for focusing the camera on the fundus of the eye; focus mark projecting means for projecting, on the fundus through said objective optical means, at least two focus marks one of which is formed by light of wavelength in a first range and the other of which is formed by light of wavelength within at least a portion of the first range and light of wavelength within a range different from the first range, said focus mark projecting means being operationally associated with said camera for placing said focus marks in a predetermined positional relation with each other when said focus marks are focused on the fundus and said camera is focused on the fundus and for placing said focus marks out of said predetermined positional relation when said marks are defocused on the fundus and said camera is defocused on the fundus; focus mark detecting means for detecting the positional relation of said focus marks reflected from the fundus and emerging from said objective optical means, said focus mark detecting means having photosensing means for detecting one of said focus marks, and wavelength selecting means for permitting incidence on said photosensing means, only of light of wavelength within the second range, said photosensing means operating said focusing means and said focus mark projecting means until said focus marks are put in said predetermined positional relation; and viewing means optically coupled with said camera and for viewing the fundus and said focus marks.

Claim 12

An eye-fundus inspection apparatus comprising: a camera having illuminating means for illuminating the fundus of an eye being examined, objective optical means positionable in opposition to the eye being examined, imaging optical means for receiving light from said objective optical means and forming an image of the fundus, image receiving means for detecting the image formed by said imaging optical means, and focusing means for focusing the camera on the fundus of the eye; focus mark projecting means for projecting, on the fundus through said objective optical means, at least two focus marks one of which is formed by light of wavelength in a first range and the other of which is formed by light of wavelength within at least a portion of the first range and light of wavelength within a range different from the first range, said focus mark projecting means being operationally associated with said camera for placing said focus marks in a predetermined positional relation with each other when said focus marks are focused on the fundus and said camera is focused on the fundus and for placing said focus marks out of said predetermined positional relation when said marks are defocused on the fundus and said camera is defocused on the fundus; focus mark detecting means for detecting the positional relation of said focus marks reflected from the fundus and emerging from said objective optical means, said focus mark detecting means having photosensing means for detecting one of said focus marks, and wavelength selecting means for permitting incidence on said photosensing means, only of light of wavelength within the second range, said photosensing means operating said focusing means and said focus mark projecting means until said focus marks are put in said predetermined positional relation; and viewing means optically coupled with said camera and for viewing the fundus and said focus marks.

Claim 13

An eye fundus inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second wavelength range is the range of infrared light.

Claim 14

An eye-fundus inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said wavelength selecting means comprises a dichroic mirror.

Claim 15

An eye-fundus inspection apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a barrier filter disposed between said objective optical means and said image receiving means, said barrier filter transmitting therethrough light of wavelength within said second wavelength range for fluorescent photography.