US5694198A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus including waveform rectifying means and method for eye examination
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-04
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2016-06-04
Abstract
Abstract An eye examination apparatus enables the examination of a condition of an eye (e.g., the refractive power of an eye, the focus state of the apparatus on the eye) being examined with high precision even when there is a partial obstruction such as a partial crystalline lens cloudiness or partial vitreum cloudiness in the eyeball of the eye. A light projecting optical system projects light (an image) onto a fundus of the eye being examined. A light-receiving element receives the light (the image) reflected from the eye fundus and outputs a waveform representative of the received reflected light. A waveform rectifying device rectifies the output waveform from the light-receiving element by correcting a disorder of the light-receiving element output waveform caused by partial obstruction in the eyeball or the like when such a disorder is determined to be present. The condition (e.g., refractive power, the focus states, etc.) of the partially obstructed eye is then determined using the rectified waveform from the waveform rectifying device. The eye examining device can further include an illuminating optical system that emits illuminating light on the eye fundus and a photographic optical system for photographing or observing the eye fundus illuminated by the illuminating optical system.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasunori Ueno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An eye examination apparatus, comprising: a light projecting optical system including a light source that projects light onto a fundus of an eye being examined; a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from the eye fundus and outputs a waveform signal representing a characteristic of the received reflected light; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal output by the light-receiving element when the waveform signal includes disorders caused by a partial obstruction in the eye so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and an examining device that examines a condition of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An eye examination apparatus, comprising: a light projecting optical system including a light source that projects light onto a fundus of an eye being examined; a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from the eye fundus and outputs a waveform signal representing a characteristic of the received reflected light; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal output by the light-receiving element when the waveform signal includes disorders caused by a partial obstruction in the eye so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and an examining device that examines a condition of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the eye examination apparatus is an eye refractive power measuring apparatus, the output waveform signal represents a refractive power of the eye, and the examining device measures the refractive power of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the eye examination apparatus is an ophthalmologic apparatus, the output waveform signal represents a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye being examined, and the examining device is a focus state detector that determines a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial obstruction is at least one of a partial crystalline lens cloudiness and a partial vitreum cloudiness in the eye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the examining device determines a degree of cloudiness in the eye based on the characteristic of waveform disorder in the waveform signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display that displays a value representative of the degree of cloudiness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light projecting optical system forms a predetermined image on the eye fundus in one of visible light and infrared light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform rectifying device rectifies the output waveform signal by interpolating the output waveform signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a photographing optical system that permits observing and photographing of the eye fundus illuminated by the light projecting optical system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether there are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
An eye examination apparatus, comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light image onto a fundus of an eye being examined; photo-conversion means for receiving light reflected from the eye fundus and outputting a waveform signal representing the received reflected light; and waveform rectifying means for determining whether the waveform signal output by the light-receiving means includes a waveform disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye and for eliminating the disorder when the disorder is determined so as to output a rectified waveform signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An eye examination apparatus, comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light image onto a fundus of an eye being examined; photo-conversion means for receiving light reflected from the eye fundus and outputting a waveform signal representing the received reflected light; and waveform rectifying means for determining whether the waveform signal output by the light-receiving means includes a waveform disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye and for eliminating the disorder when the disorder is determined so as to output a rectified waveform signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is an eye refractive power measuring apparatus, the output waveform signal represents a refractive power of the eye, and further comprising means for determining the refractive power of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is an ophthalmologic apparatus, the output waveform signal represents a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye being examined, and further comprising means for determining a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the partial obstruction is at least one of a partial crystalline lens cloudiness and a partial vitreum cloudiness in the eye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the waveform rectifying means determines a degree of cloudiness in the eye based on a characteristic of the waveform disorder in the output waveform signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising display means for displaying a value representative of the degree of cloudiness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether there are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of examining an eye, comprising the steps of: projecting light onto a fundus of an eye being examined; receiving light reflected from the eye fundus with a light-receiving element that outputs a waveform signal representing the received reflected light; determining whether a waveform disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye exists in the output waveform signal; rectifying the detected waveform disorder in the output waveform signal by eliminating the disorder to output a rectified waveform signal; and examining a condition of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of examining an eye, comprising the steps of: projecting light onto a fundus of an eye being examined; receiving light reflected from the eye fundus with a light-receiving element that outputs a waveform signal representing the received reflected light; determining whether a waveform disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye exists in the output waveform signal; rectifying the detected waveform disorder in the output waveform signal by eliminating the disorder to output a rectified waveform signal; and examining a condition of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the examined condition is a refractive power of the eye, and the rectified waveform signal represents the refractive power of the eye.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the examined condition is a focus state of an ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye, and the rectified waveform signal represents the focus state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the partial obstruction is at least one of a partial crystalline lens cloudiness and a partial vitreum cloudiness in the eye.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of determining a degree of cloudiness in the eye based on a characteristic of the detected waveform disorder in the output waveform signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of displaying a value representative of the degree of cloudiness on a display device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether these are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
98 words
An eye refractive power measuring apparatus, comprising: a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from a fundus of an eye being examined and outputs a waveform signal representing the refractive power of the eye; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal output by the light-receiving element when the waveform signal includes a disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye being examined so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and a measuring device that measures the refractive power of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
98 words
An eye refractive power measuring apparatus, comprising: a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from a fundus of an eye being examined and outputs a waveform signal representing the refractive power of the eye; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal output by the light-receiving element when the waveform signal includes a disorder caused by a partial obstruction in the eye being examined so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and a measuring device that measures the refractive power of the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The eye refractive power measuring apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the measuring device determines a degree of cloudiness in the eye based on the characteristic of waveform disorder in the waveform signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The eye refractive power measuring apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a display that displays a value representing the degree of cloudiness of the eye.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The eye refractive power measuring apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether there are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
107 words
An ophthalmologic apparatus, comprising: an index mark projecting optical system that projects a character onto the fundus of an eye being examined; a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from the eye fundus and outputs a waveform signal representing a characteristic of received reflected light; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal when the waveform signal includes a disorder caused by partial cloudiness in the eyeball, so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and a focus state detecting system that determines a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
107 words
An ophthalmologic apparatus, comprising: an index mark projecting optical system that projects a character onto the fundus of an eye being examined; a light-receiving element that receives light reflected from the eye fundus and outputs a waveform signal representing a characteristic of received reflected light; a waveform rectifying device that rectifies the waveform signal when the waveform signal includes a disorder caused by partial cloudiness in the eyeball, so as to eliminate the disorder and so as to output a rectified waveform signal; and a focus state detecting system that determines a focus state of the ophthalmologic apparatus on the eye based on the rectified waveform signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ophthalmologic apparatus of claim 29, wherein the focus state detecting system detects a degree of cloudiness in the eye based on a characteristic of the waveform disorder in the output waveform signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ophthalmologic apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a display that displays a value representing the degree of cloudiness.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ophthalmologic apparatus of claim 29, further comprising: an illuminating optical system that emits illuminating light on the fundus of the eye; and a photographing optical system that enables observing and photographing of the eye fundus illuminated by the illuminating optical system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ophthalmologic apparatus of clam 29, further comprising means for analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether there are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ophthalmologic apparatus of clam 29, further comprising means for analyzing the output waveforms to determine whether there are discontinuous parts or irregular parts in the output waveforms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |