Controller and ophthalmic examination device comprising same

Abstract

This invention discloses a controller and an eye examination device including the same, namely, a stick controller for adjusting the position of the examination unit relative to the eye being examined and an eye examination device including the same. The controller includes: an operation unit (22) manipulated by a user to be located in a first drive region or a second drive region; a first magnetic coupling unit (30) coupled to the operation unit (22) and moving together with the operation unit (22) along a first region (34); a second magnetic coupling unit (40) magnetically detachably coupled to the first magnetic coupling unit (30) to move along a second region (44); and a control signal generation unit (28) that outputs a first drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the first drive region and outputs a second drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the second drive region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller, and more specifically, to an ophthalmic examination device, comprising a stick controller for adjusting the position of the examination section relative to the eye being examined, and an ophthalmic examination device including the stick controller. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, the eye examination device fixes the subject's face in a predetermined position and adjusts the position of the examination unit relative to the subject's eye so that the subject's eye and the examination unit are aligned, and then uses the examination unit to examine the subject's eye. Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of a typical eye examination device. (As shown) Figure 1 As shown, a typical eye examination device includes: a base 10 on which a headrest 12 for fixing the subject's face is mounted; an examination unit 14 mounted on the base 10 and movable relative to the subject fixed to the headrest 12 in the front, back, left, right, and / or up and down direction to examine the subject's eyes; a drive unit disposed on the base 10 to move the examination unit 14 (not shown); and a controller 16 that controls the drive unit to move the examination unit 14 to a desired position. The drive unit may be a manual drive unit that mechanically transmits the driving force of the controller 16 to gears or the like in the examination unit 14, or an electric drive unit that actuates an electric drive motor to move the examination unit 14 according to a drive signal from the controller 16 (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-23960).

[0003] In this type of eye examination device, it is necessary to drive the examination unit 14 in two different ways. For example, the position of the examination unit 14 can be precisely adjusted by a micro-motion operation driven at a slower speed, or the position of the examination unit 14 can be quickly changed by a coarse-motion operation driven at a faster speed. Furthermore, when the coarse-motion operation of the examination unit 14 ends, it is necessary to restore the position of the controller 16 to its original position so that the examination unit 14 can quickly switch back to the micro-motion operation. To this end, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-23960 discloses a structure in which a coarse-motion operation is performed when the tilt angle of the controller 16 is greater than a predetermined angle, and in this case, a restoring force is generated by utilizing the elastic force of a spring, so that the tilt angle of the controller 16 becomes the predetermined angle. However, when the tilt angle of the controller 16 is restored by the elastic force of the spring, it is difficult to precisely adjust the restoring force, resulting in different restoring forces for each eye examination device, and potential equipment malfunctions such as the restoring force decreasing over time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a controller that automatically returns to the predetermined position when an external force is no longer applied at a position beyond the predetermined position, and an eye examination device including the controller.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller and an eye examination device comprising the same, wherein the restoring force is uniform from each device to a predetermined position and the restoring force changes little over time.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller and an eye examination device including the controller that generate restoring force, which have a simple structure, are easy to manufacture, and have fewer failures.

[0008] Technical solution

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a controller 20, comprising: an operation unit 22, which is manipulated by a user to be located in a first drive region or a second drive region; a first magnetic coupling unit 30, which is coupled to the operation unit 22 and moves together with the operation unit 22 along a first region 34; a second magnetic coupling unit 40, which is magnetically and detachably coupled to the first magnetic coupling unit 30 to move along a second region 44; and a control signal generation unit 28, which outputs a first drive control signal when the operation unit 22 is located in the first drive region, and outputs a second drive control signal when the operation unit 22 is located in the second drive region, wherein the first magnetic coupling unit... The moving area of ​​30 includes the moving area of ​​the second magnetic coupling part 40. The first area 34 includes the second area 44. When the operating part 22 is located in the second driving area, the first magnetic coupling part 30 and the second magnetic coupling part 40 move within the second area 44 in a magnetically coupled state based on the drive of the operating part 22. When the operating part 22 is located in the first driving area, the first magnetic coupling part 30 moves to the first area 34 outside the second area 44, so that the first magnetic coupling part 30 and the second magnetic coupling part 40 separate from each other, and a magnetic attraction is generated between the second magnetic coupling part 40 and the first magnetic coupling part 30.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention provides an eye examination device, comprising: a base portion 10 on which a headrest 12 for fixing the face of the subject is mounted; an examination portion 14 mounted on the base portion 10 and capable of moving relative to the eye to be examined fixed to the headrest 12 to examine the eye; a drive portion disposed on the base portion 10 to move the examination portion 14; and the aforementioned controller 20 controlling the drive portion to move the examination portion 14 to a desired position.

[0011] The effects of the invention

[0012] The controller of the present invention has the advantage that, when the external force is not applied at a position beyond the predetermined position, the magnitude of the restoring force returning to the predetermined position is uniform in each device, and the decrease in restoring force over time is minimal. Furthermore, the controller of the present invention and the eye examination device including it have the advantage that the mechanism for generating the restoring force has a simple structure, making it easy to manufacture, and that malfunctions are less frequent. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of a typical eye examination device.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 and Figure 5 These are cross-sectional views showing the state in which the controller of an embodiment of the present invention is manipulated in two different ways and the restored state. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. The controller 20 of an embodiment of the present invention can generate drive control signals for controlling the drive direction, drive amount, and drive speed of the inspection unit 14, thereby driving the inspection unit 14. Figure 2 As shown, the controller 20 of the present invention may include an operation unit 22, such as a stick operation unit 22, and a control signal generation unit 28. Depending on the needs, it may further include a rotary control disk 24, a measurement button 26, etc. The user can drive the inspection unit 14 by operating the operation unit 22 and the rotary control disk 24. For example, when the operation unit 22 is tilted left / right (R / L), the inspection unit 14 moves left / right (R / L); when the operation unit 22 is tilted forward / backward (F / B), the inspection unit 14 moves forward / backward (F / B); when the rotary control disk 24 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise (U / D), the inspection unit 14 moves up / down (U / D). A measurement button 26 can be provided on the upper part of the operation unit 22, and the inspection, observation, and photographing actions of the inspection unit 14 can be controlled using the measurement button 26.

[0019] The control signal generation unit 28 detects the positions of the operation unit 22, the rotation control dial 24, etc., and generates drive control signals for the drive inspection unit 14 and the drive unit according to the positions of the operation unit 22 and the rotation control dial 24. The control signal generation unit 28 may be a common sensor such as a potentiometer or an encoder that generates an electrical signal with a corresponding intensity according to the positions of the operation unit 22 and the rotation control dial 24. In the controller of the present invention, the operation unit 22 can drive the drive inspection unit 14 in two different ways. For example, as Figure 2 shown, when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is within a predetermined range (-a ≤ x ≤ +a), a fine movement operation of driving the drive inspection unit 14 at a slower speed can be performed; when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is greater than the predetermined range (for example, -b ≤ x < -a and +a < x ≤ +b, where a < b), a coarse movement operation of driving the drive inspection unit 14 at a faster speed can be performed. Thus, when the controller outputs signals corresponding to two different drive states according to the position of the operation unit 22, it is necessary to switch from one drive state to the other. For example, when an external force is applied to the operation unit 22 such that the operation unit 22 is in the coarse movement drive state, and then the external force applied to the operation unit 22 is removed, it is necessary to automatically return the tilt angle of the operation unit 22 to the fine movement drive range so that the operation unit 22 is in the fine movement drive state.

[0020] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 3 shown, the controller of the present invention includes an operation unit 22, a first magnetic coupling unit 30, a second magnetic coupling unit 40, and a control signal generation unit 28. The operation unit 22 is manipulated by the user to be located in the first drive area or the second drive area. When the operation unit 22 is located in the first drive area, the control signal generation unit 28 of the controller outputs a first drive control signal; when the operation unit 22 is located in the second drive area, the control signal generation unit 28 of the controller outputs a second drive control signal. For example, as Figure 4 shown, when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is within a predetermined range (0 ≤ x ≤ +a, second drive area), a fine movement control signal for driving the drive inspection unit 14 at a slower speed can be output ( Figure 4 A); when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is greater than the predetermined range (for example, +a < x ≤ +b, where a < b, first drive area), a coarse movement control signal for driving the drive inspection unit 14 at a faster speed can be output ( Figure 4(B) The first magnetic coupling portion 30 is coupled to the operating portion 22 and moves together with the operating portion 22 along the first region 34. The second magnetic coupling portion 40 is magnetically and detachably coupled to the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and moves along the second region 44. The first region 34 includes the second region 44 such that the moving region of the first magnetic coupling portion 30 can include the moving region of the second magnetic coupling portion 40. When the operating unit 22 is located in the second driving region, the second magnetic coupling part 40 moves within the second region 44 based on the drive of the operating unit 22 while being magnetically coupled with the first magnetic coupling part 30. When an external force is applied to the operating unit 22, causing it to be located in the first driving region, the first magnetic coupling part 30 moves to the first region 34 outside the second region 44. Since the second magnetic coupling part 40 cannot detach from the second region 44, the second magnetic coupling part 40 and the first magnetic coupling part 30 separate from each other, and an attraction caused by magnetic force is generated between the second magnetic coupling part 40 and the first magnetic coupling part 30. At this time, when the external force applied to the operating unit 22 is removed, the first magnetic coupling part 30 returns to the second region 44 due to the attraction between the second magnetic coupling part 40 and the first magnetic coupling part 30, and the operating unit 22 also returns to the second driving region.

[0021] In this invention, the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 can be magnetic bodies that are joined together without the application of external force, such as neodymium magnets, preferably circular magnets with the same outer diameter, but not limited thereto; various combinations of metal-magnet or the like that can be detachably joined by magnetic force can be used. When an external force is applied to the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 to separate them, an attraction caused by magnetic force is generated between the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40. When the external force separating the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 is removed, the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 return to their initial joined state by the attraction.

[0022] The first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 are housed inside the housing 50. A first movable region 34 of the first magnetic coupling portion 30 is formed by a first inner wall 32 inside the housing 50, and a second movable region 44 of the second magnetic coupling portion 40 is formed by a second inner wall 42 inside the housing 50. The first region 34 and the second region 44 are adjacent to each other in a manner that allows the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 to be detachably coupled, thereby forming such that the first region 34 includes the second region 44.

[0023] The operation unit 22 may have various structures capable of moving the first magnetic coupling unit 30 along the first region 34. For example, as Figure 3 shown, the operation unit 22 may have a structure that rotates about a rotation axis 22b, with a handle 22a formed at one end and a protrusion 22c formed at the other end that is slidably inserted into a fastening portion 36 formed on the first magnetic coupling unit 30, so that a rotational movement of rotating the handle 22a with respect to the rotation axis 22b guides a linear movement of the first magnetic coupling unit 30 (refer to Figure 4 ).

[0024] Next, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 to describe the operation of the controller of the present invention. Figure 4 and Figure 5 are cross-sectional views showing states in which the controller of an embodiment of the present invention is manipulated and restored in two different ways from each other. Figure 4 The lower-middle figure is a plan view showing the positional relationship of the first magnetic coupling unit 30, the second magnetic coupling unit 40, the first region 34, and the second region 44.

[0025] As Figure 4 shown, if the operation unit 22 is located in the second driving region, for example, when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is at a position within a predetermined range (0 ≤ x ≤ +a) ( Figure 4 A), then when the first magnetic coupling unit 30 and the second magnetic coupling unit 40 are located in the second region 44, they are magnetically coupled to each other, and the control signal generation unit 28 of the controller senses the position of the operation unit 22 to output a second driving control signal (for example, a fine movement control signal). In this state, when an external force is applied to the operation unit 22 such that the operation unit 22 is located in the first driving region, for example, when the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22 is greater than the predetermined range (for example, +a < x ≤ +b, where a < b) ( Figure 4(B) Since the second magnetic coupling portion 40 cannot detach from the second region 44, the first magnetic coupling portion 30 detaches from the second magnetic coupling portion 40 and is located in the first region 34 outside the second region 44. The control signal generation unit 28 of the controller senses the position of the operation unit 22 and outputs a first drive control signal (e.g., a coarse control signal). That is, when the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 are connected to each other inside the second region 44, and then an external force causes the first magnetic coupling portion 30 to move to the first region 34 outside the second region 44, the second magnetic coupling portion 40 touches the second inner wall 42 of the housing 50 and can no longer move. Therefore, the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40 separate, and an attraction is generated between the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40.

[0026] In this state, when the external force applied to the operating unit 22 is removed ( Figure 5 (A) Through the attraction between the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40, the first magnetic coupling portion 30 returns to the second region 44 and combines with the second magnetic coupling portion 40. Figure 5 (B) The control signal generation unit 28 of the controller senses the position of the operation unit 22 and outputs a second drive control signal (e.g., a micro-motion control signal). Therefore, when the operation unit 22 is operated, if no external force is applied within the tilt angle x of the operation unit 22, for example, within the range of 13.5 degrees to 24.5 degrees, the operation unit 22 returns to the 13.5-degree position. The range of the first drive region and the second drive region of the operation unit 22 can be easily changed by adjusting the size (width) of the first region 34 and the second region 44, or by adjusting the size of the first magnetic coupling portion 30 and the second magnetic coupling portion 40.

[0027] The controller of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in ophthalmic examination devices where the position of the examination unit relative to the eye being examined is adjusted. Therefore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the eye examination device of the present invention includes: a base portion 10 on which a head rest 12 for fixing the face of the subject is mounted; an examination portion 14 mounted on the base portion 10 and capable of moving relative to the eye to be examined fixed to the head rest 12 to examine the eye; a drive portion disposed on the base portion 10 to move the examination portion 14 (not shown); and the aforementioned controller 20, which controls the drive portion to move the examination portion 14 to a desired position.

[0028] This invention relates to a control device (lever module) that utilizes the attraction between two magnets and the positional relationship of the two magnets at a predetermined angle to restore the position at a specific angle. According to the invention, when the operating unit 22 is in a predetermined drive area, it can automatically move to other drive areas without the application of a separate external force, thus preventing the inspection unit 14 from being driven against the user's intention.

[0029] While the invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited to the contents shown in the drawings and the embodiments described above. Although reference numerals are used in the claims to aid understanding, the scope of the claims is not limited to the reference numerals and contents shown in the drawings, but should be interpreted as covering all variations, equivalent configurations, and functions of the exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A controller (20), characterized in that, include: The operation unit (22) is manipulated by the user to be located in the first drive area or the second drive area; A first magnetic coupling part (30) is coupled to the operating part (22) and moves together with the operating part (22) along the first region (34); The second magnetic coupling part (40) is magnetically coupled to the first magnetic coupling part (30) so as to move along the second region (44); as well as The control signal generation unit (28) outputs a first drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the first drive region, and outputs a second drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the second drive region. The first region (34) and the second region (44) are adjacent to each other in such a way that the first magnetic coupling (30) and the second magnetic coupling (40) can be detachably coupled, and the first region (34) and the second region (44) are formed such that the moving area of ​​the first magnetic coupling (30) includes the moving area of ​​the second magnetic coupling (40). When the operating part (22) is located in the second driving region, the first magnetic coupling part (30) and the second magnetic coupling part (40) move within the second region (44) in a state of magnetic coupling based on the drive of the operating part (22). When the operating part (22) is located in the first driving region, the first magnetic coupling part (30) moves to the first region (34) outside the second region (44), so that the first magnetic coupling part (30) and the second magnetic coupling part (40) separate from each other, and a magnetic attraction is generated between the second magnetic coupling part (40) and the first magnetic coupling part (30).

2. The controller (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating part (22) moves to the first driving area by external force. When the external force is removed, the first magnetic joint (30) returns to the second area (44) by the attraction between the second magnetic joint (40) and the first magnetic joint (30), and the operating part (22) also returns to the second driving area.

3. The controller (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first magnetic coupling portion (30) and the second magnetic coupling portion (40) are housed inside the outer shell (50). The first region (34) in which the first magnetic coupling portion (30) moves is formed by the first inner wall (32) inside the outer shell (50), and the second region (44) in which the second magnetic coupling portion (40) moves is formed by the second inner wall (42) inside the outer shell (50).

4. The controller (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first magnetic coupling portion (30) and the second magnetic coupling portion (40) are neodymium magnets that are coupled together when no external force is applied.

5. An eye examination device, characterized in that, include: The base (10) is equipped with a headrest (12) to fix the subject's face. The inspection unit (14) is mounted on the base unit (10) and moves relative to the eye to be examined, which is fixed to the headrest (12), to examine the eye. A drive unit is provided on the base part (10) to move the inspection part (14). as well as The controller (20) controls the drive unit to move the inspection unit (14) to the desired position. The controller (20) includes: an operation unit (22) manipulated by a user to be located in a first drive region or a second drive region; a first magnetic coupling unit (30) coupled to the operation unit (22) and moving together with the operation unit (22) along a first region (34); a second magnetic coupling unit (40) magnetically detachably coupled to the first magnetic coupling unit (30) to move along a second region (44); and a control signal generation unit (28) that outputs a first drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the first drive region, and outputs a second drive control signal when the operation unit (22) is located in the second drive region. The first region (34) and the second region (44) are adjacent to each other in such a way that the first magnetic coupling part (30) and the second magnetic coupling part (40) can be detachably coupled. The first region (34) and the second region (44) are formed such that the moving area of ​​the first magnetic coupling part (30) includes the moving area of ​​the second magnetic coupling part (40). When the operating part (22) is located in the second driving region, the first magnetic coupling part (30) and the second magnetic coupling part (40) move in the second region (44) in a state of magnetic coupling based on the drive of the operating part (22). When the operating part (22) is located in the first driving region, the first magnetic coupling part (30) moves to the first region (34) outside the second region (44), so that the first magnetic coupling part (30) and the second magnetic coupling part (40) separate from each other, and a magnetic attraction is generated between the second magnetic coupling part (40) and the first magnetic coupling part (30).

6. The eye examination device according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the operation unit (22) is located in the second drive area, it outputs a micro-motion control signal that drives the inspection unit (14) at a slower speed; When the operation unit (22) is located in the first driving region, it outputs a coarse control signal to drive the inspection unit (14) at a faster speed.

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