Control system for at least one eye examination device

Abstract

Control system for at least one eye examination device One aspect of the invention relates to a control system (100) for at least one eye examination device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) configured to communicate according to a first communication protocol, comprising: a control box (101) configured to communicate according to a second communication protocol; for each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), a hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) configured to be connected to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and to the control box (101), and to ensure communication between the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control box (101) by converting the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;the control box (101) being configured to control each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), to receive data from each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) and to process the received data. Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 1;

Description

Title of the invention: Control system for at least one eye examination device TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of eye examinations and more particularly that of control systems for devices for carrying out eye examinations.

[0002] The present invention relates to a control system for carrying out an eye examination, and more particularly to a control system for at least one eye examination apparatus. The present invention also relates to an eye examination system comprising the control system and a control method implemented by the control system. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An eye examination involves several stages, each involving one or more devices, including: • optionally but frequently: • an autorefractometer for objective measurement of eye characteristics, • a frontofocometer to measure the optical characteristics of the patient's spectacle lenses if they already have them, • a computer with patient management software; • systematically except when using a pair of trial glasses or a manual refractor head: • an automatic refractor head to place lenses in front of a patient's eye or eyes and an automatic refractor head control console to control the placement of the lenses, • as well as a screen or optotype projector to display the tests to be read.

[0004] These devices operate in a complementary manner, meaning that the data provided by one will often be used by another. This is the case, for example, of the autorefractometer, which provides data that is then used to control the automatic refractor head. Their interoperability is therefore essential for automated implementation of the eye examination.

[0005] Communication between devices, when possible, generally remains limited to devices from the same manufacturer, or even from the same manufacturer's range. Indeed, each type of eye examination device and each model of type device has its own mode of operation, in particular: • in terms of connectivity, there is a very wide variety of types of sockets, and a tendency for manufacturers not to respect standards and / or practices. A socket normally used for video on computer screens can thus be used for the connection of an automatic refractor head; • several different communication protocols, bus or point-to-point type, are likely to be used: RS232, RS485, CanBus, etc.

[0006] This situation has many disadvantages, including: • the obligation for practitioners to equip themselves exclusively from one manufacturer unless they give up the interoperability of their devices; • in the event of a device breaking down and it being impossible to replace it with an identical one, for example because the manufacturer's range has changed, the need to also replace other devices which are still functional; • the coexistence of varied user interfaces, specific to each manufacturer or even each device model, which requires adapting protocols and training personnel; • the inability to benefit from diagnostic aid tools, self-diagnostics or any other third-party enhancements due to a closed proprietary design; • the brake on the emergence of competitive products that do not have a complete range.

[0007] To overcome these drawbacks, it is known to use an interconnection box allowing communication between the different devices connected to it, by performing a conversion between the different communication protocols used. The interconnection box is then controlled via user equipment on which a dedicated application has been installed allowing the control of the devices via the interconnection box. For this, the interconnection box has for each device, a dedicated hardware port, for example a DE9, DA 15 or DVI port, and a protocol management card. However, for the same device, the connectors and the communication protocol used vary between the different models. Thus, the interconnection box will have to be changed as soon as a device is replaced by a device having different connectors or a different communication protocol, even if the interconnection box is functional.

[0008] There is therefore a need to enable interoperability between the different devices used during an eye examination without having to change functional equipment when a device needs to be replaced. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by allowing the automated implementation of an eye examination by ensuring communication between the different devices used during the examination, without having to change the interconnection box when a device is replaced by a device with a different connection or protocol.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates to a system for controlling at least one vision examination device, each device being configured to communicate according to a first communication protocol specific to the device, the control system comprising: • a control box configured to communicate according to a second communication protocol; • for each device, a hardware key configured to be connected to the device and to the control box, and to ensure communication between the device and the control box by conversion of the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol; the control box being configured to control each device via the corresponding hardware key, to receive data from each device via the corresponding hardware key and to process the received data.

[0011] Thanks to the invention, the performance of the eye examination is managed automatically by the control box which sends, for each step of the eye examination, commands to each eye examination device involved in the performance of the step, and which recovers and processes the data sent by each device during or at the end of this performance, to develop the commands to be sent to the devices performing the following steps, or to develop the final report.

[0012] Each eye examination device is connected to the control box via a hardware key or "dongle" in English, which means that the control box does not need to be changed as soon as a model of eye examination device is replaced by another model with a different connection. It will then be sufficient to change the hardware key.

[0013] Furthermore, each hardware key ensures communication between the vision examination device connected to it and the control box by managing the communication protocols, which makes it possible not to have to modify the control box as soon as a model of vision examination device is replaced by another model using a different communication protocol.

[0014] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the method according to the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, each hardware key comprises a first port hardware adapted to the connection of the corresponding device.

[0016] According to an alternative embodiment compatible with the previous alternative embodiment, the control box is further configured to receive instructions corresponding to a command of a device.

[0017] Thus, the practitioner can therefore control the control box which develops and sends commands to the vision examination devices according to the instructions he has received.

[0018] According to a first sub-variant embodiment of the previous variant embodiment, the control system according to the invention further comprises user equipment comprising a human-machine interface, the instructions being entered via the human-machine interface and the user equipment being configured to transfer the entered instructions to the control box.

[0019] Thus, the user equipment constitutes a single control panel for all the vision examination devices connected to the control box.

[0020] According to a second sub-variant embodiment of the previous variant embodiment compatible with the first sub-variant embodiment, the user equipment is connected to the control box via a wireless connection.

[0021] Thus, the control box can be controlled remotely, which avoids the practitioner having to be on site to carry out the automatically implemented eye examination.

[0022] According to a third sub-variant embodiment of the preceding variant embodiment compatible with the first and second sub-variants, at least one hardware key is further configured to be connected to a control device dedicated to the control of the apparatus to which the hardware key is configured to be connected, the instructions corresponding to the control of the apparatus comprising an operating mode of the control box chosen from a control mode and a supervision mode, the control box being configured to block communication between the apparatus and the control device via the corresponding hardware key, control the apparatus via the corresponding hardware key, receive data from the apparatus via the corresponding hardware key and process the received data when the instructions comprise the control mode,and to unlock communication between the device and the control device via the corresponding hardware key when the instructions include supervision mode.

[0023] Thus, the practitioner can choose to manually perform a test using the device's control device allowing the test to be performed without having to disconnect the control box. The control box is then in supervision mode.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment compatible with the previous alternative embodiments, the hardware key comprises a second hardware port adapted to the connection of the corresponding control device.

[0025] According to an embodiment variant compatible with the pre-embodiment variants previous, the control box is further configured to receive and process data exchanged between the appliance and the control device via the corresponding hardware key when the instructions include supervision mode.

[0026] Thus, the control box in supervision mode collects the data exchanged during the manual test carried out using the device's control device to enable the following tests to be carried out automatically.

[0027] A second aspect of the invention relates to an eye examination system comprising the control system according to the invention and at least one eye examination device, each device being connected to a hardware key of the control system.

[0028] According to an alternative embodiment, the control system according to the invention further comprises, for at least one appliance, a control device dedicated to controlling the appliance, each control device being connected to the hardware key of the control system to which the corresponding appliance is connected.

[0029] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling at least one vision examination device implemented by the control system according to the invention, comprising the following steps: • Reception by the control box of instructions corresponding to a command of a device; • If a first condition according to which the hardware key connected to the device is not connected to a control device is met: • Sending by the control box, at least one command to the device via the corresponding hardware key; • Reception by the hardware key of the command sent; • Conversion by the hardware key of the command received into the first communication protocol specific to the device; • Sending the converted command to the device using the hardware key; • Reception by the hardware key of at least one data item sent by the device; • Conversion by the hardware key of the data received into the second communication protocol of the control box; • Sending the converted data to the control box using the hardware key; • Reception and processing by the control box of the converted data; • If the first condition is not met: • If a second condition that the received instructions include command mode is met: • Blocking by the control box of communication between the device and the control device via the corresponding hardware key; • Completion of the steps carried out if the first condition is met; • If the second condition is not met: • Unlocking by the control box, of the communication between the device and the control device via the corresponding hardware key.

[0030] According to an alternative embodiment, the method according to the invention further comprises the following steps carried out following the unlocking step: • Reception by the hardware key of at least one piece of data exchanged between the device and the control device; • Conversion by the hardware key of the data received into the second communication protocol of the control box; • Sending the converted data to the control box using the hardware key; • Reception and processing by the control box of the converted data.

[0031] The invention and its various applications will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0032] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention. • [Fig.l] shows a schematic representation of an eye examination system according to the invention, comprising a control system according to the invention. • [Fig.2] is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of steps of a method according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

[0034] A first aspect of the invention relates to a control system for carrying out an eye examination, and more particularly a control system for at least one eye examination device.

[0035] The vision examination device is, for example, an autorefractometer, a frontofocometer, an automatic refractor head or even a screen or an optotype projector.

[0036] Each eye examination device uses its own communication protocol, hereinafter called the first communication protocol.

[0037] The first communication protocol is for example RS232, RS485, or CanBus.

[0038] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] shows a schematic representation of the control system 100 according to the invention.

[0039] The control system 100 comprises: • a control box 101; • a hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, otherwise called a “dongle” in English, per eye examination device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0040] Each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is configured to be connected to the corresponding device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3. For this, each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 comprises for example a first hardware port 1021-1, 1021-2, 1021-3 adapted to the connection of the corresponding device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0041] The first hardware port 1021-1, 1021-2, 1021-3 is for example a DE9, DA15 or DVI port.

[0042] In [Fig.l], the control system 100 comprises a first hardware key 102-1 connected to a first vision examination apparatus 201-1, a second hardware key 102-2 connected to a second vision examination apparatus 201-2 and a third hardware key 102-3 connected to a third vision examination apparatus 201-3. The first hardware key 102-1 has a first hardware port 1021-1, the second hardware key 102-2 has a first hardware port 1021-2 and the third hardware key 102-3 has a first hardware port 1021-3.

[0043] Each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is also configured to be connected to the control box 101. For this, each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 comprises for example a socket adapted to a hardware port 1010 of the control box 101, the control box 101 then comprising a hardware port 1010 per hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0044] In [Fig.l], each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is connected to the control box 101 via a hardware port 1010, the control box 101 therefore comprising three hardware ports 1010.

[0045] All the hardware ports 1010 of the control box 101 are for example identical. Each hardware port 1010 of the control box 101 is for example a USB port.

[0046] Each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is configured to provide communication between the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control box 101 to which the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is connected. For this, each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 performs a conversion between the first communication protocol used by the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and a second communication protocol used by the control box 101.

[0047] The control box 101 is configured to control each device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, i.e. to transmit commands to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0048] The control box 101 is also configured to receive data from each device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 and to process the received data.

[0049] The processing of the data received by a device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 makes it possible, for example, to develop the commands to be sent to another device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 or to develop a final report including the results of the eye examination and a recommended prescription.

[0050] The control box 101 can also be configured to receive instructions corresponding to a command of a device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3. For this, the control system 100 comprises for example a user equipment 103 provided with a human-machine interface via which the instructions can be entered, the user equipment 103 then being configured to transfer the entered instructions to the control box 101.

[0051] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the user equipment 103 is for example a tablet having a touch screen for human-machine interface.

[0052] The user equipment 103 may also be a computer or a smartphone.

[0053] The user equipment 103 is for example connected to the control box 101 via a wireless connection, such as a Wifi or Bluetooth connection.

[0054] Alternatively, the user equipment 103 could also be connected to the control box 101 via a wired link.

[0055] Each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 may also be configured to be further connected to a control device 202-1, 202-2 dedicated to controlling the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to which the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is connected. For this, each hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 comprises for example a second hardware port 1022-1, 1022-2, 1022-3 adapted to the connection of the corresponding control device 202-1, 202-2.

[0056] For example, when the eye examination apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 is an automatic refractor head, the control device 202-1, 202-2 is for example its control console.

[0057] In [Fig.l], the first hardware key 102-1 is further connected to a first control device 202-1, the second hardware key 102-2 is further connected to a second control device 202-2 and the third hardware key 102-3 is not connected to any control device.

[0058] The first hardware key 102-1 has a second hardware port 1022-1, the second hardware key 102-2 has a second hardware port 1022-2 and the third hardware key 102-3 has a second hardware port 1022-3.

[0059] In the case where a hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 is connected both to a device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and to its control device 202-1, 202-2, the instructions corresponding to the control of the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 comprise an operating mode of the control box 101 chosen from a control mode and a supervision mode.

[0060] When the instructions include the command mode, the control box 101 is configured to block communication between the apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2 via the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, to control the apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, to receive data from the apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, and to process the received data.

[0061] When the instructions include the supervision mode, the control box 101 is configured to unlock the communication between the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0062] When the instructions include the supervision mode, the control box 101 can also be configured to receive data exchanged between the apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 and to process the received exchanged data.

[0063] The processing of the exchanged data makes it possible to follow the process carried out by the control device 202-1, 202-2 to allow the control box 101 to be able to control the devices 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 subsequently using certain data from the process.

[0064] A second aspect of the invention relates to an eye examination system 200 comprising the control system 100 according to the invention and at least one eye examination apparatus 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0065] Each vision examination device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 is connected to a hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 of the control system 100.

[0066] The vision examination system 200 may also comprise, for at least one device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3, a control device 202-1, 202-2 dedicated to controlling the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0067] Each control device 202-1, 202-2 is connected to the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 of the control system 100 to which the corresponding device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 is connected.

[0068] A third aspect of the invention relates to a control method for the rea carrying out an eye examination, implemented by the control system 100 according to the invention.

[0069] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of steps of the control method 300 according to the invention.

[0070] A first step 301 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box 101, in receiving instructions corresponding to the control of an eye examination device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0071] If a first condition Cl is met, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth steps are carried out.

[0072] The first condition Cl is fulfilled if the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 connected to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled according to the instructions received in the first step 301, is not connected to a control device 202-1, 202-2.

[0073] The third step 303 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box 101, in sending at least one command to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled, via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0074] The fourth step 304 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in receiving the command sent by the control box 101 in the third step 303.

[0075] The fifth step 305 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in converting the command received in the fourth step 304 into the first communication protocol specific to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled.

[0076] The sixth step 306 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in transmitting the command converted in the fifth step 305, to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled.

[0077] The seventh step 307 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in receiving at least one piece of data sent by the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled.

[0078] The data relates, for example, to the stage of the eye examination implemented by the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3.

[0079] If the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to be controlled is a frontofocometer, the data is for example an optical characteristic of the spectacle lenses of the patient for whom the eye examination is carried out.

[0080] The eighth step 308 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in converting the data received in the seventh step 307 into the second communication protocol of the control box 101.

[0081] The ninth step 309 of the control method 300 consists for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, to send the data converted in the eighth step 308 to the control box 101.

[0082] The tenth step 310 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box 101, in receiving the converted data sent in the ninth step 309 and in processing the received converted data.

[0083] If the first condition C1 is not fulfilled, that is to say if the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 connected to the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3, 301 to be controlled is connected to a control device 202-1, 202-2, and if a second condition C2 is fulfilled, a second step 302 is carried out followed by the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth steps.

[0084] The second condition C2 is fulfilled if the instructions received include the command mode.

[0085] The second step 302 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box 101, in blocking the communication between the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0086] If the second condition C2 is fulfilled, that is to say if the instructions include the supervision mode, an eleventh step is carried out.

[0087] The eleventh step 311 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box 101, in unlocking the communication between the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2 via the corresponding hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3.

[0088] If the second condition C2 is met, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth steps can also be carried out following the eleventh step 311.

[0089] The twelfth step 312 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in receiving at least one piece of data exchanged between the device 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 and the control device 202-1, 202-2, 312.

[0090] The thirteenth step 312 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in converting the data received in the twelfth step 312 into the second communication protocol of the control box 101.

[0091] The fourteenth step 314 of the control method 300 consists, for the hardware key 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, in sending the data converted in the thirteenth step 313 to the control box 101.

[0092] The fifteenth step 315 of the control method 300 consists, for the control box, in receiving the converted data sent in the fourteenth step 314 and in processing the received data.

Claims

Claims

1. Control system (100) for a plurality of vision examination devices (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) being configured to communicate according to a first communication protocol specific to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), the control system (100) comprising: - a control box (101) configured to communicate according to a second communication protocol; - for each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), a respective hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) configured to be connected to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and to the control box (101), and to ensure communication between the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control box (101) by converting the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;the control box (101) comprising a plurality of hardware ports (1010), each hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) being configured to connect to the control box (101) via a respective hardware port (1010) of the control box; the control box (101) being configured to control each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), to receive data from each device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) and to process the received data.;

2. Control system (100) according to the preceding claim, in which each hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) comprises a first hardware port (1021-1, 1021-2, 1021-3) adapted to the connectivity of the corresponding device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3).

3. A control system (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the control box (101) is further configured to receive instructions corresponding to a control of an apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3).

4. Control system (100) according to the preceding claim, further comprising user equipment (103) having a human-machine interface, the instructions being entered via the interface man-machine and the user equipment (103) being configured to transfer the entered instructions to the control box (101).

5. A control system (100) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein at least one hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) is further configured to be connected to a control device (202-1, 202-2), said control device being configured to control an appliance among the plurality of appliances (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), the instructions corresponding to the control of the appliance (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) comprising an operating mode of the control box (101) selected from a control mode and a supervision mode, the control box (101) being configured to block communication between the appliance (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2) via the hardware key. (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), control the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), receive data from the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the hardware key (102-1, 102-2,102-3) corresponding and process the received data when the instructions include the command mode, and to unlock the communication between the apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) when the instructions include the supervision mode.,

6. Control system (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) comprises a second hardware port (1022-1, 1022-2, 1022-3) adapted to the connection of the corresponding control device (202-1, 202-2).

7. Control system (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control box (101) is further configured to receive and process data exchanged between the apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), when the instructions include the supervision mode.

8. An eye examination system (200) comprising the control system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one eye examination apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), each apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) being connected to a hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of the control system (100).

9. Vision examination system (200) according to the preceding claim, further comprising for at least one device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), a control device (202-1, 202-2) dedicated to the control of the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3), each control device (202-1, 202-2) being connected to the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of the control system (100) to which the corresponding device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) is connected.

10. Method for controlling (300) at least one eye examination apparatus (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) implemented by the control system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: Reception (301) by the control box (101), of instructions corresponding to a command of a device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3); If a first condition (Cl) according to which the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) connected to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) is not connected to a control device (202-1, 202-2) is met: • Sending (303) by the control box (101) of at least one command to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3); • Reception (304) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of the command sent; • Conversion (305) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), of the command received in the first communication protocol specific to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3); • Sending (306) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) the converted command to the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3); • Reception (307) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of at least one piece of data sent by the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3); • Conversion (308) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), of the data received in the second communication protocol of the control box (101); • Sending (309) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of the converted data to the control box (101); • Reception and processing (310) by the control box (101) of the converted data; - If the first condition (Cl) is not met: • If a second condition (C2) according to which the instructions received include the command mode is met: • Blocking (302) by the control box (101), of the communication between the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2,) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) • Completion of the steps carried out if the first condition (Cl) is met; • If the second condition (C2) is not met: • Unlocking (311) by the control box (101), of the communication between the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2) via the corresponding hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3).

11. Control method (300) according to claim 10, further comprising the following steps carried out following the unlocking step (311): - Reception (312) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of at least one piece of data exchanged between the device (201-1, 201-2, 201-3) and the control device (202-1, 202-2); - Conversion (313) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), of the data received in the second communication protocol of the control box (101); - Sending (314) by the hardware key (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) of the converted data to the control box (101); - Reception and processing (315) by the control box (101), of the converted data.

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