Ophthalmology equipment, ophthalmology system, method for determining control condition of ophthalmology equipment, calibration method for ophthalmology equipment, program, and recording medium

Abstract

To improve versatility of ophthalmology equipment to be used together with equipment on which a rolling shutter type image sensor is mounted.SOLUTION: An ophthalmology equipment according to an embodiment scans a subject's eye by using a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device. An illumination optical system of the ophthalmology equipment projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye. A photographing optical system guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor of the ophthalmology equipment. An illumination control unit controls the illumination optical system in such a manner that first illumination light is projected to a light reflection body under a first scan condition, and project second illumination light to the light reflection body under a second condition. A calculation unit estimates an operation condition of the image sensor on the basis of first detection data output from the image sensor having detected return light of the first illumination light, and second detection data output from the image sensor having detected return light of the second illumination light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic apparatus, an ophthalmic system, a method for determining control conditions for an ophthalmic apparatus, a calibration method for an ophthalmic apparatus, a program, and a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Ophthalmic imaging diagnosis is a powerful tool for understanding the condition of a subject's eye, and is not limited to being applied to various ophthalmic examinations performed at general medical institutions and specialized medical institutions, but is also expanding its range of application to screening tests and self-photography. As an ophthalmic device used for such purposes, a small and lightweight ophthalmic device configured to capture images of the eye using an image sensor mounted on a device with a photographing function (such as a smartphone) is known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology aimed at performing ophthalmic photography with a simple configuration, which enables ophthalmic photography to be performed with a simple configuration by attaching an ophthalmic device to a personal device such as a smartphone or a small device (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as an external device) and synchronizing the control of the ophthalmic device with the control of the external device.

[0004] Many of the image sensors mounted on external devices are rolling shutter type image sensors. Furthermore, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensors mounted on external devices are often fixed and are often unknown to the ophthalmic device. In addition, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensors vary depending on the type of external device.

[0005] A conventional ophthalmic apparatus of the type used together with an external device can be used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor with known operating conditions, but cannot be used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor with unknown operating conditions. In other words, the conventional ophthalmic apparatus of the type that cooperates with an external device has a problem of low versatility.

[0006] The operating conditions of a rolling shutter image sensor include, for example, the time required to capture an image (capture time), the movement speed of the rolling shutter (rolling shutter speed), the shutter speed (exposure time), and the delay time from the capture trigger to the start of capture. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 049226 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] One object of the present disclosure is to improve the versatility of an ophthalmic apparatus used together with an instrument equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is an ophthalmic device that scans a test eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, and includes an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the test eye, a photographing optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor, an illumination control unit that controls the illumination optical system to project a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition and project a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition, and a calculation unit that estimates operating conditions of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light.

[0010] Another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is an ophthalmic system including an external device including a rolling shutter type image sensor and an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a test eye using the image sensor, wherein the ophthalmic apparatus includes an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the test eye, an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor, and an illumination control unit that controls the illumination optical system to project a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition and project a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition, and the ophthalmic system includes a calculation unit that estimates operating conditions of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light.

[0011] Yet another aspect of an embodiment according to the present disclosure is a method for determining control conditions of an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, the ophthalmic apparatus including an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye, an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor, and a processor, the method including a step of projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition using the illumination optical system, a step of detecting return light of the first illumination light using the imaging optical system and the image sensor, and a step of detecting the return light of the first illumination light using the illumination optical system. The method includes the steps of projecting a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the scan condition; detecting return light of the second illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor; estimating, using the processor, an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detected the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detected the return light of the second illumination light; and determining, using the processor, a control condition of the illumination optical system based on the operating condition.

[0012] Yet another aspect of an embodiment according to the present disclosure is a method for calibrating an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, the ophthalmic apparatus including an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye, an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor, and a processor, the method including the steps of: projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition using the illumination optical system; detecting return light of the first illumination light using the imaging optical system and the image sensor; and detecting the return light of the first illumination light using the illumination optical system. The method includes the steps of projecting a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scanning condition different from the first scanning condition, detecting return light of the second illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor, estimating, using the processor, an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detected the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detected the return light of the second illumination light, and calibrating the illumination optical system using the processor.

[0013] Yet another aspect of the embodiment according to the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any aspect of the embodiment.

[0014] Yet another aspect of the embodiment according to the present disclosure is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium having a program according to any aspect of the embodiment recorded thereon. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to some aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the versatility of an ophthalmic apparatus used together with a device equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the configuration of an ophthalmic apparatus (and an ophthalmic system including the same) according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the configuration of an ophthalmologic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the configuration of an external device (and an ophthalmologic system including the same) according to an embodiment. [Figure 4A] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 4B] 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmologic apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 10A] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 10B] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 10C] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 12]1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one non-limiting example of the operation of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Certain non-limiting aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Any known technology can be combined with any aspect of the present disclosure. For example, any matter disclosed in the documents cited in this specification can be combined with any aspect of the present disclosure. In addition, any known technology in the technical field related to the present disclosure can be combined with any aspect of the present disclosure. For example, any technical matter (matters disclosed in patent applications, papers, etc.) disclosed by the applicant of the present application regarding the technology related to the present disclosure or the technology applicable to the technology can be incorporated by reference in any aspect of the present disclosure.

[0019] Any two or more of the various aspects described in this disclosure may be combined, at least in part.

[0020] At least a portion of the functionality of the elements described in this disclosure is implemented using circuitry or processing circuitry. The circuitry or processing circuitry may be a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, an integrated circuit, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of a programmable logic device (PLC) and a programmable logic device (PLC)) configured and / or programmed to perform at least a portion of the disclosed functionality. The term "circuitry", "unit", "means" or the like includes any of the above-mentioned circuitry, including a transistor and / or other circuitry, a processor, a processor array, a conventional circuitry, and any combination thereof. A processor is considered to be a processing circuitry or circuitry, including transistors and / or other circuitry. In this disclosure, a circuitry, a unit, a means, or the like is hardware that performs at least some of the disclosed functions or is hardware that is programmed to perform at least some of the disclosed functions. The hardware may be hardware disclosed herein or may be known hardware that is programmed and / or configured to perform at least some of the described functions. In the case where the hardware is a processor that can be considered to be a type of circuitry, a circuitry, a unit, a means, or the like is a combination of hardware and software, and the software is used to configure the hardware and / or the processor.

[0021] A first aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmologic apparatus that scans an eye to be examined using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, and includes an illumination optical system, a photographing optical system, an illumination control unit, and a calculation unit. The rolling shutter type image sensor is an image sensor configured to be able to read out a signal by a rolling shutter method.

[0022] In the present disclosure, as a non-limiting example, an ophthalmic device that functions to project illumination light for scanning the fundus of the subject's eye onto the fundus of the subject's eye will be described in detail. However, the part of the subject's eye to which scanning is applied by the ophthalmic device according to the embodiment is not limited to the fundus (retina, choroid, sclera, macula, optic disc, lesion, treatment scar, etc.), and may be any part. For example, the part to be scanned may be the anterior part of the eye (cornea, iris, crystalline lens, anterior chamber, angle, etc.), vitreous body, ciliary body, Zinn's zonule, etc.

[0023] The illumination optical system is configured to project illumination light onto the subject's eye for scanning the subject's eye.

[0024] The imaging optical system is configured to guide the return light of the illumination light projected onto the subject's eye by the illumination optical system to a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device. The return light is light that is reflected or scattered from the illumination light projected onto the subject's eye and enters the imaging optical system.

[0025] The illumination control unit is configured to project illumination light onto a predetermined light reflector under two or more scanning conditions different from each other.

[0026] The light reflector is used in measurements for estimating the operating conditions of a rolling shutter type image sensor mounted on an external device used in combination with an ophthalmic device. The light reflector has any configuration capable of generating return light (light incident on the photographing optical system) from illumination light projected onto the light reflector by an illumination optical system, and may be, for example, a light reflector (such as a reflecting mirror), a model eye, a mock eye, etc. In some examples, a light reflector provided with a chart (visual information such as a pattern, a figure, or a character (character string)) can be used.

[0027] In an embodiment, the illumination control unit is configured to control the illumination optical system to project a first illumination light onto the light reflector under a first scanning condition, and to project a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scanning condition different from the first scanning condition.

[0028] The illumination control unit may be further configured to project a (K+1)th illumination light onto the light reflector under a (K+1)th scan condition different from any of the first to Kth scan conditions (where K is an integer equal to or greater than 2).

[0029] The calculation unit is configured to estimate the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on two or more detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor which detects two or more return lights corresponding to two or more illumination lights projected onto the light reflector under the control of the illumination control unit.

[0030] In an embodiment, the calculation unit is configured to estimate operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on first detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a first illumination light projected onto an optical reflector under a first scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit, and second detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a second illumination light projected onto an optical reflector under a second scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit.

[0031] In some aspects, when the illumination control unit projects first through Kth illumination lights having first through Kth scanning conditions that are different from each other onto the light reflector (where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3), the calculation unit can estimate the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on the first through Kth detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects the first through Kth return lights corresponding to the first through Kth illumination lights, respectively.

[0032] In some other aspects, when the illumination control unit projects first to Kth illumination lights under first to Kth scanning conditions that are different from each other onto the light reflector (where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3), the calculation unit can execute a process of selecting a predetermined number (e.g., two) of detection data from the first to Kth detection data outputted from the rolling shutter type image sensors that have detected the first to Kth return lights corresponding to the first to Kth illumination lights, respectively, and a process of estimating the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on the selected predetermined number of detection data.

[0033] According to the ophthalmic device of the first aspect, when the ophthalmic device is used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor that operates under unknown conditions, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated. One advantage of such an ophthalmic device according to this aspect is that it can be combined with various external devices to perform ophthalmic photography. In other words, according to this aspect, it is possible to improve the versatility of the ophthalmic device used together with a device equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0034] A second aspect according to a non-limiting embodiment is the ophthalmic device of the first aspect, in which the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device may include an exposure time.

[0035] Furthermore, the calculation unit of this embodiment may be configured to calculate an estimate of the exposure time of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on first detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a first illumination light projected onto the light reflector under a first scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit, and second detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a second illumination light projected onto the light reflector under a second scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit.

[0036] In rolling shutter photography (slit scan), multiple photographs are taken sequentially and continuously. The exposure time estimated in this embodiment indicates the exposure time for each photograph taken by slit scan (exposure time for each exposure line, shutter speed for each exposure).

[0037] Typically, the exposure time in the slit scan is constant, in which case the calculation unit of this embodiment calculates only one estimated value of the exposure time.

[0038] When the exposure time is not constant, the calculation unit of this embodiment may be configured to execute a process of dividing the period (imaging time) required for the slit scan into two or more sections and a process of calculating an estimate of the exposure time for each section. Alternatively, when the exposure time is not constant, the calculation unit of this embodiment may be configured to calculate a single estimate, or may be configured to execute a process of calculating two or more estimates and a process of calculating a statistical value of these estimates, or may be configured to execute a process of calculating two or more estimates and a process of selecting one or more estimates from these estimates.

[0039] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus according to the second aspect, it is possible to provide one preferable example of the operating condition estimated by the calculation unit.

[0040] A third aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of the second aspect, wherein the calculation unit may be configured to perform the following series of processes to obtain an estimate of the exposure time of a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device.

[0041] The calculation unit of this embodiment first constructs a first image from first detection data output from a rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a first illumination light projected onto an optical reflector under a first scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit, and constructs a second image from second detection data output from a rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a second illumination light projected onto an optical reflector under a second scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit. The process of constructing an image from data (detection data) collected by slit scanning may be performed by any known method.

[0042] Next, the calculation unit of this embodiment calculates an estimate of the rolling shutter speed of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on the first image constructed from the first detection data and the second image constructed from the second detection data. The rolling shutter speed indicates the moving speed of the rolling shutter (moving speed of the exposure line).

[0043] Next, the calculation unit of this embodiment calculates an estimate of the exposure time of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on the calculated estimate of the rolling shutter speed.

[0044] The ophthalmologic apparatus according to the third aspect can provide a preferable example of the process of estimating the exposure time of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0045] In some aspects, the calculation unit of the ophthalmic apparatus may be configured to operate in cooperation with an external device (its calculation unit). For example, the calculation unit of the ophthalmic apparatus and the calculation unit of the external device may be operated in cooperation with each other so that the calculation unit of the external device executes an image construction process (construction of an image based on detection data) and the calculation unit of the ophthalmic apparatus executes an operating condition estimation process based on the constructed image. Such an aspect is also included in the third aspect.

[0046] A fourth aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of the third aspect, wherein the calculation unit is configured to perform the following series of processes in estimating a rolling shutter speed to obtain an estimate of the exposure time of a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device.

[0047] The calculation unit of this embodiment first identifies a high-luminance area (first high-luminance area) in a first image constructed from the first detection data, and also identifies a high-luminance area (second high-luminance area) in a second image constructed from the second detection data.

[0048] A high-luminance area indicates an area in an image that has high luminance (brightness). A high-luminance area may be an area with a luminance higher than a predetermined threshold (an absolute high-luminance area), or an area that is determined to have high luminance based on the luminance distribution in the image (a relative high-luminance area).

[0049] The information representing the position of the high-brightness area may be any information, for example, any of the following: position information defined in the image (such as pixel coordinates); position information defined on the sample (fundus, optical reflector) (coordinates, field of view position, etc.); position information defined on a rolling shutter type image sensor (such as pixel coordinates); position information defined based on elements of an ophthalmic device (such as the deflection angle of an optical scanner).

[0050] The position of the high-brightness area includes at least the position in the scanning direction (the moving direction of the rolling shutter, the moving direction of the exposure line) in the slit scan. Typically, the position of the high-brightness area may be only position information in the scanning direction (i.e., a one-dimensional position).

[0051] Next, the calculation unit of this embodiment calculates the distance between the first high-luminance area identified in the first image and the second high-luminance area identified in the second image. This calculation may include, for example, a subtraction process to obtain the difference between the position of the first high-luminance area and the position of the second high-luminance area.

[0052] Next, the calculation unit of this embodiment calculates an estimate of the rolling shutter speed of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device by performing a process of calculating the difference between a first point in time corresponding to the first high-luminance area and a second point in time corresponding to the second high-luminance area, and a process of dividing the distance between the first high-luminance area and the second high-luminance area by the difference between the first point in time and the second point in time.

[0053] The ophthalmologic apparatus according to the fourth aspect can provide a preferable example of the process of estimating the rolling shutter speed of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0054] A fifth aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of the third or fourth aspect, wherein the calculation unit is configured to calculate an estimate of the exposure time of the rolling shutter type image sensor by dividing a predetermined exposure width for the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device by an estimate of the rolling shutter speed calculated from the first image and the second image.

[0055] The exposure width of a rolling shutter image sensor indicates the width of each exposure line (the dimension in the scanning direction). The exposure width is a preset value determined based on optical design data to satisfy specific conditions. For example, the exposure width is set to a size such that flare is not detected by the rolling shutter image sensor.

[0056] The ophthalmologic apparatus according to the fifth aspect can provide a preferable example of the process of estimating the exposure time of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0057] A sixth aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of any of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device may further include a shooting start delay time in addition to the exposure time.

[0058] Furthermore, the calculation unit of this embodiment may be configured to calculate an estimated value of the imaging start delay time of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on the estimated value of the exposure time calculated from the first detection data and the second detection data.

[0059] The imaging start delay time estimated in this embodiment indicates the time interval from when an imaging instruction (imaging trigger) is issued to when the rolling shutter image sensor starts imaging under control based on the imaging instruction. In other words, the imaging start delay time indicates the length of the delay time from the imaging trigger to the start of imaging.

[0060] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus of the sixth aspect, one preferable example of the operating condition estimated by the calculation unit can be provided. More specifically, according to this aspect, it is possible to provide the exposure time and the image capture start delay time of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device as two preferable examples of the operating condition estimated by the calculation unit.

[0061] A seventh aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of any of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the illumination control unit is configured to project illumination light onto the light reflector in accordance with scanning conditions including a scanning start timing.

[0062] The scan start timing indicates the time when scanning starts (the start of movement of the illumination light projection position) relative to the time when the shooting trigger is issued. The scan start timing for the illumination optical system is a parameter corresponding to the shooting start delay time (the length of the delay time from the shooting trigger to the start of shooting) for the rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0063] The illumination control unit of this embodiment may be configured to execute the following process, for example.

[0064] When projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scanning condition, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system to start moving the projection position of the first illumination light onto the light reflector at a first timing.

[0065] Furthermore, when projecting the second illumination light onto the light reflector under the second scanning condition, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system to start moving the projection position of the second illumination light onto the light reflector at a second timing, where the second timing is different from the first timing.

[0066] More generally, when first to Kth illumination light beams are projected onto a light reflector under first to Kth scanning conditions that are different from each other, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system so that movement of the projection positions of the first to Kth illumination light beams onto the light reflector begins at first to Kth timings that are different from each other (K ​​is an integer greater than or equal to 2).

[0067] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus of the seventh aspect, two (or three or more) scans with different scan start timings are applied to the light reflector, and the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated based on the two (or three or more) detection data thus obtained. In this way, the seventh aspect can provide a suitable example of the measurement for estimating the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0068] An eighth aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of any of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the illumination control unit is configured to project illumination light onto the light reflector according to scanning conditions including a scanning speed.

[0069] The scanning speed indicates the moving speed of the projection position of the illumination light. The scanning speed of the illumination optical system is a parameter corresponding to the rolling shutter speed of a rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0070] The illumination control unit of this embodiment may be configured to execute the following process, for example.

[0071] When projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scanning condition, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system to move the projection position of the first illumination light onto the light reflector at a first speed.

[0072] Furthermore, when projecting the second illumination light onto the light reflector under the second scanning condition, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system to move the projection position of the second illumination light onto the light reflector at a second speed, where the second speed is different from the first speed.

[0073] More generally, when first to Kth illumination light beams are projected onto a light reflector under first to Kth scanning conditions that are different from one another, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system so as to move the projection positions of the first to Kth illumination light beams onto the light reflector at first to Kth speeds that are different from one another, respectively (K is an integer greater than or equal to 2).

[0074] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus of the eighth aspect, two (or three or more) scans with different scan speeds are applied to the light reflector, and the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated based on the two (or three or more) detection data thus obtained. In this way, the eighth aspect can provide a suitable example of the measurement for estimating the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0075] A ninth aspect according to a non-limiting embodiment is a combination of the seventh aspect and the eighth aspect. That is, the ninth aspect is an ophthalmic device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and the illumination control unit may be configured to project illumination light onto the light reflector according to a scan condition including both a scan start timing and a scan speed. The illumination control unit of this aspect may be configured to execute, for example, the following process.

[0076] When projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scanning condition, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system so as to start moving the projection position of the first illumination light onto the light reflector at a first timing and to move the projection position at a first speed.

[0077] Furthermore, when projecting the second illumination light onto the light reflector under the second scanning conditions, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system so as to start moving the projection position of the second illumination light onto the light reflector at a second timing and to move the projection position at a second speed.

[0078] More generally, when projecting first to Kth illumination light beams onto a light reflector under first to Kth scanning conditions that are different from one another, the illumination control unit of this embodiment controls the illumination optical system so that movement of the projection positions of the first to Kth illumination light beams onto the light reflector begins at first to Kth timings that are different from one another, and the projection positions of the first to Kth illumination light beams onto the light reflector are moved at first to Kth speeds that are different from one another (K ​​is an integer greater than or equal to 2).

[0079] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus of the ninth aspect, two (or three or more) scans with different scan start timings and scan speeds are applied to the light reflector, and the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated based on the two (or three or more) detection data obtained thereby. In this way, the ninth aspect can provide a suitable example of the measurement for estimating the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0080] A tenth aspect according to a non-limiting embodiment is the ophthalmologic apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, which may further include a storage control unit.

[0081] As described above, the calculation unit of the embodiment is configured to estimate the operating conditions of the rolling shutter image sensor and generates estimated information including the estimated operating conditions. The estimated information may include, for example, an estimated value of the exposure time of the rolling shutter image sensor, an estimated value of the shooting start delay time, etc.

[0082] Furthermore, the calculation unit of the embodiment can generate control information for controlling the illumination optical system based on such estimated information. That is, the calculation unit of the embodiment can generate control information for the illumination optical system based on the estimated information for the rolling shutter image sensor.

[0083] As described above, there is a correspondence between the parameters of the illumination optical system and the parameters of the rolling shutter type image sensor. For example, there is a correspondence between the scan start timing of the illumination optical system and the imaging start delay time of the rolling shutter type image sensor, and there is a correspondence between the scan speed of the illumination optical system and the rolling shutter speed of the rolling shutter type image sensor. In some aspects, the process of generating the control information from the estimated information is performed based on such a correspondence.

[0084] The storage control unit first generates storage information including at least one of estimated information about the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device and control information about the illumination optical system.

[0085] Next, the storage control unit associates the generated storage information with the identifier of the external device. This records that the generated storage information corresponds to the external device. The identifier of the external device may be determined in advance or may be generated by the storage control unit.

[0086] The manner of association may be arbitrary, and examples thereof include writing an identifier into the stored information, attaching an identifier to the stored information, and recording information indicating the correspondence between the stored information and the identifier in other information (such as list information indicating the correspondence).

[0087] The storage control unit then stores the storage information associated with the identifier of the external device in a storage device. This storage device may be any storage device, for example, a storage device in the ophthalmic device, a storage device that is a peripheral device of the ophthalmic device, a storage device in an external device, a storage device that is a peripheral device of the external device, a storage device in another device, a storage device that is a peripheral device of another device, a storage device in another system, or a storage device that is a peripheral device of another system.

[0088] In a mode in which the identifier of the external device is associated with the stored information, for example, the stored information is stored in a storage device within the ophthalmic device (or a storage device that is a peripheral device of the ophthalmic device). With this, when the ophthalmic device is used in combination with the external device, the stored information regarding the external device can be read from the storage device within the ophthalmic device and used.

[0089] In some aspects, the storage control unit may further perform a process of associating an identifier of the ophthalmic device with the stored information in addition to a process of associating an identifier of the external device with the stored information. This allows the generated stored information to be recorded as information corresponding to both the external device and the ophthalmic device. The identifier of the ophthalmic device may be determined in advance or may be generated by the storage control unit.

[0090] The aspect of associating both the identifier of the external device and the identifier of the ophthalmic device with the stored information is also effective when a device or system other than the ophthalmic device (or a device or system different from both the ophthalmic device and the external device) handles the stored information. For example, when stored information associated with both the identifier of the external device and the identifier of the ophthalmic device is stored in a storage device on a network, when the ophthalmic device is used in combination with the external device, the stored information about the external device can be read from the storage device on the network and used. The process of reading the stored information from the storage device on the network is executed, for example, by the ophthalmic device or the external device.

[0091] In some aspects, the storage control unit may perform a process of associating an identifier of the ophthalmic device with the stored information, without performing a process of associating an identifier of the external device with the stored information.

[0092] In an aspect in which the identifier of the ophthalmic device is associated with the stored information without associating the identifier of the external device with the stored information, for example, the stored information is stored in a storage device in the external device (or a storage device that is a peripheral device of the external device). Thus, when the external device is used in combination with the ophthalmic device, the stored information regarding the combination of the external device and the ophthalmic device can be read from the storage device in the external device and used.

[0093] According to the ophthalmologic apparatus of the tenth aspect, it is possible to provide several preferable examples of utilization of the estimation results of the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0094] An eleventh aspect of a non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic device of the tenth aspect, which may include a scan control unit that executes a series of processes described below when the ophthalmic device is attached to an external device (first external device) (i.e., when the ophthalmic device is used in combination with the first external device).

[0095] Here, the rolling shutter type image sensor included in the first external device will be referred to as a first image sensor, and the identifier assigned to the first external device will be referred to as a first identifier.

[0096] When the ophthalmologic apparatus of this embodiment is attached to a first external device including a first image sensor of a rolling shutter type and assigned a first identifier, the scan control unit acquires stored information associated with the first identifier (referred to as first stored information) from the storage device. This process is performed by matching the first identifier of the first external device with the identifier associated with each piece of stored information stored in the storage device.

[0097] Furthermore, the scan control unit controls the illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus based on the first stored information acquired from the storage device, and also controls the first image sensor of the first external device to perform a scan (photograph) of the subject's eye. The control of the illumination optical system and the control of the first image sensor are performed synchronously. That is, the scan control unit provides a synchronization signal (synchronization control signal) to both the illumination optical system and the first image sensor.

[0098] The control of the illumination optical system may include, for example, control of the light source and the optical scanner, and may include control of the scan start timing and the scan speed. The control of the first image sensor may include, for example, control of the exposure time and the capture start delay time.

[0099] According to the ophthalmic apparatus of the eleventh aspect, when the ophthalmic apparatus is used in combination with an external device, stored information (estimated information, control information) corresponding to the external device can be read from the storage device to perform synchronous control between the ophthalmic apparatus (illumination optical system) and the external device (first image sensor). This makes it possible to easily perform imaging control (scan control) according to the combination of the ophthalmic apparatus and the external device.

[0100] It is possible to combine the features described in this disclosure or known features with the ophthalmic devices according to the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention. The ophthalmic devices obtained by such combinations further exhibit actions and effects according to the combinations.

[0101] A twelfth aspect of the non-limiting embodiment is an ophthalmic system including an ophthalmic apparatus according to the embodiment and an external device equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor. The ophthalmic apparatus of the ophthalmic system of this aspect includes at least the ophthalmic apparatus of the first aspect.

[0102] More specifically, the ophthalmic system of this embodiment includes an external device including a rolling shutter type image sensor, and an ophthalmic device that scans the subject's eye using the rolling shutter type image sensor, and the ophthalmic device of this embodiment includes an illumination optical system, a photographing optical system, an illumination control unit, and a calculation unit. The illumination optical system is configured to project illumination light for scanning the subject's eye. The photographing optical system is configured to guide return light of the illumination light projected by the illumination optical system onto the subject's eye to the rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device. The illumination control unit is configured to control the illumination optical system so as to project the first illumination light onto the light reflector under a first scan condition, and to project the second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition. The calculation unit is configured to estimate operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on first detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a first illumination light projected onto the light reflector under a first scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit, and second detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects return light of a second illumination light projected onto the light reflector under a second scan condition under the control of the illumination control unit.

[0103] According to the ophthalmic system of the twelfth aspect, when an ophthalmic apparatus is used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor that operates under unknown conditions, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated. One advantage of such an ophthalmic system according to this aspect is that ophthalmic photography can be performed by combining the ophthalmic apparatus with various external devices. In other words, according to this aspect, it is possible to improve the versatility of an ophthalmic system including an ophthalmic apparatus and a device equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0104] It is possible to combine the features described in the present disclosure or known features with the ophthalmic system according to the twelfth aspect. An ophthalmic system obtained by such a combination further exerts actions and effects according to the combination. For example, it is possible to combine the features according to any of the second to eleventh aspects with the ophthalmic device of the ophthalmic system according to the twelfth aspect.

[0105] A thirteenth aspect according to a non-limiting embodiment is a method for determining control conditions for an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device.

[0106] The ophthalmic apparatus of this embodiment includes an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the test eye, an imaging optical system that guides the return light of the illumination light projected onto the test eye by the illumination optical system to a rolling shutter type image sensor, and a processor.

[0107] The processor may be provided in a device separate from the ophthalmic apparatus including the illumination optical system and the photographing optical system. For example, the processor may be an external processor provided in an external device, or an external processor provided in a device separate from both the ophthalmic apparatus including the illumination optical system and the photographing optical system and the external device. In such a case, a system including the ophthalmic apparatus including the illumination optical system and the photographing optical system and the external processor (a device including the external processor) can be regarded as the ophthalmic apparatus of this aspect.

[0108] The method of this embodiment includes the following series of steps.

[0109] The first projection step projects a first illumination light onto the light reflector under a first scan condition using an illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus.

[0110] The first detection step detects return light of the first illumination light projected onto the light reflector in the first projection step using an imaging optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus and a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device.

[0111] The second projection step projects the second illumination light onto the light reflector using the illumination optical system under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition applied in the first projection step.

[0112] The second detection step detects return light of the second illumination light projected onto the light reflector in the second projection step using the imaging optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus and a rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0113] The calculation step uses a processor of the ophthalmic device to estimate operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on first detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light in the first detection step and second detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light in the second detection step.

[0114] The control condition determination step uses a processor of the ophthalmic apparatus to determine control conditions of the illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus based on the estimation result of the operating condition generated in the calculation step. The control conditions correspond to the above-mentioned control information. In the control condition determination step, the processor of the ophthalmic apparatus determines the control conditions of the illumination optical system from the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor estimated in the calculation step, for example, based on the correspondence between the parameters of the illumination optical system and the parameters of the rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0115] According to the method of the thirteenth aspect, when an ophthalmic device is used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor that operates under unknown conditions, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated, and the operating conditions of the ophthalmic device can be determined from the estimation results. One advantage of the method according to this aspect is that ophthalmic imaging can be performed by combining various external devices with ophthalmic devices. In other words, according to this aspect, it is possible to improve the versatility of ophthalmic imaging including a device equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor and an ophthalmic device.

[0116] The method according to the thirteenth aspect can be combined with the features described in this disclosure or known features. The method obtained by such a combination further exhibits the action or effect according to the combination. For example, the method according to the thirteenth aspect can be combined with any of the features according to the second to eleventh aspects.

[0117] A fourteenth aspect according to a non-limiting embodiment is a method for calibrating an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device.

[0118] The ophthalmologic apparatus of this aspect includes an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye, an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light projected onto the subject's eye by the illumination optical system to a rolling shutter type image sensor, and a processor. The matters related to the processor described in the thirteenth aspect are also applicable to this aspect.

[0119] The method of this embodiment includes the following series of steps.

[0120] The first projection step projects a first illumination light onto the light reflector under a first scan condition using an illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus.

[0121] The first detection step detects return light of the first illumination light projected onto the light reflector in the first projection step using an imaging optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus and a rolling shutter type image sensor of an external device.

[0122] The second projection step projects the second illumination light onto the light reflector using the illumination optical system under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition applied in the first projection step.

[0123] The second detection step detects return light of the second illumination light projected onto the light reflector in the second projection step using the imaging optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus and a rolling shutter type image sensor of the external device.

[0124] The calculation step uses a processor of the ophthalmic device to estimate operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor based on first detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light in the first detection step and second detection data output from the rolling shutter type image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light in the second detection step.

[0125] The calibration step calibrates the illumination optical system using a processor of the ophthalmic apparatus.

[0126] The calibration includes a process of setting the control conditions (control parameters) of the illumination optical system to contents corresponding to the operating conditions estimated in the calculation step.

[0127] In some examples, the calibration step includes a first sub-step of determining control conditions for the illumination optical system from the operating conditions of the rolling shutter image sensor estimated in the calculation step based on a correspondence between parameters for the illumination optical system and parameters for the rolling shutter image sensor.

[0128] Furthermore, the calibration step in this example includes a second sub-step of setting control parameters of the illumination optical system based on the control conditions of the illumination optical system determined in the first sub-step.

[0129] In the exemplary calibration step, a first substep determines a scan speed and a scan start delay time of the illumination optical system based on an estimated value of an exposure time of the rolling shutter image sensor and an estimated value of a delay time of starting imaging. Further, a second substep sets a scan speed parameter and a scan start delay time of the illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus based on the scan speed and the scan start delay time of the illumination optical system determined in the first substep.

[0130] According to the method of the fourteenth aspect, when an ophthalmic apparatus is used in combination with an external device having a rolling shutter type image sensor that operates under unknown conditions, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor can be estimated, and the estimated results can be used to calibrate the ophthalmic apparatus. One advantage of the method according to this aspect is that ophthalmic imaging can be performed by combining various external devices with the ophthalmic apparatus. Another advantage is that the calibration of the ophthalmic apparatus can be performed automatically. In other words, according to this aspect, it is possible to improve the versatility and convenience of ophthalmic imaging including an apparatus equipped with a rolling shutter type image sensor and an ophthalmic apparatus.

[0131] The method according to the 14th aspect can be combined with the features described in this disclosure or known features. The method obtained by such a combination further exhibits the action and effect according to the combination. For example, the method according to the 14th aspect can be combined with any of the features according to the 2nd to 11th aspects.

[0132] A fifteenth aspect according to non-limiting embodiments is a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect. The program of this aspect may be a program for causing a computer to execute a method obtained by combining any feature with the method according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect. The effects achieved by this aspect are similar to those of a method executed by a computer according to the program.

[0133] A sixteenth aspect of the non-limiting embodiment is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium having a program according to the fifteenth aspect recorded thereon. The recording medium of this aspect may be a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium having a program recorded thereon that causes a computer to execute a method that is a combination of the method according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect with any item. The effect of this aspect is the same as that of a method executed by a computer according to a program recorded on a recording medium. The recording medium according to the embodiment may be a recording medium of any form, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory.

[0134] The aspects of the embodiments according to the present disclosure are not limited to an ophthalmic device, an ophthalmic system, a method for determining a control condition of an ophthalmic device, a calibration method for an ophthalmic device, a program, and a recording medium. For example, a person skilled in the art would understand that the present disclosure provides various embodiments such as an embodiment of a method for controlling an ophthalmic device and an embodiment of a method for photographing a subject's eye, and further provides similar embodiments in fields other than ophthalmology.

[0135] Exemplary embodiments The ophthalmic apparatus according to the present embodiment photographs an eye to be examined together with an external device. The ophthalmic system according to the present embodiment includes the ophthalmic apparatus and the external device.

[0136] In this embodiment, communication is performed between the ophthalmic device and the external device. This communication may be either wired communication or wireless communication. In an embodiment including one or more devices (additional devices) in addition to the ophthalmic device and the external device, the communication between the ophthalmic device and the additional devices, the communication between the external device and the additional devices, and the communication between the additional devices may all be wired communication or wireless communication.

[0137] The wired communication may be, for example, wired communication according to any communication standard, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard.

[0138] The wireless communication may be, for example, any of the following: wireless communication according to a communication standard such as the Wireless USB standard; wireless communication using a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) according to a communication standard such as the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard; wireless communication using a wide area network (WAN); wireless communication according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark); wireless communication using electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the wavelength range from the ultraviolet region to the radio wave region (including the visible region), such as infrared communication, optical communication, and radio communication; wireless communication using sound waves.

[0139] The external device has at least an imaging function (light receiving function) in addition to a communication function. The ophthalmic apparatus projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye onto the subject's eye, and guides the return light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the external device. In this imaging, synchronous control is performed between the projection pattern of the illumination light by the ophthalmic apparatus (movement manner of the projection position of the illumination light onto the subject's eye) and the imaging pattern by the external device (movement manner of the exposure position by a rolling shutter type image sensor) by utilizing communication between the external device and the ophthalmic apparatus.

[0140] The illumination light projected by the ophthalmic device onto the subject's eye is generated based on light emitted by a predetermined light source. The light source is provided, for example, in an external device or in the ophthalmic device. In some aspects, the light source provided in the ophthalmic device and the light source provided in the external device may be selectively used. In some aspects, an additional device may include the light source.

[0141] In some aspects, the ophthalmic device is configured to generate illumination light (slit light) having a predetermined beam cross-sectional shape from light emitted by a light source, and to move a projection position of the illumination light relative to a predetermined site (e.g., fundus) of the subject's eye by deflecting the generated illumination light. In some aspects, the ophthalmic device is configured to move a projection position of the illumination light by applying optical modulation to the illumination light.

[0142] The ophthalmic device guides the return light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to an external device. The external device detects the return light incident via the ophthalmic device with a rolling shutter type image sensor. Signal reading from the image sensor is executed in synchronization with the movement timing of the projection position of the illumination light. More specifically, a signal is read from a light receiving element at a detection position corresponding to the projection position of the illumination light according to synchronization control between the movement timing of the projection position of the illumination light and the signal read timing from the image sensor (rolling shutter control).

[0143] In some aspects, the ophthalmic device can perform synchronous control between the movement of the illumination light irradiation position and the light receiving operation of the image sensor in the external device. Also, in some aspects, the external device can perform synchronous control between the movement of the illumination light irradiation position and the light receiving operation of the image sensor in the external device. Also, in some aspects, the additional device can perform synchronous control between the movement of the illumination light irradiation position and the light receiving operation of the image sensor in the external device.

[0144] The external device may be any device having a photographing function and a communication function, or any device having a lighting function, a photographing function, and a communication function. In some aspects, the photographing function of the external device may be, for example, a general digital camera function, rather than an ophthalmic photographing function. In some aspects, the photographing function of the external device may include another ophthalmic photographing function (e.g., an anterior eye photographing function) rather than an ophthalmic photographing function (e.g., a fundus photographing function) realized by a combination of an ophthalmic device and an external device. In some aspects, the photographing function of the external device may include an ophthalmic photographing function of the same type as the ophthalmic photographing function realized by a combination of an ophthalmic device and an external device, but may be an ophthalmic photographing function of lower quality (e.g., a function of photographing a fundus with relatively low image quality) than the ophthalmic photographing function realized by a combination of an ophthalmic device and an external device (e.g., a function of photographing a fundus with relatively high image quality). Note that the photographing function of the external device is not limited to these examples.

[0145] The external device may be, for example, any one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a projector equipped with a camera, a smartphone, and an ophthalmic imaging device (more generally, a medical imaging device), or may be a portable device (a mobile device, a portable device).

[0146] In this embodiment, a case where a smartphone is used as an external device and fundus photography is performed will be mainly described. That is, in this embodiment, a case where an ophthalmic device and a smartphone are combined to perform fundus photography will be mainly described. However, a person skilled in the art will understand that the matters related to this embodiment can be applied to a case where a device other than a smartphone is used as an external device or a case where a part other than the fundus is photographed.

[0147] A non-limiting example of the configuration of an ophthalmic apparatus according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. The ophthalmic apparatus 1 of this embodiment functions as an ophthalmic imaging apparatus capable of imaging the fundus of a living eye using a slit-scan type modality in combination with an external device 500 of this embodiment. An ophthalmic system 1000 of this embodiment includes the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the external device 500.

[0148] The smartphone 500 has a communication function, an illumination function, and an image capturing function. The ophthalmic apparatus 1 generates illumination light from light provided by the illumination function of the smartphone 500, guides the generated illumination light to the fundus Ef of the subject's eye E, and guides return light of the illumination light applied to the subject's eye E to the smartphone 500. The smartphone 500 detects the return light incident via the ophthalmic apparatus 1.

[0149] The smartphone 500 includes a light source 510, an image sensor 520, and an imaging lens 521. The image sensor 520 is a rolling shutter type image sensor.

[0150] An exit opening (exit window) and an entrance window (entrance window) are formed in the housing of the smartphone 500. Light emitted by the light source 510 passes through the exit opening and exits from the housing. Light output from the smartphone 500 through the entrance opening illuminates a subject. Light (including light from the subject) entering the smartphone 500 through the entrance opening is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 520 by the imaging lens 521.

[0151] In some embodiments, one or more optical elements (such as lenses) may be provided at the exit opening and / or the entrance opening. A typical smartphone can take pictures using light (such as flash light (instantaneous light), fixed light, etc.) output from the light source 510 and taking pictures without using the light.

[0152] An attachment unit 90 for connecting the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to the smartphone 500 is provided on the surface of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The attachment unit 90 connects the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to the smartphone 500, for example, by a known mode (configuration, structure, etc.). This known mode may be, for example, any of connection by screwing, connection by fitting, connection by hooking, connection using elastic force, and connection using magnetic force.

[0153] When the ophthalmic device 1 and the smartphone 500 are connected via the mounting part 90, the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 is arranged on an extension of the imaging optical path (the optical path of the imaging optical system of the ophthalmic device 1), and the light source 510 is arranged on an extension of the illumination optical path (the optical path of the illumination optical system of the ophthalmic device 1) (see Figure 1).

[0154] In some aspects, the mounting unit 90 may be configured to change the relative positions between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500 while maintaining the connection between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500. In some aspects, the mounting unit 90 may be configured to relatively move the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500 in a direction along the extended optical path of the imaging optical path (a direction along the extended optical path of the illumination optical path) while maintaining the connection between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500.

[0155] The housing of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is formed with an entrance opening (entrance window), an entrance / exit opening (entrance / exit window), and an exit opening (exit window). Light emitted from the exit opening of the smartphone 500 passes through the entrance opening of the housing of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and enters the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The illumination optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 generates slit-shaped illumination light based on the light incident from the smartphone 500, and guides the generated illumination light to the entrance / exit opening. The illumination light exits the ophthalmic apparatus 1 through the entrance / exit opening and is projected onto the fundus Ef of the subject's eye E.

[0156] Return light of the illumination light projected onto the fundus Ef enters the ophthalmic apparatus 1 through the entrance / exit opening. The imaging optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 guides this return light to the exit opening. The return light exits the ophthalmic apparatus 1 through the exit opening and is guided to the entrance opening of the smartphone 500. The return light that enters the smartphone 500 through the entrance opening is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 520 by the imaging lens 521.

[0157] In some embodiments, one or more optical elements (lenses) may be provided in at least one of the entrance opening, the entrance / exit opening, and the exit opening of the ophthalmic device 1. The entrance opening and / or the exit opening of the ophthalmic device 1 may be formed in the mounting portion 90.

[0158] The ophthalmic apparatus 1 includes an optical system and a communication function. As shown in Fig. 1, the optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 includes an iris diaphragm 21, a relay lens system RL1, a slit 22, a relay lens system RL2, an optical scanner 30, a relay lens 41, a black dot plate 42, a relay lens 44, a hole mirror 45, an objective lens 46, and a focus lens 47.

[0159] The iris diaphragm 21 has one or more openings formed therein. Each opening is disposed at a position that is approximately optically conjugate with the iris (pupil) of the subject's eye E when the subject's eye E is photographed. The iris diaphragm 21 is an optical element for performing pupil division between the illumination light and its return light. In other words, the iris diaphragm 21 is an optical element designed so that the illumination light and its return light pass through different regions of the pupil.

[0160] The slit 22 has one or more slit-shaped openings. Each opening is disposed at a position that is approximately optically conjugate with the fundus Ef when the subject's eye E is photographed. The slit 22 is movable along the optical axis. The slit 22 is an optical element for generating illumination light having a slit-shaped beam cross section.

[0161] The optical scanner 30 one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally deflects the slit-shaped illumination light generated by the slit 22. The working surface (e.g., a light reflecting surface) by which the optical scanner 30 deflects the illumination light is disposed at a position that is approximately optically conjugate with the iris when photographing the subject's eye E. In some aspects, the optical scanner 30 deflects the slit-shaped illumination light in a one-dimensional direction that corresponds to the short side direction (width direction) of the opening formed in the slit 22.

[0162] The black dot plate 42 is an optical element having a light-shielding portion disposed on the optical axis, and acts to prevent the generation of light (harmful light) that adversely affects fundus photography. Examples of harmful light include reflected light caused by optical elements such as the objective lens 46, and reflected light caused by the cornea of ​​the subject's eye E.

[0163] The hole mirror 45 is an optical element that combines the optical path of the illumination light with the optical path of the return light of the illumination light. A hole is formed in the light reflecting surface of the hole mirror 45. This hole is disposed at a position that is optically approximately conjugate with the iris when photographing the subject's eye E. The illumination light deflected by the optical scanner 30 is projected onto the peripheral area (light reflecting surface) of the hole of the hole mirror 45 and reflected in a direction toward the objective lens 46.

[0164] The illumination light reflected by the hole mirror 45 is refracted by the objective lens 46 and projected onto the subject's eye E. The return light of the illumination light from the subject's eye E passes through the objective lens 46, passes through the hole in the hole mirror 45, and is guided to the focus lens 47.

[0165] The focus lens 47 is movable along the optical axis. The return light that passes through the hole of the hole mirror 45 passes through the focus lens 47 and is guided to the smartphone 500.

[0166] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a wavelength selection filter 70 may be provided. The wavelength selection filter 70 is inserted into the optical path between the entrance opening of the ophthalmic device 1 and the iris diaphragm 21 in a retractable manner. The wavelength selection filter 70 is inserted into and retracted from the optical path, for example, manually or by a mechanism (not shown) controlled by a control unit described later. The wavelength selection filter 70 is an optical element having a predetermined wavelength selection characteristic, and selectively passes a predetermined wavelength component used for photographing the subject's eye E (fundus Ef) among various wavelength components of light provided from the smartphone 500 to the ophthalmic device 1. Examples of the wavelength components selected by the wavelength selection filter 70 include a wavelength component for fluorescein fluorescence photography, a wavelength component for indocyanine green fluorescence photography, a wavelength component for autofluorescence photography, and a wavelength component for photography with light of any of the RGB color components. Furthermore, when the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 is a multi-modality imaging apparatus that functions as two or more modalities, the wavelength-selecting filter 70 may be configured to be able to select wavelength components corresponding to each modality.

[0167] In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device 1 may include a condenser lens disposed in the optical path between the entrance aperture of the ophthalmic device 1 and the iris diaphragm 21. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device 1 may be configured to move the objective lens 46 along the optical axis.

[0168] Next, a description will be given of a processing system (control system, calculation system, etc.) included in the ophthalmic apparatus 1. An example of the configuration of the processing system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.

[0169] The processing system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is mainly configured with a control unit 100. The control unit 100 includes one or more processors and is configured to control each unit of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The processor of the control unit 100 realizes the function according to this example by executing processing according to a program stored in, for example, the memory 130 and / or another storage device.

[0170] Several examples of control executable by the control unit 100 will be described. In a first example, the control unit 100 may be configured to change the position of the slit 22 on the optical axis of the illumination light path by controlling the slit 22 (specifically, a moving mechanism for moving the slit 22). This enables the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to position the opening of the slit 22 at a position that is approximately optically conjugate with the fundus Ef based on the state of the subject's eye E (refractive power, axial length, etc.).

[0171] In a second example, the control unit 100 may be configured to execute deflection control of the illumination light by controlling the optical scanner 30. This enables the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to execute control of the projection position of the illumination light on the fundus Ef and control of the movement timing of this projection position.

[0172] In a third example, the control unit 100 may be configured to change the position of the focus lens 47 on the optical axis of the photographing optical path by controlling the focus lens 47 (specifically, a moving mechanism that moves the focus lens 47). This enables the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to form an image of the return light from the subject's eye E on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on the state of the subject's eye E.

[0173] The control unit 100 includes an illumination control unit 101, a storage control unit 102, and a scan control unit 103. Details of these elements will be described later. Note that the control unit 100 in some embodiments may include all of these three elements, or may not include all of them. For example, the control unit 100 in some embodiments may include only the illumination control unit 101 of these three elements, the control unit 100 in other embodiments may include only the illumination control unit 101 and the storage control unit 102 of these three elements, and the control unit 100 in still other embodiments may include all of these three elements.

[0174] The illumination optical system 110 is configured to project illumination light for scanning the subject's eye E onto the subject's eye E. When the exemplary optical system of FIG. 1 is applied, the illumination optical system 110 of this example includes an iris diaphragm 21, a relay lens system RL1, a slit 22, a relay lens system RL2, an optical scanner 30, a relay lens 41, a black dot plate 42, a relay lens 44, a hole mirror 45, and an objective lens 46.

[0175] Light generated by the light source 510 of the smartphone 500 passes through an exit opening of the smartphone 500 and an entrance opening of the ophthalmic apparatus 1, and enters the illumination optical system 110. The illumination optical system 110 generates slit-shaped illumination light from this incident light, deflects the generated slit-shaped illumination light, and guides the deflected slit-shaped illumination light to the entrance / exit opening of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The slit-shaped illumination light that passes through the entrance / exit opening and exits from the ophthalmic apparatus 1 enters the subject's eye E arranged just before the entrance / exit opening, and is projected onto the fundus Ef.

[0176] The photographing optical system 120 is configured to guide the return light of the slit-shaped illumination light projected onto the subject's eye E by the illumination optical system 110 to the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500. When the exemplary optical system of FIG. 1 is applied, the photographing optical system 120 of this example includes an objective lens 46, a hole mirror 45 (its hole portion), and a focus lens 47.

[0177] The slit-shaped illumination light projected onto the subject's eye E by the illumination optical system 110 is reflected and scattered by the fundus oculi Ef, an intermediate light-transmitting body, etc. The return light from the subject's eye E is light that passes through the entrance / exit opening of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and enters the photographing optical system 120, out of the exit light from the subject's eye E including the reflected light and scattered light. This return light is guided to the exit opening of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 by the photographing optical system 120. The return light that passes through the exit opening of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 passes through the entrance opening of the smartphone 500 and is guided to the image sensor 520 via the imaging lens 521.

[0178] The memory 130 stores various computer programs and various data, and in an exemplary embodiment, the memory 130 includes one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories.

[0179] The memory 130 stores control programs and / or control data for causing the ophthalmic device 1 to perform predetermined operations, and calculation programs and / or calculation data for causing the ophthalmic device 1 to perform predetermined calculation processing.

[0180] Furthermore, the memory 130 stores data acquired by the ophthalmic apparatus 1. Examples of the data stored in the memory 130 include data generated by the ophthalmic apparatus 1, data generated by the smartphone 500, data acquired by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 from outside, and data acquired by the smartphone 500 from outside.

[0181] The calculation unit 140 includes one or more processors and is configured to execute various calculation processes. Details of the calculation unit 140 will be described later. The processor of the calculation unit 140 executes processes according to programs stored in the memory 130 and / or other storage devices, for example, to realize the functions according to this example. In some aspects, the calculation unit 140 may be configured to be capable of executing image construction processes similar to those of the calculation unit 550 of the smartphone 500 described later.

[0182] The communication unit 150 is configured to execute communication processing between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. As described above, the communication method between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500 may be either wired communication or wireless communication.

[0183] The control unit 100 controls the communication unit 150 to transmit a signal to the smartphone 500. The smartphone 500 receives this signal and executes an operation corresponding to the signal.

[0184] Moreover, the control unit 100 receives a signal transmitted from the smartphone 500 by controlling the communication unit 150. The control unit 100 controls a corresponding element of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 based on the signal. As a result, the ophthalmic apparatus 1 executes an operation corresponding to the signal from the smartphone 500.

[0185] Devices and systems capable of communicating with the ophthalmic device 1 are not limited to the smartphone 500. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device 1 may be capable of communicating with one or more additional devices (described above) in addition to communicating with the smartphone 500.

[0186] The user interface (UI) 160 includes elements (hardware elements, software elements, protocols) for exchanging information between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and its user.

[0187] The user interface 160 includes, for example, an input unit (operation unit) that is a means for providing information from the user to the ophthalmic apparatus 1, and an output unit that is a means for providing information from the ophthalmic apparatus 1 to the user. Non-limiting examples of hardware elements of the input unit include an operation panel, a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a switch, a button, a dial, a scanner, an optical character recognition (OCR) device, a microphone, a camera (video camera), and the like. Non-limiting examples of hardware elements of the output unit include a display, a printer, a speaker, and the like. The user interface 160 may include a device in which an input function and an output function are integrated, such as a touch screen.

[0188] Next, a description will be given of a processing system (control system, calculation system, etc.) included in the smartphone 500. An example of the configuration of the processing system of the smartphone 500 is shown in FIG.

[0189] The processing system of the smartphone 500 is configured around the control unit 530. The control unit 530 includes one or more processors and is configured to control each unit of the smartphone 500. The processor of the control unit 530 realizes the function according to this example by executing processing according to a program stored in the memory 540 and / or another storage device, for example.

[0190] The control unit 530 is configured to control the smartphone 500 to execute various functions (e.g., a call function, a communication function, a user interface function, etc.) of a general smartphone, and also to execute control to cause the smartphone 500 to execute an operation linked with the ophthalmic apparatus 1. This linked operation is a non-limiting example of the operation according to the present embodiment, and includes control of the light source 510, control of the image sensor 520, etc.

[0191] Examples of the control of the light source 510 include control for switching the light source 510 on / off, control for changing the amount of output light, etc. In some aspects, the control unit 530 can execute control for moving the light source 510 and / or control for changing the direction in which the light source 510 outputs light. In some aspects, the control unit 530 can also execute control for changing the wavelength (e.g., central wavelength) of the light output from the light source 510.

[0192] Examples of control of the image sensor 520 include control for detecting light (return light from the test eye E of slit-shaped illumination light) using a rolling shutter method, control for changing the light detection rate, and control for changing the light detection sensitivity.

[0193] The control executed by control unit 530 will be described in detail later.

[0194] The memory 540 stores various computer programs and various data. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 540 includes one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories.

[0195] The memory 540 stores control programs and / or control data for causing the smartphone 500 to execute predetermined operations, and calculation programs and / or calculation data for causing the smartphone 500 to execute predetermined calculation processes.

[0196] Further, the memory 540 stores data acquired by the smartphone 500. Examples of the data stored in the memory 540 include data generated by the smartphone 500, data generated by the ophthalmic apparatus 1, data acquired by the smartphone 500 from outside, data acquired by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 from outside, and the like.

[0197] The calculation unit 550 includes one or more processors and is configured to execute various calculation processes. The processor of the calculation unit 550 executes processes according to programs stored in the memory 540 and / or other storage devices, for example, to realize the functions according to this example.

[0198] One example of the arithmetic processing executed by the arithmetic unit 550 is image construction processing in slit scanning. The image sensor 520 sequentially detects return light of the slit-shaped illumination light projected while being moved relative to the fundus Ef, and sequentially generates and outputs a signal (detection signal) indicating the detection result. The detection signals sequentially output from the image sensor 520 are sent to the arithmetic unit 550. The arithmetic unit 550 constructs an image of the subject's eye E (fundus Ef) based on these detection signals.

[0199] For example, the calculation unit 550 is configured to construct an image of the fundus oculi Ef based on a plurality of detection signals based on a plurality of detections of return light and a plurality of pixel position signals corresponding to these detection signals. Each pixel position signal is generated by the calculation unit 550 based on, for example, a correspondence relationship between projection position information indicating the projection position of the corresponding illumination light on the fundus oculi Ef and light receiving position information indicating the light receiving element of the image sensor 520 that detected the return light of the illumination light. The projection position information corresponding to each illumination light can be determined based on, for example, deflection control information for controlling the direction in which the illumination light is deflected by the optical scanner 30 (i.e., the projection position of the illumination light on the fundus oculi Ef).

[0200] In this example, the image construction process based on the data collected by the slit scan is performed by the smartphone 500 (the calculation unit 550), but in some embodiments, the image construction process may be performed by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 or an additional device, or may be performed by another device or system. For example, in some embodiments, the image construction process may be performed by a computer connected via a WAN or LAN. Also, the image construction process may be performed by two or more computers (distributed processing).

[0201] The communication unit 560 is configured to execute communication processing between the smartphone 500 and the ophthalmic apparatus 1 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The communication method between the smartphone 500 and the ophthalmic apparatus 1 may be either wired communication or wireless communication.

[0202] The control unit 530 controls the communication unit 560 to transmit a signal to the ophthalmic apparatus 1. Upon receiving this signal, the ophthalmic apparatus 1 executes an operation corresponding to this signal.

[0203] Moreover, the control unit 530 receives a signal transmitted from the ophthalmic apparatus 1 by controlling the communication unit 560. The control unit 530 controls a corresponding element of the smartphone 500 based on the signal. As a result, the smartphone 500 executes an operation corresponding to the signal from the ophthalmic apparatus 1.

[0204] Devices and systems capable of communicating with the smartphone 500 are not limited to the ophthalmic device 1. In some embodiments, the smartphone 500 may be capable of communicating with one or more additional devices in addition to communicating with the ophthalmic device 1.

[0205] User interface (UI) 570 includes elements (hardware elements, software elements, protocols) for communicating information between smartphone 500 and its user.

[0206] In some embodiments, similar to a typical smartphone, user interface 570 includes a graphical user interface (GUI) provided by a touch screen in cooperation with software, and in some embodiments, user interface 570 may include any input section and any output section.

[0207] Next, an example of the operation of the ophthalmic system 1000 (the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500) will be described with further reference to Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B. Fig. 4A shows a schematic flow of an example of control executed by the ophthalmic system 1000. Fig. 4B shows a sequence of an example of control executed by the ophthalmic system 1000.

[0208] In this operation example, the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 controls the smartphone 500 to apply a slit scan to the fundus Ef, and an image of the fundus Ef is generated.

[0209] First, a communication connection between the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500 is established by a known method (SQ1). For example, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 can establish a communication connection between the communication unit 150 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the communication unit 560 of the smartphone 500 by controlling the communication unit 150. Similarly, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 can establish a communication connection between the communication unit 560 of the smartphone 500 and the communication unit 150 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 by controlling the communication unit 560.

[0210] The ophthalmologic system 1000 starts photographing the fundus Ef (slit scan) in response to a predetermined photographing trigger. When the slit scan starts, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 controls the communication unit 150 to transmit a communication signal (synchronization signal) for synchronizing the movement control of the projection position of the illumination light and the light reception control by the image sensor 520 to the smartphone 500 (SQ2).

[0211] Next, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 controls the optical scanner 30 to change the deflection angle (deflection direction) of the illumination light by a predetermined step (predetermined unit angle) (SQ3).

[0212] Meanwhile, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 receives a synchronization signal from the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 by controlling the communication unit 560. Furthermore, the control unit 530 provides a control signal corresponding to this synchronization signal to the image sensor 520, thereby causing the image sensor 520 to execute light reception control of the return light (SQ4).

[0213] By performing such synchronous control, the ophthalmologic system 1000 of this example can perform deflection control of the optical scanner 30 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 and light reception result capture control of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 in synchronization with each other.

[0214] For example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time point SQ2, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 controls the communication unit 150 to transmit a synchronization signal to the smartphone 500, similar to SQ2 (SQ5). Next, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 controls the optical scanner 30 to execute the deflection control of the illumination light, similar to SQ3 (SQ6). Meanwhile, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 receives a synchronization signal from the ophthalmic apparatus 1, similar to SQ4, and causes the image sensor 520 to execute the light reception control of the return light based on this synchronization signal (SQ7). By such synchronization control, the deflection control of the optical scanner 30 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the light reception result acquisition control of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 are executed in synchronization with each other.

[0215] Similarly, from this point onwards, the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic device 1 transmits a synchronization signal (SQ8), the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic device 1 performs deflection control (SQ9), and the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 performs light receiving control (SQ10) are repeatedly executed in this order.

[0216] In some embodiments, the ophthalmologic system 1000 executes such sequential and repetitive operations a predetermined number of times. The computing unit 550 of the smartphone 500 constructs an image of the subject's eye E (fundus Ef) based on the data collected in this manner.

[0217] Next, the slit scan performed by the ophthalmologic system 1000 will be described in detail with further reference to FIGS.

[0218] The image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 functions as a pixelated light receiver. When the optical systems (illumination optical system 110 and imaging optical system 120) of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 are properly aligned with the subject's eye E, the light receiving surface (detection surface, imaging surface) of the image sensor 520 is disposed at a position that is optically approximately conjugate with the fundus Ef of the subject's eye E. The image sensor 520 detects the return light of the slit-shaped illumination light and generates an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion. The generated signal is read out by a rolling shutter method under the control of the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500.

[0219] In some embodiments, the image sensor 520 includes a CMOS image sensor. In this case, the image sensor 520 includes a plurality of pixel groups arranged in a row direction, and the plurality of pixel groups are arranged in a column direction. More specifically, the image sensor 520 includes a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, a plurality of vertical signal lines, and a horizontal signal line. Each pixel includes a photodiode and a capacitor. The vertical signal line is provided for each pixel group arranged in a column direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the row direction (horizontal direction). Each vertical signal line is selectively electrically connected to a pixel group in which a charge corresponding to the detection result of the return light is accumulated. The horizontal signal line is selectively electrically connected to the plurality of vertical signal lines. Each pixel accumulates a charge corresponding to the detection result of the return light, and the accumulated charge is read out, for example, sequentially for each pixel group in the row direction. For example, a voltage corresponding to the charge accumulated in each pixel is supplied to the vertical signal line for each line in the row direction. The plurality of vertical signal lines are selectively electrically connected to the horizontal signal line. By sequentially performing the above-described read operation for each line in the row direction in the vertical direction, it is possible to read out detection results from a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally.

[0220] A received light image corresponding to a desired virtual aperture shape extending in the row direction is obtained by reading out the detection results from the image sensor 520 using a rolling shutter method. This control is well known and is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 7,831,106.

[0221] In Figure 5, symbol IP indicates the position (projection range) of the projected image on the fundus Ef of the slit-shaped illumination light (slit light) projected onto the fundus Ef by the ophthalmic device 1, and symbol OP indicates the position (aperture range) of a virtual opening on the light receiving surface SR of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500.

[0222] The ophthalmic device 1 changes the deflection direction of the slit light using the optical scanner 30, thereby moving the projection range IP of the slit light on the fundus Ef in the slit width direction (e.g., Y direction, column direction, vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit length direction (e.g., X direction, row direction, horizontal direction).

[0223] Meanwhile, the smartphone 500 reads out signals from the image sensor 520 under the control of the control unit 530. The control unit 530 sequentially switches the pixel group from which signals are to be read out on a line-by-line basis, thereby moving the opening range OP in a direction corresponding to the slit width direction.

[0224] The aperture range OP corresponding to the projection range IP is set so as to include a range IP' where the return light of the slit light projected onto the projection range IP is projected onto the light receiving surface SR. In other words, the aperture range OP of the light receiving surface SR corresponding to the projection range IP of the slit light is set as a light receiving area that coincides with the projection range IP', or is set as a wider light receiving area that includes the projection range IP'.

[0225] The ophthalmologic system 1000 synchronously (in cooperation with) controls the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 for moving the projection range IP of the slit light and the smartphone 500 for moving the aperture range OP.

[0226] According to the slit scan performed in this manner, the imaging target range of the fundus Ef can be scanned while the projection range IP of the slit light and the aperture range OP of the image sensor 520 are moved in coordination. This makes it possible to obtain a high-quality fundus image with high contrast without being affected by unnecessary scattered light. Moreover, this effect can be achieved with a simple configuration.

[0227] There are several operation modes (operation methods) in the slit scan. Any operation mode may be applied to photograph the fundus Ef of the subject's eye E, but in this embodiment, a rolling shutter mode and a global reset release shutter mode, which are representative operation modes, will be described.

[0228] The slit scan in the rolling shutter mode will now be described. An example of a control mode for the slit scan in the rolling shutter mode is shown in FIG.

[0229] 6, the horizontal axis indicates time [t] and the vertical axis indicates the line number. The intersection of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis corresponds to the start time of the slit scan.

[0230] The line number is an identifier of a plurality of pixel lines included in a light receiving element array (pixel array) arranged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 520. In some aspects, the line number is an identifier of a plurality of pixel lines arranged in the row direction, and each pixel line is made up of a group of pixels arranged in the column direction. In other aspects, the line number is an identifier of a plurality of pixel lines arranged in the column direction, and each pixel line is made up of a group of pixels arranged in the row direction.

[0231] Each pixel line may be a group of pixels arranged in one column or two or more columns. Furthermore, two pixel lines with consecutive line numbers may be adjacent pixel lines in the pixel array of the image sensor 520 or non-adjacent pixel lines with one or more intervening pixel lines in the pixel array of the image sensor 520.

[0232] The number of pixel lines used for the slit scan in the rolling shutter mode may be any number. In the example shown in Fig. 6, 1920 pixel lines are used. Each pixel line in Fig. 6 is denoted by L(n) (n=1, 2, . . . , 1920).

[0233] In each pixel line L(n), the period indicated by diagonal lines indicates the period during which scanning is performed (scan period), and the period indicated by solid lines indicates the period during which signals are read out (read period). In the rolling shutter mode of FIG. 6, the length (scan time) RSt of the scan period of all pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) is set to be equal, but the embodiment is not limited to such a setting. The read period may be set arbitrarily.

[0234] 6, the difference between the scan start time of the n-th pixel line L(n) and the scan start time of the next n+1-th pixel line L(n+1) is a constant value ΔRSt (n=1 to 1919). Note that the difference between the scan start times does not have to be constant.

[0235] 6, RRt indicates the time required to read out signals from 1920 pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) (total readout time), and RTt indicates the time required for slit scanning (scanning time).

[0236] In this way, in the slit scan in the rolling shutter mode of FIG. 6, control is performed so that scanning and signal readout corresponding to multiple pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) are performed sequentially with a constant time difference ΔRSt in the order of line numbers n=1 to 1920.

[0237] The slit scan in the global reset release shutter mode will now be described. An example of the control mode for the slit scan in the global reset release shutter mode is shown in Fig. 7. As in Fig. 6, the horizontal axis indicates time [t], the vertical axis indicates the line number, and the intersection of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis corresponds to the start time of the slit scan.

[0238] The number of pixel lines used for the slit scan in the global reset release shutter mode may be any number. In the example shown in Fig. 7, 1920 pixel lines L(n) are used (n = 1, 2, ..., 1920), similar to Fig. 6.

[0239] Unlike the rolling shutter mode of Fig. 6, in the global reset release shutter mode of Fig. 7, the scan start times of all pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) are the same, and the scan times of all pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) are different from each other. If the scan time of each pixel line L(n) is represented as GSt(n), then for any different line numbers n1 and n2 (n1 ≠ n2), GSt(n1) is different from GSt(n2) (GSt(n1) ≠ GSt(n2)).

[0240] 7, the difference between the scan time GSt(n) of the n-th pixel line L(n) and the scan time GSt(n+1) of the next n+1-th pixel line L(n+1) is a constant value ΔGSt (n=1 to 1919). Note that the difference in scan time does not have to be constant.

[0241] GRt indicates the time required to read out signals from 1920 pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) (total readout time), and GTt indicates the time required for slit scanning (scan time).

[0242] In this way, in the slit scan of the global reset release shutter mode in FIG. 7, the scans corresponding to all pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) are started simultaneously, and the scans of the pixel lines L(1) to L(1920) are sequentially terminated with a certain time difference ΔGSt in the order of line number n=1 to 1920 to perform signal readout.

[0243] In such a slit scan in the global reset release shutter mode, a common exposure period (common exposure time Ct) is set for all pixel lines L(1) to L(1920). This common exposure time Ct corresponds to the exposure time in shooting using a global shutter type image sensor.

[0244] As described above, the ophthalmologic system 1000 of this embodiment is an ophthalmologic imaging system that performs fundus photography by combining the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 and the smartphone 500, and is configured to synchronously execute illumination light projection control by the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 and return light detection control by the smartphone 500.

[0245] To perform such synchronous control, both the illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the return light detection conditions by the smartphone 500 must be known. That is, to perform the slit scan described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7, one of the following three options must be selected: (1) synchronous control of the return light detection conditions by the smartphone 500 is performed based on the illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1; (2) synchronous control of the illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is performed based on the return light detection conditions by the smartphone 500; (3) synchronous control of the illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and synchronous control of the return light detection conditions by the smartphone 500 are performed based on a predetermined standard.

[0246] On the other hand, as described above, the operating conditions of the rolling shutter type image sensor mounted on the smartphone 500 (external device) are often fixed and often unknown. In consideration of this background, in this embodiment, a case where the second option (2) of the above three options is executed will be described in detail.

[0247] In the second option, the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 are estimated using the ophthalmic apparatus 1, and a slit scan is performed using illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 synchronized with the estimated operating conditions of the image sensor 520. Here, the illumination light projection conditions by the ophthalmic apparatus 1 include at least the operating conditions of the optical scanner 30, and may further include the operating conditions of a light source. In this embodiment, the light source is the light source 510 of the smartphone 500, but may be a light source provided in the ophthalmic apparatus 1 or a light source device as an additional device.

[0248] The first and third options can be adopted when the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 are variable. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the synchronization control in the first and third options can be performed in a manner similar to the synchronization control in the second option described in this embodiment.

[0249] In addition, when the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 are known, it is possible to perform synchronization control using the technology disclosed in International Publication No. 2021 / 049226.

[0250] In the embodiment described below, the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 are unknown. In other words, in the embodiment described below, a case is assumed in which fundus photography is performed by the ophthalmologic system 1000 including the smartphone 500 equipped with the image sensor 520 that operates under unknown conditions and the ophthalmologic apparatus 1.

[0251] 8, in this embodiment, a light reflector R is placed in front of the objective lens 46 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1. The position where the light reflector R is placed may be, for example, a position (imaging position) where an object of slit scanning (in this embodiment, the fundus Ef) is placed, or a position near the imaging position.

[0252] Furthermore, in this embodiment, illumination light is projected onto the light reflector R using the light source 510 and the illumination optical system 110, and the return light of the illumination light projected onto the light reflector R is detected using the photographing optical system 120 and the image sensor 520. The operating conditions of the image sensor 520 are estimated based on data (detection data) generated by the image sensor 520 that detects the return light through photoelectric conversion.

[0253] The light reflector R is used in measurements for estimating the operating conditions of a rolling shutter type image sensor 520 mounted on a smartphone 500 used in combination with the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The light reflector R is configured to generate return light that enters the photographing optical system 120 from slit-shaped illumination light projected onto the light reflector R by the illumination optical system 110. Examples of the light reflector R include optical elements such as a reflecting mirror or a diffuse reflector, and phantoms such as a model eye or a mock eye. The light reflector R may be provided with a chart (visual information such as a pattern, a figure, or a character (character string)).

[0254] One embodiment of a method that can be implemented to estimate the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 is shown in FIG.

[0255] In the method according to the embodiment of FIG. 9, first, a light reflector R is placed in front of the objective lens 46 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 (S1).

[0256] In some embodiments, the light reflector R is held by an element (a light reflector holding part, not shown) of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. In other embodiments, the light reflector R is held by an attachment (a light reflector holding member, not shown) attached to the ophthalmic apparatus 1. The configuration for disposing the light reflector R in front of the objective lens 46 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is not limited to these and may be any configuration.

[0257] After step S1 is completed, the illumination optical system 110 and the imaging optical system 120 are aligned and focused with respect to the light reflector R disposed in front of the objective lens 46 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 (S2).

[0258] The alignment in step S2 may be performed by any known method and any known configuration. The alignment in step S2 may be an automatic alignment or a manual alignment.

[0259] Although not shown in the figure, the ophthalmic device 1 may be equipped with an element (alignment unit) for performing alignment (position adjustment) between the subject (test eye E, light reflector R) and the optical system, similar to existing ophthalmic devices of the same type.

[0260] Examples of alignment modes that can be used in step S2 include: (1) stereo alignment, which determines the three-dimensional position (position in the X direction, position in the Y direction, position in the Z direction) of the test eye by analyzing two or more anterior segment images obtained by two or more anterior segment cameras; (2) XY alignment, which determines the position (position in the X direction, position in the Y direction) of the test eye by analyzing a frontal image of the anterior segment; (3) XY alignment, which determines the position (position in the X direction, position in the Y direction) of the test eye by utilizing a Purkinje image detected by projecting an alignment indicator onto the anterior segment; (4) Z alignment, which determines the position (position in the Z direction) of the test eye by projecting a light beam onto the anterior segment from a first oblique direction with respect to the device optical system and detecting the corneal reflected light with a photodetector arranged in a second oblique direction.

[0261] In alignment examples (2) and (3), the subject's eye can be photographed using the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500. On the other hand, in alignment examples (1) and (4), the subject's eye is photographed using a separate imaging device.

[0262] The ophthalmic system 1000 includes hardware and software elements according to an alignment method. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic system 1000 may be configured to perform at least a part of data processing related to alignment by the smartphone 500.

[0263] The focusing (focus adjustment, focusing) in step S2 may be performed by any known method and any known configuration. The focusing in step S2 may be autofocusing or manual focusing.

[0264] Although not shown in the drawings, the ophthalmic apparatus 1 may include an element (focusing unit) for adjusting the focus state of the optical system with respect to the subject (the subject's eye E, the light reflector R) in the same manner as existing ophthalmic apparatuses of the same type. The focusing unit may include, for example, an optical system that projects a focusing index onto the subject.

[0265] For example, the focusing in step S2 may be performed by adjusting the position of the focus lens 47 based on an image acquired by the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500.

[0266] More generally, the ophthalmic system 1000 may be configured to perform focusing by changing the focal length (position of the focal point) of a predetermined lens disposed between the subject (light reflector R) and the image sensor 520, or may be configured to perform focusing by changing the distance between the image sensor 520 and a predetermined lens disposed between the subject (light reflector R) and the image sensor 520.

[0267] The ophthalmic system 1000 includes hardware and software elements according to a focusing technique. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic system 1000 may be configured to perform at least a part of data processing related to focusing by the smartphone 500.

[0268] Steps S1 and S2 are preparatory steps performed before a measurement for estimating an operating condition of the image sensor 520 mounted on the smartphone 500. After step S2 is completed, the ophthalmologic system 1000 starts the measurement (S3).

[0269] The trigger for starting the measurement may be, for example, the completion of step S2 or a user's instruction operation. When a preparatory step other than steps S1 and S2 is performed, the ophthalmologic system 1000 may be configured to start the measurement when the completion of a predetermined preparatory step is used as a trigger.

[0270] In the measurement started in step S3, the ophthalmologic system 1000 first sets the scan condition for applying a slit scan to the light reflector R to the first scan condition (S4).

[0271] The first scan condition includes a condition related to the illumination light projected onto the light reflector R. The process of step S4 includes a step of setting the values ​​of one or more predetermined scan parameters to predetermined values.

[0272] The scan parameters whose values ​​are set in the process of step S4 may be any type of predetermined parameter. In this embodiment, the scan parameters include one or more operating conditions of the optical scanner 30.

[0273] In this embodiment, at least one of the scan start timing and the scan speed may be used as an example of the operating condition of the optical scanner 30.

[0274] The scan start timing is the start timing of a slit scan, in other words, it can be considered as the timing to start projecting illumination light using the illumination optical system 110 and the timing to start moving the projection position of illumination light using the optical scanner 30. From the viewpoint of control in this embodiment, the scan start timing indicates the length of time (delay time) from the point of time when an imaging trigger (measurement start trigger in the measurement of FIG. 9) is generated to the point of time when scanning starts (for example, the start of movement of the projection position of illumination light).

[0275] The scan start timing, which is one of the operating conditions of the illumination optical system 110 of the ophthalmic device 1, is a parameter corresponding to the shooting start delay time (the length of the delay time from the shooting trigger to the start of light reception), which is one of the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500.

[0276] The scanning speed is a parameter indicating the moving speed of the projection position of the illumination light in the slit scan, and corresponds to the changing speed of the deflection direction in the deflection of the illumination light by the optical scanner 30. From the viewpoint of control in this embodiment, the scanning speed indicates the speed at which the orientation of the working surface (light reflecting surface) of the optical scanner 30 is changed.

[0277] The scanning speed, which is one of the operating conditions of the illumination optical system 110 (optical scanner 30) of the ophthalmic apparatus 1, is a parameter corresponding to the rolling shutter speed, which is one of the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500.

[0278] In some aspects, the process of step S4 is performed by the control unit 100 (e.g., the illumination control unit 101) of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. In some other aspects, the process of step S4 is performed by the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500. In some further aspects, the process of step S4 is performed by an additional device.

[0279] After step S4 is completed, the ophthalmic system 1000 applies a first slit scan to the optical reflector R in response to a measurement start trigger (S5).

[0280] In the first slit scan, the illumination control unit 101 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 responds to a measurement start trigger and controls the illumination optical system 110 according to the first scan condition set in step S4 to start projection of slit-shaped illumination light (first illumination light) onto the light reflector R and move the projection position. Furthermore, in the first slit scan, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 responds to a measurement start trigger and executes lighting control of the light source 510 and operation control of the image sensor 520.

[0281] When the scan start timing is set to the first scan condition (first timing) in step S4, the illumination control unit 101 controls the illumination optical system 110 (light scanner 30) so as to start moving the projection position of the first illumination light on the light reflector R at the first timing in the first slit scan in step S5.

[0282] When the scan speed is set to the first scan condition (first speed) in step S4, the illumination control unit 101 controls the illumination optical system 110 (light scanner 30) to move the projection position of the first illumination light on the light reflector R at the first speed in the first slit scan in step S5.

[0283] The ophthalmologic system 1000 stores the data (first detection data) acquired in the first slit scan in step S5 (S6).

[0284] The first detection data may include a series of data generated by the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 in the first slit scan. In some embodiments, the first detection data may be an image (first image) constructed by the calculation unit 550 of the smartphone 500 based on data collected in the first slit scan. In some other embodiments, the first detection data may be an image (first image) constructed by the calculation unit 140 of the ophthalmic device 1 based on data collected in the first slit scan. In still other embodiments, the first detection data may be an image (first image) constructed by an additional device based on data collected in the first slit scan.

[0285] In some aspects, the process of step S6 is performed by the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. For example, the control unit 100 stores the first detection data in the memory 130 or another storage device. In some other aspects, the process of step S6 is performed by the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500. For example, the control unit 530 stores the first detection data in the memory 540 of the smartphone 500 or another storage device. In still other aspects, the process of step S6 is performed by an additional device.

[0286] After completing step S6, the ophthalmologic system 1000 sets the scan condition for applying the slit scan to the light reflector R to a second scan condition different from the first scan condition (S7). In other words, the ophthalmologic system 1000 changes the scan condition for applying the slit scan to the light reflector R from the first scan condition to the second scan condition.

[0287] The scan parameter whose value is set as the second scan condition is of the same type as the scan parameter whose value is set as the first scan condition.

[0288] If the scan start timing is set to a first scan condition (first timing) in step S4, in step S7, the scan start timing may be set to a second scan condition (second timing different from the first timing) different from the first scan condition.

[0289] Furthermore, if the scan speed is set to a first scan condition (first speed) in step S4, in step S7 the scan speed may be set to a second scan condition (second speed different from the first speed) different from the first scan condition.

[0290] Furthermore, in step S4, if the scan start timing is set to the first scan condition (first timing) and the scan speed is set to the first scan condition (first speed), in step S7, the scan start timing is set to a second scan condition (second timing different from the first timing) different from the first scan condition and / or the scan speed is set to a second scan condition (second speed different from the first speed) different from the first scan condition. In other words, at least one of the scan start timing and the scan speed is different between the first scan condition and the second scan condition.

[0291] After step S7 is completed, the ophthalmic system 1000 applies a second slit scan to the optical reflector R in response to a measurement start trigger (S8).

[0292] In the second slit scan, the illumination control unit 101 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 responds to a measurement start trigger and controls the illumination optical system 110 according to the second scan condition set in step S7 to start projection of slit-shaped illumination light (second illumination light) onto the light reflector R and move the projection position. Furthermore, in the second slit scan, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500 responds to a measurement start trigger and executes lighting control of the light source 510 and operation control of the image sensor 520.

[0293] When the scan start timing is set to the second scan condition (second timing) in step S7, the illumination control unit 101 controls the illumination optical system 110 (light scanner 30) so as to start moving the projection position of the second illumination light on the light reflector R at the second timing in the second slit scan in step S8.

[0294] When the scan speed is set to the second scan condition (second speed) in step S7, the illumination control unit 101 controls the illumination optical system 110 (light scanner 30) to move the projection position of the second illumination light on the light reflector R at the second speed in the second slit scan in step S8.

[0295] The ophthalmologic system 1000 stores the data (second detection data) acquired in the second slit scan in step S8 (S9).

[0296] The second detection data includes a series of data generated by the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 in the second slit scan. In some embodiments, the second detection data may be an image (second image) constructed by the calculation unit 550 of the smartphone 500 based on the data collected in the second slit scan. In some other embodiments, the second detection data may be an image (second image) constructed by the calculation unit 140 of the ophthalmic device 1 based on the data collected in the second slit scan. In still other embodiments, the second detection data may be an image (second image) constructed by an additional device based on the data collected in the second slit scan.

[0297] Similar to the process of step S6, the process of step S9 may be executed by any one of the control unit 100 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1, the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500, or an additional device.

[0298] After completing the process of step S9, the ophthalmologic system 1000 estimates the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on the first detection data acquired in the first slit scan in step S5 and the second detection data acquired in the second slit scan in step S8 (S10). The process of step S10 is executed by the calculation unit 140 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1.

[0299] The operating conditions estimated by the process of step S10 may include the exposure time of the image sensor 520, and may further include the image capture start delay time of the image sensor 520.

[0300] The estimated exposure time represents the exposure time of each of the multiple shots (exposure time of each exposure line) in a slit scan in which multiple shots are taken sequentially and continuously. In this embodiment, the exposure time is constant throughout the slit scan, but the exposure time does not have to be constant (as described above).

[0301] The calculation unit 140 calculates an estimate of the exposure time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on the first detection data acquired in the first slit scan in step S5 and the second detection data acquired in the second slit scan in step S8.

[0302] The estimated image capture start delay time represents the length of time from when an image capture trigger is issued to when the image sensor 520 starts a capture operation under control executed in response to the image capture trigger.

[0303] The calculation unit 140 calculates an estimate of the imaging start delay time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on an estimate of the exposure time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500. That is, when estimating the imaging start delay time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500, the calculation unit 140 executes a first estimation process and a second estimation process: the first estimation process calculates an estimate of the exposure time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on the first detection data acquired in the first slit scan in step S5 and the second detection data acquired in the second slit scan in step S8; the second estimation process calculates an estimate of the imaging start delay time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 based on the estimate of the exposure time calculated in the first estimation process.

[0304] A non-limiting example of a calculation process for estimating the exposure time and the imaging start delay time of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 will be described with further reference to Figures 10A to 10C. In Figures 10A to 10C, the horizontal axis represents time t. The reference (t=0) of time t is set to the time of the instruction to start slit scanning (imaging trigger).

[0305] Fig. 10A shows an example of various control operations performed in the first slit scan in step S5 and an example of a first image constructed based on the first detection data collected by the first slit scan. Fig. 10B shows an example of various control operations performed in the second slit scan in step S8 and an example of a second image constructed based on the second detection data collected by the second slit scan. Fig. 10C shows an example of a calculation process performed based on the information shown in Fig. 10A and the information shown in Fig. 10B.

[0306] 10A to 10C show the lighting control mode (ON / OFF of light source) of the light source 510 of the smartphone 500, the light reception control mode (image sensor trigger) of the image sensor 520, and the mode of a slit scan start instruction mode (photographing trigger). When the photographing trigger is issued, the ophthalmologic system 1000 executes control of the light source 510 (lighting start control) and control of the image sensor 520 (light reception start control) corresponding to the photographing trigger by, for example, coordinated control (synchronization control) between the control unit 100 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 and the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500, and also executes control of the optical scanner 30 (deflection control of the optical scanner 30 based on scan conditions including a predetermined scan start timing and a predetermined scan speed).

[0307] 10A, the shooting range of the first slit scan in step S5 (the range of the scan applied to the light reflector R) is the range from the angle of view ωs to the angle of view ωe. The angle of view ωs is the start position of the first slit scan, and the angle of view ωe is the end position of the first slit scan. Furthermore, the symbol ts indicates the start time of the first slit scan (the operation start time of the image sensor 520 in the first slit scan), and the symbol te indicates the end time of the first slit scan. The period from the slit scan start time ts to the slit scan end time te is called the shooting time Tp.

[0308] The view angle position ωs and the view angle position ωe are arbitrary view angle positions determined in advance. For example, the view angle position ωs is set to +25 degrees, and the view angle position ωe is set to −25 degrees.

[0309] The angle of view position is a position parameter defined, for example, by using an angle (angle of view of slit scan) relative to the optical axis of the optical system of the ophthalmic device 1 (optical axis of the objective lens 46), and is widely used in ophthalmic photography. The angle of view position in a first angle direction relative to the optical axis of the optical system of the ophthalmic device 1 is expressed by a positive value (+), and the angle of view position in a second angle direction opposite to the first angle direction is expressed by a negative value (-). In this embodiment in which the slit-shaped illumination light is deflected in the Y direction (up and down direction) by the optical scanner 30, for example, the angle of view position in the upper direction relative to the optical axis of the optical system of the ophthalmic device 1 is expressed by a positive value, and the angle of view position in the lower direction is expressed by a negative value. The definition of the angle of view position is not limited to that of this embodiment, and the angle of view position can be defined arbitrarily according to the moving direction (scanning direction) of the slit-shaped illumination light, etc.

[0310] 10A represents the operation mode of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 in the first slit scan. More specifically, this line Cscan represents the movement mode of the aperture range of the image sensor 520 when the first slit scan is being executed. The line Cscan is called the "aperture movement line."

[0311] Moreover, the band-shaped line indicated by the symbol Lscan1 represents the operation mode of the optical scanner 30 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 in the first slit scan. More specifically, this line Lscan1 represents the movement mode of the projection position of the illumination light onto the light reflector R when the first slit scan is being executed. The line Lscan1 is referred to as the "first illumination movement line."

[0312] The first illumination movement line Lscan1 represents the first scanning condition set in step S4. More specifically, the scan start timing of the first illumination movement line Lscan1 is set to the first timing (time t=t01), and the scanning speed is set to the first speed. The first scanning condition (first timing, first speed) is known.

[0313] When the operating conditions (first scanning conditions: scan start timing and scan speed) of the illumination optical system 110 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 approximately match the operating conditions (imaging start delay time and rolling shutter speed) of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500, the first illumination movement line Lscan1 approximately matches the aperture movement line Cscan. In this case, an image having high overall luminance is obtained, and the first scanning conditions can be applied to a slit scan of the fundus Ef of the subject's eye E. However, it is considered that it is extremely rare for the first scanning conditions to approximately match the unknown operating conditions of the image sensor 520.

[0314] In contrast, when the scan start timing under the first scanning condition does not match the shooting start delay time and / or when the scan speed under the first scanning condition does not match the rolling shutter speed, the first illumination movement line Lscan1 intersects with the aperture movement line Cscan, as shown in FIG. 10A.

[0315] In this example, the slope of the first illumination movement line Lscan1 (scanning speed) and the slope of the aperture movement line Cscan (rolling shutter speed) are both constant, and the slope of the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the slope of the aperture movement line Cscan are different from each other, so the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the aperture movement line Cscan intersect at one point. This intersection is called the first intersection P1 (see FIG. 10A). The view angle position corresponding to the first intersection P1 is called the first view angle position ω1, and the time corresponding to the first intersection P1 is called the first time t1.

[0316] In an image constructed from the first detection data collected by such a first slit scan, a high-luminance region (first high-luminance region) exists at a position corresponding to the first angle of view position ω1. For example, in the image G1 of FIG. 10A, a first bright line L1 (first high-luminance region) exists at a position corresponding to the first angle of view position ω1. The calculation unit 140 analyzes the first image G to identify the first bright line L1 and acquires its position information. The position information of the first bright line L1 includes at least the position of the first bright line L1 in the Y direction (i.e., the Y coordinate of the first bright line L1). The control unit 100 stores the position information of the first bright line L1 acquired in this manner in the memory 130.

[0317] Next, Fig. 10B will be described. As shown in Fig. 10B, the imaging range of the second slit scan in step S8 is the same as the imaging range of the first slit scan, that is, the range from the angle of view ωs to the angle of view ωe.

[0318] FIG. 10B shows the aperture movement line Cscan and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 in the second slit scan.

[0319] The aperture movement line Cscan in the second slit scan is the same as the aperture movement line Cscan in the first slit scan. In other words, the operating conditions (shooting start delay time and rolling shutter speed) of the image sensor 520 in the second slit scan are the same as the operating conditions in the first slit scan.

[0320] In contrast, the second illumination movement line Lscan2 in the second slit scan is different from the first illumination movement line Lscan1 in the first slit scan. More specifically, in this example, the scan speed, which is one operating condition of the optical scanner 30, is the same between the first slit scan and the second slit scan, but the scan start timing, which is another operating condition of the optical scanner 30, is different.

[0321] The second illumination movement line Lscan2 represents the second scan condition set in step S7. More specifically, the scan start timing in the second slit scan is set to a second timing (time t=t02) different from the first timing (time t=t01) in the first slit scan, while the scan speed (second speed) in the second slit scan is set equal to the scan speed (first speed) in the first slit scan. In general, the second scan condition (second timing, second speed) is known.

[0322] 10B, the second illumination movement line Lscan2 intersects with the aperture movement line Cscan at a second intersection P2. The view angle position corresponding to the second intersection P2 is called the second view angle position ω2, and the time corresponding to the second intersection P2 is called the second time t2.

[0323] In an image constructed from the second detection data collected by such a second slit scan, a high-luminance region (second high-luminance region) exists at a position corresponding to the second angle of view position ω2. For example, in the image G2 of FIG. 10B, a second bright line L2 (second high-luminance region) exists at a position corresponding to the second angle of view position ω2. The calculation unit 140 analyzes the second image G to identify the second bright line L2 and acquires its position information. The position information of the second bright line L2 includes at least the position of the second bright line L2 in the Y direction (i.e., the Y coordinate of the second bright line L2). The control unit 100 stores the position information of the second bright line L2 acquired in this manner in the memory 130.

[0324] Fig. 10C shows both the information shown in Fig. 10A and the information shown in Fig. 10B. The difference between the Y coordinate of the first bright line L1 in the first image G1 and the Y coordinate of the second bright line L2 in the second image G2 is indicated as ΔL. The difference ΔL corresponds to the difference Δω between the first angle of view position ω1 and the second angle of view position ω2. In addition, the difference between the first time t1 (first point in time) corresponding to the first angle of view position ω1 and the second time t2 (second point in time) corresponding to the second angle of view position ω2 is indicated as Δt.

[0325] The rolling shutter speed of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 corresponds to the inclination of the aperture movement line Cscan. Therefore, when expressed in terms of the angle of view position, the rolling shutter speed corresponds to the quotient value obtained by dividing the difference Δω in the angle of view position by the difference Δt in time: Δω / Δt. The unit of the rolling shutter speed expressed in terms of the angle of view position is, for example, [degrees / second]. Also, when expressed in terms of the coordinates defined in the images G1 and G2, the rolling shutter speed corresponds to the quotient value obtained by dividing the difference Δ in the Y coordinate by the difference Δt in time: ΔL / Δt. The unit of the rolling shutter speed expressed in terms of the image coordinates is, for example, [millimeters / second].

[0326] As described above, in this example, the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 have the same scanning speed, but the scanning start timing is different. As shown in FIG. 10C, if the difference in scanning start timing between the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 is τ, and the time corresponding to the second angle of view position ω2 on the first illumination movement line Lscan1 is t1', the slope of the aperture movement line Cscan (the rolling shutter speed of the image sensor 520) can be expressed as follows: -abs[(ω1-ω2) / (t1'-t1+τ)]. Here, abs[x] represents the absolute value of the real number x.

[0327] Furthermore, if the length of time from the shooting trigger (t=0) to the start of the slit scan (the operation start time of the image sensor 520: t=ts), that is, the shooting start delay time which is one of the operating conditions of the image sensor 520, is Tdelay, the aperture movement line Cscan can be expressed as follows: y=-abs[(ω1-ω2) / (t1'-t1+τ)]t+Tdelay, where y on the left side represents the Y coordinate.

[0328] Here, if the center in the Y direction of the imaging range (range from the angle of view position ωs to the angle of view position ωe) coincides with the optical axis of the optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1, the angle of view positions ωs and ωe are positive and negative values, respectively, and abs[ωs]=abs[ωe]. For example, the angle of view (imaging range) is 50 degrees, the angle of view position ωs=+25 degrees, and the angle of view position ωe=-25 degrees.

[0329] In this way, when the shooting range is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis, the length of time (ts to t1) from the operation start time (t=ts) of the image sensor 520 to the time (t=t1) corresponding to the first angle of view position ω1 is expressed by the following formula: (ωs-ω1)×(t1'-t1+τ) / (ω1-ω2). Therefore, the operation start time (t=ts) of the image sensor 520 is obtained by the following formula: ts=(ωs-ω1)×(t1'-t1+τ) / (ω1-ω2)-t1. Since the left side of this formula corresponds to Tdelay and each value on the right side is known, the shooting start delay time of the image sensor 520 can be obtained by using this formula.

[0330] In the above example, a case where the scan speed is equal between the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 and the scan start timing is different (first case) has been described. In the next example, a case where the scan speed is different between the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 and the scan start timing is equal (second case) will be described. Note that the case where both the scan speed and the scan start timing are different can be understood as a combination of the first and second cases, and calculations can be performed.

[0331] Fig. 11 shows a schematic diagram of various control examples executed in the first slit scan (S5) and the second slit scan (S8) in the second case, and examples of images acquired based on these slit scans. Fig. 11 shows information corresponding to Fig. 10C in the first case. Unless otherwise specified, the matters related to Figs. 10A to 10C can be applied mutatis mutandis to Fig. 11.

[0332] 11, the first illumination movement line Lscan1 and the second illumination movement line Lscan2 have a common scan start timing (time t=t0) but different scan speeds (slope), where time t0 is known.

[0333] As can be seen from a comparison with the examples shown in Figures 10A to 10C, in the example of Figure 11, the slope of the aperture movement line Cscan (the rolling shutter speed of the image sensor 520) can be expressed as follows: -abs[(ω1-ω2) / (t2-t1)]=-abs[(ω1-ω2) / ((t2-t0)-(t1-t0))].

[0334] Furthermore, the aperture movement line Cscan can be expressed as: y=-abs[(ω1-ω2) / ((t2-t0)-(t1-t0))]t+Tdelay.

[0335] 10A to 10C, if it is assumed that the shooting range is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis of the ophthalmic apparatus 1, the operation start time (t=ts) of the image sensor 520 can be obtained by the following formula: ts=(ωs-ω1)×(t2-t1) / (ω1-ω2)-t1. Since the left side of this formula corresponds to Tdelay and each value on the right side is known, the shooting start delay time of the image sensor 520 can be obtained by using this formula.

[0336] In this embodiment, in the manner described above, it is possible to obtain estimates of two operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 (that is, an estimate of the shooting start delay time and an estimate of the rolling shutter speed).

[0337] Some embodiments may be configured to obtain only an estimate of the capture start delay time of the image sensor 520, and other embodiments may be configured to obtain only an estimate of the rolling shutter speed of the image sensor 520. Still other embodiments may be configured to obtain estimates of other operating conditions.

[0338] Next, the estimation of the exposure time of the image sensor 520 will be described. In the rolling shutter type photographing (slit scan), a plurality of photographs are sequentially and continuously performed. The exposure time estimated in this embodiment indicates the exposure time (exposure time of each exposure line, shutter speed in each exposure) in each photographing performed in the slit scan.

[0339] Fig. 12 shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between the illumination movement line Lscan and the aperture movement line Cscan Unless otherwise specified, the matters relating to Figs. 10A to 10C and 11 can be applied mutatis mutandis to Fig. 12.

[0340] In this example, the illumination movement line Lscan represents the change over time in the projection range of the slit-shaped illumination light on the object of the slit scan (light reflector R, fundus, etc.).

[0341] The width of the illumination movement line Lscan in the vertical direction (field angle direction, Y direction) corresponds to the width of the slit-shaped illumination light (slit light width) LW. The unit of the slit light width LW is, for example, [degrees], which represents the dimension in the field angle direction.

[0342] The aperture movement line Cscan in this example represents the change over time in the aperture range of the image sensor 520 during slit scanning.

[0343] The width of the aperture movement line Cscan in the horizontal direction (the direction of time t) corresponds to the exposure time ET, which is expressed in units of time [seconds], for example.

[0344] Moreover, the width of the aperture movement line Cscan in the vertical direction (angle of view direction, Y direction) corresponds to the exposure width EW. The unit of the exposure width EW is, for example, [degrees] representing the dimension in the angle of view direction. The exposure width EW is a value determined by the design of the optical system of the smartphone 500, and is assumed to be known. In some embodiments, the exposure width EW can be estimated based on the dimension in the Y direction of the projected image when the slit-shaped illumination light is projected onto the light reflector R.

[0345] The inclination of the aperture movement line Cscan corresponds to the rolling shutter speed RS. The unit of the rolling shutter speed is [degrees / second] obtained by dividing the dimension in the angle of view direction [degrees] by the time [seconds].

[0346] As can be seen from the relationship between the exposure time ET, the exposure width EW, and the rolling shutter speed RS shown in Fig. 11, the exposure time ET [seconds] of the image sensor 520 can be calculated by dividing the exposure width EW [degrees] by the rolling shutter speed RS [degrees / second]: ET = EW / RS. For example, when scanning a shooting range with a 50-degree angle of view in a shooting time of 33 milliseconds, if the exposure width (EW) is 2 degrees, the exposure time (ET) can be calculated by the following formula: ET = EW / RS = 2 [degrees] / (50 [degrees] / 33 [milliseconds]) = 1.32 [milliseconds].

[0347] In this embodiment, the estimated values ​​of the three operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 (i.e., the estimated value of the shooting start delay time, the estimated value of the rolling shutter speed, and the estimated value of the exposure time) can be obtained in the manner described above. This concludes the description of step S10 in FIG. 9.

[0348] After the process of step S10 is completed, the ophthalmologic system 1000 stores the estimation result (estimated operating conditions, estimated information) of the operating conditions of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500 acquired in step S10 (S11).

[0349] In some aspects, in step S11, the ophthalmic system 1000 may store the estimated operating conditions (estimated information) obtained in step S10.

[0350] In some aspects, the ophthalmic system 1000 can generate control information for the illumination optical system 110 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 based on the estimated information acquired in step S10. The control information for the illumination optical system 110 may be a value of an operating condition of the illumination optical system 110 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 corresponding to an estimated value of an operating condition of the image sensor 520 of the smartphone 500. For example, the control information for the illumination optical system 110 may include a scan start timing (deflection start timing of the optical scanner 30) of the illumination optical system 110 corresponding to an imaging start delay time of the image sensor 520, and / or a scan speed (change speed of the deflection angle of the optical scanner 30) of the illumination optical system 110 corresponding to a rolling shutter speed of the image sensor 520. In an aspect in which the control information can be generated from the estimated information, the ophthalmic system 1000 can store the control information in addition to or instead of the estimated information in step S11.

[0351] In some aspects, in step S11, the ophthalmic system 1000 can store the stored information including at least one of the estimation information and the control information in association with an identifier of the smartphone 500. As described above, the identifier of the smartphone 500 may be a predetermined identifier or an identifier generated by the ophthalmic system 1000 (for example, the storage control unit 102 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1).

[0352] In some aspects, the process of step S11 is performed by the control unit 100 (storage control unit) of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1. For example, the storage control unit 102 stores the storage information including at least one of the estimation information and the control information in the memory 130 or another storage device. In some other aspects, the process of step S11 is performed by the control unit 530 of the smartphone 500. For example, the control unit 530 stores the storage information including at least one of the estimation information and the control information in the memory 540 of the smartphone 500 or another storage device. In still other aspects, the process of step S11 is performed by an additional device.

[0353] After the processing of step S11 is completed, the ophthalmologic system 1000 applies a slit scan to the fundus Ef of the test eye E based on the estimated information acquired in step S10 or based on control information generated from the estimated information in step S11 (S12).

[0354] The ophthalmologic system 1000 constructs an image of the fundus Ef from the data collected by this slit scan. The constructed image is provided for a predetermined process. Examples of the predetermined process include storage, display, transmission, processing, analysis, etc. This concludes the explanation of the method shown in FIG. 9 (end).

[0355] As described above, in some aspects, in step S11, the ophthalmology system 1000 can store stored information including at least one of the estimation information and the control information in a storage device in association with an identifier of the smartphone 500.

[0356] In some aspects, the storage control unit 102 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 associates the identifier of the smartphone 500 with the stored information and stores them in the memory 130 or another storage device. By performing such processing for multiple external devices (such as smartphones), it is possible to accumulate stored information for multiple external devices.

[0357] If the identifier of the smartphone 500 is a predetermined identifier, the storage control unit 102 may associate this identifier with the stored information, or may generate a new identifier from the original identifier and associate the new identifier with the stored information.

[0358] When a new identifier is generated from the original identifier of the smartphone 500, the new identifier is also stored in the smartphone 500. Alternatively, information indicating the correspondence between the original identifier and the new identifier may be stored in one or more of the smartphone 500, the ophthalmic device 1, and another device. Even when an identifier is generated by the storage control unit 102 regardless of the original identifier of the smartphone 500, the same processing as when a new identifier is generated from the original identifier of the smartphone 500 can be performed.

[0359] In some embodiments, a database can be constructed that can be shared by various ophthalmic devices by using multiple ophthalmic devices to obtain stored information for multiple external devices and storing the information in a storage device on a WAN, for example.

[0360] In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device 1 may be configured to retrieve stored information corresponding to the external device from a storage device (or database) when the external device is attached, and perform a slit scan based on the retrieved stored information.

[0361] The ophthalmic device 1 of this embodiment may have a function of detecting that an external device is attached. For example, the ophthalmic device 1 may be configured to detect that an external device is attached using an external device detection means such as a microswitch or a proximity sensor. The ophthalmic device 1 may also include a connection establishment detection means that detects that a connection (electrical connection, optical connection, communication connection, etc.) between the ophthalmic device 1 and the external device is established. The ophthalmic device 1 may also be configured to detect that an external device is attached based on a user's operation.

[0362] In response to detecting the attachment of an external device, the scan control unit 103 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 of this embodiment can acquire an identifier from the external device, acquire stored information associated with the acquired identifier from a storage device (or database), and set the operating conditions of the illumination optical system 110 based on the acquired stored information. Furthermore, the scan control unit 103 can execute a slit scan by synchronously controlling the operation of the illumination optical system 110 (such as the optical scanner 30) based on the stored information and the operation of the external device (such as a light source and a rolling shutter type image sensor). This makes it possible to automatically set operating conditions according to the attached external device and execute a slit scan.

[0363] It would be understood by a person skilled in the art that the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the ophthalmic system 1000 according to the present embodiment provide embodiments in categories other than the ophthalmic apparatus and the ophthalmic system. For example, the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and the ophthalmic system 1000 according to the present embodiment are not limited to a method for determining control conditions of an ophthalmic apparatus, a method for calibrating an ophthalmic apparatus, a program, and a recording medium. For example, it would be understood by a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure provides various embodiments such as an embodiment of a method for controlling an ophthalmic apparatus and an embodiment of a method for photographing a subject's eye, and further provides similar embodiments in fields other than ophthalmology.

[0364] This disclosure presents some embodiments and some aspects thereof. These embodiments and aspects are merely non-limiting examples of the present invention. Therefore, any modification (omission, substitution, addition, etc.) within the scope of the gist of the present invention can be made to the embodiments and aspects presented in this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0365] 1 Ophthalmology equipment 110 Illumination optical system 120 Photographing Optical System 130 Memory 140 Arithmetic section 150 processors 160 User Interface 500 Smartphone (external device) 510 Light source 520 Image Sensor 530 Control Unit 540 Memory 550 Arithmetic unit 560 Communications Department 570 User Interface 1000 Ophthalmology System R light reflector

Claims

1. An ophthalmologic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye; an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor; an illumination control unit that controls the illumination optical system so as to project a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition and project a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition; a calculation unit that estimates an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light; 13. An ophthalmic device comprising:

2. the operating conditions include an exposure time of the image sensor; The calculation unit calculates an estimate of the exposure time based on the first detection data and the second detection data. The ophthalmic device of claim 1.

3. The calculation unit is constructing a first image from the first detected data; constructing a second image from the second detected data; calculating an estimate of a rolling shutter speed of the image sensor based on the first image and the second image; calculating the estimate of the exposure time based on the estimate of the rolling shutter speed; The ophthalmic device of claim 2.

4. The calculation unit is Identifying a first high intensity region in the first image; Identifying a second high intensity region in the second image; Calculating an interval between the first high luminance area and the second high luminance area; calculating the estimate of the rolling shutter speed by dividing the interval by a difference between a first time point corresponding to the first high luminance area and a second time point corresponding to the second high luminance area; The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 3.

5. the calculation unit calculates the estimate of the exposure time by dividing a predetermined exposure width of the image sensor by the estimate of the rolling shutter speed; The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 3.

6. The calculation unit is calculating an estimate of a rolling shutter speed of the image sensor based on a first image constructed based on the first detection data and a second image constructed based on the second detection data; calculating the estimate of the exposure time based on the estimate of the rolling shutter speed; The ophthalmic device of claim 2.

7. The calculation unit is Identifying a first high intensity region in the first image; Identifying a second high intensity region in the second image; Calculating an interval between the first high luminance area and the second high luminance area; calculating the estimate of the rolling shutter speed by dividing the interval by a difference between a first time point corresponding to the first high luminance area and a second time point corresponding to the second high luminance area; The ophthalmic device of claim 6.

8. the calculation unit calculates the estimate of the exposure time by dividing a predetermined exposure width of the image sensor by the estimate of the rolling shutter speed; The ophthalmic device of claim 6.

9. the operating conditions include a rolling shutter speed of the image sensor; The calculation unit calculates the estimated value of the rolling shutter speed based on the first detection data and the second detection data. The ophthalmic device of claim 1.

10. The operating conditions further include a delay time for starting imaging of the image sensor; The calculation unit calculates an estimate of the imaging start delay time based on the first detection data and the second detection data. The ophthalmic device of claim 1.

11. The lighting control unit includes: controlling the illumination optical system so as to start moving a projection position of the first illumination light with respect to the light reflector at a first timing; controlling the illumination optical system so as to start moving a projection position of the second illumination light with respect to the light reflector at a second timing different from the first timing; An ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The lighting control unit includes: controlling the illumination optical system so as to move a projection position of the first illumination light on the light reflector at a first speed; controlling the illumination optical system so as to move a projection position of the second illumination light on the light reflector at a second speed different from the first speed; An ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The lighting control unit includes: controlling the illumination optical system so as to start movement of a projection position of the first illumination light with respect to the light reflector at a first timing and to move the projection position of the first illumination light at a first speed; controlling the illumination optical system so as to start movement of a projection position of the second illumination light with respect to the light reflector at a second timing different from the first timing, and to move the projection position of the second illumination light at a second speed different from the first speed; An ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. a storage control unit configured to store, in a storage device, stored information including at least one of the estimated information of the operating condition acquired by the calculation unit and control information of the illumination optical system based on the estimated information in association with an identifier of the external device. The ophthalmic device of claim 1.

15. a scan control unit that, when the first external device includes a first image sensor of a rolling shutter type and is assigned a first identifier, acquires first stored information associated with the first identifier from the storage device, and synchronously controls the illumination optical system and the first image sensor based on the first stored information.

15. The ophthalmic device of claim 14.

16. An ophthalmologic system including an external device including a rolling shutter type image sensor, and an ophthalmologic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using the image sensor, The ophthalmic device includes: an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye; an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor; an illumination control unit that controls the illumination optical system so as to project a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scan condition and project a second illumination light onto the light reflector under a second scan condition different from the first scan condition; Including, a calculation unit that estimates an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light, Ophthalmology system.

17. A method for determining a control condition of an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, comprising: The ophthalmic device includes: an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye; an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor; Processor and Including, projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scanning condition using the illumination optical system; detecting return light of the first illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor; projecting second illumination light onto the light reflector under second scanning conditions different from the first scanning conditions using the illumination optical system; detecting return light of the second illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor; using the processor, estimating an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light; determining, using the processor, a control condition for the illumination optical system based on the operating condition; A method comprising:

18. A method for calibrating an ophthalmic apparatus that scans a subject's eye using a rolling shutter type image sensor included in an external device, comprising: The ophthalmic device includes: an illumination optical system that projects illumination light for scanning the subject's eye; an imaging optical system that guides return light of the illumination light to the image sensor; Processor and Including, projecting a first illumination light onto a light reflector under a first scanning condition using the illumination optical system; detecting return light of the first illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor; projecting second illumination light onto the light reflector under second scanning conditions different from the first scanning conditions using the illumination optical system; detecting return light of the second illumination light using the photographing optical system and the image sensor; using the processor, estimating an operating condition of the image sensor based on first detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the first illumination light and second detection data output from the image sensor that detects the return light of the second illumination light; calibrating the illumination optics using the processor; A method comprising:

19. A program causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 17 or 18.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having the program of claim 19 recorded thereon.

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