Optical biometer and operating method thereof

Abstract

In an optical biometer of the application, a light source module emits an incident light; an optical coupling module receives the incident light and emits a reference light and a sensing light; a switchable reference-arm reflects the reference light to generate a first reflected-light; the sensing light is reflected by a specific interface of an eye to generate a second reflected-light; the optical coupling module interferes with the first and second reflected-lights to generate an optical interference signal; the detection module generates a detection result related to the eye based on the optical interference signal. When the reference light incident into the switchable reference-arm does not fall on a preset reference-arm position corresponding to the specific interface of eye, an optical path length of reference light is adjusted by a translation mechanism performed along an optical-axis, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference-arm position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to biometrics, and in particular to an optical biometric instrument and its operation method. Prior Technology

[0002] Generally speaking, traditional optical coherence tomography (OCT) biometers typically have certain unavoidable manufacturing tolerances, such as the characteristic parameters of optical components, manufacturing tolerances of mechanical parts, and cutting tolerances of the optical coupling module. These manufacturing tolerances can cause the reference light to deviate from its intended position on the reference arm, resulting in poor measurement accuracy.

[0003] In traditional designs, the aforementioned manufacturing tolerances can be overcome by increasing the transmission stroke of the motor screw. However, the length of the motor screw is usually limited by space and cannot be increased. Therefore, it is necessary to repeatedly cut the length of the optocoupler module and discard optocoupler modules with excessive length errors, which also increases production costs and needs to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes an optical biometer and its operation method to solve the above-mentioned problems encountered by the prior art.

[0005] According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, an optical biometer is provided. In this embodiment, the optical biometer includes a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module. The light source module is configured to emit incident light. The optical coupling module is configured corresponding to the light source module to receive the incident light and emit reference light and sensing light, respectively. The switchable reference arm is configured corresponding to the optical coupling module to reflect the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module. When the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of the eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module. The optical coupling module interferes with the first and second reflected lights to generate an optical interference signal. The detection module is configured corresponding to the optical coupling module to generate a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal. When the reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted by a translation mechanism performed in the optical axis direction, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0006] In one embodiment, when the optical biometer operates in Retina mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the retina; when the optical biometer operates in Cornea mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the cornea.

[0007] In one embodiment, the translation mechanism includes adjusting the position of the optical coupling module, the switchable reference arm, or the light source module in the optical axis direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted in a stepped manner or without steps.

[0009] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, an optical biometer is provided. In this embodiment, the optical biometer includes a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, a detection module, and a light-transmitting medium. The light source module is configured to emit incident light. The optical coupling module is configured to receive the incident light and emit reference light and sensing light, respectively, corresponding to the light source module. The switchable reference arm is configured to reflect the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module. When the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of the eye to be tested, the specific interface of the eye to be tested reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module. The optical coupling module interferes with the first and second reflected lights to generate an optical interference signal. The detection module is configured to generate a detection result about the eye to be tested based on the optical interference signal. The light-transmitting medium is disposed between the optical coupling module and the switchable reference arm. When the reference light incident on the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted by the thickness adjustment mechanism of the light-transmitting medium in the optical axis direction, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0010] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, there is a method for operating an optical biometer. In this embodiment, the optical biometer includes a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module. The operation method includes: emitting incident light from a light source module; receiving the incident light and emitting a reference light and a sensing light respectively from an optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module; reflecting the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module from a switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module; when the sensing light hits a specific interface of the eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module; interfering the first reflected light and the second reflected light by the optical coupling module to generate an optical interference signal; generating a detection result about the eye under test from a detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module based on the optical interference signal; and performing a translation mechanism in the optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light when the reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0011] In one embodiment, when the optical biometer operates in retinal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the retina; when the optical biometer operates in corneal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the cornea.

[0012] In one embodiment, the translation mechanism includes adjusting the position of the optical coupling module, the switchable reference arm, or the light source module in the optical axis direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted in a stepped manner or without steps.

[0014] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, there is a method for operating an optical biometer. In this embodiment, the optical biometer includes a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module. The operation method includes: emitting incident light from a light source module; receiving the incident light and emitting a reference light and a sensing light respectively from an optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module; reflecting the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module from a switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module; when the sensing light hits a specific interface of the eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module; interfering the first and second reflected lights by the optical coupling module to generate an optical interference signal; generating a detection result about the eye under test from a detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module based on the optical interference signal; placing a light-transmitting medium between the optical coupling module and the switchable reference arm; and when the reference light incident on the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, changing the thickness of the light-transmitting medium in the optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0015] Compared to previous technologies, the optical biometer and its operating method proposed in this invention can accurately measure interfaces at different depths within the eye and provide a wider range of optical path modulation, while simultaneously and rapidly switching between different optical paths, thereby overcoming manufacturing tolerances and effectively improving the accuracy of the measurement results of the optical biometer.

[0016] The advantages and spirit of this invention can be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0017] The accompanying drawings of this invention are described below:

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an optical biometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figures 2A and 2B respectively illustrate schematic diagrams showing that the reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test.

[0020] Figure 2C illustrates a schematic diagram of reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into a switchable reference arm and falling on a preset reference arm position corresponding to a specific interface of the eye under test.

[0021] Figure 3A illustrates a schematic diagram of performing a translation mechanism on the optical coupling module along the optical axis to adjust the optical path of the reference light accordingly.

[0022] Figure 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of performing a translation mechanism on the reference arm along the optical axis to adjust the optical path of the reference light accordingly.

[0023] Figure 3C illustrates a schematic diagram of performing a translation mechanism on the light source module along the optical axis to adjust the optical path of the reference light accordingly.

[0024] Figures 4A and 4B respectively illustrate schematic diagrams of changing the thickness of the light-transmitting medium along the optical axis to correspondingly adjust the optical path of the reference light.

[0025] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of an optical biometer operation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of an optical biometer operation method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Elements / components using the same or similar reference numerals in the drawings and embodiments are used to represent the same or similar parts.

[0028] According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, there is an optical biometer. In this embodiment, the optical biometer may be an optical coherence tomography (OCT) biometer, but is not limited thereto. Please refer to Figure 1, which shows a schematic diagram of the optical biometer in this embodiment.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the optical biometer 1 includes a light source module LS, an optical coupling module CP, a switchable reference arm RA, a detection module SE, and a processing module PR. The optical coupling module CP is located between the light source module LS and the eye being tested (EYE), and is also located between the switchable reference arm RA and the detection module SE. The detection module SE is coupled to the processing module PR. In practical applications, there are no specific restrictions on the type of light source for the light source module LS; the optical coupling module CP may include a beam splitter, but is not limited thereto; the processing module PR may be a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a central processing unit (CPU), but is not limited thereto.

[0030] The light source module LS is configured to emit incident light LIN to the optical coupling module CP. When the incident light LIN hits the optical coupling module CP, the optical coupling module CP is configured to split the incident light LIN into a reference light L1 and a sensing light L2, and then direct the reference light L1 toward the switchable reference arm RA and the sensing light L2 toward the eye under test EYE, respectively.

[0031] When reference light L1 is incident on the switchable reference arm RA, the switchable reference arm RA is configured to reflect reference light L1 to generate a first reflected light R1 to the optical coupling module CP. When sensing light L2 is incident on a specific interface of the eye under test (EYE), the specific interface of the eye under test (EYE) reflects sensing light L2 to generate a second reflected light R2 to the optical coupling module CP. It should be noted that when the optical biometer 1 operates in Retina mode, the specific interface of the eye under test (EYE) is the retina; when the optical biometer 1 operates in Cornea mode, the specific interface of the eye under test (EYE) is the cornea, but this is not a limitation.

[0032] When the optical coupling module CP receives the first reflected light R1 from the switchable reference arm RA and the second reflected light R2 from the eye under test (EYE), the optical coupling module CP is configured to interfere with the first reflected light R1 and the second reflected light R2 to generate an optical interference signal IF, which is sent to the detection module SE. The detection module SE is configured to generate a detection result DR for the eye under test based on the optical interference signal IF, which is then sent to the processing module PR. The processing module PR is configured to analyze and process the detection result DR to obtain information such as the relative position of the retina and cornea of ​​the eye under test, and the axial length of the eye.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 2A and 2B. The reference light L1 emitted from the optical coupling module CP into the switchable reference arm RA may not fall on the preset reference arm position P0 corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test EYE on the optical axis direction AX due to the influence of manufacturing tolerances. For example, the reference light L1 in Figure 2A falls on the reference arm position P1 on the optical axis direction AX, and the reference light L1 in Figure 2B falls on the reference arm position P2 on the optical axis direction AX.

[0034] Therefore, in order to overcome this drawback, when the reference light L1 injected into the switchable reference arm RA does not fall on the preset reference arm position P0, the optical biometer 1 of the present invention can perform a translation mechanism in the optical axis direction AX to adjust the optical path of the reference light L1 in a stepped or stepless manner, so that the adjusted reference light L1 can fall smoothly on the preset reference arm position P0 as shown in FIG2C.

[0035] In practical applications, this translation mechanism may include adjusting the position of the optical coupling module CP in the optical axis direction AX as shown in Figure 3A, adjusting the position of the switchable reference arm RA in the optical axis direction AX as shown in Figure 3B, or adjusting the position of the light source module LS in the optical axis direction as shown in Figure 3C, but is not limited to these.

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figures 4A and 4B, the optical biometer 1 may further include a light-transmitting medium G disposed between the optical coupling module CP and the switchable reference arm RA. When the reference light L1 incident on the switchable reference arm RA does not fall on the preset reference arm position P0, the optical biometer 1 of the present invention can adjust the optical path of the reference light L1 by changing the thickness of the light-transmitting medium G in the optical axis direction AX, so that the reference light L1 can fall on the preset reference arm position P0.

[0037] For example, Figure 4A shows the thickness of the light-transmitting medium G adjusted to a first thickness T1, and Figure 4B shows the thickness of the light-transmitting medium G adjusted to a second thickness T2, wherein the second thickness T2 is greater than the first thickness T1, but is not limited thereto. In practical applications, the light-transmitting medium G can be glass or acrylic, but is not limited thereto.

[0038] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, there is a method for operating an optical biometer. In this embodiment, the optical biometer includes a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module. Please refer to Figure 5, which illustrates a flowchart of the method for operating the optical biometer in this embodiment.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5, the optical biometer operation method in this embodiment includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0040] Step S10: Incident light is emitted from the light source module;

[0041] Step S20: The optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module receives the incident light and emits reference light and sensing light respectively;

[0042] Step S30: The reference light is reflected by the switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module to generate the first reflected light to the optical coupling module;

[0043] Step S40: When the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of the eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module;

[0044] Step S50: The optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal;

[0045] Step S60: The detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module generates a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal; and

[0046] Step S70: When the reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, a translation mechanism is executed in the optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0047] In practical applications, when the optical biometer operates in retinal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the retina; when the optical biometer operates in corneal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the cornea, but this is not a limitation.

[0048] In one embodiment, the operation method performs a translation mechanism in the optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light. This adjustment can be stepless or segmented, so that the reference light can fall on a preset reference arm position. In practice, this translation mechanism may include adjusting the position of the optical coupling module, the switchable reference arm, or the light source module in the optical axis direction, but is not limited thereto.

[0049] In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG6, the optical biometer operation method in this embodiment includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0050] Step S100: Incident light is emitted from the light source module;

[0051] Step S110: The optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module receives the incident light and emits reference light and sensing light respectively;

[0052] Step S120: The reference light is reflected by the switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module to generate the first reflected light to the optical coupling module;

[0053] Step S130: When the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of the eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module;

[0054] Step S140: The optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal;

[0055] Step S150: The detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module generates a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal;

[0056] Step S160: A light-transmitting medium is disposed between the optical coupling module and the switchable reference arm; and

[0057] Step S170: When the reference light incident on the switchable reference arm does not fall on the preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the thickness of the light-transmitting medium is changed in the optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

[0058] Compared to previous technologies, the optical biometer and its operating method proposed in this invention can accurately measure interfaces at different depths within the eye and provide a wider range of optical path modulation, while simultaneously and rapidly switching between different optical paths, thereby overcoming manufacturing tolerances and effectively improving the accuracy of the measurement results of the optical biometer.

[0059] The embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Any simple modifications and alterations made by those skilled in the art based on the claims and description of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention should still be included in the following claims.

[0060] 1: Optical biometer LS: Light Source Module CP: Optical Coupling Module RA: Switchable reference arm SE: Detection Module PR: Processing Module LIN: Incident light L1: Reference light L2: Sensing light EYE: Eye to be tested R1: First reflected light R2: Second reflected light IF: Optical Interference Signal DR: Test Results AX: Optical axis direction P0: Preset reference arm position P1, P2, PN: Reference arm positions G: Transparent medium T1: First thickness T2: Second thickness S10: Steps S20: Steps S30: Steps S40: Steps S50: Steps S60: Steps S70: Steps S100: Steps S110: Steps S120: Steps S130: Steps S140: Steps S150: Steps S160: Steps S170: Steps

Claims

1. An optical biometer, comprising: A light source module configured to emit an incident light; an optical coupling module configured to receive the incident light and emit a reference light and a sensing light respectively; a switchable reference arm configured to reflect the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module, wherein when the sensing light hits a specific interface of an eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module, and the optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal; and a detection module configured to generate a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal. When the reference light emitted from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on a preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted by a translation mechanism performed in the direction of an optical axis, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

2. The optical biometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the optical biometer operates in a retinal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the retina; and when the optical biometer operates in a corneal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the cornea.

3. The optical biometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translation mechanism includes adjusting the position of the optical coupling module, the switchable reference arm, or the light source module in the optical axis direction.

4. The optical biometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical path of the reference light is adjusted by a stepped or stepless adjustment.

5. An optical biometer, comprising: A light source module is configured to emit an incident light; an optical coupling module is configured to receive the incident light and emit a reference light and a sensing light respectively; a switchable reference arm is configured to reflect the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module, wherein when the sensing light hits a specific interface of an eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module, and the optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal; A detection module, configured to generate a detection result for the eye under test based on the optical interference signal, is provided. A light-transmitting medium is disposed between the optical coupling module and the switchable reference arm. When the reference light incident on the switchable reference arm does not fall on a preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the optical path of the reference light is adjusted by a thickness adjustment mechanism of the light-transmitting medium performed in an optical axis direction, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

6. A method for operating an optical biometer, the optical biometer comprising a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module, the method comprising: An incident light is emitted from the light source module; the incident light is received by the optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module, and a reference light and a sensing light are emitted respectively. The switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module reflects the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module; when the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of an eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module; the optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal; the detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module generates a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal; and when the reference light incident from the optical coupling module into the switchable reference arm does not fall on a preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, a translation mechanism is executed in an optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

7. The method of operation as described in claim 6, wherein when the optical biometer operates in a retinal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the retina; and when the optical biometer operates in a corneal mode, the specific interface of the eye being tested is the cornea.

8. The method of operation as described in claim 6, wherein the translation mechanism includes adjusting the position of the optical coupling module, the switchable reference arm, or the light source module in the optical axis direction.

9. The method of operation as described in claim 6, wherein adjusting the optical path of the reference light is a stepped adjustment or a stepless adjustment.

10. A method for operating an optical biometer, the optical biometer comprising a light source module, an optical coupling module, a switchable reference arm, and a detection module, the method comprising: An incident light is emitted from the light source module; the incident light is received by the optical coupling module corresponding to the light source module, and a reference light and a sensing light are emitted respectively. The switchable reference arm corresponding to the optical coupling module reflects the reference light to generate a first reflected light to the optical coupling module; when the sensing light is incident on a specific interface of an eye under test, the specific interface of the eye under test reflects the sensing light to generate a second reflected light to the optical coupling module; the optical coupling module interferes with the first reflected light and the second reflected light to generate an optical interference signal; the detection module corresponding to the optical coupling module generates a detection result about the eye under test based on the optical interference signal; a light-transmitting medium is disposed between the optical coupling module and the switchable reference arm; and when the reference light incident on the switchable reference arm does not fall on a preset reference arm position corresponding to the specific interface of the eye under test, the thickness of the light-transmitting medium is changed in an optical axis direction to adjust the optical path of the reference light, so that the reference light can fall on the preset reference arm position.

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