Autofocus loupe system

Abstract

Multiple embodiments of a telescopic loupe system with improved and expanded visualization have been presented. The telescopic loupe system is suitable for Galilean and Keplerian telescopic configurations, where images captured by the telescopic loupe system are presented on a display screen, wherein the captured images may be displayed at the same or at different magnification level from that the magnification of the telescopic loupe system.

Description

Serial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025AUTOFOCUS LOUPE SYSTEMCLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims, pursuant to 35 USC 119, priority to, and the benefit of the earlier filing date of patent application serial number 63 / 697, 707 filed on September 23, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference, herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates to the field of optical viewing devices and more specifically to devices for viewing objects.RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Head-borne or wearable eyewear utilizing telescopic lens provide a practitioner with a magnified view of an area that the practitioner is viewing. Whether this is a patient's mouth, as in the case of a dentist, or in a body cavity, as in the case of a surgeon, the magnified view enables the practitioner to both see details that may not be viewable without the telescopic lens and provide more precise location of their instruments.

[0005] Such devices typically are designed to provide an enlarged view of an object a known distance from the user. However, such devices are limited in that the object must be placed at a required distance from the user as the optical elements within the magnification devices have known characteristics and are fixed. Thus, there is an inherent limitation as to the positioning of an object to provide a focused image to the user.

[0006] Hence, there is a need in the industry for the capturing of photographic and / or video images, in real-time, during dental or medical procedures (or other fields where close inspection and viewing is required) that provides for the real-time presentation of image to the user.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Disclosed is an eyewear including a magnification device or loupe for viewing of an object.

[0008] Disclosed is an eyewear including a magnification device or loupe that allows for the alteration of the magnification of the images viewed by the magnification device or loupe.Serial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025

[0009] Disclosed is an eyewear including a magnification device or loupe that allows for the electronic alteration of the magnification of magnification device or loupe.

[0010] Disclosed are multiple embodiments of a telescopic loupe system with improved and expanded visualization have been presented. The telescopic loupe system is suitable for Galilean and Keplerian telescopic configurations, where images captured by the telescopic loupe system are presented on a display screen, wherein the captured images may be displayed at the same or at different magnification level from that the magnification of the telescopic loupe system.

[0011] Disclosed is a variable magnification viewing system comprising an eyewear comprising a left carrier lens; and a right carrier lens, a magnification loupe incorporated in each of the left carrier lens and the right carrier lens, the magnification loupe comprising: at least one lens, forming an objective lens, positioned at a distal end of the loupe and at least one lens, forming an eyepiece, positioned at a proximal end of the loupe, the objective lens and the eyepiece forming an optical axis, therebetween, wherein a known level of magnification is achieved in part, by a distance separating the objective and the eyepiece lens, a display system positioned adjacent the proximal end of a corresponding one of the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens, the display system comprising a display screen; and a display lens, wherein the display lens is focused on the display screen and at least on image capture system, the at least one image capture system configured to capture at least one images of an object viewed through at least one of the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens and a processor configured to receive the at least one image captured by the at least one image capture device and display on the display screen of each of the display system associated with the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens, wherein the at least one image displayed on the display screen is at a magnification level that is one of the same and different than the magnification level achieved by the magnification loupe.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSSerial No.: TBDFiling Date: TBDFor: Autofocus Loupe SystemAttn. Doc. No.: DVI103Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780August2024July 2025

[0012] The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, where like or similar reference numerals are used to identify like or similar elements throughout the drawings:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a magnification device or telescopic loupe in accordance with the principles of the invention

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 5A illustrates a rear view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1 at a first level of magnification.

[0018] FIGs. 5B illustrates a rear view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1 at a second level of magnification.

[0019] It is to be understood that the figures, which are not drawn to scale, and descriptions of the present invention described herein have been simplified to illustrate the elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements. However, because these omitted elements are well-known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements are not provided herein. The disclosure, herein, is directed also to variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art.For a better understanding of exemplary embodiments and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. It is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example only and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are presented to clarify the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings make apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.Serial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

[0020] As used herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "has", "having", or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In addition, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the term "of1refers to an inclusive "or" and not to an exclusive "or". For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present); A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present); and both A and B are true (or present).

[0021] The terms "a" or "an" as used herein are to describe elements and components of the invention in their singular form and the terms "at least one" or "one or more" as used herein are to describe one or more than one of the elements described. This is done for convenience to the reader and to provide a general sense of the invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and / or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0022] Although the terms "perpendicular" and "orthogonal" are used herein to describe a relationship between two elements, it would be understood and recognized by those skilled in the art that the terms "perpendicular," orthogonal," "parallel" and similar mathematical terms are not to be considered in the mathematical sense (e.g.., precisely ninety (90) degrees or precisely zero (0) degrees). Rather, these terms are to be considered in the manufacturing sense wherein a tolerance value is imposed. Such tolerance values may be considered, for example, + / - 1 degree. Thus, the terms "substantially perpendicular, "substantially "orthogonal," "substantially center," "substantially parallel," etc. should be understood as being used to represent a relationship between elements in the manufacturing sense (i.e., within known tolerance values).

[0023] Accordingly all numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the term "about," whether or not explicitly indicated. The term "about" generally refers to a range of numbers that one skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e. , having the same function or result). In any instance, the terms "about" may include numbers thatSerial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025 are rounded (or lowered) to the nearest significant figure or within conventionally known and realizable tolerance values.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an eyewear configuration in accordance with the principles of the invention.

[0025] In this illustrated embodiment, telescopic eyewear 100 comprises an eyewear 110 comprising a first lens holder 110a and a second lens holder 110b connected by a bridge element 111, as is known in the art. Further illustrated are carrier lenses 120 (referred to 120a, 120b) incorporated into corresponding ones of lens holder 110a, 110b. Within each of the illustrated carrier lenses 120 are passages 125 into which corresponding display or viewing systems 127 may be retained.

[0026] In accordance with the principles of the illustrated embodiment, display system 127 comprises housing 140, into which may be inserted, on a proximal end (with respect to eyewear 110) a display lens (or eye-piece) 130, and on a distal end, a viewing or display screen 150 (e.g., OLED, LCD display). Display lens 130 provides for the presentation of the information or image presented on display screen 150 in a manner that renders the displayed image in focus to the user. That is, display eye-piece 130 focuses on display screen 150. In one aspect of the illustrated embodiment, display eye-lens 130 may include spectral correction characteristics (e.g., prescriptive lens) that enables the light emitted by display screen 150 to be properly focused onto the retina of the user. Alternatively, display eye-lens 130 may be an adaptive lens (i.e., a diopter) that allows for the user to adjust the lens characteristics to properly focus the viewed image onto the retina.

[0027] Further illustrated is image capture device 160 (i.e., 160a, 160b) that is inserted within corresponding ones of housings 165 (165a, 165b). Image capture devices (or system) 160, which are known in the art, capture light associated with an object and convert the captured light into a viewable image. Image capture device (system)160 may comprise a digital camera that includes an image sensor (e.g., CCD, CMOS), one or more lenses that are mounted to the image sensors, a digital image processor, suitable for processing the captured light and one or more analog to digital converting circuits that are suitable for converting the captured light into electrical signals that may be processed by the digital image processor. Alternatively, image capture device 160 may comprise separate imageSerial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025 sensors and lenses, a digital image processor and one or more analog to digital circuitry. In addition, image capture device (system) 160 may include transmission elements suitable for transmitting the captured images to one or more external devices. The transmitted captured images may be transmitted through a wired or a wireless connection to one or more displays, for example.

[0028] Further illustrated is magnification element or loupe 164 comprising at least eye-lens 170 (170a, 170b), forming an eyepiece, at a proximal end of the magnification loupe 164 and at least one objective lens 195 (195a, 195b), forming an objective lens at a distal end of magnification loupe 164, contained with housing 190 (190a, 190b). Objective lens 195 may further incorporate a working distance lens (not shown) that defines the distance from objective lens 195 at which an object is presented as being in-focus to a user.

[0029] The optical characteristics of objective lens 195, eye-lens or eyepiece 170 and the distance separating objective lens 195 and eye-lens or eyepiece 170 define a level of magnification of an object positioned at the working distance from objective lens 195.

[0030] Further illustrated is loupe retainer 180 (180a, 180b) into which loupe 164 is retained. Loupe retainer 180 allows for the interchangeability of loupe 164 to alter the magnification level of an object to be viewed.

[0031] In accordance with the principles of the aspect of the invention shown, loupe retainer 180 includes slot 181 into which housing 190 may be inserted or removed. In one aspect of the invention, housing 190 may include a magnetic element that may attach to a corresponding magnetic element with slot 180. Alternatively, slot 180 may include a channel (e.g., a T-Slot) into which a corresponding channel on housing 190 may be inserted. Thus, loupe 164 may be interchanged to create eyewear 100 of different magnification levels.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1

[0033] As shown, loupe 165 including objective lens 195 (eye-lens 165 not shown) is retained within slot 181 of loupe retainer 180, which is attached to housing 140, which in turn is retained within carrier lens 120.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the eyewear configuration shown in FIG. 1Serial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025

[0035] In this illustrated view, loupe 164 comprising housing 190 into which are objective lens 195 and eye-lens 170 (not shown) are retained within loupe retainer 180, which is retained to housing 140. Within (or attached to) housing 140 is display screen 150, which presents captured images of the objects viewed by loupe 164.

[0036] Although loupe 164 is shown as being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis extending from eyewear 100, it would be recognized that loupe retainer 180 and / or loupe 164 may be oriented at an angle with respect to the not shown horizontal axis (i.e., a declination angle) that would allow for a viewing of an object without requiring a significant downward orientation of the user.

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the eyewear configuration shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] Illustrated are objective lens 195 (195a, 195b) and loupe retainer 180 within corresponding carrier lens 120 (120a, 120b).

[0039] Accordingly, the magnified view of an object (not shown) viewed by loupe 164 may be captured by image capture device 160 and displayed on display screen 150. The displayed image (which has been magnified by loupe 160) may then be presented to a user as if the user is viewing the object through loupe 164. In one aspect of the embodiment shown, image(s) captured by image capture device 160 may further be transmitted to one or more external devices that allows for the viewing by additional viewers.

[0040] In addition, image capture devices 160 may include auto-focusing features that render images of objects that are positioned at distances that are different than an expected distance in-focus. For example, objects at a distance different than the known distance may be rendered in-focus to the user by an autofocusing algorithm incorporated into image capture device 160. Accordingly, images of objects viewed through magnification devices 164 that may be captured by image capture device 160 may be auto-focused so as to present a clear and focused image the user (and to one or more external devices).

[0041] FIG. 5A illustrates a rear view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1 at a first level of magnification.

[0042] In this illustrated rear view of the eyewear, images 510a of an object (not shown) that is viewed through magnification loupes 164 (i.e., 164a, 164b) are projected onto displays 150 and seen through display lens 130 (i.e., 130a, 130b). Images 510a are shown atSerial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025 a first level of magnification, which corresponds to the magnification level associated with loupes 164.

[0043] FIGs. 5B illustrates a rear view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 1 at a second level of magnification.

[0044] In this illustrated rear view of the eyewear, images 510c of an object (not shown) that is viewed through magnification loupes 164 (i.e., 164a, 164b) are projected onto displays 150 and seen through display lens 130 (i.e., 130a, 130b). Images 510c are shown at a second level of magnification. In one aspect of the invention, images 510c are shown with a second level of magnification, wherein the second level of magnification is greater than the first level of magnification.

[0045] In a first exemplary embodiment, the second level of magnification may be achieved by changing loupe 164 to a loupe of a different magnification level. For example, FIG. 5A may represent an image 510a of an object viewed through a loupe having a 2.5x magnification level, while FIG. 5B may represent an image 510c of the object viewed through a loupe having a 3.5x magnification level.

[0046] In a second exemplary embodiment, the second level of magnification may be achieved by electronically or digitally altering the image viewed. For example, FIG. 5A may represent an image of an object viewed through a loupe having a 2.5x magnification level, while FIG. 5B may represent an electronically or digitally increased magnification of image 510a.

[0047] Although the illustrated embodiment is shown with utilizing a Galilean type loupe element (i.e., positive objective, negative eye4ens), it would be understood and recognized by those skilled in the art that that principles of the invention shown, herein, are also applicable to a Keplerian type (positive objective, positive eye-lens) telescopic configuration. Accordingly, the present invention should be considered applicable to both Galilean and Keplerian type loupes.

[0048] In summary, a system for incorporating an auto-focusing system for the presentation of images to a user is presented, wherein images of objects at different distances from the user are presented in-focus to the user. In addition, a system for the interchangeability ofSerial No.: TBD Filing Date: TBD For: Autofocus Loupe System Attn. Doc. No.: DVI103 Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780 August2024 July 2025 loupes is presented, wherein loupes of different magnification levels may be utilized within the presented auto-focusing system.

[0049] The invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art, however, appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than with a restrictive view, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

[0050] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above regarding specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, and solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefits, advantages, or solutions to occur or become more pronounced, are not to be construed as a critical, required, or an essential feature or element of any or all of the claims.

Claims

Serial No.: TBDFiling Date: TBDFor: Autofocus Loupe SystemAttn. Doc. No.: DVI103Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780August2024July 2025What is claimed.

1. An eyewear comprising: a first carrier lens; and a second carrier lens, a display system positioned through a corresponding one of the first carrier lens and the second carrier lens, the display system comprising: a display screen; a display lens, wherein the display lens is focused on the display screen; and an image capture system, the image capture system configured to: capture images of an object ; and a magnification loupe associated with each of the display system positioned through a corresponding one of the first carrier lens and the second carrier lens, the loupe configured to: view the object at a known level of magnification, the magnification loupe comprising: an objective lens positioned on a distal end of the magnification loupe; and an eye-lens positioned on a proximal end of the magnification loupe, the magnification level of the loupe being determined by at least the optical characteristics of the objective lens, the eye-lens.

2. The eyewear of claim 1, comprising: a magnification loupe holder, the magnification loupe holder configured to: allow for the interchangeability the magnification loupe.

3. The eyewear of claim 1, comprising: a digital image processor configured to: receive images captured by the image capture system; and present the captured images on the display screen.Serial No.: TBDFiling Date: TBDFor: Autofocus Loupe SystemAttn. Doc. No.: DVI103Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780August2024July 20254. The eyewear of claim 3, wherein the digital image processor is configured to: present the captured images on the display screen at the level of magnification level of the magnification loupe.

5. The eyewear of claim 3, wherein the digital image processor is configured to: present the captured images on the display screen at a level of magnification different than the level of magnification of the magnification loupe.

6. An variable magnification viewing system comprising: an eyewear comprising" a left carrier lens; and a right carrier lens, a magnification loupe incorporated in each of the left carrier lens and the right carrier lens, the magnification loupe comprising: at least one lens, forming an objective lens, positioned at a distal end of the loupe; and at least one lens, forming an eyepiece, positioned at a proximal end of the loupe, the objective lens and the eyepiece forming an optical axis, therebetween, wherein a known level of magnification is achieved in part, by a distance separating the objective and the eyepiece lens, a display system positioned adjacent the proximal end of a corresponding one of the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens, the display system comprising: a display screen; and a display lens, wherein the display lens is focused on the display screen; and at least on image capture system, the at least one image capture system configured to: capture at least one image of an object viewed through atSerial No.: TBDFiling Date: TBDFor: Autofocus Loupe SystemAttn. Doc. No.: DVI103Attn.: C. A. Giordano, Reg. No.: 41780August2024July 2025 least one of the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens; and a digital image processor configured to: receive the at least one image captured by the at least one image capture device; display on the display screen of each of the display system associated with the magnification loupe associated with the left carrier lens and the magnification loupe associated with the right carrier lens, wherein the at least one image displayed on the display screen is at a magnification level that is one of: same and different than the magnification level achieved by the magnification loupe.

Images