Eye Refractive Power Measurement Automatic Image Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eye refractive power measurement apparatuses require significant time and effort for examiners to check the reliability of measurement results, and it can be difficult for unaccustomed operators to verify the accuracy of these results due to complex operation procedures.

Innovation Solution

An eye refractive power measurement apparatus with an automatic alignment and measurement mode that uses a projection optical system to display alignment and measurement images on a monitor, allowing for real-time assessment of alignment and measurement errors, and automatically controls the display of measurement results based on predetermined conditions to ensure reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the measurement image is displayed by operation of a display changeover switch, then the reliability of measurement result can be checked, but it takes time and effort and is difficult for unaccustomed examiners

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability check of measurement resultVSAvoidoperational complexity for examiner
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically displays the measurement image on the monitor without requiring manual operation of a display changeover switch. The examination image pickup unit and measurement image pickup unit automatically switch displays based on measurement status, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for examiner intervention in image display selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement image is prepared and stored in advance in the storage unit during the measurement process. When measurement is completed, the image is automatically retrieved and displayed on the monitor, so the reliability check information is already prepared and available without requiring additional operational steps from the examiner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the measurement image is automatically displayed on a monitor, then the ease of operation is improved, but additional display control mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic image displayVSAvoiddisplay control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display control functionality is merged with the existing examination image display system. The same monitor used for displaying examination images during alignment is also used for displaying measurement images automatically after measurement, combining multiple display functions into a single integrated system rather than adding separate dedicated display equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitor serves multiple functions: displaying examination images during the measurement process, displaying measurement results, and automatically switching between different image types based on measurement status. This multi-functional use of the monitor eliminates the need for separate dedicated displays for different purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables examiners to quickly and accurately verify the reliability of measurement results, reducing operational time and effort while providing clear visual feedback on potential errors, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of eye refractive power measurements.

Implementation Method 1

projects a measurement target onto a fundus of an examinee's eye to pick up a fundus reflection image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP1767144B1Eye refractive power measurement apparatus
Publication Date: 2012.06.06 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP1767144B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3B
  • EP1767144B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1767144B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An eye refractive power measurement apparatus by which an examiner can properly check reliability of a measurement result while time and effort of the examiner are saved. The eye refractive power measurement apparatus for measuring eye refractive power of an examinee's eye has a measurement optical system for projecting a measurement target onto a fundus of the eye to pick up a fundus reflection image by a two-dimensional image-pickup element, a storing device which stores the picked-up fundus reflection image as a measurement image, a display device, a measurement condition judging device which makes a judgment as to whether or not the stored measurement image satisfies a predetermined measurement condition, and a first display control device which controls the display device to display the stored measurement image when the measurement condition judging device judges that the measurement condition is not satisfied.