Plenoptic Camera Eye Topography and Aberration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining imaging aberrations and topography of the eye require multiple sensors and beam splitters, increasing complexity, cost, and structural space, while also necessitating separate setups for reference image recording.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a plenoptic camera with an illumination unit that generates different illumination patterns varying in intensity distribution and direction, allowing the plenoptic camera sensor to record and evaluate light reflected from the eye for simultaneous determination of imaging aberrations, topography, and reference images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and beam splitters are used to determine imaging aberrations and topography, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (imaging aberration determination, topography measurement, and reference image recording) into a single plenoptic camera system. The plenoptic sensor integrates both wavefront sensing and topography imaging capabilities, eliminating the need for separate Shack-Hartmann sensors, interferometers, and reference cameras. This merging reduces the number of optical components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The plenoptic camera serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a wavefront sensor for imaging aberration determination and a topography sensor for corneal surface mapping. The single sensor captures both the direction information (for wavefront analysis) and the intensity information (for topography imaging) of reflected light, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate specialized sensors for each measurement type.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and beam splitters are used, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple expensive specialized sensors (Shack-Hartmann sensor, interferometer, reference camera) into a single plenoptic camera. This consolidation reduces the total number of high-cost optical components required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the measurement precision needed for accurate topography determination.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and beam splitters are used, then measurement precision is improved, but structural space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines reference image recording functionality with the imaging aberration and topography measurement functions in a single plenoptic camera system. This eliminates the need for separate reference cameras and their associated optical paths, reducing the overall structural space and device footprint required to achieve the same measurement precision for reference images.
4Adaptability or versatility
If beam splitters are used for collinear measurement and simultaneous observation, then measurement versatility is improved, but alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam splitting function from the system by using the plenoptic camera's unique ability to capture both direct and reflected light paths simultaneously without requiring physical beam splitters. This eliminates the alignment complexity associated with multiple beam splitters while maintaining the versatility of performing collinear measurements and simultaneous observations.
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 approach simplifies the setup, reduces costs, and enables simultaneous or successive recording of imaging aberrations and topography with reference images, using a single image sensor and eliminating the need for complex alignments, while providing intrinsically identical scaling and reduced error.
Implementation Method 1
the light reflected by the eye is imaged onto a plenoptic camera sensor
Implementation Method 2
the cornea 1 of the eye 2 is illuminated with a pattern laterally, preferably from different directions, by the illumination unit 3 and the image of the pattern reflected from the cornea 1 is recorded
Implementation Method 3
In the interferometric measurement methods, an interferometer is used to convert the wavefront information into bright-dark information that can be detected by traditional cameras
Data Source
AI summary
Using the present solution, it is possible both to determine optical aberrations and/or the topography and to simultaneously or immediately successively record reference images of an eye. Within the scope of the method, the eye is illuminated with different illumination patterns by means of an illumination unit, and the light reflected by the eye is recorded by a plenoptic camera sensor and evaluated by a control and evaluation unit. According to the invention, the eye is illuminated with different illumination patterns which differ in respect of their intensity distribution and illumination direction, the light reflected by the eye is imaged onto the plenoptic camera sensor and the topography and/or optical aberrations and/or reference images of the illuminated eye are determined from the image data of the plenoptic camera sensor on the basis of the utilized illumination pattern. Even though the solution is especially provided for applications in ophthalmology, it can also be applied in other specialist fields and in industry.