Self-Optometry Flow Control for Timely Operator Assistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing subjective optometry systems face challenges in accurately assessing the progress of self-administered examinations and providing timely assistance when issues arise, leading to increased burden on operators.

Innovation Solution

An optometry control program and system that includes a self-optometry program capable of automatically proceeding with examinations based on user input, with assistance features to intervene when needed, such as displaying an optometry flow, receiving operator inputs, and calling an examiner if necessary, to ensure smooth continuation of the examination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If self-optometry is implemented to reduce operator burden, then operator burden is reduced, but ability to grasp examination situation and provide timely assistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator burdenVSAvoidgrasp of examination situation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays the optometry flow on a display device, showing which examination items have been completed and which are pending. This provides real-time feedback to operators about the examination progress, enabling them to grasp the situation and provide timely assistance when needed, while still allowing self-optometry to proceed automatically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The optometry flow display acts as an intermediary between the automated self-optometry system and the operator. It translates the internal system state into visible information that operators can understand, bridging the gap between automated operation and human oversight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated self-optometry proceeds without operator intervention, then productivity increases, but reliability of examination process deteriorates when problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexamination efficiencyVSAvoidexamination process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares the optometry flow in advance, showing all examination items that will be performed. This allows operators to understand the complete examination process before it starts, enabling them to anticipate potential issues and provide appropriate assistance, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving automated efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optometry flow display dynamically updates to reflect the current examination state, showing completed and pending items in real-time. This dynamic information allows the system to adapt to problems as they arise while maintaining the overall automated process, balancing productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4008238B1Optometry control program and subjective optometry system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP4008238B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4008238B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4008238B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An optometry control program is executed by a first information processing device of a subjective optometry system and includes instructions which, when a self-optometry program is executed by a control portion of the first information processing device, cause the first information processing device to perform a self-optometry proceeding step and a self-optometry assistance step of performing an assistance action to assist a proceeding of a self-optometry. The self-optometry assistance step includes a display control step of displaying an optometry flow, on a display device, in which the plurality of examination items are arranged in order of a procedure of the self-optometry, a selection receipt step of receiving an operator's input of a selection instruction to select a predetermined examination item in the optometry flow displayed on the display device, and a selection performing step of performing an examination corresponding to the predetermined examination item based on the received input of the selection instruction.