Small Aperture Lensometer Using Mobile Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lensometers are not cost-effective, accurate, or lightweight, and they struggle to measure refractive attributes of lenses over a large area simultaneously with high spatial resolution, especially for eyeglass lenses which require precise determination of spherical and cylindrical powers.
Innovation Solution
A compact lensometer system integrated with a mobile computing device (MCD) such as a smartphone or webcam, featuring a small aperture camera and a housing with a lens rest, measures refractive attributes like spherical power, cylindrical power, and prism or base by analyzing distortions in visual features displayed on a screen, allowing for simultaneous measurement across multiple regions of a lens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional lensometers are used, then measurement accuracy is achieved, but cost and device weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lensometer functionality with a mobile computing device, merging the camera, display, and processing capabilities into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate, heavy lensometer equipment while maintaining measurement accuracy through the mobile device's camera and screen assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the mobile computing device's existing camera and display components as substitutes for traditional lensometer optical components. The camera captures images of the screen assembly through the lens being tested, copying the essential measurement function without requiring specialized heavy equipment.
2Measurement precision
If conventional lensometers are used, then measurement accuracy is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile computing device serve multiple functions: it acts as both a general-purpose computing device and a specialized lensometer. The camera and display serve dual purposes for both general media consumption and optical measurement, eliminating the need for dedicated expensive equipment while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile computing device's existing camera and display components are utilized for lensometer functionality without requiring additional specialized components. The device serves itself by using its own built-in components for the measurement function, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining accuracy.
3Productivity
If measurements are taken at multiple probe regions simultaneously, then productivity increases, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens into multiple probe regions and measures each region independently through separate optical paths. The camera captures images that allow differentiation of light rays passing through different regions, enabling simultaneous multi-region measurement while maintaining the precision needed for accurate refractive attribute determination in each region.
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
The system provides an inexpensive, accurate, and lightweight solution for measuring refractive attributes of lenses with high spatial resolution, suitable for various types of eyeglass lenses, including single vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses, by leveraging the MCD's camera and display capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The subject lens bends light that passes through it, causing visual features of the display surface (as they appear in an image captured by the camera) to be deformed or translated
Implementation Method 2
A camera in the MCD functions as the camera for the lensometer... Light from the display surface passes through the subject lens and then travels to the camera
Data Source
AI summary
In illustrative implementations of this invention, a lensometer includes a small aperture camera for capturing an image of light that travels from a display surface, through a subject lens and to the camera. One or more computers are programmed to perform calculations that take the image as an input and that compute, for each respective region in a set of regions of the subject lens, a refractive attribute of the respective region.