JP2000287933A - Ophthalmologic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph an object different in brightness over a wide range at a constant brightness by a simple operation using one adjusting means. SOLUTION: The quantity of light of a light source 1 for observation and the amplification factor of a signal amplifying means 16 are adjusted by a switch 24 and resulting information is transmitted to a control means 18. The control means 18 sets or changes a voltage applied to the light source 1 for observation and the amplification factor of the signal amplification means 16. In this manner, positioning with eyes E to be examined is performed while observing the eyegrounds Er of the eyes to be examined at a proper brightness to check focusing and photographing ranges. After the end of the settings, an examiner confirms that the photographing range, position and focusing are better by observing a retinal image Er' projected onto a TV monitor 19 and then, a still picture is taken by operating a photographing switch 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus used in an ophthalmic clinic or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing using electronic imaging means, an adjusting means for adjusting the amount of observation light or the amount of photographing light and an adjusting means for adjusting the sensitivity of the imaging means are separately provided. I have.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when the brightness of the subject is largely different, the adjustment must be performed using both the light amount of the illumination light source and the sensitivity of the imaging means. However, since the respective operation means are separately provided, there is a problem that the operation is complicated. In addition, when the subject's eye is observed with infrared light,
When observing moving images with visible light or observing moving images of fluorescent images, there is a large difference in the brightness of the subject, so it is necessary to operate both the light amount and sensitivity adjustment means in the same manner.
There is a problem that the operation is complicated and takes time.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of photographing a subject having a different brightness over a wide range at a constant brightness with a simple operation by one adjusting means.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for illuminating a subject's eye with different amounts of light, and an imaging means capable of photographing the subject's eye with different sensitivities. , A common operation means for controlling the light amount of the illumination means and the sensitivity of the imaging means.

Further, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an illuminating means capable of illuminating the subject's eye with different amounts of light; an imaging means capable of imaging the subject's eye with different sensitivities; A common operation means for controlling the sensitivity, and operating the light amount of the illumination means in a first part of the operation range of the operation means, and controlling the sensitivity of the imaging means in a second part of the operation means. Features.

An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an illuminating means capable of illuminating the subject's eye with different amounts of light; an imaging means capable of imaging the subject's eye with different sensitivities; Controllable common operating means,
The sensitivity of the imaging means may be increased in accordance with an increase in the light amount of the illumination means by operating the operation means, and the sensitivity of the imaging means may be decreased in accordance with a decrease in the light amount of the illumination means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a fundus camera according to an embodiment. On an optical path from an observation light source 1 such as a halogen lamp which emits visible light and infrared light to a target lens 2 facing the eye E, A condenser lens 3, a visible cut filter 4, which is disposed removably in the optical path, blocks visible light and transmits infrared light, a photographing light source 5 such as a strobe emitting flash light, a diaphragm 6 having a ring-shaped opening, A fluorescence imaging excitation filter 7a and an infrared cut filter 7b that block infrared light,
A relay lens 8 and a perforated mirror 9 are sequentially arranged to form a fundus illumination unit.

An imaging diaphragm 10 is disposed in the hole of the perforated mirror 9. Behind the photography diaphragm 10, a focus lens 11, a photographing lens 12 movable on an optical path, and a detachable lens can be inserted into and removed from the optical path. Filter filter 1 for fluorescence imaging arranged
3. The color separation prisms 14 are sequentially arranged.
r, 15g, and 15b are arranged to form fundus observation photographing means. Here, the color separation prism 14 applies infrared light and red light to the image sensor 15r and green light to the image sensor 15g.
And a function of guiding blue light to the image sensor 15b.

These image pickup devices 15r, 15g, 15b
Is connected via a signal amplifying means 16 to an image control means 17 having a memory 17a and a control means 18 having a memory 18a. The output of the image control means 17 is connected to television monitors 19 and 20, and outputs MO, MD,
DVD-RAM, VTR tape, hard disk, etc.
It is connected to an image recording means 21 which is a drive device for writing or reading to or from a recording medium D that can be stored and held without external power supply.

The control means 18 includes a photographing switch 22, a filter selection switch 23, a knob switch 24 for adjusting the amount of light emitted from the observation light source 1 and the amplification factor of the signal amplifying means 16, the amount of light emitted from the imaging light source 5 and Outputs of a switch 25 including operation units 25a and 25b for adjusting the amplification factor of the signal amplification unit 16 and a display unit 25c are connected to each other. The output of the control means 18 is the light source 5 for photographing.
Is connected to a strobe light emission control circuit 26 which controls the amount of light emitted by the capacitor 26a by a voltage applied to the capacitor 26a.

When performing color imaging, the photographer sits the subject in front of the fundus camera, and the fundus Er of the eye E to be examined.
The eye E and the fundus camera are aligned while observing the image with infrared light. Next, the filter selection switch 23 is operated to retreat the excitation filter 7a, the infrared cut filter 7b, and the filter 13 out of the optical path, and arrange the visible cut filter 4 in the optical path.

A light beam emitted from the observation light source 1 is condensed by a condenser lens 3, only infrared light is transmitted by a visible cut filter 4, passes through a photographing light source 5, a ring-shaped opening of an aperture 6, and a relay lens 8, the light is reflected to the left by a mirror unit around the perforated mirror 9, and illuminates the fundus Er through the objective lens 2 and the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined.

The image of the fundus Er illuminated by the infrared light is again subjected to the objective lens 2, the photographic aperture 10 at the hole of the perforated mirror 9, the focus lens 11, and the photographic lens 1.
2, the light passes through the color separation prism 14 and enters the image pickup device 15
r and is converted into an electric signal. This signal is amplified to a predetermined gain through the signal amplifying means 16, input to the image control means 17 and displayed on the television monitor 19. The photographer operates the switch 24 to adjust the brightness of the fundus image Er ′ while watching the fundus image Er ′ displayed on the television monitor 19.

When the light quantity and the amplification factor are adjusted by the switch 24, the knobs of the switch 24 can be turned to continuously adjust the scales 1 to 9 displayed therearound. The angle of the knob is detected by a known angle detecting unit, and the information is transmitted to the control unit 18. The control means 18 controls the observation light source 1 according to Table 1 below.
And the amplification factor of the signal amplifying means 16 are controlled.

Table 1 Scale Applied voltage Amplification rate 10V 0dB 22V 0dB 34V 0dB 48V 0dB 516V 0dB 616V 6dB 7 16V 12dB 8 16V 18dB 916V 24dB

For example, when the switch 24 points to the scale 3, the voltage applied to the observation light source 1 is 4V.
And the amplification factor of the signal amplifying means 16 is 0 dB. When the switch 24 points to the scale 5, the voltage applied to the observation light source 1 is 16 V, and the amplification factor of the signal amplification means 16 is 0 dB. Further, when the switch 24 points to the scale 7, the voltage applied to the observation light source 1 remains at 16 V and the signal amplification means 16
Is 12 dB. When the scale 9 is inserted, the voltage applied to the observation light source 1 is 16 V
As it is, the gain of the signal amplifying means 16 is 24 dB. When the position indicated by the switch 24 is between the scales, a value corresponding to the ratio is set.

The change of the voltage and the amplification factor can be performed immediately, and the photographer can adjust the brightness of the fundus image over a wide dynamic range while watching the television monitor 19. In this embodiment, the fundus Er of the subject's eye E is observed by infrared light illumination.
Since the reflectance for infrared light is high, the position indicated by the switch 24 may be about three. In this way, while observing the fundus Er with an appropriate brightness by adjusting the switch 24, the positioning with the eye E is performed using the operating means (not shown), and the focus lens 11 is moved to perform focusing and photographing. Check the range.

Next, when the light amount and the amplification factor are adjusted by the switch 25, the operation units 25a,
5b, the display on the display unit 25c changes from F1 to F10.
It changes step by step. The set value is set in the control means 1
8, the control means 18 sets the charging voltage of the capacitor 26a of the strobe light emission control circuit 26 and the amplification factor of the signal amplifying means 16 according to the following Table 2.

Table 2 Values of display unit 25c Applied voltage Gain F1 53V 0dB F2 75V 0dB F3 106V 0dB F4 150V 0dB F5 212V 0dB F6 300V 6dB F7 300V 12dB F8 300V 18V

The signal amplification factor at this time is determined by the photographing switch 22.
Wait for input to be set. That is, the control means 18, which has detected that the value of the switch 25 is F1, sets the voltage applied to the capacitor 26a to 53 V, and informs the memory 18 that the gain of the signal amplifying means 16 is 0 dB.
Stored in a. Similarly, the control means 18, which has detected that the value of the switch 25 is F7, sets the voltage applied to the capacitor 26a to 300 V, and sets the signal amplifying means 1
The fact that the gain of 6 is 6 dB is stored in the memory 18a. Similarly, the control unit 18 that has detected that the value of the switch 25 is F10 sets the voltage applied to the capacitor 26a to 300 V, and informs the memory 18a that the amplification factor of the signal amplifying unit 16 is 24 dB. Remember.

After the setting is completed in this manner, the fundus image Er 'shown on the television monitor 19 is observed, and after confirming that the photographing range, position, and focusing are good, the photographing switch 22 is operated. To take a still image. Upon detecting the input to the photographing switch 22, the control unit 18 inserts the filter 7b for blocking infrared light into the optical path, and
r, 15g, and 15b, and starts signal accumulation.
The gain of 6 is set to the value stored in the memory 18a, and a light emission signal is sent to the flash control circuit 26. The imaging light source 5 that has received the light emission signal emits light by the electric charge stored in the capacitor 26a.

The luminous flux emitted from the photographing light source 5 passes through the ring-shaped opening of the diaphragm 6 like the observation light, the infrared light is removed by the infrared cut filter 7b, and the remaining visible light is passed through the relay lens 8. The light is reflected to the left by the perforated mirror 9, passes through the objective lens 2, and illuminates the fundus Er via the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined. The illuminated image of the fundus Er is re-exposed to the objective lens 2, the photographic stop 10, the focus lens 1
1. The light passes through the photographing lens 12, enters the color separation prism 14, and is separated into red, green, and blue, respectively.
r, 15g, and 15b and are converted into electric signals. The signal amplifying means 16 amplifies these signals at a preset amplification factor, and the image control means 17 converts the electric signals into digital image data and records them once in the memory 17a. And the fundus image Er ′ is displayed on the television monitor 20 at the same time.

When performing fluorescence imaging, first, a mydriatic agent is instilled, and the subject who has mydriasis is seated toward the objective lens 2. Since the subject's eye E is mydriasis by the mydriatic agent, even if it is irradiated with visible light, it does not cause miosis. By operating the filter selection switch 23, the visible cut filter 4 is retracted outside the optical path, and the infrared cut filter 7b is inserted into the optical path.

The luminous flux emitted from the observation light source 1 passes through the same optical path as in color photography, the infrared light is removed by the infrared cut filter 7b, and the fundus Er is illuminated by visible light. The illuminated fundus image Er ′ returns along the same optical path, and is separated into red, green, and blue by the color separation prism 14, and the image sensor 1
Images are formed on 5r, 15g, and 15b, and are converted into electric signals. These electric signals are input to the signal amplifying means 16,
It is amplified to a predetermined amplification rate. Further, this signal is input to the image control means 17 and displayed on the television monitor 19. The photographer observes the color fundus image Er ′ displayed on the television monitor 19 and operates the switch 24 so that the fundus image Er ′ has a brightness that is easy to see. Since the reflectance of visible light is low, both the amount of light and the amplification factor are larger than those observed by infrared light, and for example, about 7 is preferable.

The color fundus image E shown on the television monitor 19
After confirming that the alignment and focus are good by looking at r ′, the subject is injected with a fluorescent agent. At the same time, the filter selection switch 23 is operated to insert the fluorescence excitation filter 7a and the fluorescence filtration filter 13 into the optical path.
The photographer operates the switch 24 to set, for example, the scale to about 9, thereby increasing the amount of light emitted from the observation light source 1 and increasing the amplification factor of the signal amplifying means 16.
Wait for a fluorescent image, which is weak light, to appear. When the fluorescent image appears, the photographing switch 22 is operated to photograph a still image.

The control means 18 which has detected the input to the photographing switch 22 starts the light accumulation of the image pickup devices 15r, 15g, 15b, and sets the gain of the signal amplifying means 16 to the value stored in the memory 18a. , Strobe light emission control circuit 26
Send a light emission signal to the The photographing light source 5 receiving the light emission signal
Light is emitted by the electric charge stored in the capacitor 26a. The light beam emitted from the imaging light source 5 passes through the ring-shaped opening of the diaphragm 6 like the observation light, transmits only the fluorescence excitation light by the excitation filter 7a, passes through the relay lens 8, and passes through the perforated mirror 9
Of the objective lens 2
Illuminates the fundus Er from the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined.

The fundus Er illuminated in this way emits fluorescent light, and its image passes again through the objective lens 2, the photographic stop 10, the focus lens 11, and the photographic lens 12, and light other than fluorescent light is removed by the fluorescent filter 13. The light enters the color separation prism 14, is separated into red, green, and blue colors, forms an image on the image pickup devices 15r, 15g, and 15b, and is converted into an electric signal. The signal amplifying means 16 amplifies these signals at a preset amplification factor, and the image control means 17 converts this electric signal into digital image data, records it once in the memory 17a, and records it on the recording medium D by the image recording means 21. Record. At the same time, the fundus image Er ′ is displayed on the television monitor 20. Looking at the fundus image Er ′ displayed on the television monitor 20, if the fluorescent image is too bright or too dark, the switch 25 is operated to adjust the brightness.

In the above description, according to the operation of the switch 24 or the switch 25, the light amount is first increased and the light amount is maximized, and then the sensitivity of the image pickup devices 15r, 15g and 15b is increased. Therefore, the image quality is good because the ratio of using a low amplification factor is high, but the light energy applied to the subject increases. For this reason, the burden on the subject increases, and the heat generation of the observation light source 1 increases, so that the power consumption also increases. Therefore, as shown in the following Tables 3 and 4, the amount of light emitted from the observation light source 1 and the imaging devices 15r, 15g, 15
By increasing both the amplification factors b, it is possible to balance the image quality with the burden on the subject or the problem of heat generation from the light source. When the burden on the subject or the heat generated by the light source is considered first, it is preferable to increase the amplification factors of the imaging elements 15r, 15g, and 15b, and then increase the light amount of the observation light source 1.

Table 3 Scale Applied voltage Amplification rate 10V 0dB 22V 0dB 3 2.8V 3dB 44V 6dB 5 5.7V 9dB 68V 12dB 7 11.1V 15dB 816V 18dB 916V 24d

Table 4 Values of the display unit 25c Applied voltage Gain F1 53V 0dB F2 63V 3dB F3 75V 6dB F4 89V 9dB F5 106V 12dB F6 126V 15dB F7 150V 18dB F8 178V21V21V21V21V21V21V21V21F21V

[0032]

As described above, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention controls the light amount of the illuminating means for illuminating the subject's eye and the sensitivity of the imaging means for taking an image with a common operation member, so that the operation is simple. It is possible to observe from a bright subject to a dark subject with a constant brightness.

Further, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention controls the light amount of the illuminating means in the first part of the operating range of the operating means, and controls the sensitivity of the imaging means in the second part of the operating means. With a simple operation, a bright subject to a dark subject can be observed at a constant brightness.

In the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the sensitivity of the imaging means is increased in accordance with the increase in the light amount of the illumination means by operating the operation means, and the sensitivity of the imaging means is decreased in accordance with the decrease in the light amount of the illumination means. Thus, it is possible to observe a bright subject to a dark subject with a constant brightness by a simple operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fundus camera according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Observation light source 4 Visible cut filter 5 Imaging light source 7a Excitation filter 7b Infrared cut filter 10 Imaging aperture 13 Filtration filter 14 Color separation prism 15r, 15g, 15b Image sensor 17 Image control means 18 Control means 19, 20 TV monitor 21 Image recording means 22 Photographing switch 23 Filter selection switch 24, 25 Light intensity and amplification factor adjustment switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] An illumination unit capable of illuminating the subject's eye with different amounts of light; an imaging unit capable of imaging the subject's eye with different sensitivities; and a common operating unit for controlling the amount of light of the illumination unit and the sensitivity of the imaging unit. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising: 2. Illumination means capable of illuminating an eye to be examined with different amounts of light, imaging means capable of imaging the eye to be examined with different sensitivities, and common operating means for controlling the amount of light of the illumination means and the sensitivity of the imaging means. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, wherein a light amount of the illumination means is operated in a first part of an operation range of the operation means, and a sensitivity of the imaging means is controlled in a second part of the operation means. 3. Illumination means capable of illuminating the subject's eye with different light quantities, imaging means capable of imaging the subject's eye with different sensitivities, and common operation means capable of controlling the quantity of light of the illumination means and the sensitivity of the imaging means. And increasing the sensitivity of the imaging unit in conjunction with an increase in the amount of light of the illumination unit by operating the operation unit, and reducing the sensitivity of the imaging unit in conjunction with a decrease in the amount of light of the illumination unit. Characteristic ophthalmic imaging device.