JP2012045236A - Ophthalmologic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ophthalmologic device which can reduce burden of an examiner and can vertically move an observation unit or the like in a suitable manner without increasing in size.SOLUTION: The ophthalmologic device provided with the observation unit for observing eyes of a subject includes: a vertically moving mechanism for vertically moving the observation unit provided with a vertically moving part which supports the observation unit and can vertically move, a rotating operation member which is rotated by the examiner and a conversion unit which converts rotation of the rotating operation member to vertical motions of the vertically moving part; a motor which transmits a driving force to the conversion unit through a transmission member; a rotation sensor which detects the rotative force or the rotation of the rotating operation member; and a control unit for controlling the torque of the motor on the basis of signals from the rotation sensor which controls the torque of the motor in proportion to the rotating force or the rotation detected by the rotation sensor.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic apparatus for observing an eye of a subject.

  In an ophthalmic examination, an ophthalmologic apparatus such as a slit lamp (slit lamp microscope) including a microscope unit as an observation unit is used to observe a subject's eye (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In order to align the observation optical axis of the observation unit with the part of the subject's eye that the examiner wants to observe, such a device moves the observation unit in the horizontal direction and moves the observation unit in the vertical direction. And a vertical movement mechanism. The vertical movement mechanism is a mechanism that moves the observation unit up and down by rotating a rotation knob (rotation operation member) attached to the upper part of the joystick (operation rod). Such a vertical movement mechanism includes a unit that converts the rotation of the rotary knob into a linear movement in the vertical direction.

  The weight of the observation unit or the like is added to such a vertical movement mechanism. For this reason, when the observation unit is raised, the examiner feels a burden (load) corresponding to the weight of the observation unit or the like when the rotary knob is rotated. On the other hand, a technique is known in which an electric unit such as a motor is incorporated in the vertical movement mechanism, and the rotary knob is used as a means for inputting a drive signal of the motor, and the observation unit and the like are moved up and down electrically (for example, Patent Documents). 2 and 3). In this case, the examiner hardly feels a burden (load) when rotating the rotary knob.

JP-A-5-184543 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-14882 JP-A-11-174341

  However, there are the following problems in the vertical movement of the electrically operated observation unit or the like as in Patent Documents 2 and 3. That is, the alignment of the observation unit of the ophthalmologic apparatus is delicate. In particular, in the microscope unit of the slit lamp, since the observation site is enlarged, there is a possibility that the observation site is greatly deviated by a slight vertical movement. When the observation unit or the like is moved up and down by electric drive, a motor corresponding to fine movement is required for delicate alignment. Further, when the observation unit or the like is moved up and down with the driving force of only the motor, a high torque motor is required. For this reason, a motor becomes high-cost and will enlarge, and the whole apparatus will also be enlarged. In particular, in a slit lamp, a surgical unit such as a laser beam irradiation unit may be mounted, and the weight applied to the vertical movement mechanism is further increased, so that a motor with higher torque is required.

  In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention provides an ophthalmologic apparatus capable of suitably moving the observation unit or the like up and down while reducing the burden on the examiner without increasing the size of the apparatus. Let it be an issue.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration.
(1) In an ophthalmologic apparatus comprising an observation unit for observing the subject's eye,
A vertical movement mechanism for moving the observation unit in the vertical direction, comprising a vertical movement unit that supports the observation unit and that can be moved up and down, a rotation operation member that is rotated by an examiner, and a rotation operation member A vertical movement mechanism comprising: a conversion unit that converts rotation into vertical movement of the vertical movement unit;
A motor that sends a driving force to the conversion unit via a transmission member;
A rotation sensor that detects a rotational force or a rotation amount of the rotation operation member;
A control unit for controlling the torque of the motor based on a signal from the rotation sensor, wherein the control unit controls the torque of the motor in proportion to the rotational force or amount of rotation detected by the rotation sensor;
Comprising
It is characterized by that.
(2) The ophthalmologic apparatus according to (1) further includes a height sensor that detects a vertical position of the vertical movement unit, and the control unit is configured to generate torque of the motor based on a signal from the height sensor. And the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the rotational operation member is made substantially constant regardless of the vertical position of the vertical movement portion.
(3) The ophthalmic apparatus according to (2) further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward,
The control unit increases the torque of the motor as the vertical position of the vertical movement part increases when the vertical movement part rises.
(4) The ophthalmic apparatus according to (2) further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward,
The control unit increases the torque of the motor as the vertical position of the vertical movement portion decreases when the vertical movement unit is lowered.
(5) The ophthalmologic apparatus according to (2) further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward,
The control unit is positioned above the position where the urging force of the urging member and the load applied to the urging member are balanced based on a signal from the height sensor when the vertical movement portion is raised. The motor torque is increased when the vertical movement portion is provided.
(6) The ophthalmologic apparatus according to (2) further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward,
The control unit is positioned below the position where the urging force of the urging member and the load applied to the urging member are balanced based on a signal from the height sensor when the vertical movement portion is lowered. The motor torque is increased when the vertical movement portion is provided.
(7) The ophthalmologic apparatus according to (1) further includes a selector that selects an offset amount of torque of the motor controlled by the control unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably move the observation unit or the like up and down by reducing the burden (load) of the examiner without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a slit lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical system of the slit lamp.

  The slit lamp (slit lamp microscope) 100 includes a face support unit 10, a moving unit 20, an illumination unit 60, and a microscope unit (observation unit) 70.

  The moving unit 20 includes a slide base (sliding base) 21 slidable in the horizontal direction (left and right direction (X direction) and front and rear direction (Z direction)) on the table 1 and a test unit for moving the slide base 21. A joystick (operating rod) 22 that is gripped by a person's hand and tilted, and a base shaft (base shaft) 23 that extends upward from the slide base 21 in a substantially vertical direction (Y direction). Above the joystick 22, a grip (rotating knob (rotating operation member)) 22a that is gripped and rotated by an examiner's hand is integrally formed. Further, the moving unit 20 is a well-known sliding mechanism that moves the slide base 21 (and the base shaft 23) in the horizontal direction (left and right and front and rear directions (X and Z directions)) by tilting the joystick 22 left and right and front and rear. It has. Furthermore, the moving unit 20 includes a vertical movement mechanism that moves the base shaft 23 in the vertical direction (Y direction) by rotating the joystick 22 (grip 22a) in the horizontal direction (details will be described later).

  On the base shaft 23, an arm 60 a that supports the illumination unit 60 and an arm 70 a that supports the microscope unit 70 are supported so as to be individually rotatable in the horizontal direction around the central axis A of the base shaft 23. . Thereby, the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70 can be separately rotated in the horizontal direction around the central axis A.

  The face support unit 10 supports the face (head) of the subject so that the subject eye E (see FIG. 2) is positioned above the base shaft 23. That is, the face support unit 10 is arranged on the subject side with respect to the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70. The face support unit 10 includes a forehead 11 for supporting the subject's forehead and a chin rest 12 for supporting the subject's chin, and is fixed to the table 1 by two columns 13. .

  In the illumination unit 60, white light (visible light) from a light source 61 such as a halogen lamp passes through the condenser lens 62 and illuminates the variable aperture 63 and the variable slit 64. White light that has passed through the aperture 63 and the slit 64 passes through the projection lens 65, is reflected by the prism mirror 66, and is projected onto the eye E of the subject. With this configuration, the illumination optical system 60о is established (see FIG. 2).

  In the microscope unit 70, the white light reflected by the subject eye E passes through the objective lens 71, the variable magnification optical system 72, and the imaging lens 73 and is reflected by the erecting prism 74. The white light reflected by the prism 74 passes through the field stop 75, passes through the eyepiece lens 76, and enters the examiner's eye F. With such a configuration, an observation optical system 70о is established (see FIG. 2).

  Next, the vertical movement mechanism of the slit lamp 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the moving unit 20. 3A is a left rear perspective view (a perspective view seen from the left direction on the examiner side), and FIG. 3B is a right rear perspective view.

  In the present embodiment, the vertical movement mechanism that converts the horizontal rotation (rotation) of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) into the linear movement of the base shaft 23 in the vertical direction (Y direction) is substantially vertical in the joystick 22 ( A shaft (support member) 31 that is inserted in the Y direction) and supports the joystick 22 (grip 22a) so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and holds the shaft 31 so as to be tiltable, and is horizontal as the joystick 22 rotates in the horizontal direction. Rotation base (rotary member) 32, which is a first gear having teeth formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof rotating in the direction, and a horizontal surface of the rotation base 32 formed on the outer peripheral portion with teeth engaging with the teeth of the rotation base 32 A transmission member 33 as a second gear that rotates in the horizontal direction to transmit the rotation in the direction, and the horizontal rotation of the transmission member 33 in the vertical direction (Y direction). A conversion unit 34 that converts motion, a motor (drive source) 35 that applies a driving force (rotational force) to the conversion unit 34, a belt (transmission member) 36 that transmits the driving force of the motor 35 to the conversion unit 34, Moved in the vertical direction (Y direction) by the conversion unit 34, the base shaft 23 is fixed (supports the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70), and provided below the vertical movement unit 37. A hollow shaft 38, a hollow shaft 40 provided on the slide base 21, the upper part of which is accommodated in the shaft 38, and a biasing member 41 such as a spring housed in the shafts 38 and 40 are provided.

  The conversion unit 34 has a shaft (support member) 34a extending from the slide base 21 in a substantially vertical direction (Y direction) and teeth that mesh with the teeth of the transmission member 33 formed on the outer peripheral portion. A first conversion member 34b that is a third gear that rotates horizontally around the shaft 34a to transmit the rotation of the shaft 34a, and a feed screw that is integrally formed above the conversion member 34b around the shaft 34a. A second conversion member 34c.

  The motor 35 includes a pinion gear (transmission member) attached to a rotating shaft, and rotates in any direction. Between the 1st conversion member 34b and the 2nd conversion member 34c, the belt receiver (transmission member) 34d which is a pinion which receives the belt 36 is provided.

  The vertical movement portion 37 includes a third conversion member 39 that is a female screw that is screwed into the second conversion member 34 c that is a male screw. The urging member 41 that urges the vertical movement portion 37 upward has a role of canceling (reducing) the load applied to the vertical movement portion 37 from above, and is added to the grip 22a when the vertical movement portion 37 is moved upward. Reduce rotational load (rotational resistance). The urging force of the urging member 41 is slightly weaker than the load applied to the vertical movement portion 37 from above. As a result, the thread of the female thread of the third conversion member 39 is always placed on the thread of the male thread of the second conversion member 34c, and rattling between the screws is reduced. (Y direction) can be moved smoothly.

  Although not shown, the vertical movement portion 37 is provided with a regulating member that regulates the maximum upper limit (uppermost position) of the height of the vertical movement portion 37. Further, the lower limit (lowermost position) of the height of the vertical movement portion 37 is regulated by the length of the shafts 38 and 40 in the longitudinal direction (Y direction).

  Next, the movement operation of the vertical movement unit 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction) will be described. When the grip 22a is rotated in the horizontal direction (for example, rotated clockwise) from the state where the vertical movement portion 37 is at the lowest limit, the joystick 22 on the outer periphery of the shaft 31 is rotated in the horizontal direction. The rotation base 32 connected to the joystick 22 is also rotated in the horizontal direction. The rotation of the rotation base 32 is transmitted to the first conversion member 34b via the transmission member 33, and the first conversion member 34b rotates in the horizontal direction. Since the second conversion member 34c also rotates with the rotation of the first conversion member 34b, the third conversion member 39 (female screw) that is screwed into the second conversion member 34c (male screw) is fixed up and down. The part 37 moves straight (up). On the other hand, when the motor 35 is rotationally driven in this state, the pinion gear rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the belt receiver 34d via the belt 36, and the belt receiver 34d rotates in the horizontal direction. Since the second conversion member 34c also rotates with the rotation of the belt receiver 34d, the up-and-down moving part 37 linearly moves upward (ascends) as described above. And if rotation of grip 22a (and / or motor 35) continues, the up-and-down moving part 37 will raise to the maximum upper limit (illustration is omitted).

  On the other hand, when the grip 22a is rotated in the horizontal direction opposite to the above (for example, rotated counterclockwise), each member performs an operation reverse to the above, and the up-and-down moving portion 37 moves downward directly. Move (down). Similarly, when the motor 35 is rotationally driven in the direction opposite to that described above, the vertical movement portion 37 moves downward (downward). And if rotation of grip 22a (and / or motor 35) continues, the up-and-down moving part 37 will fall to the lowest limit (illustration is omitted).

  In this manner, the vertical movement portion 37 (and the base shaft 23) moves in the vertical direction (Y direction) by the rotation operation of the grip 22a. In addition, the vertical movement portion 37 (and the base shaft 23) also moves in the vertical direction (Y direction) by the rotational drive of the motor 35.

  Next, a control system related to the vertical movement mechanism will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the control system of the slit lamp 100. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a configuration for detecting the position (height) of the vertical movement unit 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  A motor 35, a sensor 50, a sensor 53H, a sensor 53L, a switch 55, a memory 81, and the like are connected to a control unit 80 such as a CPU that integrates and controls the entire apparatus. The memory 81 stores device control programs, setting conditions, and the like. The control unit 80 is based on the force for rotating the joystick 22 (grip 22a) (hereinafter, the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a)) and the position (height) in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the vertical movement unit 37. The motor 35 is rotationally driven to assist the examiner in moving the microscope unit 70 and the like in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  A sensor 50 for detecting the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is attached to the middle of the shaft 31. As the sensor 50, for example, a magnetostrictive sensor or the like can be used. The sensor 50 has a function of monitoring the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a), and sends the detected rotational force to the control unit 80 over time (real time). The control unit 80 detects the rotation direction of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) based on a signal from the sensor 50. For example, when the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is rotated clockwise, a positive signal is output from the sensor 50, and when the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is rotated counterclockwise, a negative signal is output from the sensor 50. The Thereby, the control unit 80 can acquire the moving direction of the vertical movement unit 37.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor 50 can detect the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) in at least three stages. The three stages here are for a strong rotational force when the grip 22a is strongly rotated for coarse movement (coarse vertical movement) of the vertical movement part 37 and for fine movement (fine vertical movement) of the vertical movement part 37. A weak rotational force when the grip 22a is rotated weakly and a fine rotational force when the grip 22a is rotated that is much finer than the fine motion are indicated. Based on the signal from the sensor 50, the control unit 80 increases (proportionalizes) the torque (rotation amount) of the motor 35 as the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) increases (stronger). It should be noted that the control unit 80 does not rotate the motor 35 when a minute rotational force is detected. As a result, the motor 35 is not rotationally driven only by slightly (slightly) moving the joystick 22 (grip 22a), and therefore, the extra vertical movement of the vertical movement unit 37 can be suppressed. Further, the control unit 80 rotationally drives the motor 35 with a torque (rotation amount) smaller than the rotational force detected by the sensor 50. As a result, the vertical movement unit 37 moves up and down only by rotating the joystick 22 (grip 22a), and the driving force of the motor 35 is added when the joystick 22 (grip 22a) rotates to assist the manual operation in electric operation. Will join.

  A light shielding plate 51 is attached to a side portion of the vertical movement portion 37 via a holding member (not shown) (see FIG. 3B). A sensor 53 is mounted on the slide base 21 via a holding member 54 corresponding to the mounting position of the light shielding plate 51. FIG. 5A is a side view of the light shielding plate 51 and the sensor 53, and FIG. 5B is an overhead view of the light shielding plate 51 and the sensor 53. The light shielding plate 51 has a substantially vertical direction (Y direction) so that the position (height) of the light shielding portion in the vertical direction (Y direction) changes with the vertical movement of the vertical movement unit 37. Is arranged. On the other hand, in the sensor 53, optical sensors 53H and 53L having a photo interrupter function are arranged side by side in the vertical direction (Y direction). The sensors 53H and 53L emit a signal (or stop the signal) when a light shielding object (light shielding plate 51) is inserted into the U-shaped inner space. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the sensors 53H and 53L send an ON signal to the control unit 80 when shielded from light. As the light shielding plate 51 moves up and down as the vertical movement unit 37 moves up and down, the light shielding state at the sensors 53H and 53L changes, and the signal received by the control unit 80 also changes. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the control unit 80 obtains four-stage position information by combining the on / off signals of the sensors 53H and 53L.

  FIG. 6 shows the positional relationship between the light shielding plate 51 and the sensor 53 accompanying the vertical movement of the light shielding plate 51, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the light shielding plate 51 is at the lowest position (the vertical movement portion 37 is In the lowest position), the light shielding plate 51 shields only the sensor 53L. Accordingly, the sensor 53H is turned off and the sensor 53L is turned on. When the light shielding plate 51 rises from the state of FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 7B, the light shielding plate 51 shields the sensors 53H and 53L. Accordingly, the sensors 53H and 53L are both turned on. When the light shielding plate 51 is further raised to the state of FIG. 6C, the light shielding plate 51 shields only the sensor 53H. Accordingly, the sensor 53H is turned on and the sensor 53L is turned off. When the light shielding plate 51 further rises and reaches the uppermost position as shown in FIG. 6D, the light shielding plate 51 is positioned above the sensor 53H, and the sensors 53H and 53L are both turned off. The on / off signals of the sensors 53H and 53L are always sent to the control unit 80. In this way, the control unit 80 can detect the position (height) in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the light shielding plate 61 (vertical movement unit 37) based on the signals from the sensors 53H and 53L in four stages.

  6C is determined as a position above the position where the urging force of the urging member 41 and the load applied to the urging member 41 (the load applied to the vertical movement portion 37 from above) balance. ing. Further, the position of FIG. 6B is determined as a position below the position where the urging force of the urging member 41 and the load applied to the urging member 41 (the load applied to the vertical movement portion 37 from above) are balanced. ing.

  The control unit 80 is configured so that the rotational load (rotational resistance) felt by the examiner during the rotation operation of the grip 22a is substantially constant regardless of the position (height) of the vertical movement unit 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction). The motor 35 is rotationally driven. Specifically, based on the detection results of the sensors 50 and 53, the control unit 80 rotationally drives the motor 35 after adding an offset amount to the torque (rotation amount). This offset amount means that the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a is changed by the urging force (accumulated / discharged energy amount) of the urging member 41 whose total length changes with the vertical movement of the vertical movement portion 37. The amount of bias applied to the motor 35 is referred to regardless of the signal from the sensor 50 so as to cancel the phenomenon. For example, the control unit 80 increases the offset amount applied to the motor 35 when the state of FIG. 6C is grasped by the signal from the sensor 53 when the vertical movement unit 37 is raised. In response to the signal from 50, the motor 35 is driven to rotate. Further, the controller 80 increases the amount of offset applied to the motor 35 when the state of FIG. 6B is grasped by the signal from the sensor 53 when the vertical movement unit 37 is lowered. In response to the signal from 50, the motor 35 is driven to rotate.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the position (height) of the vertical movement portion 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction) and the offset amount applied to the motor 35. FIG. 7A shows a time when the vertical movement portion 37 is raised, and FIG. 7B shows a time when the vertical movement portion 37 is lowered. Here, the lowest position is position A, the highest position is position D, the lower intermediate position is position B, and the higher intermediate position is position C.

  When the vertically moving portion 37 is lifted from the position A, the urging member 41 is most compressed, and the vertically moving portion 37 is urged upward with the strongest force. Therefore, the torque of the motor 35 is not so much required when ascending from the position A to the position B. On the other hand, when rising from position C to position D, the entire length of the urging member 41 is the longest. For this reason, the urging force of the urging member 41 is the weakest. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to increase (increase) the torque of the motor 35. In consideration of these situations, the control unit 80 increases the torque of the motor 35 (the offset amount is increased) when the vertical movement unit 37 is raised, as the position of the vertical movement unit increases in the vertical direction (Y direction). Increase). The control unit 80 grasps the upward movement of the vertical movement unit 37 when the sensor 50 detects that the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is rotated clockwise. As a result, the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a is substantially constant regardless of the position (height) of the vertical movement portion 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  On the other hand, when the vertically moving portion 37 is lowered from the position D, the load on the vertically moving portion 37 and the like is applied downward, so that the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a is small. Further, the urging member 41 is in the longest state, and the upward urging force is small. For this reason, the torque of the motor 35 is not so necessary. On the other hand, when descending from position B to position A, the entire length of the urging member 41 is the shortest (compressed), and therefore the urging force of the urging member 41 is the largest. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to increase (increase) the torque of the motor 35. Based on these situations, the control unit 80 increases the torque of the motor 35 (the offset amount) as the position of the vertical movement unit 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction) decreases when the vertical movement unit 37 is lowered. Increase). The control unit 80 grasps the downward movement of the vertical movement unit 37 when the sensor 50 detects that the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a is substantially constant regardless of the position (height) of the vertical movement portion 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  In this way, by changing the torque offset amount of the motor 35 in accordance with the moving direction of the vertical movement portion 37, the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a when the vertical movement portion 37 moves up and down can be made substantially constant. . Thereby, the vertically moving operation of the vertically moving portion 37 (and the base shaft 23) by the examiner can be performed smoothly.

  The torque offset amount of the motor 35 is substantially constant regardless of the position (height) in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the vertical movement unit 37 detected by the sensor 53, but the joystick detected by the sensor 50. You may apply proportionally according to the rotational force of 22 (grip 22a).

  The slide base 21 is provided with a switch (selector) 55 for switching the torque of the motor 35. In the present embodiment, the amount of offset applied to the motor 35 is switched (selected). The switch 55 is a two-stage changeover switch, such as a dip switch or a toggle switch. A signal is input to the control unit 80 by switching the switch 55. Based on the signal from the switch 55, the control unit 80 adds a certain offset to the torque of the motor 35 without depending on the signal from the sensor 53. For example, when the switch 55 is in the first stage, the control unit 80 rotates the motor 35 in the normal mode. On the other hand, when the switch 55 is in the second stage, the control unit 80 rotates the motor 35 by applying a bias to the high output mode.

  With such a configuration, the operational feeling of the grip 22a can be changed. For example, when a laser beam irradiation unit or the like is mounted on the microscope unit 70, a further load is applied to the vertical movement portion 37, and usually a rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a is increased. However, by switching the switch 55 from the first stage to the second stage, the grip 22a can be rotated with the same rotational load (rotational resistance) as when there is no laser beam irradiation unit.

  The switch 55 only needs to have a switching function of at least two stages. That is, by providing a plurality of dip switches and the like, a multi-stage switching function can be provided. In this case, the examiner can finely set the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a during the vertical movement operation of the vertical movement portion 37 (and the base shaft 23), and the operability of the apparatus can be improved. Alternatively, the switch 55 may be directly connected to the motor 35 to control the drive current amount of the motor 35 and thereby to apply a bias to the rotational drive of the motor 35. Note that the bias applied to the motor 35 may be switched by rewriting the memory 81.

  The operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be described. The examiner turns on the power (not shown) of the slit lamp 100 prior to the examination. Next, the examiner fixes the subject's face to the face support unit 10, operates the moving unit 20 (inclination operation of the joystick 22 and rotation operation of the grip 22 a), and the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70. Rough alignment (positioning in X, Y and Z directions) is performed. Then, the light source 61 of the illumination unit 60 is turned on to project illumination light (white light) onto the subject eye E, and the subject eye E is observed through the microscope unit 70. The examiner operates the moving unit 20 (the tilting operation of the joystick 22 and the rotating operation of the grip 22a) while observing the subject's eye E, and performs fine alignment (X, Y, and X) of the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70. Positioning in the Z direction). When performing alignment in the vertical direction (Y direction), the examiner rotates the grip 22a to change the position (height) of the illumination unit 60 and the microscope unit 70 in the vertical direction (Y direction). At this time, the control unit 80 detects the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) based on a signal from the sensor 50. Further, the control unit 80 detects the position (height) of the vertical movement unit 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction) based on the signal from the sensor 53. The control unit 80 reads the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) and the moving direction of the vertical movement unit 37 based on the signal from the sensor 50, and determines the drive amount of the motor 35 based on the signal from the sensor 53. 35 is rotated. Thus, the examiner can move the microscope unit 70 and the like up and down with a light operation feeling of the grip 22a.

  As described above, the driving force of the motor is added to the vertical movement mechanism that moves the vertical movement portion 37 and the like up and down by transmitting the rotation (rotation) of the joystick (grip 22a). The operation of the examiner can be assisted without increasing the size. Thereby, the coarse and fine movements of the vertical movement of the microscope unit and the like can be suitably performed without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, a slit lamp is used, but any ophthalmologic apparatus including an observation unit may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the bias applied to the motor 35 is switched using the switch 55, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a weight sensor that monitors the load applied to the vertical movement unit 37 may be provided, and the bias applied to the motor 35 may be switched based on the detection result of the weight sensor.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor 53 detects the position (height) of the vertical movement portion 37 in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a by the biasing force of the biasing member 41 is detected. In order to make the motor 35 almost constant, a bias is applied to the motor 35, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a weight sensor for monitoring the load applied to the vertical movement unit 37 is provided, and the load applied to the vertical movement unit 37 is monitored after the total weight applied to the vertical movement unit 37 and the urging force of the urging member 41 are balanced. A bias may be applied to the motor 35 based on the result.

  In the present embodiment, the rotational force of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) is detected using the sensor 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an encoder or the like that detects the amount of rotation of the joystick 22 (grip 22a) may be provided on the shaft 31 to detect the amount of rotation (rotation speed) per unit time. Further, the rotation amount of a gear such as the rotation base 32 may be detected.

  Moreover, the structure which detects the position (height) of the up-down direction (Y direction) of the up-and-down moving part 37 with the sensor 53 etc. is not necessarily required. In addition, a configuration in which the bias applied to the motor 35 is switched by the switch 55 is not necessarily required. At least the configuration of assisting the examiner's operation by the rotational drive of the motor 35 is sufficient.

  Further, the urging member 41 that urges the vertical movement portion 37 and the like upward is not necessarily required. Any configuration that reduces the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the grip 22a by the rotational drive of the motor 35 may be used.

  In this embodiment, the grip 22a is used as the rotary knob. However, the member that becomes the rotary knob may be provided in any of the devices.

  Further, the moving unit 20 of the present embodiment may be provided with a clutch mechanism that temporarily disconnects the motor 35 from the vertical movement mechanism (separates rotation transmission). Thereby, even if the motor 35 breaks down, the vertical movement part 37 etc. can be moved up and down without the motor becoming a load. Further, the vertical movement unit 37 and the like can be moved up and down even when power is not supplied.

It is a schematic external view of the slit lamp which is embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the optical system of a slit lamp. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a movement unit. It is a schematic block diagram of the control system of a slit lamp. It is a figure which shows the structure which detects the position (height) of the up-down direction of an up-down moving part. It is a figure which shows the structure which detects the position (height) of the up-down direction of an up-down moving part. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the position (height) of the up-down direction of an up-down moving part, and the offset amount added to a motor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Face support unit 20 Moving unit 22 Joystick 22a Grip 34 Conversion unit 35 Motor 37 Vertical movement part 50, 53 Sensor 51 Light-shielding plate 55 Switch 60 Illumination unit 70 Microscope unit 80 Control part 100 Slit lamp

Claims (7)

In an ophthalmologic apparatus comprising an observation unit for observing the eye of a subject,
A vertical movement mechanism for moving the observation unit in the vertical direction, comprising a vertical movement unit that supports the observation unit and that can be moved up and down, a rotation operation member that is rotated by an examiner, and a rotation operation member A vertical movement mechanism comprising: a conversion unit that converts rotation into vertical movement of the vertical movement unit;
A motor that sends a driving force to the conversion unit via a transmission member;
A rotation sensor that detects a rotational force or a rotation amount of the rotation operation member;
A control unit for controlling the torque of the motor based on a signal from the rotation sensor, wherein the control unit controls the torque of the motor in proportion to the rotational force or amount of rotation detected by the rotation sensor;
Comprising
An ophthalmic apparatus characterized by that. The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 1 further includes a height sensor that detects a position in a vertical direction of the vertical movement unit,
The control unit controls the torque of the motor based on a signal from the height sensor, and the rotational load (rotational resistance) applied to the rotational operation member is substantially constant regardless of the vertical position of the vertical movement unit. And
An ophthalmic apparatus characterized by that. The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 2 further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward.
The control unit increases the torque of the motor as the vertical position of the vertical movement unit increases when the vertical movement unit is raised. The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 2 further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward.
The control unit increases the torque of the motor as the vertical position of the vertical movement unit decreases when the vertical movement unit is lowered. The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 2 further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward.
The control unit is positioned above the position where the urging force of the urging member and the load applied to the urging member are balanced based on a signal from the height sensor when the vertical movement portion is raised. Increasing the torque of the motor when the vertical movement part is present
An ophthalmic apparatus characterized by that. The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 2 further includes a biasing member that biases the vertical movement portion upward.
The control unit is positioned below the position where the urging force of the urging member and the load applied to the urging member are balanced based on a signal from the height sensor when the vertical movement portion is lowered. Increasing the torque of the motor when the vertical movement part is present
An ophthalmic apparatus characterized by that. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 further includes a selector that selects an offset amount of torque of the motor controlled by the control unit.
An ophthalmic apparatus characterized by that.

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