JP2012170590A - Optometer and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optometer which has higher safety upon measurement of a subject eye.SOLUTION: The optometer includes: face support members (112, 116) to support the face of a subject; a drive mechanism (first drive means) 113 to drive a jaw receiving part 112 included in the face support members; a measurement part 110 to measure a subject eye of the subject; a drive part (second drive means) 120 to drive the measurement part 110 in XYZ directions; and control means for performing control so as to change the drive method of the drive part 120 when a distance between the face support members and the measurement part 110 reaches a prescribed value.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optometry apparatus that measures an eye to be examined and a control method thereof.

  As a conventional technique of an optometry apparatus (ophthalmologic apparatus) for measuring an eye to be examined, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for determining the position of a measurement unit based on the position of a face fixing member and quickly performing alignment. In this patent document 1, the operation means of the measuring unit is disclosed as an alignment means, and a technique for controlling the alignment means based on position information of the face fixing member is disclosed. Moreover, in this patent document 1, in order to avoid that a measurement part contacts a subject or a face fixing member, it is controlled about front-back (Z direction) of a measurement part from position detection of a face fixing member. There is no description.

JP 2002-360517 A

The optometry device has a chin rest with a movable range for placing various-sized faces, a forehead placed to support various-sized faces, and an eye approach to measure the eye to be examined. It has a measuring part with a movable range that can be measured. And since they may contact between each apparatus in free continuous operation | movement, there exists a possibility of pinching a finger | toe scissors, a face, and a head in an apparatus. Moreover, when it has the above movable ranges, there exists a possibility that a measurement part may approach too carelessly with respect to a subject.
In order to develop a safer optometry apparatus, it is necessary to avoid these two problems.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an optometry apparatus with higher safety when measuring an eye to be examined.

An optometry apparatus according to the present invention includes a face support member that supports a face of a subject, a first drive unit that drives a chin rest included in the face support member, and a measurement for measuring an eye of the subject. And a second driving means for driving the measuring means in the XYZ directions, and when the distance between the face support member and the measuring means reaches a predetermined value, the driving method in the second driving means is changed. Control means for performing control.
The present invention also includes a control method using the above-described optometry apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the distance between the two units of the face support member and the measuring means having independent respective movable ranges is appropriately maintained, thereby preventing inadvertent contact of the measuring means between the units and the subject. Can be avoided. Thereby, when measuring the eye to be examined, it is possible to provide an optometry apparatus with higher safety.

It is a schematic block diagram of the mechanism part in the non-contact tonometer which is an example of the optometry apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the face fixing | fixed part 10 (The face receiving frame 116, the chin receiving part 112, the drive mechanism 113 grade | etc.,) Shown in FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the chin rest part and drive mechanism which are shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the face receiving frame shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the movable range of the measurement part and chin receiving part which are shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the measurement part shown in FIG. 1 and the subject's face were seen from the upper side. It is a block diagram of a system composition part in a non-contact tonometer which is an example of an optometry apparatus concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the contact avoidance control in the non-contact tonometer which is an example of the optometry apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the measurement part shown in FIG. 1, a chin receiving part, and a face receiving frame. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the measurement part shown in FIG. 1 and the subject's face were seen from the upper side. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the access prohibition area | region of a measurement part in the area of a subject's face.

  Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mechanism unit in a non-contact tonometer that is an example of an optometry apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The optometry apparatus (non-contact tonometer) includes a base portion 100 having a subject's chin receiving portion 112 and a face receiving frame 116, a driving portion 120 and an operation portion 101 provided on the base portion 100, and a driving portion 120. It includes a measuring unit 110 mounted on the top. Here, the chin receiving part 112 and the face receiving frame 116 are face supporting members that support the face of the subject.

  The measurement unit 110 includes an optical system for performing examination, observation, imaging, measurement, and the like of the eye E. An LCD monitor 117 serving as a display member for observing the eye E is provided at the examiner side end of the measurement unit 110. The examiner tilts the operation unit 101 to instruct the drive direction, drive amount, and drive speed of the drive unit 120 and the like, aligns the position of the measurement unit 110 with respect to the eye E, and performs inspection, observation, Take a picture.

  The drive unit (second drive unit) 120 has a drive mechanism corresponding to each axis in order to move (drive) the measurement unit 110 in the XYZ directions. Here, the drive unit 120 is a drive mechanism corresponding to each axis. Hereinafter, the drive mechanism in each axial direction will be described.

(Drive mechanism in the X-axis direction)
The frame 102 is movable in the left-right direction (hereinafter referred to as the X-axis direction) with respect to the base unit 100 (or the subject). The drive mechanism in the X-axis direction includes an X-axis drive motor 103 fixed on the base portion 100, a feed screw (not shown) connected to the output shaft of the X-axis drive motor 103, and an X on the feed screw. It has a nut (not shown) that is movable in the axial direction and fixed to the frame 102. As the X-axis drive motor 103 rotates, the frame 102 moves in the X-axis direction via a feed screw and a nut.

(Drive mechanism in the Y-axis direction)
The frame 106 is movable in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as the Y-axis direction) with respect to the frame 102. The drive mechanism in the Y-axis direction includes a Y-axis drive motor 104 fixed on the frame 102, a feed screw 105 connected to the output shaft of the Y-axis drive motor 104, and a movement on the feed screw 105 in the Y-axis direction. It is possible to have a nut 114 fixed to the frame 106. As the Y-axis drive motor 104 rotates, the frame 106 moves in the Y-axis direction via the feed screw 105 and the nut 114.

(Z axis drive mechanism)
The frame 107 is movable in the front-rear direction (hereinafter, Z-axis direction) with respect to the frame 106. The drive mechanism in the Z-axis direction is movable in the Z-axis direction on the Z-axis drive motor 108 fixed to the frame 107, the feed screw 109 connected to the output shaft of the Z-axis drive motor 108, and the feed screw 109. And having a nut 115 fixed to the frame 106. As the Z-axis drive motor 108 rotates, the frame 107 moves in the Z-axis direction via the feed screw 109 and the nut 115.

(Measurement unit 110)
On the frame 107, a measurement unit 110 for measuring the eye E is fixed. A nozzle 111 for discharging air necessary for measuring intraocular pressure is provided at the end of the measurement unit 110 on the subject side.

(LCD monitor 117)
An LCD monitor 117 serving as a display member for observing the eye E is provided at the examiner side end of the measurement unit 110.

(Operation unit (joystick) 101)
The base unit 100 is provided with an operation unit (joystick) 101 that is an operation member for aligning the measurement unit 110 with respect to the eye E.

(Face fixing part 10)
The face fixing unit 10 includes a chin receiving part 112, a driving mechanism (first driving means) 113, and a face receiving frame 116. When the subject measures the eye E, he places his chin on the chin rest 112 and presses the forehead against the forehead of the face rest frame 116 fixed to the base 100. The face of the subject can be fixed, and the position of the eye E can be fixed. Further, the chin rest 112 can be adjusted in the Y-axis direction by the drive mechanism 113 according to the size of the face of the subject. The chin rest 112 is driven by the drive mechanism 113 based on the operation of the operation unit 101, for example.

(Cross-sectional structure of the face fixing unit 10)
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the face fixing unit 10 (face receiving frame 116, chin receiving portion 112, drive mechanism 113, etc.) shown in FIG.
Inside the lower part of the face receiving frame 116, a sliding bearing 271, a support 272, a pin 273, a screw shaft 274, a limit switch 275, a chin rest driving motor 276, a coupling 277, a disk 278, and a photocoupler 279 are arranged. Yes. With these configurations, the chin rest 112 can be driven and its position can be detected.

  On the left eye side 116 a and 201 a of the face receiving frame 116 and the upper frame 201, a guide mechanism for guiding the upper frame 201 in the vertical direction with respect to the face receiving frame 116 is provided. Specifically, the guide shaft 202 is screwed in the vertical direction on the left eye side 201a of the upper frame 201, and the linear bush 203 of the linear motion bearing is placed on the left eye side 116a of the face bearing frame 116 (lower frame). Is press-fitted and fixed. The guide shaft 202 is fitted in the linear bush 203 so as to be movable up and down.

  A height detection mechanism for detecting the height of the upper frame 201 is configured on the right eye side 116b and 201b of the face receiving frame 116 and the upper frame 201 thereof. Inside the right eye 201b of the upper frame 201, a shaft 205 of a pulley 204 is supported horizontally and rotatably. A shaft member 206 is horizontally attached to the inner wall of the upper frame 201 on the right eye side 201b. The shaft member 206 passes through a longitudinal groove 116c formed on the right eye side 116b of the face receiving frame 116. , And protrudes into the right eye side 116b.

  A wire 207 is hung on the pulley 204, one end of the wire 207 is connected to the shaft member 206, and the opposite end is connected to the tip of the constant load leaf spring 208. The constant load leaf spring 208 has a shape in which a belt-like leaf spring is wound in a spiral shape, and receives a constant load in the direction of constant winding. A shaft member 210 having a gear 209 is press-fitted into the center of the constant load leaf spring 208, and the shaft member 210 is rotatably supported on the lower portion of the right eye side 116b of the face receiving frame 116. A potentiometer 212 having a gear 211 is disposed in the vicinity of the shaft member 210, and the gear 209 of the shaft member 210 and the gear 211 of the potentiometer 212 are engaged with each other.

  In the face receiving frame 116, the examiner or the subject operates the upper frame 201 by hand. At this time, the upper frame 201 receives a constant load that cannot be lowered by its own weight, and the potentiometer 212 detects the moved position. When the subject's forehead is in contact with the forehead support 222 and the chin rests on the chin rest 112, the upper frame 201 is also moved away from the subject's forehead as the chin rest 112 moves up and down. The positional relationship between the upper frame 201 and the chin rest 112 does not change by moving up and down by the frictional force.

  Even when the measurement unit 110 reaches the upper limit or lower limit of the movement range in the vertical direction due to the influence of the size of the face of the subject and then moves to the center of the movement range, the upper frame 201 can be Since it moves at the same time, there is no discomfort to the subject.

(Details of chin rest 112 and drive mechanism 113)
3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the chin rest 112 and the drive mechanism 113 shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a sliding bearing 271 is press-fitted and fixed to the face receiving frame 116, and a hollow support column 272 that supports the above-described chin receiving portion 112 is fitted to the sliding bearing 271 so as to be movable up and down. A key groove 272a is formed in a part of the column 272 so as to be directed in the vertical direction, and a female screw portion 272b is processed on the inner peripheral surface of the column 272. A pin 273 supported by the face receiving frame 116 is fitted into the key groove 272 a of the support column 272. Further, the male screw portion 274 a of the screw shaft 274 is screwed into the female screw portion 272 b of the support column 272.

  A limit switch 275 for detecting the lowest lowered position of the chin rest 112 is incorporated in the face rest frame 116 near the lower end of the screw shaft 274.

  The lower end portion of the screw shaft 274 is connected to the output shaft 276 a of the chin rest drive motor 276 via a coupling 277. Further, a disc 278 of position detecting means having radial slit holes is coaxially incorporated in the output shaft 276a of the jaw holder drive motor 276. A photocoupler 279 that forms a position detecting means in cooperation with the disk 278 is attached to the face receiving frame 116 so that the light beam passes through the slit hole of the disk 278. Thereby, a pulse signal accompanying the rotation of the chin rest drive motor 276 is detected, and the moving speed and the moving distance of the chin rest 112 are detected by an electric circuit described later.

(Details of face receiving frame 116)
4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the face receiving frame 116 shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 4, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to the structure of FIG.
FIG. 4 shows a mechanism for detecting the relative position of the face receiving frame 116 (lower frame) and the upper frame 201. Thereby, the position of the forehead portion is detected.

  A rack 420 is formed on the inner wall of the upper frame 201 on the right eye side 201b. The pinion 421 engaged with the rack 420 is supported on the right eye side 116 b of the face receiving frame 116, and the pulley 204 is provided coaxially on the pinion 421. A wire 207 is hung on the pulley 204, and this wire 207 is wound around the shaft of the oil damper 424 and makes a round so as to return to the pulley 204 again via the pulley 425. The friction torque of the oil damper 424 prevents the upper frame 201 from dropping due to its own weight, and allows the upper frame 201 to move smoothly when the examiner or the subject operates by hand.

(Range of movement)
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a movable range of the measurement unit 110 and the chin rest 112 shown in FIG. The chin rest 112 has a movable range for supporting faces of various sizes. On the other hand, the measurement unit 110 has a movable range in which measurement can be performed by approaching the subject eye in order to measure the subject eye (human eye). When such a movable range is provided, a portion where the movable ranges of the chin rest portion 112 and the measuring portion 110 are brought out comes into contact, and there is a possibility of contact.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the measurement unit 110 and the face of the subject illustrated in FIG. 1 are viewed from above. When the face is placed on the chin rest 112, the nose protrudes in the Z direction as shown. Further, since the measuring unit 110 measures the eye E (human eye) E, the measuring unit 110 has a movable range that can be measured by approaching the eye E. In such a case, there is a possibility that the measurement unit 110 and the subject's nose come into contact with each other.

(Movement control method)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system configuration unit in a non-contact tonometer that is an example of an optometry apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system configuration including the electric circuit of the non-contact tonometer shown in FIG. 1 is configured around a CPU 712 as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the optometry apparatus includes an X and Z axis tilt angle sensor 701, a Y axis encoder sensor 702, a measurement start button sensor 703, a CCD 704, a chin rest part position sensor 705, a chin rest part lower limit sensor 706, and a chin rest part upper limit sensor. 707, measurement unit position sensor 708, face receiving unit position sensor 709, operation panel button sensor 710, memory 711, CPU 712, solenoid drive circuit 713, solenoid 714, measurement light source drive circuit 715, measurement light source 716, LCD monitor 117, The motor driving circuit 717, the X-axis driving motor 103, the Y-axis driving motor 104, the Z-axis driving motor 108, and the chin rest portion driving motor 276 (113) are configured.

Hereinafter, the movement control method in this embodiment will be described.
In step STP1, the CPU 712 processes the output signal of the X and Z axis tilt angle sensor 701 by the operation of the X and Z axes by the operation unit 101 (joystick).

  Subsequently, in step STP2, the CPU 712 controls the motor drive circuit 717 based on the processing result of step STP1. When the motor drive circuit 717 is controlled, each drive motor is operated, and the XYZ axes of the measurement unit 110 are moved. The position of the measurement unit 110 moved by each drive motor changes.

  Subsequently, in step STP3, the CPU 712 detects the position information of the measurement unit 110 by detecting the output signal of the measurement unit position sensor 708.

  Subsequently, in step STP4, the CPU 712 calculates the position information of the measurement unit 110 detected in step STP3.

  Subsequently, in step STP5, the CPU 712 changes the control of the motor drive circuit 717 based on the processing result of step STP4. For example, when the measurement unit 110 moves to a predetermined limit position, the CPU 712 stops the drive motor in response to a control signal to the motor drive circuit 717.

Subsequently, in step STP6, the CPU 712 performs control to display on the LCD monitor 117 which is a display unit that the drive motor has stopped or has reached the limit position.
The CPU 712 also controls the Y-axis movement by the operation unit 101 (joystick) in the same manner as the above-described X and Z axes.

(Contact avoidance between chin rest 112 and forehead support 222 and measurement unit 110)
The movement control of the measurement unit 110 is performed under the configuration and control as described above, and the control for maintaining the safety of the subject and the examiner is performed with the following features.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of contact avoidance control in a non-contact tonometer that is an example of an optometry apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
What is different from the above movement control method is the calculation method by the CPU 712 in step STP4.

  First, in step STP1 of FIG. 8, the CPU 712 determines whether or not the Z direction sensor output from the operation unit 101 (joystick) is greater than zero. If the result of this determination is that the Z-direction sensor output is not greater than 0, the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step STP1 is that the Z direction sensor output is greater than 0, the process proceeds to step STP2.
In step STP2, the CPU 712 controls the motor drive circuit 717 to drive the Z-axis drive motor 108 in the + direction.

  Subsequently, in step STP3, the CPU 712 detects the position information of the measurement unit 110 by detecting the output signal of the measurement unit position sensor 708.

Subsequently, in step STP4, the CPU 712 performs contact avoidance control between the chin rest 112, the forehead support 222, and the measurement unit 110 as described below.
For example, when it is desired to avoid contact in the Z direction between the chin rest 112 and the forehead support 222 and the measurement unit 110, the CPU 712 employs the following calculation method.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the measurement unit 110, the chin rest 112, and the face rest frame 116 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 9, Oz is the distance from the reference point to the objective part subject side surface (convex part subject side surface) of the measuring unit 110, Cz is the distance from the reference point to the chin rest part examiner side, and Hz. The distance to the forehead tester side from the reference point, d, is the objective part diameter (convex part diameter) of the measuring part 110.

  In step STP4, the CPU 712 determines whether or not Cz−Oz> 25 mm and Hz− (Oz + d)> 25 mm. As a result of this determination, if Cz−Oz> 25 mm and Hz− (Oz + d)> 25 mm, the process returns to step STP1 and the control signal from the CPU 712 to the motor drive circuit 717 is returned even if the measurement unit 110 moves. The Z-axis drive motor 108 continues to drive in the Z direction.

  On the other hand, if Cz−Oz> 25 mm and Hz− (Oz + d)> 25 mm are not satisfied as a result of the determination in step STP4 (that is, a value satisfying a predetermined value Cz−Oz ≦ 25 mm or Hz− (Oz + d) ≦ 25 mm). The process proceeds to step STP5.

  In step STP5, the CPU 712 controls the motor drive circuit 717 to stop the Z-axis drive motor 108.

  Subsequently, in step STP6, the CPU 712 displays a warning on the LCD monitor 117 which is a display unit. Thereafter, the processing in the flowchart of FIG. 8 ends.

  That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, when the chin rest 112, the forehead support 222 and the measurement section 110 approach in the Z direction, the measurement section 110 is prevented from approaching the chin rest 112 or the like further in the Z direction. To do. Further, contact avoidance in the Y direction between the chin rest part 112 and the forehead support part 222 and the measurement part 110 is performed in the same manner as in the Z direction described above. However, regarding the driving in the Y direction, the chin rest drive motor 276 (113) of the chin rest 112 is also stopped.

(Avoidance of approach between subject and measuring unit 110)
In order to avoid contact between the subject and the measurement unit 110, the following control is performed.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the measurement unit 110 and the face of the subject illustrated in FIG. 1 are viewed from above.

  Let Ox shown in FIG. 10 be the objective part X position (convex part X position) of the measurement unit 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, Oy is the distance from the reference point to the lower surface of the objective part (the lower surface of the convex portion) of the measuring unit 110, Cy is the distance from the reference point to the upper surface of the chin rest, and Hy is the forehead from the reference point. The distance from the lower surface of the abutting part, d, is the objective part diameter (convex part diameter) of the measuring part 110.

  When the values satisfy the predetermined values, Oy−Cy <35 mm (a), Hy− (Oy + d) <15 mm (b), Ox <10 mm (c) The CPU 712 stops the Z-direction drive signal to the motor drive circuit 717.

In this case, careless access to the subject is avoided, and safety is maintained.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an access prohibition area of the measurement unit 110 in the face area of the subject. When the control as described above is performed, it is possible to prevent the measurement unit 110 from inadvertently approaching the chin rest 112 and the forehead support 222 at the dotted line in FIG.

  As described above, the drive motor change control by the control method of the optometry apparatus according to the present embodiment is the stop of the drive motor, but it may be a speed change such as a reduction of the drive speed. Further, before and after the distance between the face support member and the measurement unit 110 reaches the predetermined value, the CPU 712 is provided with a speed change stage such as a reduction in the drive speed, for example, in the drive motor drive method change control. Also good.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing.
That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.
This program and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program are included in the present invention.

10 face fixing part, 100 base part, 101 operation part, 102 frame, 103 X-axis drive motor, 104 Y-axis drive motor, 105 feed screw, 106 frame, 107 frame, 108 Z-axis drive motor, 109 feed screw, 110 measurement Part, 111 nozzle, 112 chin rest part, 113 drive mechanism, 114 nut, 115 nut, 116 face rest frame, 117 LCD monitor, 120 drive part, E eye to be examined

Claims (11)

A face support member that supports the face of the subject;
First driving means for driving a chin rest included in the face support member;
Measuring means for measuring the subject's eye;
Second driving means for driving the measuring means in the XYZ directions;
An optometry apparatus comprising: control means for performing control to change a driving method in the second driving means when a distance between the face support member and the measuring means reaches a predetermined value.   The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the face support member and the measurement unit is a distance between the chin rest and the measurement unit.   The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the face support member and the measurement unit is a distance between a forehead support unit included in the face support member and the measurement unit.   The predetermined value is Cz−Oz, where Oz is a distance from the reference point to the side of the convex portion of the measuring means and Cz is a distance from the reference point to the side of the subject of the chin rest. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optometry apparatus has a value satisfying ≦ 25 mm.   The predetermined value is a distance from the reference side of the forehead portion of the forehead support portion included in the face support member from Hz, Oz is a distance from the reference point to the side of the convex portion of the measurement means, The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein d is a value satisfying Hz− (Oz + d) ≦ 25 mm, where d is a diameter of the convex portion of the measuring unit.   The predetermined value is a value that satisfies Oy−Cy <35 mm, where Oy is the distance from the reference point to the lower surface of the convex portion of the measuring means, and Cy is the distance from the reference point to the upper surface of the chin rest. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The predetermined value refers to Hy as the distance from the reference point to the lower surface of the forehead support included in the face support member, Oy as the distance from the reference point to the lower surface of the convex portion of the measuring means, and d as the measuring means. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value satisfying Hy− (Oy + d) <15 mm when a convex portion diameter is set.   2. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is a value satisfying Ox <10 mm when Ox is a convex portion X position of the measuring unit.   2. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stage is provided for change control of the driving method in the control means before and after the distance between the face support member and the measuring means reaches the predetermined value.   The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning is displayed on a display unit when a distance between the face support member and the measurement unit reaches the predetermined value. A face support member for supporting the face of the subject, a first drive means for driving a chin rest included in the face support member, a measurement means for measuring an eye of the subject, and the measurement means. A control method of an optometry apparatus having a second driving means for driving in the XYZ directions,
A control method for an optometry apparatus, wherein when the distance between the face support member and the measurement means reaches a predetermined value, control is performed to change a drive method in the second drive means.

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