JP6999274B2 - Ophthalmic device and its operation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus for measuring eye characteristics of an eye to be inspected and a method for operating the same.

In ophthalmology, various ophthalmic characteristics such as optical power, intraocular pressure, and number of corneal endothelial cells of the eye to be inspected are acquired (measurement, imaging, observation, etc.) by an ophthalmology apparatus. In this case, from the viewpoint of the accuracy, accuracy, image quality, and the like of the acquired eye characteristics, the alignment, that is, the alignment of the measurement unit (eye characteristics acquisition unit) of the ophthalmic apparatus with respect to the eye to be inspected is extremely important. For this reason, the ophthalmic apparatus is provided with a configuration in which alignment adjustment is performed by moving the measurement unit with respect to the base.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe an ophthalmic apparatus in which a measuring unit is moved by an electric drive unit. In the ophthalmic apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, the drive of the drive unit is controlled by tilting the operation lever to move the measurement unit. As a result, manual alignment can be performed by tilting the operating lever. Further, in the ophthalmic apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the alignment of the measurement unit with respect to the eye to be inspected is detected, the drive of the drive unit is controlled based on the detection result, and the alignment is automatically performed, so-called full auto alignment (hereinafter referred to as “full auto alignment”). , Simply called auto-alignment) is possible.

By the way, in recent years, the number of functions of ophthalmic appliances has increased, and it has become difficult to operate all ophthalmic appliances with only the operation lever. Therefore, in addition to the operation lever, Patent Document 3 describes an ophthalmic apparatus including a touch panel monitor that displays operation screens (icons and the like) related to various operations of the ophthalmic apparatus. In the ophthalmic apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the drive unit is driven and auto-aligned by performing a touch operation (including a tap operation) on an icon on the operation screen displayed in the screen of the touch panel monitor. Various operations related to movement control of the measurement unit such as emergency stop can be performed.

JP-A-2015-234 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-23960 JP-A-2015-167683

However, in the ophthalmic apparatus described in Patent Document 3, when performing various operations related to the movement control of the measurement unit, the icon of the operation screen displayed in a limited area on the screen of the touch panel monitor and the like are used. Need to be touch operated. Therefore, the operator cannot perform an intuitive operation unlike the case of operating the operation lever. Further, it is difficult for the operator to find the emergency stop icon on the screen and perform a touch operation, especially when it is necessary to make an emergency stop of the auto alignment. In this case, in order to make it easier to recognize the emergency stop icon, it is conceivable to make this icon a large size on the screen. It may interfere with the normal use of the expression monitor.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic apparatus and an operation method thereof in which an operator can intuitively perform an operation related to movement control of an eye characteristic acquisition unit. do.

The ophthalmic apparatus for achieving the object of the present invention is provided on the base, an eye characteristic acquisition unit for acquiring the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected, and an eye characteristic acquisition unit provided on the base in a predetermined axial direction with respect to the base. A push-pull operation detection unit that detects a push-pull operation that pushes or pulls at least one of a drive unit to be moved, an eye characteristic acquisition unit, and a drive unit in the axial direction, and a push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit. It is provided with a movement control unit that controls the drive of the drive unit based on the specific operation pattern of the above and performs the specific movement control that is the movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit associated with the specific operation pattern.

According to this ophthalmic apparatus, the operator can automatically perform a specific movement control of a desired eye characteristic acquisition unit simply by performing a push-pull operation of a specific operation pattern on at least one of the drive unit and the eye characteristic acquisition unit. Can be done.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the movement control unit performs specific movement control when the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit matches a specific operation pattern, and does not match. In this case, based on the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit, the drive of the drive unit is controlled, and the operation movement control is performed to move the eye characteristic acquisition unit according to the push-pull operation. As a result, it is possible to switch between the specific movement control and the operation movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit according to the push-pull operation by the operator.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit is specified by referring to the correspondence information in which the correspondence between the specific operation pattern and the specific movement control is stored in advance. It is determined whether or not the operation pattern of is matched, and the specific movement control is executed when it is determined that the operation pattern is matched. As a result, it is possible to execute the specific movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit in response to the push-pull operation of the specific operation pattern by the operator.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the push-pull operation detection unit detects the operation direction of the push-pull operation and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation, and the specific operation pattern is less than a predetermined threshold value. It is at least defined by the pressure change pattern within the range of, and the movement control unit controls the operation movement when the magnitude of the pressure detected by the push-pull operation detection unit exceeds the threshold value in the case of inconsistency. Is executed, and if the magnitude of the pressure becomes less than the threshold value, the execution of the operation movement control is stopped. As a result, when the specific movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit is executed, the erroneous execution of the coarse movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit not intended by the operator is surely prevented.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the driving unit includes a first engaging portion that moves integrally with the eye characteristic acquisition portion, a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion, and a second. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion have facing surfaces facing each other in the axial direction, and the push-pull operation detecting portion includes a drive source for moving the engaging portion along the axial direction. It is a pressure sensor connected to both facing surfaces of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, respectively, and is a pressure sensor that is compressed or expanded between both facing surfaces according to the operation direction. With a simple configuration using a pressure sensor, it is possible to detect the operation direction of the push-pull operation and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation, respectively.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the movement control unit drives the drive unit based on the signal from the eye characteristic acquisition unit to automatically align the eye characteristic acquisition unit with the eye to be inspected. The specific movement control includes a first movement control for stopping the movement of the eye characteristic acquisition unit while the auto alignment mode is being executed, and an eye characteristic acquisition unit for the eye to be inspected while the auto alignment mode is being executed. The movement control unit includes a second movement control in which the eye characteristic acquisition unit is moved in a direction away from the eye to be inspected and then stopped, and the movement control unit includes a push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit. When the specific operation pattern corresponding to the movement control is matched, the first movement control is performed, and when the push-pull operation matches the specific operation pattern corresponding to the second movement control, the second movement control is performed. As a result, the operator can automatically execute the specific movement control of the desired eye characteristic acquisition unit.

In the ophthalmic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, for specific movement control, the eye characteristic acquisition unit is moved from the position where one eye characteristic of both eyes to be examined is measured to the position where the other eye characteristic is measured. A third movement control for moving is included, and the movement control unit performs a third movement control when the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit matches a specific operation pattern corresponding to the third movement control. .. As a result, the operator can automatically execute the specific movement control of the desired eye characteristic acquisition unit.

The method of operating the ophthalmic apparatus for achieving the object of the present invention is a base, an eye characteristic acquisition unit for acquiring the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected, and an eye characteristic acquisition unit provided on the base, and the eye characteristic acquisition unit is predetermined with respect to the base. In the method of operating an ophthalmic apparatus including a drive unit for moving in the axial direction, the push-pull operation detection unit is a push-pull operation for at least one of the eye characteristic acquisition unit and the drive unit, and the push operation or pull is performed in the axial direction. Based on the detection process that detects the push-pull operation to be operated and the specific operation pattern of the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit by the movement control unit, the drive of the drive unit is controlled to obtain a specific operation pattern. It has a movement control step of performing specific movement control, which is movement control of the associated eye characteristic acquisition unit.

In the ophthalmic apparatus of the present invention and the operation method thereof, the operator can intuitively perform the operation related to the movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit.

It is a side view of the ophthalmic apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the 2-2 line in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the movement operation in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction of a measuring unit using an operation lever. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the kind of push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the kind of push-pull operation in the X-axis direction. It is a side view of the Z-axis pressure sensor which detects the change of the pressure in the Z-axis direction with the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the detection of the pressure in the Z-axis direction by the Z-axis pressure sensor when the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction is performed. It is a block diagram which shows the electric structure of the control part provided in an ophthalmic apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the rough movement control in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction of a measurement unit by a movement control unit. It is a graph which showed an example of the pressure change which shows the relationship between the pressure and time detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor and the X-axis pressure sensor at the time of rough movement control, respectively. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of correspondence relation information. It is explanatory drawing which showed the relationship between each specific operation pattern stored in correspondence relation information, and the pressure change pattern detected by each pressure sensor. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating "alignment control" and "first alignment stop control" which are specific movement control. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating "left-right switching movement control" which is a specific movement control. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the movement control of a measurement unit which a movement control unit executes in response to the push-pull operation with respect to at least one of an electric drive part, a measurement unit, and an operation lever. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of measurement of the eye characteristic by an ophthalmic apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the detection of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction by another configuration.

[Configuration of ophthalmic appliances]
FIG. 1 is a side view of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the present invention. The ophthalmic apparatus 10 measures, observes, photographs, and obtains various eye characteristics of the subject's eye E to be inspected (hereinafter, simply abbreviated as "measurement"). Examples of such an ophthalmic apparatus 10 include a fundus camera, an OCT (optical coherence tomography), an SLO (Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope), an axial length meter, a slit lamp, a reflex meter, a keratometer, a tonometer, a specular microscope, and a multifunction device thereof. Etc. are given as an example.

Here, the X-axis direction in the figure is the left-right direction (the eye width direction of the subject E) with respect to the subject, the Y-axis direction is the vertical direction, and the Z-axis direction is before approaching the subject. It is a front-back direction (also called a working distance direction) parallel to the direction and the rear direction away from the subject. Therefore, the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction are included in the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 includes a main body base 12 (also referred to as a base) corresponding to the base of the present invention, a face support portion 13, and an electric drive portion 14 corresponding to the drive portion of the present invention. It includes a measurement unit 15 corresponding to the eye characteristic acquisition unit of the present invention, a monitor 16, and an operation lever 17 corresponding to the operation unit of the present invention. A face support portion 13 is provided at the end of the main body base 12 on the front side (subject side) in the Z-axis direction, and an electric drive portion 14 is provided on the upper surface of the main body base 12.

The face support portion 13 has a chin rest and a forehead pad (not shown) whose position can be adjusted in the Y-axis direction, and supports the face of the subject during measurement by the ophthalmologic device 10.

The electric drive unit 14 movably holds the measurement unit 15, which will be described later, on the main body base 12 in each axial direction of the XYZ axes. The electric drive unit 14 moves the measurement unit 15 with respect to the main body base 12 in each axis direction of the XYZ axes under the control of the control unit 65 (see FIG. 8) described later, whereby the measurement unit for the eye E to be inspected E. Perform 15 alignments. The movement of the measurement unit 15 includes, for example, moving the measurement unit 15 to a position where an image of the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected E can be acquired, and moving the measurement unit 15 when switching left and right of the eye to be inspected E. Coarse movement (high-speed movement) and fine movement (low-speed movement) when performing precise alignment in a narrow range are included.

In the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to select between automatic alignment in which alignment is automatically performed and manual alignment in which alignment is performed manually (manual operation).

The electric drive unit 14 includes a Z-axis base 21, a Z-axis drive unit 22, an X-axis base 23, an X-axis drive unit 24, and a Y-axis drive unit 25.

The Z-axis base 21 is provided above the Z-axis drive unit 22 provided on the main body base 12, which will be described later, and is held movably in the Z-axis direction by the Z-axis drive unit 22. Two sets of a pair of bearings 27 arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction are provided on the lower surface of the Z-axis base 21 (see FIG. 2). The pair of bearings 27 are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 2). Further, the pair of bearings 27 of the two sets are each formed with through holes (not shown) parallel to the Z-axis direction.

Further, a housing 28 (corresponding to the first engaging portion of the present invention) is provided on the lower surface of the Z-axis base 21 so as to be located between two pairs of bearings 27 in the X-axis direction (corresponding to the first engaging portion of the present invention). See Figure 2). The housing 28 has a shape that engages with the nut 32 described later and can move integrally with the nut 32 in the Z-axis direction, for example, a shape that sandwiches the nut 32 in the Z-axis direction from above the nut 32. As the nut 32 moves in the Z-axis direction, the housing 28 is integrally Z-axis with the measurement unit 15 via the Z-axis base 21, the X-axis drive unit 24, the X-axis base 23, and the Y-axis drive unit 25. Move in the direction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (top view of the Z-axis drive unit 22) along line 2-2 in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the Z-axis drive unit 22 is provided on the main body base 12. The Z-axis drive unit 22 includes two Z-guide shafts 30 parallel to the Z-axis direction, two pairs of shaft fixing portions 31, a nut 32 (corresponding to the second engaging portion of the present invention), and the like. A feed screw 33 and a Z-axis motor 34 are provided.

The two Z guide shafts 30 are inserted into through holes of two pairs of bearings 27, respectively. Both ends of each Z guide shaft 30 are held by two pairs of shaft fixing portions 31 provided on the upper surface of the main body base 12. As a result, the Z-axis base 21 is held movably in the Z-axis direction by the Z guide shaft 30 via the pair of bearings 27, that is, is held movably in the Z-axis direction on the main body base 12.

The nut 32 is engaged with the housing 28 described above, that is, is sandwiched by the housing 28 from above in the Z-axis direction. At this time, the nut 32 is engaged with the housing 28 in a state in which it cannot rotate relative to the housing 28 about the Z axis.

The lead screw 33 penetrates the housing 28 described above in the Z-axis direction in a posture parallel to the Z-axis direction, and is screwed into the nut 32 engaged with the housing 28. A Z-axis motor 34 provided on the main body base 12 is connected to one end of the lead screw. The lead screw 33 constitutes the drive source of the present invention together with the Z-axis motor 34 described later.

The Z-axis motor 34 rotates and drives the feed screw 33 under the control of the control unit 65 (see FIG. 8) described later. By the rotational drive of the feed screw 33, the housing 28 can be moved in the Z-axis direction via the nut 32, and the Z-axis base 21 can be further moved in the Z-axis direction via the housing 28. As a result, the X-axis drive unit 24, the X-axis base 23, the Y-axis drive unit 25, and the measurement unit 15 provided on the Z-axis base 21 can be integrally moved in the Z-axis direction. That is, the measurement unit 15 and the like can be moved relative to the main body base 12 in the Z-axis direction. Further, by controlling the rotation direction of the feed screw 33 by the Z-axis motor 34, the moving direction of the measuring unit 15 or the like in the Z-axis direction can be controlled, and by controlling the rotation speed of the feed screw 33, the measuring unit 15 or the like can be controlled. The movement speed in the Z-axis direction can be controlled.

The X-axis base 23 is provided above the X-axis drive unit 24 described later provided on the Z-axis base 21, and is held movably in the X-axis direction by the X-axis drive unit 24. .. Two pairs of bearings 37 and a housing 38 (corresponding to the first engaging portion of the present invention) are provided on the lower surface of the X-axis base 23. The pair of bearings 37 and the housing 38 have a structure (arrangement) in which the pair of bearings 27 and the housing 28 described above are each rotated by 90 degrees around the Y axis. The housing 38 engages with a nut 42, which will be described later, and as the nut 42 moves in the X-axis direction, the housing 38 is integrated with the measurement unit 15 in the X-axis direction via the X-axis base 23 and the Y-axis drive unit 25. Move to.

The X-axis drive unit 24 is provided on the Z-axis base 21. The X-axis drive unit 24 includes two X-axis guide shafts 40 parallel to the X-axis direction, two sets of shaft fixing portions 41, a nut 42, a lead screw 43, and an X-axis motor 44. Be prepared. The nut 42 corresponds to the second engaging portion of the present invention, and the lead screw 43 and the X-axis motor 44 correspond to the drive source of the present invention.

Each part of the X-axis drive unit 24 has a structure (arrangement) in which each part of the Z-axis drive unit 22 described above is rotated by 90 degrees around the Y-axis. Therefore, the X-axis motor 44 rotationally drives the feed screw 33 under the control of the control unit 65 (see FIG. 8) described later, so that the housing 38 and the X-axis base 23 are connected to the main body base 12 via the nut 42. On the other hand, it can move relative to the X-axis direction. As a result, the Y-axis drive unit 25 and the measurement unit 15 provided on the X-axis base 23 can be integrally moved in the X-axis direction. Further, the X-axis motor 44 controls the rotation direction of the feed screw 43 to control the movement direction of the measurement unit 15 and the like in the X-axis direction, and controls the rotation speed of the feed screw 43 to control the measurement unit 15 and the like. The moving speed in the X-axis direction can be controlled.

The Y-axis drive unit 25 includes a cylindrical housing 50, a support column 51, a nut 52, a feed screw 53, and a Y-axis motor 54. The cylindrical housing 50 has a cylindrical shape parallel to the Y-axis direction and is fixed to the upper surface of the X-axis base 23. In the cylindrical housing 50, a support column 51 inserted inside through an opening on the upper end side thereof is fitted.

Further, the feed screw 53 and the Y-axis motor 54 are housed in the cylindrical housing 50. Specifically, the Y-axis motor 54 is fixed on the X-axis base 23 in the cylindrical housing 50. Further, the lower end side of the feed screw 53 is connected to the Y-axis motor 54, and is held by the Y-axis motor 54 in a posture parallel to the Y-axis direction in the cylindrical housing 50.

The support column 51 has a cylindrical shape parallel to the Y-axis direction, and is fitted into the cylindrical housing 50 from the lower end side thereof. Further, the measuring unit 15 is fixed to the upper end of the support column 51. An annular engaging groove 51a with which the nut 52 is engaged is formed on the inner peripheral surface on the lower end side of the support column 51 along the circumferential direction thereof. The nut 52 is engaged with the engaging groove 51a in the support column 51 in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the Y-axis, and moves integrally with the support column 51 in the Y-axis direction.

The lead screw 53 is fitted into the above-mentioned column 51 from below. Further, the feed screw 53 is screwed into the nut 52 engaged with the engaging groove 51a in the support column 51.

The Y-axis motor 54 rotates the feed screw 53 under the control of the control unit 65 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, to move the support column 51 in the Y-axis direction via the nut 52. As a result, the measurement unit 15 can be moved in the Y-axis direction. Further, the Y-axis motor 54 controls the moving direction of the measuring unit 15 in the Y-axis direction by controlling the rotation direction of the feed screw 53, and controls the rotation speed of the feed screw 53 to control the Y of the measuring unit 15. The moving speed in the axial direction can be controlled.

By driving the Z-axis motor 34, the X-axis motor 44, and the Y-axis motor 54 in this way, the measurement unit 15 can be moved (coarse or finely moved) in each axis direction of the XYZ axes.

The measuring unit 15 has a measuring optical system 15a (including an image pickup element and various light sources) corresponding to the type of eye characteristics measured by the ophthalmologic apparatus 10. At the time of alignment detection, the measurement unit 15 outputs a detection signal for alignment detection (observation image of the anterior eye portion of the eye to be inspected E, etc.) to a control unit 65 (see FIG. 8) described later, and determines the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected E. At the time of measurement, the measurement signal for measurement is output to the control unit 65. Since the configuration of the measurement unit 15 and the measurement optical system 15a thereof is a well-known technique, a specific description thereof will be omitted here.

The monitor 16 is attached to the end portion of the measuring unit 15 on the rear side (operator side) in the Z-axis direction. As the monitor 16, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device is used. The monitor 16 relates to the measurement result of the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected obtained by the measurement unit 15, the observation image of the anterior eye portion of the eye E to be inspected used for alignment of the measurement unit 15, and the measurement of the eye characteristics. Display an operation screen or the like for performing an operation (including adjusting the position of the measurement unit 15).

The operating lever 17 is attached to, for example, an end portion on the X-axis base 23 on the rear side in the Z-axis direction. A measurement button is provided on the top of the operation lever 17, and the measurement of the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected E can be started by pressing the measurement button.

The operation lever 17 is an operation unit for manually moving the measurement unit 15 in each axis direction of the XYZ axes. For example, by rotating the operating lever 17 around its longitudinal axis (rotating clockwise or counterclockwise), the Y-axis motor 54 described above is driven, and the measuring unit 15 moves in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). do. At this time, by switching the rotation direction of the operation lever 17, the rotation direction of the feed screw 53 by the Y-axis motor 54 is switched, so that the measurement unit 15 can be moved in the Y-axis direction as described above. Further, by adjusting the rotation angle of the operation lever 17, the coarse movement and the fine movement in the Y-axis direction of the measurement unit 15 can be switched. The rotation angle of the operating lever 17 is detected by, for example, the Y potentiometer 56Y (see FIG. 8), which is a rotary potentiometer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a movement operation of the measurement unit 15 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) using the operation lever 17. In the present embodiment, the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction correspond to the predetermined axial directions of the present invention. Further, in the present embodiment, the operating lever 17 is provided on the X-axis base 23, but it may be provided at another portion in the ophthalmic apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the movement operation of the measurement unit 15 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction using the operation lever 17, a tilting operation (fine movement) in the case of finely moving the measurement unit 15 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction is performed. There are two types of operations including an operation) and a push-pull operation (also referred to as a coarse movement operation) in which the measuring unit 15 is roughly moved in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction.

As shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the Z-axis motor 34 or the X-axis motor 44 described above is driven by the tilting operation of tilting the operation lever 17 in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction, and the measurement unit 15 is driven. It moves (finely moves) in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction. At this time, since the Z-axis motor 34 or the X-axis motor 44 is driven at a lower speed than during the push-pull operation described later, the measuring unit 15 moves in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction at a lower speed than during the push-pull operation. That is, it moves slightly.

The moving speed of the measuring unit 15 can be adjusted by adjusting the tilting angle when the operating lever 17 is tilted. The tilting direction and tilting angle of the operating lever 17 are detected, for example, by the Z potentiometer 56Z and the X potentiometer 56X (see FIG. 8), which are linear potentiometers.

As shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, when the push-pull operation (horizontal movement operation) of pushing or pulling the operation lever 17 in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction without tilting the operation lever 17 is performed, the operation lever is operated. The X-axis base 23 is pressed in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction via the 17.

For example, when the X-axis base 23 is pressed in the Z-axis direction, the nut 32, which is a member that moves in the Z-axis direction, and the housing 28, which is a member that engages with the nut 32 and moves in the Z-axis direction. The pressure in the Z-axis direction changes between them. Further, for example, when the X-axis base 23 is pressed in the X-axis direction, the nut 42, which is a member that moves in the X-axis direction, and the housing 38, which is a member that engages with the nut 42 and moves in the X-axis direction. The pressure in the X-axis direction with and from changes.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the measurement unit 15 is driven in the Z-axis direction or X by driving the Z-axis motor 34 or the X-axis motor 44 described above based on the change in the pressure in the Z-axis direction or the change in the pressure in the X-axis direction. Move (coarse) in the axial direction. At this time, since the Z-axis motor 34 or the X-axis motor 44 is driven at a higher speed than during the tilting operation described above, the measuring unit 15 moves in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction at a higher speed than during the tilting operation, that is. Coarse.

The push-pull operation that causes such changes in pressure in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction is not limited to the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction with respect to the operating lever 17.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a type of push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction. Further, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the types of push-pull operations in the X-axis direction. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the Z-axis drive unit 22 and the X-axis drive unit 24 are simplified in order to prevent the drawings from becoming complicated.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction, in addition to the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction with respect to the operation lever 17 described above (see arrow PZ1), the measurement unit 15 (including the monitor 16) is subjected to the push-pull operation. Push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction (see arrow PZ2), push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction with respect to at least one of the Z-axis base 21 and the X-axis base 23 (see arrow PZ3), and Z-axis direction with respect to the Y-axis drive unit 25. Push-pull operation (see arrow PZ4) and the like are included. Further, a plurality of these push-pull operations may be combined. By such a push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17, the above-mentioned change in pressure in the Z-axis direction occurs.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction, in addition to the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction with respect to the operation lever 17 described above (see arrow PX1), the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction with respect to the measuring unit 15 and the like is performed. It includes a pull operation (see arrow PX2), a push-pull operation in the X-axis direction with respect to the X-axis base 23 (see arrow PX3), a push-pull operation in the X-axis direction with respect to the Y-axis drive unit 25 (see arrow PX4), and the like. Further, a plurality of these push-pull operations may be combined. By such a push-pull operation in the X-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17, the above-mentioned change in pressure in the X-axis direction occurs.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 that detects a change in pressure in the Z-axis direction due to a push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a Z-axis pressure sensor corresponding to the push-pull operation detection unit of the present invention is located between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a of both the housing 28 and the nut 32 facing each other in the Z-axis direction. 60 is provided.

The Z-axis pressure sensor 60 is connected to each of the facing surfaces 28a and 32a, respectively. Therefore, when the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction is performed, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 detects the pressure (change in pressure) in the Z-axis direction accompanying the push-pull operation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the detection of the pressure in the Z-axis direction by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 when the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction is performed. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, when the push-pull operation (see arrows PZ1 to PZ4) is performed toward the front side in the Z-axis direction indicated by Z (+), the Z-axis is shown by arrows A1 and H1. Pressure is applied to the base 21 and the housing 28 toward the front side in the Z-axis direction. At this time, since the movement of the nut 32 in the Z-axis direction is restricted by the feed screw 33, the facing surface 28a of the housing 28 makes the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 on the facing surface 32a of the nut 32 as shown by the arrow F1. Press toward. As a result, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 is compressed between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a of both the housing 28 and the nut 32, and the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 detects a positive (+) pressure.

As shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, when the push-pull operation (see arrows PZ1 to PZ4) is performed toward the rear side in the Z-axis direction indicated by Z (-), the Z-axis is shown by arrows A2 and H2. Pressure is applied to the base 21 and the housing 28 toward the rear side in the Z-axis direction. Even in this case, the movement of the nut 32 in the Z-axis direction is restricted by the feed screw 33. Therefore, as shown by the arrow F2, the facing surface 28a of the housing 28 makes the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 the facing surface 32a of the nut 32. Pull in the direction away from. As a result, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 is extended between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a of both the housing 28 and the nut 32, and the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 detects a negative (−) pressure. Therefore, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 can detect the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction (front side or rear side in the Z-axis direction) and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation.

Specifically, the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction can be detected according to the positive / negative of the pressure detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60, and based on the absolute value of the pressure detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60. The magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction can be detected.

Therefore, when a positive pressure is detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60, the measurement unit 15 is driven by rotating the feed screw 33 in one direction by the Z-axis motor 34 as shown by the arrow R1 in the figure. It is moved (coarse) toward the front side in the Z-axis direction at a speed corresponding to the absolute value of this positive pressure. When a negative pressure is detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60, the measurement unit 15 is driven by rotating the feed screw 33 in the other direction by the Z-axis motor 34 as shown by the arrow R2 in the figure. It is moved toward the rear side in the Z-axis direction at a speed corresponding to the absolute value of this negative pressure.

Although not shown, the housing 38 and the nut 42 shown in FIG. 1 also correspond to the push-pull operation detection unit of the present invention between the facing surfaces (not shown) facing each other in the X-axis direction. An X-axis pressure sensor 61 (see FIG. 8) is provided. Thereby, the operation direction (left side or right side in the X-axis direction) of the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction can be detected according to the positive or negative of the pressure detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61. Further, the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction can be detected based on the absolute value of the pressure detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61.

Therefore, when a positive pressure is detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61 (see FIG. 8), the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in one direction by the X-axis motor 44 to drive the measurement unit 15 in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 8). Move (coarse) toward one side (left and right) at a speed corresponding to the absolute value of this positive pressure. When a negative pressure is detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61, the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in the other direction by the X-axis motor 44, so that the measuring unit 15 is directed to the other side in the X-axis direction. , Move at a speed according to the absolute value of this negative pressure.

As such a Z-axis pressure sensor 60 and an X-axis pressure sensor 61, high-sensitivity and high-precision sensors are used in this embodiment. Specifically, when a touch operation or the like (including a tap operation and a contact operation) is performed as a push-pull operation in the directions of the arrows PZ1 to PZ4 and PX1 to PX4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each pressure sensor 60, 61 capable of detecting a slight change in pressure due to this touch operation or the like is used. That is, the push-pull operation of the present embodiment includes the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15 (including the monitor 16), and the operation of giving a slight change in pressure, such as the touch operation described above.

Therefore, for at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measuring unit 15, and the operation lever 17, the push-pull operation is, for example, one or a plurality of touch operations, or a long-press operation (a continuous touch operation for a certain period of time). When the operation is performed with the specific operation pattern of, the push-pull operation of this specific operation pattern can be detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the push-pull operation is executed in each of a plurality of types of specific operation patterns predetermined, the movement control of the measurement unit 15 associated with each specific operation pattern in advance is specified. Perform movement control. This specific movement control will be described in detail later, but examples thereof include auto-alignment, stop of auto-alignment, and left-right switching movement of the eye E to be inspected.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 described above, the Z-axis pressure sensor is formed in the gap formed by the facing surfaces 28a and 32a on the rear side in the Z-axis direction in the gap formed between the housing 28 and the nut 32. Although the 60 is provided, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 may be provided in the gap on the front side in the Z-axis direction or in the gap on both the front side and the rear side in the Z-axis direction. That is, the position of the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 is not particularly limited as long as it is a position where a push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction can be detected (a position compressed or expanded by the push-pull operation). Similarly, the position of the X-axis pressure sensor 61 (see FIG. 8) is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a control unit 65 provided in the ophthalmic appliance 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 65 is an arithmetic circuit composed of various arithmetic units including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), a memory, and the like, and is an ophthalmic apparatus 10. Controls the operation of each part of. For example, the control unit 65 acquires and outputs the detection signal for alignment detection described above and acquires and outputs the measurement signal of the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected in response to the touch operation of the monitor 16 or the operation of the operation lever 17. And the measurement unit 15.

Further, the control unit 65 functions as an arithmetic processing unit 67 and a movement control unit 68 by executing a control program (not shown) read from the storage unit 66.

The arithmetic processing unit 67 functions as an alignment detection unit 70 and an analysis unit 71. The alignment detection unit 70 performs alignment detection in each axial direction of the XYZ axes of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E to be inspected based on the detection signal for alignment detection input from the measurement unit 15 in the auto alignment mode described later. Then, the alignment detection unit 70 outputs the alignment detection result to the movement control unit 68.

The analysis unit 71 analyzes the measurement signal of the eye characteristic of the eye to be inspected E input from the measurement unit 15, and obtains the measurement result of the eye characteristic. Then, the analysis unit 71 outputs the measurement result of the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected E to the monitor 16 and the storage unit 66. As a result, the measurement result of the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected is displayed on the monitor 16 and stored in the storage unit 66.

The movement control unit 68 controls the drive of the Z-axis motor 34, the X-axis motor 44, and the Y-axis motor 54 to move or stop the measurement unit 15 in each axis direction of the XYZ axes. As a result, the movement control unit 68 executes various movements of the measurement unit 15 including alignment (auto alignment or manual alignment) of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E to be inspected, stopping of the auto alignment, and left / right switching movement of the eye E to be inspected. do. In addition to the above-mentioned motors 34, 44, 54, the potential meters 56X, 56Y, 56Z, and the pressure sensors 60, 61, the movement control unit 68 detects the position of the measuring unit 15 in the X-axis direction. The X-axis position detection sensor 73, the Y-axis position detection sensor 74 that detects the position in the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis position detection sensor 75 that detects the position in the Z-axis direction are connected.

The movement control unit 68 has an auto alignment mode and a manual alignment mode as an operation mode for aligning the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E to be inspected. Switching between the auto alignment mode and the manual alignment mode is performed, for example, by a touch operation on the operation screen displayed on the monitor 16. The manual alignment mode is a mode in which auto-alignment cannot be performed, for example, the cornea or iris of the eye to be inspected E has an abnormality or nystagmus is large.

When the auto alignment mode is set, the movement control unit 68 is based on the alignment detection result input from the alignment detection unit 70 described above and the detection results of the position detection sensors 73, 74, 75 for each motor. The drive of 34, 44, 54 is controlled to adjust the position of the measurement unit 15 in each axial direction of the XYZ axes. As a result, the auto-alignment of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E to be inspected is executed.

On the other hand, when the manual alignment mode is selected and the operation lever 17 is tilted or rotated, the movement control unit 68 is based on a signal input from any of the potentiometers 56X, 56Y, and 56Z. , Performs fine movement control to control the drive of any of the motors 34, 44, 54. As a result, the measuring unit 15 makes fine movements (moves at a low speed) according to the direction and speed corresponding to the tilting operation or the rotating operation.

Further, when the manual alignment mode is selected, the movement control unit 68 presses and pulls each pressure in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above. Roughness control for controlling the drive of each of the motors 34 and 44 is started based on the positive / negative and absolute values of the pressure detected by the sensors 60 and 61. This coarse movement control corresponds to the operation movement control of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining coarse movement control in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction of the measurement unit 15 by the movement control unit 68. Further, FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of a pressure change showing the relationship between the pressure and time detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 and the X-axis pressure sensor 61, respectively, during coarse motion control. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the movement control unit 68, the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure detected by each of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 in the manual alignment mode is an absolute threshold value ± VL. If it is less than the value (corresponding to less than the threshold value of the present invention), the driving of the motors 34 and 44 is stopped. That is, in the pressure range where the magnitude of the absolute value of each pressure sensor 60, 61 is less than the absolute value of the threshold ± VL, the measurement unit 15 does not roughen in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction in the manual alignment mode. It becomes a dead zone.

On the other hand, when the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 is equal to or greater than the absolute value of the threshold ± VL (corresponding to the threshold of the present invention), the movement control unit 68 is used. The operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction is determined according to the positive or negative of the pressure. Further, the movement control unit 68 determines the magnitude of the movement speed of the measuring unit 15 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the movement speed) according to the magnitude of the absolute value of the detected pressure. At this time, when the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure becomes larger than the absolute value of the predetermined threshold value ± VU, the movement control unit 68 sets the movement speed to a constant speed without further increasing. Then, the movement control unit 68 drives any of the motors 34 and 44 according to the determined operation direction and movement speed. As a result, in the manual alignment mode, the measuring unit 15 roughly moves according to the direction and speed corresponding to the push-pull operation.

Here, the range of the dead zone described above is set to a range including the pressure (absolute value) detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61 when the operation lever 17 is tilted in the manual alignment mode. ing. As a result, when the operation lever 17 is tilted in the manual alignment mode, the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 by the movement control unit 68 is stopped, so that the coarse movement of the measurement unit 15 is erroneously executed. Is prevented. On the contrary, when the absolute value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61 is equal to or more than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL, the fine movement control of the measurement unit 15 by the movement control unit 68 is stopped, so that the measurement is performed. The drive of the motors 34 and 44 corresponding to the tilting operation of the unit 15 is stopped.

In this way, the movement control unit 68 moves the measurement unit 15 according to the push-pull operation (coarse movement) and the movement of the measurement unit 15 according to the tilt operation of the operation lever 17 (fine movement) in the manual alignment mode. While one of the movements is being performed, the other is stopped.

<Specific movement control of measurement unit>
Returning to FIG. 8, the movement control unit 68 changes the pressure, which is the time change of the pressure detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61, during the execution of the above-mentioned auto-alignment mode and the stop of the measurement unit 15. Based on this, the push-pull operation such as the touch operation performed by the operator is monitored for at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17. When the push-pull operation is performed, the pressure change pattern detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61 also changes according to the operation pattern of the push-pull operation (double touch operation, long press operation, etc.). That is, the operation pattern of the push-pull operation is defined by the pressure change pattern detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61.

Therefore, when the movement control unit 68 detects a change in pressure with the pressure sensors 60 and 61, the push-pull operation corresponding to this pressure change pattern is predetermined in the various operation patterns of the push-pull operation. It is determined whether or not it matches any of a plurality of specific operation patterns.

Then, the movement control unit 68 determines that the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern does not match any of the plurality of specific operation patterns, and is detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61 by this push-pull operation. When the magnitude of the absolute value of the applied pressure is equal to or greater than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL described above, the same coarse motion control as in the manual alignment mode described above is executed. Further, when the movement control unit 68 determines that there is a disagreement and the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61 by the push-pull operation is less than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL, the movement control unit 68 determines. It goes into a standby state.

On the other hand, when the movement control unit 68 determines that the push-pull operation matches any of a plurality of specific operation patterns, the movement control of the measurement unit 15 previously associated with the matching specific operation pattern is performed. As a specific movement control, for example, auto-alignment, emergency stop of auto-alignment, left-right switching movement of the eye E to be inspected, or the like is executed. Specifically, the movement control unit 68 refers to the correspondence information 79 stored in advance in the storage unit 66, and determines whether or not the push-pull operation matches any of a plurality of specific operation patterns. , Determine and execute the specific movement control corresponding to the matched specific operation pattern.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of correspondence information 79. As shown in FIG. 11, the correspondence information 79 includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure change due to a push-pull operation in each of the pressure sensors 60 and 61, a plurality of specific operation patterns of the push-pull operation, and individual items. This is information that stores the correspondence with the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 defined for each specific operation pattern.

In the correspondence information 79, the specific movement executed when the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 matches the specific operation pattern "one-time touch operation". "Alignment control" is stored as control. Further, in the correspondence information 79, when the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 matches the specific operation pattern "double touch operation". The "first alignment stop control" is stored as the specific movement control executed in, and the "second alignment stop control" is stored as the specific movement control executed when the "three touch operations" are matched. ..

Furthermore, in the correspondence information 79, the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61 is executed when the push-pull operation corresponds to the "long-press operation" which is a specific operation pattern. As the specific movement control, two types of "left / right switching movement control" are stored according to the positive / negative pressure.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each specific operation pattern stored in the correspondence information 79 and the pressure change pattern detected by the pressure sensors 60 and 61. As shown in FIG. 12, reference numeral G1 corresponds to a "one-time touch operation", that is, one touch operation in the Z-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measuring unit 15, and the operation lever 17. An example of the pressure change pattern detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 is shown.

Reference numeral G2 is a “double touch operation”, that is, a Z-axis pressure sensor corresponding to two touch operations in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measuring unit 15, and the operating lever 17. An example of the pressure change pattern detected by the 60 or the X-axis pressure sensor 61 is shown. Further, the reference numeral G3 is a "three-time touch operation", that is, a Z-axis corresponding to three touch operations in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17. An example of the pressure change pattern detected by the pressure sensor 60 or the X-axis pressure sensor 61 is shown.

Reference numeral G4 is a “long press operation”, that is, a pressure detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61 in response to a long press operation in the X-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measuring unit 15, and the operating lever 17. This is an example of a change pattern. Here, for example, when a long press operation is performed toward the left side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the operator side, a positive (+) pressure change pattern (displayed by a solid line) is detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61. .. Further, for example, when a long press operation is performed toward the right side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the operator side, a negative (−) pressure change pattern (displayed by a dotted line) is detected by the X-axis pressure sensor 61.

Each specific operation pattern is defined by a pressure change pattern (time change pattern) within a range of less than the absolute value of the predetermined threshold value ± VL. In other words, each specific operation pattern is a pressure change pattern within a dead zone in which coarse movement (coarse movement control) in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction of the measurement unit 15 shown in FIG. 9 described above is not performed. Is stipulated by.

In this way, the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation when the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 is performed and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation when the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 is performed are different from each other. Therefore, when the operator performs a push-pull operation on at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17, the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 and the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 are performed. Is prevented from being performed at the same time. Therefore, the operator performs a push-pull operation with a strong force when performing coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15, and a push-pull operation with a weak force such as a touch operation when performing specific movement control of the measurement unit 15. I do. As a result, the operator can intuitively select between the coarse movement control and the specific movement control of the measuring unit 15 by increasing or decreasing the force of the push-pull operation.

The movement control unit 68 stops the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 when the tilting or rotation of the operation lever 17 is detected by the potentiometers 56X, 56Y, 56Z. As a result, it is possible to prevent the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 that is not intended by the operator from being accidentally executed due to a slight change in pressure caused by the tilting operation of the operation lever 17.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining "alignment control" and "first alignment stop control" which are specific movement controls.

As shown by reference numeral C1 in FIG. 13, "alignment control" is a movement control for moving the measurement unit 15 to a measurement position for measuring the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected E, that is, auto-alignment of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye to be inspected E. It is the control to be executed. Therefore, when the movement control unit 68 executes the "alignment control" as the specific movement control, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of each of the motors 34, 44, 54 based on the alignment detection result by the alignment detection unit 70 described above. Perform auto alignment.

When performing auto-alignment, the height position of the jaw support and forehead rest of the face support portion 13 in the Y-axis direction, and the measurement by manual operation (push-pull operation, tilting operation, and rotation operation described above) are performed. By adjusting the position of the unit 15, the measurement unit 15 is in a state where the observation image of the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected E is acquired, that is, the observation image is displayed on the monitor 16.

As shown by reference numerals C2 and C3 in FIG. 13, the "first alignment stop control" corresponds to the first movement control of the present invention, and causes the measurement unit 15 to make an emergency stop and move to the rear side in the Z-axis direction. It is a movement control. When the movement control unit 68 executes the "first alignment stop control" as the specific movement control, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of each of the motors 34, 44, 54 to stop the movement of the measurement unit 15. Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of the Z-axis motor 34 to move (retract) the measurement unit 15 to the rear side in the Z-axis direction, and then stops the movement of the measurement unit 15.

The "first alignment stop control" is when the auto-alignment mode is urgently stopped while the auto-alignment mode is being executed and the measurement unit 15 is moving forward in the Z-axis direction toward the eye E to be inspected. Are suitable. In this case, by executing the "first alignment stop control", the measurement unit 15 stops moving forward in the Z-axis direction, the measurement unit 15 moves backward in the Z-axis direction (backward), and the measurement unit Since the movement of 15 is stopped, the safety of the subject (eye to be inspected E) can be further enhanced.

The "second alignment stop control" corresponds to the second movement control of the present invention, and is a movement control for urgently stopping the measurement unit 15 at the current position. When the movement control unit 68 executes the "second alignment stop control" as the specific movement control, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of each of the motors 34, 44, 54 to stop the measurement unit 15 at the current position.

The "second alignment stop control" is suitable for emergency stop of this auto alignment mode while the auto alignment mode is being executed and the measurement unit 15 is moving in a direction other than the front side in the Z-axis direction. There is. In this case, it is not necessary to move (retract) the measurement unit 15 to the rear side in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, by executing the "second alignment stop control", it is possible to only stop the movement of the measurement unit 15. ..

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining “left / right switching movement control” which is a specific movement control. As shown in FIG. 14, the “left-right switching movement control” corresponds to the third movement control of the present invention, and the measurement unit 15 measures the eye characteristics of the right eye among both eyes of the eye E to be inspected. It is a movement control that moves from one of the right eye measurement position and the left eye measurement position for measuring the eye characteristics of the left eye toward the other. The right eye measurement position and the left eye measurement position are X-axis direction positions where the measurement unit 15 can acquire observation images of the anterior eye portion of the corresponding eye E (right eye or left eye), that is, alignment detection is possible. The position. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the right eye measurement position and the left eye measurement position are fixed positions.

When the movement control unit 68 executes the “left / right switching movement control” corresponding to the positive pressure change pattern shown by the reference numeral G4 in FIG. 12 as the specific movement control, the movement control unit 68 drives the X-axis motor 44. By controlling, the measurement unit 15 is moved to the left side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the operator side (right side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the subject side). As a result, the measurement unit 15 can be moved to the right eye measurement position. Further, when the movement control unit 68 executes the "left / right switching movement control" corresponding to the negative pressure change pattern shown by the reference numeral G4 as the specific movement control, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of the X-axis motor 44 for measurement. The unit 15 is moved to the right side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the operator side (the left side in the X-axis direction when viewed from the subject side). As a result, the measurement unit 15 can be moved to the left eye measurement position.

[Movement control of measurement unit by movement control unit]
FIG. 15 shows a flow of movement control of the measurement unit 15 executed by the movement control unit 68 in response to a push-pull operation on at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 (the flow of movement control of the measurement unit 15 of the present invention). It is a flowchart which shows (corresponding to the operation method). In order to prevent the explanation from being complicated, the description of the fine movement control of the measurement unit 15 according to the tilting operation of the operation lever 17, which is a known technique, will be omitted.

The operator performs a push-pull operation for coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 or a specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17. Perform a push-pull operation (YES in step S1).

At this time, the pressure sensors 60 and 61 constantly detect the pressure and output the pressure detection result to the movement control unit 68. Then, when the push-pull operation by the operator is executed, the pressure detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 changes, and the detection result of this pressure (pressure change) is output to the movement control unit 68. (Step S2 corresponds to the detection step of the present invention).

In the movement control unit 68, when the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 is equal to or greater than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 described above (step). NO in S3), coarse movement control of the measuring unit 15 is started (step S4).

First, the movement control unit 68 determines the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction according to the positive or negative of the pressure detected by either the pressure sensor 60 or 61, and the absolute pressure is absolute. The moving speed of the measuring unit 15 is determined according to the magnitude of the value (step S5). Next, the movement control unit 68 drives the measurement unit 15 according to the direction and speed corresponding to the push-pull operation by driving any of the motors 34 and 44 according to the determined operation direction and movement speed (step). S6).

On the contrary, when the magnitude of the absolute value of the pressure detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 is less than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL (YES in step S3), the movement control unit 68 of the measurement unit 15 After stopping the coarse motion control (step S7), the correspondence information 79 in the storage unit 66 is acquired. Then, the movement control unit 68 refers to the correspondence information 79, and stores the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 and the correspondence information 79. Compare with each specific operation pattern. Then, the movement control unit 68 determines whether or not the push-pull operation matches any of the specific operation patterns in the correspondence information 79 (steps S8 and S9).

When the movement control unit 68 determines that the push-pull operation does not match any of the specific operation patterns stored in the correspondence information 79, the movement control unit 68 puts the movement control of the measurement unit 15 into a standby state ( NO in step S9, step S10).

On the other hand, when the movement control unit 68 determines that the push-pull operation corresponding to the detected pressure change matches any of the specific operation patterns stored in the correspondence information 79, the movement control unit 68 displays the correspondence information 79. The specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 corresponding to the specific operation pattern that matches with reference is determined (YES in step S9, step S11). Next, the movement control unit 68 identifies the measurement unit 15 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 described above by driving at least one of the motors 34, 44, 54 according to the determined specific movement control. The movement control is executed (step S12, corresponding to the movement control step of the present invention).

[Action of ophthalmic appliances]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of measurement of eye characteristics by the ophthalmic appliance 10 having the above configuration. Here, the case where the auto alignment mode is set will be described.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the auto-alignment mode is set (step S21), the operator adjusts the height position of the jaw support and the forehead rest of the face support portion 13 in the Y-axis direction, and adjusts the height position of the measurement unit 15. The movement operation in the Y-axis direction is performed to adjust the height position of the measurement unit 15 and the subject's face in the Y-axis direction.

Next, the operator pushes and pulls in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 with a force equal to or higher than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL described above. I do. By this operation, the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 is executed by the movement control unit 68, and the measurement unit 15 moves in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction to the position where the anterior eye portion image of the eye to be inspected E can be acquired (coarse movement). Will be done. This completes the position adjustment of the measurement unit 15 before the alignment detection.

After this position adjustment, a detection signal for alignment detection is input from the measurement unit 15 to the alignment detection unit 70. Upon receiving the input of this detection signal, the alignment detection unit 70 detects the alignment of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E in the three axes of the XYZ axes, and outputs the alignment detection result to the movement control unit 68 (step S22). ..

Then, when the operator performs a "one-time touch operation" in the Z-axis direction, which is a push-pull operation, with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 (step S23), the movement is performed. The control unit 68 executes "alignment control" according to each process shown in FIG. 15 described above. As a result, the movement control unit 68 drives each of the motors 34, 44, 54 based on the alignment detection result input from the alignment detection unit 70 to start auto-alignment (step S24).

After the start of auto-alignment, if the operator needs to stop auto-alignment in an emergency, the Z-axis direction, which is a push-pull operation, with respect to at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measuring unit 15, and the operation lever 17. Alternatively, either "twice touch operation" or "three times touch operation" in the X-axis direction is performed (YES in step S25, step S26). In response to this operation, the movement control unit 68 executes "first alignment control" or "second alignment control" according to the movement direction of the measurement unit 15 according to each process shown in FIG. 15 described above. As a result, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive of each of the motors 34, 44, 54 to make an emergency stop of the auto alignment (step S27).

Next, the movement control unit 68 switches to the manual alignment mode (step S28). In this case, the operator performs a manual movement operation, that is, a push-pull operation for at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17, and a tilt operation for the operation lever 17. As a result, the coarse movement of the measurement unit 15 in response to the push-pull operation and the fine movement of the measurement unit 15 in response to the tilting operation or the like are executed, and the measurement unit 15 is manually aligned with the eye E to be inspected.

On the other hand, if the emergency stop of the auto-alignment, that is, the "twice touch operation" or the "three-touch operation" is not performed after the start of the auto-alignment, the auto-alignment of the measurement unit 15 with respect to the eye E to be inspected is completed (step). NO in S25, YES in step S29).

When the auto alignment or the manual alignment is completed, the measurement unit 15 measures the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected and the analysis unit 71 analyzes the eye characteristics, and the measurement result of the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected is obtained (step S30). The measurement result of the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected is displayed on the monitor 16 and stored in the storage unit 66.

When switching left and right of the eye to be inspected E for measuring eye characteristics, the operator presses and pulls at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 on the right side in the X-axis direction or. Perform the "long press operation" on the left side in the X-axis direction (YES in step S31, step S32). As a result, the movement control unit 68 executes the "left / right switching movement control" corresponding to any of the "long press operations" according to the process shown in FIG. 15 described above. Then, the movement control unit 68 drives the X-axis motor 44 to move the measurement unit 15 from one of the right eye measurement position and the left eye measurement position toward the other (step S33).

Hereinafter, the processes from step S22 to step S30 are repeatedly executed to complete the examination of the eye characteristics of the subject's eye E (both eyes) (NO in step S31).

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a push-pull operation such as a touch operation is executed for at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 in a predetermined specific operation pattern. By doing so, the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 corresponding to this specific operation pattern can be automatically executed. Further, by changing the type of the specific operation pattern of the push-pull operation, the type of the specific movement control executed by the movement control unit 68 can be changed. Therefore, the operator performs a push-pull operation on at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17 without touching the operation screen (icon or the like) on the screen of the monitor 16. Only by doing so, the specific movement control of the desired measurement unit 15 can be executed. As a result, the operator can intuitively perform the operation related to the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15.

Further, in the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 described above, a specific operation pattern is defined by a pressure change pattern within a range of less than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL, and a push-pull operation is performed. When the absolute value of the pressure detected in accordance with the above is less than the absolute value of the threshold value ± VL, the coarse motion control of the measuring unit 15 is stopped. As a result, when the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 is executed, the erroneous execution of the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 unintended by the operator is surely prevented.

[others]
In the above embodiment, the push-pull operation is performed on at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15 (including the monitor 16), and the operation lever 17, but the target for performing the push-pull operation is limited to these. Not done. For example, in the ophthalmic apparatus 10, when at least one of the electric drive unit 14 and the measurement unit 15 is housed in a housing (cover), a push-pull operation may be performed on this housing. Also in this case, since at least one of the electric drive unit 14 and the measuring unit 15 is indirectly pushed and pulled through the housing, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 and the X-axis pressure sensor 61 are accompanied by the push-pull operation. The above-mentioned change in pressure can be detected.

In the first embodiment, the Z-axis pressure sensor 60 and the X-axis pressure sensor 61 are used to detect the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction with respect to the measurement unit 15. It may be detected by using the method of.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the detection of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction by another configuration. As shown in FIG. 17, instead of providing the Z-axis pressure sensor 60, the distance D between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a is measured on one or both of the facing surfaces 28a and 32a of both the housing 28 and the nut 32. The distance measuring sensor 80 (push-pull operation detection unit of the present invention) may be provided.

When a push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction (see the arrows PZ1 to PZ4 in FIG. 4 described above) is performed, the distance measuring sensor 80 has a distance D between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a associated with the push-pull operation. Detect changes. For example, when the push-pull operation is performed toward the front side in the Z-axis direction, the distance measuring sensor 80 detects a decrease in the distance D between the facing surfaces 28a and 32a. On the contrary, when the push-pull operation is performed toward the rear side in the Z-axis direction, the increase in the distance D between the two facing surfaces 28a and 32a is detected by the distance measuring sensor 80. Therefore, the distance measuring sensor 80 can detect the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation.

Specifically, the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the Z-axis direction can be detected according to the increase / decrease of the distance D detected by the distance measuring sensor 80, and the absolute increase / decrease amount of the distance D detected by the distance measuring sensor 80 can be detected. The magnitude of the push-pull operation pressure can be detected based on the value.

Further, by providing the distance measuring sensor 80 between the facing surfaces (not shown) facing each other in the X-axis direction of both the housing 38 and the nut 42, the operation direction of the push-pull operation in the X-axis direction and the push-pull operation. The magnitude of the operating pressure can be detected.

Therefore, the control unit 65 (movement control unit 68) specifies the measurement unit 15 corresponding to the specific operation pattern as in the above embodiment, based on the distance detection results of the distance measurement sensors 80 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction. Movement control and coarse movement control of the measuring unit 15 can be performed.

Instead of the Z-axis pressure sensor 60, the X-axis pressure sensor 61, and the distance measuring sensor 80 described above, the push-pull operation detection unit of the present invention is, for example, distortion of the housing of the ophthalmic appliance 10 due to the push-pull operation. A strain detection sensor or the like for detecting the above may be used. That is, the push-pull operation detection unit of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can detect changes in pressure, strain, displacement, and the like in the ophthalmic apparatus 10 due to the push-pull operation.

In the above embodiment, the coarse movement in the Z-axis direction and the coarse movement in the X-axis direction of the measurement unit 15 are executed by the push-pull operation described above, but for example, the coarse movement in the Y-axis direction of the measurement unit 15 is also performed. It may be made feasible by a push-pull operation in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the push-pull operation in the Y-axis direction is detected by a Y-axis pressure sensor or the like (not shown), and when the push-pull operation in the Y-axis direction is a specific operation pattern, the measurement unit 15 corresponding to this is specified. Movement control may be executed.

In the above embodiment, when the measuring unit 15 is finely moved, the operation lever 17 is tilted or rotated, but it is displayed on the screen of an operation unit other than the operation lever 17, for example, an operation button (not shown) and a monitor 16. The measurement unit 15 may be finely moved by operating the touch operation screen or the like.

In each of the above embodiments, the Z-axis drive unit 22 and the Z-axis base 21, the X-axis drive unit 24 and the X-axis base 23, and the Y-axis drive unit 25 are provided from the lower side to the upper side in the Y-axis direction. However, these orders may be changed as appropriate. Further, the configuration in which the electric drive unit 14 moves the measurement unit 15 in each axial direction of the XYZ axes is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and may be arbitrarily changed.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the measurement unit 15 is movably held in each axial direction of the XYZ axes with respect to the main body base 12 by the electric drive unit 14 has been described, but at least one of these axial directions has been described. The present invention can also be applied to the case where it is held so as to be movable in a direction.

The correspondence information 79 (see FIG. 11) of the above embodiment includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure change due to a push-pull operation in each of the pressure sensors 60 and 61, a specific operation pattern of the push-pull operation, and a measurement unit. Although the correspondence relationship with the specific movement control of 15 is stored, only the correspondence relationship between the specific operation pattern and the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 may be stored. In this case, when the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 matches the specific operation pattern, the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 corresponding to this specific operation pattern is performed. Is executed.

The movement control unit 68 of the above embodiment refers to the correspondence information 79 stored in advance in the storage unit 66, but stores it in the outside of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 (such as a server on the Internet and another ophthalmic apparatus 10). The correspondence information 79 may be acquired and referred to.

In the above embodiment, when the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by any of the pressure sensors 60 and 61 matches the specific operation pattern, the predetermined specific movement control is executed. , The present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the push-pull operation corresponding to the pressure change pattern detected by both the pressure sensors 60 and 61 matches a predetermined specific operation pattern, the predetermined specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 is performed. You may do it.

In the above embodiment, the specific movement control and the coarse movement control of the measurement unit 15 are selectively performed by the push-pull operation on at least one of the electric drive unit 14, the measurement unit 15, and the operation lever 17, but the push is performed. The present invention can also be applied when only the specific movement control is executed by the pull operation. In this case, the noise control of the measurement unit 15 is performed by operating the operation lever 17 or touching the operation screen of the monitor 16 as in the conventional case.

In the above embodiment, when the absolute value of the pressure of the push-pull operation is less than the absolute value of the predetermined threshold value ± VL and the operation pattern of the push-pull operation matches the specific operation pattern, the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 is performed. However, when the operation pattern matches the specific operation pattern regardless of the absolute value of the pressure of the push-pull operation, the specific movement control of the measurement unit 15 may be performed. As a result, for example, when it is necessary to stop the auto-alignment in an emergency, the auto-alignment is performed when the operator performs a push-pull operation with a specific operation pattern such as hitting the electric drive unit 14 and the measurement unit 15 with a strong force. You can make an emergency stop.

10 ... Ophthalmology device, 12 ... Main body base, 14 ... Electric drive unit, 15 ... Measurement unit, 17 ... Operation lever, 22 ... Z-axis drive unit, 24 ... X-axis drive unit, 28, 38 ... Housing, 28a, 32a ... Facing surface, 32, 42 ... nut, 60 ... Z-axis pressure sensor, 61 ... X-axis pressure sensor, 65 ... control unit, 68 ... movement control unit, 79 ... correspondence information, 80 ... ranging sensor

Claims (6)

With the base
The eye characteristic acquisition unit that acquires the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected,
A drive unit that moves the eye characteristic acquisition unit with respect to the base in a predetermined axial direction,
A push-pull operation detection unit that detects a push-pull operation that pushes or pulls at least one of the eye characteristic acquisition unit and the drive unit in the axial direction.
Based on the specific operation pattern of the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit, the drive of the drive unit is controlled, and the movement control of the eye characteristic acquisition unit associated with the specific operation pattern is performed. A movement control unit that performs a specific movement control,
Equipped with
The movement control unit performs the specific movement control when the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit matches the specific operation pattern, and when the push-pull operation does not match, the push-pull operation. Based on the push-pull operation detected by the detection unit, the drive of the drive unit is controlled, and the operation movement control for moving the eye characteristic acquisition unit according to the push-pull operation is performed.
The push-pull operation detection unit detects the operation direction of the push-pull operation and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation.
The particular operation pattern is at least defined by the pressure change pattern within a range below a predetermined threshold.
In the case of the mismatch, the movement control unit executes the operation movement control when the magnitude of the pressure detected by the push-pull operation detection unit becomes equal to or more than the threshold value, and the magnitude of the pressure is reduced. An ophthalmic apparatus that stops execution of the operation movement control when the threshold value is less than the threshold value . The movement control unit refers to the correspondence information in which the correspondence relationship between the specific operation pattern and the specific movement control is stored in advance, and the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit is the specific one. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a determination as to whether or not the operation pattern is matched and an execution of the specific movement control when the determination is made are performed. The drive unit
A first engaging portion that moves integrally with the eye characteristic acquisition portion,
The second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion and
A drive source that moves the second engaging portion along the axial direction,
Equipped with
The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion have facing surfaces facing each other in the axial direction.
The push-pull operation detection unit is a pressure sensor connected to the facing surfaces of both the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, and the facing of both of them depending on the operation direction. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , which is a pressure sensor that is compressed or stretched between surfaces. The movement control unit has an auto-alignment mode in which the drive unit is driven based on a signal from the eye characteristic acquisition unit to automatically align the eye characteristic acquisition unit with the eye to be inspected.
The specific movement control includes a first movement control for stopping the movement of the eye characteristic acquisition unit while the auto alignment mode is being executed, and an eye characteristic acquisition unit for the eye to be inspected while the auto alignment mode is being executed. A second movement control, in which the eye characteristic acquisition unit is moved in a direction away from the eye to be inspected and then stopped while moving toward the eye, is included.
When the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit matches the specific operation pattern corresponding to the first movement control, the movement control unit performs the first movement control and performs the push-pull operation. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the second movement control is performed when the operation matches the specific operation pattern corresponding to the second movement control. The specific movement control includes a third movement control for moving the eye characteristic acquisition unit from a position for measuring one eye characteristic of the eyes to be inspected to a position for measuring the other eye characteristic. ,
From claim 1, the movement control unit performs the third movement control when the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit matches the specific operation pattern corresponding to the third movement control. 4. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of 4. In the method of operating an ophthalmic apparatus including a base, an eye characteristic acquisition unit for acquiring eye characteristics of an eye to be inspected, and a drive unit for moving the eye characteristic acquisition unit in a predetermined axial direction with respect to the base.
A detection step in which the push-pull operation detection unit detects a push-pull operation that is a push-pull operation for at least one of the eye characteristic acquisition unit and the drive unit and that is a push operation or a pull operation in the axial direction.
The movement control unit controls the drive of the drive unit based on the specific operation pattern of the push-pull operation detected by the push-pull operation detection unit, and acquires the eye characteristics associated with the specific operation pattern. A movement control process that performs specific movement control, which is the movement control of the unit,
Have,
In the movement control step, if the push-pull operation detected by the detection step matches the specific operation pattern, the specific movement control is performed, and if they do not match, the detection step detects the above. Based on the push-pull operation, the drive of the drive unit is controlled, and the operation movement control for moving the eye characteristic acquisition unit according to the push-pull operation is performed.
The detection step detects the operation direction of the push-pull operation and the magnitude of the pressure of the push-pull operation.
The particular operation pattern is at least defined by the pressure change pattern within a range below a predetermined threshold.
In the case of the disagreement, the movement control step executes the operation movement control when the magnitude of the pressure detected by the detection step is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the magnitude of the pressure is less than the threshold value. A method of operating an ophthalmic apparatus that stops the execution of the operation movement control when becomes .

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