Abstract: The inventive slit-lamp unit comprises a table (1), a cross-slide (2) which can be displaced with the aid of a guide lever (8), a head holder (3), a microscope (5) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (9), and an illuminating means (10) fastened on a holder (11). The holder (11) comprises a base (11.1), likewise rotatable about the axis of rotation (9), and a carrier (11.2) which can be displaced relative to the base (11.1) by means of a rail (13) in the direction of the eye (7) or away from the latter. The illuminating means (10) are fastened on the carrier (11.2) and comprise a lens (19), a prism (18), an image recording device (14) and a light source (17). The prism (18) serves the purpose both of deflecting onto the eye (7) an illuminating beam generated by the light source (17), and of deflecting onto the image recording device (14) a viewing beam emerging from the eye (7), the said image recording device being connected to a computer monitor (16.2) in order to display the images thus recorded.

Abstract: The ophthalmological apparatus, in particular a slit lamp apparatus, has an observation unit and an illumination unit, which emits a light beam for eye observation and/or treatment purposes, the areal cross-sectional dimension of which beam can be adjusted by means of an adjustable diaphragm. The diaphragm is designed as a planar light modulator (50) which can be adjusted by a non-mechanical adjusting means and whose local optical properties can be changed and can be changed back again. A radiation impinging on the planar light modulator (50) has impressed on it by the latter a predetermined geometrical cross-sectional dimension or a predetermined areal intensity distribution as image information. This different intensity distribution has the same effect on or in the eye as the mechanical diaphragms used heretofore. A raster-free generation of image elements is achieved whenever a corresponding image is “written” or “impressed” optically e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for the stereoscopic examination of a patient's eye using a slit-lamp microscope (3), wherein the patient's eye (1) is illuminated by a light strip of a predetermined cross section which is emitted by a light source (5). The light source (5) is arranged on the vertical arm (20) of a support (7) and the eye (1) to be examined is placed in an essentially horizontal plane on one side of said support. The stereo-microscope (3) is essentially placed on a plane which is located on the side opposite to the first side of the support (7). The vertical arm (20) of the support (7) is made in the shape of a column having a narrow cross section so as to minimize the optical obstruction between the stereo-microscope (3) and the patient's eye. Using at least one beam (30b) from the stereo-microscope (3), a partial ray is stopped down and the image information of said ray is directed to a reception unit (44) located in said stereo-microscope (3).

Abstract: A the device for carrying out keratometric measurements has a beam splitter (9) which can be pivoted about a pivot axis (37) in a defined way. The beam splitter (9) serves for dividing and simultaneously for recombining the partial beams. The pivot axis (37) of the beam splitter (9) extends perpendicularly to the optical axis (o) of the beam (5a) reflected by the curve region (K) to be measured of the cornea of the living eye (A), as well as perpendicularly to the connection line of the test objects (B, Q). By pivoting the beam-splitter cube (9) the image height imaging (h') of the reflection points (Y,Z) can be doubled and shifted relative to one another in a defined way according to the selected pivot angle (.alpha.). The device has a compact construction and permits simple and exact operation.

Abstract: Optical retro-reflector in particular for purposes of interferometry. It has the form of a sphere and is fashioned from an optically refractive material, the index of refraction of which is at least approximately 2, but by preference precisely 2. The reflecting surface of the sphere is coated with a film of reflecting material, preferably vapor-deposited metal. The retro-reflector can be manufactured cheaply and with a high level of surface quality. It has a high degree of reflecting power.

Abstract: A laser optical apparatus for measuring the distance between the apparatus and a measuring surface which comprises an optical measuring reflector on said measuring surface, a converting transformer for converting the position of said reflector into corresponding electrical signals and an indicator for said signals. The improvement comprises a first optical interferometer having a measuring wave guide coupled with a reference wave guide and a second optical interferometer also having measuring and reference wave guides. The length of the second measuring wave guide is different from the length of the second reference wave guide and a computer is used to compare output electrical signals the value of which depend upon this difference. The apparatus also includes a device to correct the wave length of the laser beam by controlling the electrical current to the laser.

Abstract: A device for measuring the distance between the device and a measuring surface, with an optical interferometer, which has a measuring wave guide, one end of which is connected with a laser and the other of which is directed to optical measuring reflector which is positioned on the measuring surface or is connected with the same in an effective manner, which reflects the light back into the measuring wave guide. The interferometer furthermore has a reference wave guide which is coupled with the measuring wave guide at a coupling point, has a mirror on its one end, and on its other end, a photoelectrical converter, which is connected with an indicator device for indicating the electrical output signal of the photoelectrical converter. The reference wave guide is coupled, preferably by means of a polarizing beam splitter, with a branch wave guide, the end of which is connected with an additional photoelectrical converter. The reference wave guide has a phase adjustment device.

Abstract: Device for the contact-free measurement of a distance from a surface, particularly for scanning the contour of a surface of a workpiece along a given measuring path, comprising a measuring body enclosing optoelectronic means for transmitting light to the surface to be measured and converting the light reflected by such surface into an electrical signal as a function of the distance from the surface. The measuring body is supported on a stand and is movable in the direction of measurement. The optoelectronic means comprise a focus position measuring system and an optoelectronic position scanning unit for scanning the position of the measuring body relative to the supporting stand.

Abstract: A device for measuring small distances, provided with a sensing tip mounted to be movable in the direction of the length to be measured, a transducer for converting the movements of the sensing tip into corresponding electric signals, and indicating means to indicate such signals. The transducer comprises an optical interferometer provided with a measuring waveguide. One end of the waveguide is connected to a laser and the other end to optical means for directing the light onto a measuring mirror disposed at a distance. The light is reflected by the mirror back to the optical means. The measuring mirror is connected to the sensing tip. The interferometer further includes a reference waveguide linked to the measuring waveguide. The reference waveguide has a mirror disposed at one end and a photoelectric transduer at the other end. The transducer is connected to the indicating means for indicating the output signals of the transducer.

Abstract: A device for measuring small distances, provided with a sensing tip mounted to be movable in the direction of the length to be measured, a transducer for converting the movements of the sensing tip into corresponding electric signals, and indicating means to indicate such signals. The transducer comprises an optical interferometer provided with a measuring waveguide. One end of the waveguide is connected to a laser and the other end to optical means for directing the light onto a measuring mirror disposed at a distance. The light is reflected by the mirror back to the optical means. The measuring mirror is connected to the sensing tip. The interferometer further includes a reference waveguide linked to the measuring waveguide. The reference waveguide has a mirror disposed at one end and a photoelectric transducer at the other end. The transducer is connected to the indicating means for indicating the output signals of the transducer.