Abstract: An automated readout for a lens meter is disclosed in combination with a light beam deflecting type of lens meter such as that of a Hartman test. In such a light beam deflecting type of lens meter, a light source having one or more beams is passed through a suspect optical system and deflected by the suspect optical system to a deviated path. Measurement of the deviated path within a preselected area of excursion is typically equated to various powers of the suspect optical system in sphere, cylinder, cylinder axis, and prism. The invention provides for a means of measurement of deviated paths and includes a moving boundary locus with edges of distinctly different shape placed to intercept and occult said deflected beam in a known plane within the area of excursion at a distance from the suspect optical system. The moving boundary locus is typically arranged for movement along a predetermined path at a velocity within the known plane.

Abstract: An optical ray deflecting means is neutrally supported in and biased in alignment with a window in a fluid filled chamber. The fluid, acting on both the sidewalls of the chamber and the surfaces of the deflecting means, causes the deflecting means to undergo proportional angular motion with respect to an inertial reference system when the chamber is subjected to vibrational angular motion with respect to the reference system. Placement of a deflecting means stabilizer at preselected points along the optical path of an optical instrument having high magnification is disclosed for producing instrument image stabilization.

Abstract: A lens meter for analyzing suspect lenses in terms of sphere, cylinder and axis by optical beam deflection and without relatively moving optical parts is disclosed. A light source emanating a substantially collimated beam of light from an entrant aperture into a retroreflecting mechanism includes two important properties. The first property is that an image of the entrant aperture is displayed from and reimaged across the optical axis of the retroreflector to a conjugate location at a real image exit aperture, this aperture being provided with a coincident optical stop. Secondly, in the absence of a test lens in the light path, light entrant to the retroreflector through the entrant aperture along a first path departs the real image of the exist aperture along a second path with a known angularity to the first path.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for determining subjective astigmatic and spherical prescription for the eye is disclosed. A target, consisting of a line of small angular divergence, is focused for maximum clarity by the adjustment of spherical optics, causing the line to become proximate to the retinal viewing plane of the eye. Change of astigmatic correction is made along at least one axis diagonal to the line target until maximum sharpness of the line results, without resultant spherical change and resultant movement of the image away from the retinal plane of the eye being tested. A second target, again consisting of a line of small angular divergence, is introduced; this line target is angularly inclined to the first target, preferably at 45.degree.. Spherical adjustment is made to obtain subjective line sharpness.

Abstract: In combination with a lens meter for measuring along a single optical path the power of suspect optics, an apparatus for positioning nose bridge mounted spectacles is disclosed. At least one nose locator piece simulating the shape and location of the human nose is mounted for sliding movement on a bar. A bar locks vertical lens movement on the base of the lens frame at the bottom of the lenses to establish the elevation of the visual center on each lens for each eye. The transverse spacing of the nose locator piece locates the remaining coordinate of the visual center of the suspect lens. The nose locator piece, when registered to the spectacles at the nose bridge, is read through an attached and typically magnified scale to indicate nose bridge to visual center distance. By using paired nose locator pieces and paired scales, rapid measurement of nose frame mounted spectacles can occur at the spaced visual centers for the right and left eye lens to a lens meter having a monocular light path.

Abstract: A reflecting mirror with an active optical surface approximating a sphere is elastically deformed for off-axis use. The mirror, preferably symmetrical about an axis normal to its center point, is circular in peripheral configuration. The active optical surface is ground on a circular face of the mirror. This surface can be ground to be equal to or to exceed the F-stop of 2.5. The mirror has a thickness at its central point in the range of one fifth to one fifteenth of its diameter, with a thickness of one tenth of the diameter being preferred. The reverse and non-optically active side of the mirror is provided with a curvature in anticipation of its elastic deformation for off-axis use. This reverse curvature is a spherical surface having a different radius of curvature complementary to the curvature of the active optical surface.

Abstract: Corrective optics having continuously variable spherical, astigmatic, and prismatic functions are placed in a light path between a viewing patient and a projected target. Typically, the target is projected by a projector preferably through focusing optics in the form of a field mirror. The focusing optics serve the dual purpose of relaying to the patient the image of the target as well as focusing to the patient's eyeglass position a real image of the corrective optics. A patient has a patient input, typically a hand wheel, at or near his patient viewing station. The patient uses this input to vary the setting of the corrective optics. The eye examiner, at an adjacent eye examination station, is provided with a gear box having a clutch mechanism. The gear box includes examiner inputs for astigmatic and spherical correction to each eye as well as prismatic correction for both eyes.

Abstract: A single field mirror serves as a relay for paired images being magnified by a stereo magnifier from an object to a spatial location removed from the field mirror for remote stereo viewing. A simple or compound stereo magnifier or microscope having paired optical paths receives the image of the object for each ocular path and projects each image to the plane of the single field mirror. The ocular path for each eye between the object and paired eyes of the viewer is routed off axis from the mirror in two aspects, typically by a periscoping system. The left eye path approaches the field mirror typically below and from the right of the field mirror axis; the right eye path approaches the field mirror typically below and from the left of the field mirror axis. Upon impingement and reflection of the routed eye paths at the field mirror, reversal of the routed eye paths occurs to remotely reflect a stereo magnified image with binocular image parity for remote view.

Abstract: An optical ray deflecting means is neutrally supported in and biased in alignment with a window in a fluid filled chamber. The fluid, acting on both the sidewalls of the chamber and the surfaces of the deflecting means, causes the deflecting means to undergo proportional angular motion with respect to an inertial reference system when the chamber is subjected to vibrational angular motion with respect to the reference system. Placement of a deflecting means stabilizer at preselected points along the optical path of an optical instrument having high magnification is disclosed for producing instrument image stabilization.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for determining subjective astigmatic and spherical prescription for the eye is disclosed. A target, consisting of a straight line, is focused for maximum clarity by the adjustment of spherical optics, causing the line to become proximate to the retinal viewing plane of the eye. Change of astigmatic correction is made along at least one axis diagonal to the line until maximum sharpness of the line results, without resultant spherical change and resultant movement of the image away from the retinal plane of the eye being tested. A second target, again consisting of a straight line, is introduced; this line target is angularly inclined to the first target, preferably at 45.degree.. Spherical adjustment is made to obtain subjective line sharpness. Change of astigmatic correction is made along at least one axis diagonal to the line until maximum sharpness of the line results, without resultant spherical change and resultant movement of the image away from the retinal plane of the eye.