Patents by Inventor Yoko Hirohara

Yoko Hirohara has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20050099599
    Abstract: Measurement of an eye characteristic is performed more accurately and at high speed by setting a measurement condition of a light receiving optical system with a long focal point or high sensitivity on the basis of an optical characteristic measured by a light receiving optical system with a short focal point or low sensitivity or high density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Publication number: 20050073647
    Abstract: Scattering can be measured by using an optical system having a Hartman-Shack wave-surface sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara, Takashi Fujikado, Naoyuki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20050046793
    Abstract: An eye characteristic measuring apparatus can effectively and properly measure and display wavefront aberration of an eye regardless of the eye state. A first illumination optical system (200A) illuminates a small area on a retina of the eye by a first light flux from a first light source unit (100). A first reception light optical system (300A) leads a part of light flux reflected from the retina (61) to a first light reception unit (510) via a first conversion member (400) for converting the reflected light flux into at least 17 beams. A measurement data judgment unit, for example, judges whether the measurement data is appropriate for calculating the wavefront aberration according to a first signal from the first light reception unit (510). For example, when the measurement data judgment unit judges that the measurement data is not appropriate, a first correction unit causes to display a check correction screen which will be detailed later and corrects the data into appropriate measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Takuya Moriyama
  • Patent number: 6860603
    Abstract: A device comprises a refraction correcting part 700 for correcting refraction of an eye 400 to be examined of a subject; an adjusting state measuring part 800 for measuring whether a target observed by the eye 400 through the refraction correcting part 700 is in the adjustable range of the eye; and corrective value correcting means 360 for correcting a corrective value for the refraction correcting part 700 so that said eye can achieve best correction based on a result of measurement by the adjusting state measuring part 800, and is configured to measure visual acuity characteristics of the eye 400 at a corrective value for the refraction correcting part 700 to achieve best correction of the eye 400 according to responses of the subject about displayed targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Toshifumi Mihashi
  • Publication number: 20040212781
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus which can be effectively used for the clinic of a dry eye by using, as a basic principle, that when a tear film dries up, a corneal shape is changed and/or a wavefront aberration becomes large. When a measurement is started, the ophthalmologic apparatus is aligned. An arithmetic part performs an initial setting of a measurement interval of the apparatus, a measurement time and the like by a wavefront measurement part. An input part or the arithmetic part triggers a measurement start, and the arithmetic part repeats a measurement of the corneal shape and corneal wavefront aberrations by a measurement part until time reaches a measurement end time. When the time reaches the measurement end time, a judgment part analyzes a breakup state as one index for judgment of a state of a dry eye. The judgment part obtains values relating to the breakup to output them, and performs an automatic diagnosis about dry eye on the basis of the values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara, Teruhito Kuroda, Naoyuki Maeda, Takashi Fujikado
  • Patent number: 6802609
    Abstract: The invention includes an eye characteristic measuring apparatus which achieves accurate measurement by taking a difference component with relation with measured data in a reference optical path when optical characteristics of an eye are measured. Specifically the measuring apparatus is provided with a reference optical system separate from a light receiving system. Measurement of eye characteristics can include both aberration of an eye and aberration in the measuring apparatus. In order to achieve high accuracy, the eye characteristic measuring apparatus of the invention substantially removes aberration in strain of the equipment produced after the initial stage and aberration of the equipment caused by deformation due to temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Publication number: 20040130678
    Abstract: An optical characteristic of an eye is obtained which can not be measured through a uniform adjustment because of a large difference in the distribution of a refractive index, or the like. An arithmetic part first selects an interlock mode, and performs an alignment adjustment. Next, the arithmetic part measures refraction, and interlocks and moves a first illumination optical system and a first light receiving optical system on the basis of the refraction. The arithmetic part obtains a density distribution of point images obtained from a first light receiving part, and judges whether a measurement can be made for each area on the basis of the density. The arithmetic part makes an adjustment so that an unmeasurable area becomes measurable, and creates a composite point image from plural signals obtained in a process of the adjustment. Further, the arithmetic part uses the composite point image to perform a Zernike analysis, obtains the optical characteristic and outputs it on a display part or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Hiroaki Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20040095556
    Abstract: A contrast chart device of the present invention comprises a contrast target presenting part for presenting a contrast target for a contrast sensitivity test at prescribed timing; a pupil data measuring part for producing an image of an anterior ocular segment of a subject and measuring the diameter or area of a pupil region in the anterior ocular segment; and a measurement timing forming part for forming timing at which the pupil data measuring part performs measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Publication number: 20040080713
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmic measuring apparatus in which an image obtained by refractive wavefront measurement is adjusted to an image more suitable for analysis, and the refractive wavefront measurement with high accuracy is enabled. A first movement unit for moving a condensing position so that a light flux from a first light source is condensed on a place close to the retina of a subject eye, and a second movement unit for optically moving a first conversion member for condensing a light flux reflected by an retina of the subject eye and a first light receiving part for receiving light fluxes can be independently driven and can be further driven by an operation of an operator. First, an arithmetic part adjusts a projection side and a light receiving side on the basis of first received light signals from the first light receiving part (S101˜S105).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hashimoto, Yoko Hirohara
  • Publication number: 20040070730
    Abstract: The aberration and refraction power data of an eye to be examined obtained from a first light reception unit and cornea data of the eye to be examined are correlated with each other so as to be overlaid accurately. A first signal and a second signal are concurrently captured, and the optical characteristics and cornea shape of the eye to be examined are measured concurrently or almost concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Patent number: 6695450
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmic characteristic measuring apparatus in which when a wavefront measurement is carried out, an adjustment of an exposure amount, such as an exposure time or a light amount of a light source, is carried out. A first light source section emits light flux with a first wavelength. A first illumination optical system illuminates a minute area on a retina of a subject eye with the first flux from the first light source. A first light receiving optical system guides a part of light flux reflected and returned from the retina of the subject eye to a first light receiving section through a first conversion member for converting the reflected light flux into at least 17 beams. A second light source section emits light flux with a second wavelength. A second illumination optical system illuminates a predetermined area on the retina of the subject eye with the second light flux from the second light source section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Hirohisa Nakao
  • Patent number: 6685320
    Abstract: A first signal and a second signal are captured at the same time, and the optical characteristics of a subject eye and the corneal shape thereof are measured simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. A calculation section captures a received light signal (first signal) from a first light receiving section and a received light signal (second signal) from a second light receiving section at the same timing or substantially the same timing, obtains the optical characteristics of the subject eye on the basis of the first signal, and obtains the corneal shape of the subject eye on the basis of the second signal. A measurement timing decision section decides, on the basis of the first and/or the second signal, measurement timings of the first signal and the second signal as objects for which a measurement calculation is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Toshifumi Mihashi, Koki Harumoto
  • Publication number: 20040012760
    Abstract: A device for measuring eye characteristics, an operation device, and the coordinate origin and the coordinate axes of each eye are sufficiently related with one another. A measuring unit (111) measures eye optical characteristics based on a first light receiving signal from a first light receiving unit (23), and measures a cornea topography based on a second light receiving signal from a second light receiving unit (35). The measuring unit (111) also computes an ablation amount based on an aberration result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara, Naoyuki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20030189690
    Abstract: Measurement data (measured results) obtained under a plurality of conditions and image data and/or numerical data corresponding to the measured results are displayed collectively or selectively. An optical characteristics measuring device (100) measures/displays, for example, the optical characteristics of an eye to be measured (60) as an object. A first lighting optical system (10) includes a first light source (11) for applying an optical flux of a specified pattern to the eye to be measured (60). A first light receiving optical system (20) includes a first light receiving unit (23) for receiving light reflected from the eye (60). A light transmitting/receiving optical system (30) mainly conducts an alignment adjustment, and includes a second light receiving unit (35) for receiving light reflected from the eye (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara, Naoyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 6629761
    Abstract: The present invention provides an eye characteristic measuring apparatus provided with an image forming condition changing unit for achieving an appropriate illuminating condition and capable of setting an optimum illuminating condition and an optimum light receiving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Toshifumi Mihashi, Yasufumi Fukuma
  • Publication number: 20030174280
    Abstract: A model eye for an eye characteristic measuring device and a calibration method for the model eye. The model eye can have various aberrations and/or power characteristics to be formed by a combination of a refractive-type lens and a phase plate for adding aberration and can be used to confirm the accuracy of wavefront measurement or the like of the eye characteristic measuring device. The model eye includes an anterior eye lens forming a predetermined power to be given to the model eye, a diffusion surface diffusing and reflecting incident light, the diffusion surface being disposed at an image point position corresponding to the predetermined power in relationship to the anterior eye lens, and an aberration adding member giving a predetermined aberration to an area between the anterior eye lens and the diffusion surface. Power and aberration required for the model eye are formed by the anterior eye lens and the phase plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Tatsuo Yamaguchi, Naoki Nakazawa, Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Publication number: 20030164923
    Abstract: A device comprises a refraction correcting part 700 for correcting refraction of an eye 400 to be examined of a subject; an adjusting state measuring part 800 for measuring whether a target observed by the eye 400 through the refraction correcting part 700 is in the adjustable range of the eye; and corrective value correcting means 360 for correcting a corrective value for the refraction correcting part 700 so that said eye can achieve best correction based on a result of measurement by the adjusting state measuring part 800, and is configured to measure visual acuity characteristics of the eye 400 at a corrective value for the refraction correcting part 700 to achieve best correction of the eye 400 according to responses of the subject about displayed targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Toshifumi Mihashi
  • Publication number: 20030090627
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmic characteristic measuring apparatus in which when a wavefront measurement is carried out, an adjustment of an exposure amount, such as an exposure time or a light amount of a light source, is carried out. A first light source section emits light flux with a first wavelength. A first illumination optical system illuminates a minute area on a retina of a subject eye with the first flux from the first light source. A first light receiving optical system guides a part of light flux reflected and returned from the retina of the subject eye to a first light receiving section through a first conversion member for converting the reflected light flux into at least 17 beams. A second light source section emits light flux with a second wavelength. A second illumination optical system illuminates a predetermined area on the retina of the subject eye with the second light flux from the second light source section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Hirohisa Nakao
  • Patent number: 6536900
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an eye characteristic measuring apparatus having a projection system for projecting a light source image of small amount onto a fundus of an eye by a reflected light from the fundus, and a wavefront detecting system for detecting a wavefront of luminous flux emitted from the interior of the pupil of the eye by a reflected light from the fundus, where the projection system projects a light source image of small amount onto a fundus of an eye, and the wavefront detection system detects the wavefront of luminous flux emitted from the interior of the fundus by a reflected light from the fundus, and a deflection prism having at least one transmission surface for aberration correction within both optical paths of the projecting system and the wavefront detecting system, can deflect the incident luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Toshifumi Mihashi, Yoko Hirohara
  • Patent number: 6525883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for precise measurement of optical characteristics, and has an object to provide an optical characteristic measuring apparatus comprising a position change unit for changing the positions of beams transformed by a first transforming member, wherein a first light source emits a luminous flux of a first wavelength, a first illumination optical system illuminates a minute area on the retina of the eye under examination with the luminous flux from the first light source, a first light receiving optical system leads light to a first light receiving unit through a transforming member for transforming the luminous flux having undergone at least one of transmission and reflection at at least one surface of the object of measurement into at least nine beams, a position change unit changes the positions of the beams transformed by the first transforming member, and an arithmetic unit can determine optical characteristics of the object of measurement based on a first signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yoko Hirohara, Naoki Nakazawa, Toshifumi Mihashi