Device for automatically measuring characteristics of an ophthalmic lens

1. A measurement device for automatically measuring characteristics of an ophthalmic lens (L 1 ), the device comprising:

a lens support ( 2 ) arranged to receive the lens;

on a first side of the lens support, lighting means ( 208 ) including an optical system for generating a light beam directed towards the ophthalmic lens installed on said support; and

on a second side of the lens support, analysis means ( 210 ) for analyzing the image transmitted by said ophthalmic lens installed on said lens support and illuminated by the lighting means ( 208 ); and

light beam separator means comprising:

a first mask ( 220 ) forming a Hartmann matrix and disposed on the first side of the lens support to be illuminated by said light beam upstream from the lens;

at least one second mask ( 240 ) forming a Hartmann matrix disposed on the second side of the lens support to be illuminated by said light beam, the masks ( 220 , 240 ) being at least partially disengageable; and

an electronic and computer control unit which is suitable for:

causing the measurement device to adopt at least three states, including a first state in which said first mask ( 220 ) is the only mask to be engaged, a second state in which the second mask ( 240 ) is the only mask to be engaged, and a third state in which all the masks ( 220 , 240 ) are disengaged simultaneously, and

correcting read error when the measurement device is in the first state, performing an overall analysis of one or more optical characteristics at a plurality of points over the entire extent of the lens when the measurement deice is in the second state, and determining printed marks, etched in relief, and segments when the measurement device is in the third state.

2. The measurement device according to claim 1 , in which the various masks ( 220 , 240 ) are all individually disengageable, at least in part.

3. The measurement device according to claim 2 , in which said lighting means comprise at least two switchable light sources (S 1 , S 2 ) corresponding respectively to the two said light paths.

4. The measurement device according to claim 2 , including a semireflecting mirror ( 218 ) embodying the intersection of the two said light paths, said mirror being interposed between said mask and said lens support.

5. The measurement device according to claim 1 , in which said optical system is arranged to define two possible light paths ( 212 , 213 ) for said light beam, which paths are switchable, the first mask ( 220 ) being placed on only one of the paths.

6. The measurement device according to claim 5 , in which the two optical paths ( 212 , 213 ) include a common portion upstream from said lens support.

7. The measurement device according to claim 1 , in which the second mask ( 240 ) includes an active transparent screen that is activatable and deactivatable.

8. The measurement device according to claim 1 , in which the second mask and the ophthalmic lens support are movable relative to each other transversely to the light beam illuminating said lens.

9. The measurement device according to claim 8 , in which the support of said ophthalmic lens is movable and the second mask is stationary.

10. A device for automatically preparing an ophthalmic lens (L 1 , L 2 ) for mounting, the device comprising:

measurement means ( 5 ) for automatically measuring centering characteristics of said lens;

means ( 6 ) for cutting out said lens (L 1 , L 2 ) including means ( 111 , 112 ) for blocking the lens; and

reception and first transfer means ( 2 ) for such an ophthalmic lens, which means are arranged to receive and move said ophthalmic lens between at least three distinct positions, including a loading and unloading position, a measurement position presenting the lens in register with the measurement means ( 5 ), and an intermediate position presenting the lens for transfer to the cutting-out means ( 6 ),

in which the measurement means ( 5 ) comprise a device according to claim 9 and the moving support for the ophthalmic lens of the measurement device ( 5 ) belongs to the reception and first transfer means ( 2 ).

11. The measurement device according to claim 1 , in which said lighting means comprise at least two switchable light sources (S 1 , S 2 ) corresponding respectively to the two said light paths.

12. A measurement device for automatically measuring characteristics of an ophthalmic lens (L 1 ), the device comprising:

a lens support ( 2 ) arranged to receive the lens;

on a first side of the lens support, lighting elements ( 208 ) including an optical system for generating a light beam directed towards the ophthalmic lens installed on said support; and

on a second side of the lens support, an analyzer ( 210 ) for analyzing the image transmitted by said ophthalmic lens installed on said lens support and illuminated by the lighting elements ( 208 ); and

a light beam separator comprising:

a first mask ( 220 ) forming a Hartmann matrix and disposed on the first side of the lens support to be illuminated by said light beam upstream from the lens;

at least one second mask ( 240 ) forming a Hartmann matrix disposed on the second side of the lens support to be illuminated by said light beam, the masks ( 220 , 240 ) being at least partially disengageable; and

an electronic and computer control unit which is suitable for:

causing the measurement device to adopt at least three states, including a first state in which said first mask ( 220 ) is the only mask to be engaged, a second state in which the second mask ( 240 ) is the only mask to be engaged, and a third state in which all the masks ( 220 , 240 ) are disengaged simultaneously, and

correcting read error when the measurement device is in the first state, performing an overall analysis of one or more optical characteristics at a plurality of points over the entire extent of the lens when the measurement deice is in the second state, and determining printed marks, etched in relief, and segments when the measurement device is in the third state.

13. The measurement device according to claim 12 , in which the various masks ( 220 , 240 ) are all individually disengageable, at least in part.

14. The measurement device according to claim 13 , in which said lighting elements comprise at least two switchable light sources (S 1 , S 2 ) corresponding respectively to the two said light paths.

15. The measurement device according to claim 13 , including a semireflecting mirror ( 218 ) embodying the intersection of the two said light paths, said mirror being interposed between said mask and said lens support.

16. The measurement device according to claim 12 , in which said optical system is arranged to define two possible light paths ( 212 , 213 ) for said light beam, which paths are switchable, the first mask ( 220 ) being placed on only one of the paths.

17. The measurement device according to claim 16 , in which the two optical paths ( 212 , 213 ) include a common portion upstream from said lens support.

18. The measurement device according to claim 12 , in which the second mask ( 240 ) includes an active transparent screen that is activatable and deactivatable.