IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,614,788
Granted Patent B2
US 8,614,788 · App. 12/939,643 · Granted Dec 24, 2013

Ophthalmic lens scanner

Inventors: Richard C. Palmer (Minneapolis, MN); Spencer Daniel Luster (Toledo, OH); Keith Alan Flick (Sylvania, OH); James G. Goerges (Brainerd, MN); Jacob M. Schneider (Little Falls, MN)
Assignee: Practical Engineering, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,614,788
App. No.
12/939,643
Granted
Dec 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ophthalmic lens scanner includes an inspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lens thereon. A camera is spaced apart from the inspection platform and is arranged to, in response to an activation signal, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens. A light source is spaced apart from the inspection platform and is configured to emit light when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens. The inspection platform is located between the camera and the light source. A first Fresnel lens is located between the inspection platform and the camera. A second Fresnel lens is located between the inspection platform and the light source. The ophthalmic lens scanner may be incorporated in an ophthalmic lens scanner system that includes a computing device and a display device.

Claims (42)

1. An ophthalmic lens scanner comprising:

an inspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lens thereon;

a camera spaced apart from the inspection platform and arranged to, in response to an activation signal, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens;

a light source spaced apart from the inspection platform and configured to emit light when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens, the inspection platform located between the camera and the light source;

a first Fresnel lens located between the inspection platform and the camera; and

a second Fresnel lens located between the inspection platform and the light source wherein the first and second Fresnel lenses are substantially parallel in orientation and wherein a grooved surface of each of the first and second lenses face one another.

2. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 1 , further comprising a housing enclosing the inspection platform, the camera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens.

3. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a door operable between an open position for receiving the ophthalmic lens and a closed position for capturing the image of the ophthalmic lens.

4. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 3 , further comprising a shield arranged proximate the inspection platform to substantially isolate the ophthalmic lens from ambient light when the camera captures the image of the ophthalmic lens.

5. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 2 , further comprising a tower enclosure located within the housing, wherein the inspection platform, the camera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens are mounted to the tower enclosure.

6. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and further comprising an input/output (I/O) module configured to activate the LEDs in response to a command received in the I/O module.

7. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 1 , further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub, wherein the camera and the light source are electrically connected to the USB hub.

8. An ophthalmic lens scanner system comprising:

a computing device; and

an ophthalmic lens scanner in electrical communication with the computing device, the ophthalmic lens scanner comprising:

an inspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lens thereon;

a camera spaced apart from the inspection platform and arranged to, in response to an activation signal from the computing device, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens;

a light source spaced apart from the inspection platform and configured to emit light when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens, the inspection platform located between the camera and the light source;

a first Fresnel lens located between the inspection platform and the camera; and

a second Fresnel lens located between the inspection platform and the light source wherein the first and second Fresnel lenses are substantially parallel in orientation and wherein a grooved surface of each of the first and second lenses face one another.

9. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8 , further comprising a housing enclosing the inspection platform, the camera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens.

10. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a door operable between an open position for receiving the ophthalmic lens and a closed position for capturing the image of the ophthalmic lens.

11. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 10 , further comprising a shield arranged proximate the inspection platform to substantially isolate the ophthalmic lens from ambient light when the camera captures the image of the ophthalmic lens.

12. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 9 , further comprising a tower enclosure located within the housing, wherein the inspection platform, the camera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens are mounted to the tower enclosure.

13. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and further comprising an input/output (I/O) module configured to activate the LEDs in response to a command received in the I/O module from the computing device.

14. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8 , further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub, wherein the camera, the light source, and the computing device are electrically connected to the USB hub.

15. An ophthalmic lens scanner system comprising:

a computing device;

an ophthalmic lens scanner in electrical communication with the computing device, the ophthalmic lens scanner comprising:

a housing defining an inspection area for receiving an ophthalmic lens;

a camera located at a first end portion of the housing and controlled by the computing device to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens;

a light source located at a second end portion of the housing and controlled by the computing device to emit light to illuminate the ophthalmic lens;

a first Fresnel lens located between the inspection area and the camera; and

a second Fresnel lens located between the inspection area and the light source wherein the first and second Fresnel lenses are substantially parallel in orientation and wherein a grooved surface of each of the first and second lenses face one another; and

a display device in electrical communication with the computing device and configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for controlling the ophthalmic lens scanner and for viewing the image of the ophthalmic lens captured by the camera.

16. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises a door operable between an open position for receiving the ophthalmic lens and a closed position for capturing the image of the ophthalmic lens.

17. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15 , wherein the ophthalmic lens scanner further comprises a shield arranged proximate the inspection area to substantially isolate the ophthalmic lens from ambient light when the camera captures the image of the ophthalmic lens.

18. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15 , further comprising:

an input/output (I/O) module configured to activate the light source in response to a command received in the I/O module from the computing device; and

a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub electrically connected to the camera, the I/O module, and the computing device for controlling the camera and the light source.

19. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is configured to calibrate the ophthalmic lens scanner by using a registration plate to verify that the camera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens are in optical axis alignment.

20. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is configured to calibrate the ophthalmic lens scanner by causing the camera to capture an image of a calibration object having a known geometry and comparing the image captured by the camera to the known geometry.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: PRACTICAL ENGINEERING, LLC
To: PALMER, RICHARD C.; PALMER, RUTA; PALMER, CHRISTOPHER R.; MCINTOSH, MORGAN R.
Reel/Frame 055139/0843 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME FROM PRACTICAL ENGEINEERING, LLC PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 025659 FRAME 0215. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT NAME TO BE PRACTICAL ENGINEERING, LLC. Recorded Mar 2, 2011
From: PALMER, RICHARD C.; LUSTER, SPENCER DANIEL; FLICK, KEITH ALAN; GOERGES, JAMES G.; SCHNEIDER, JACOB M.
To: PRACTICAL ENGINEERING, LLC
Reel/Frame 025883/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2011
From: PALMER, RICHARD C.; LUSTER, SPENCER DANIEL; FLICK, KEITH ALAN; GOERGES, JAMES G.; SCHNEIDER, JACOB M.
To: PRACTICAL ENGEINEERING, LLC
Reel/Frame 025659/0215 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61258029 · Nov 4, 2009
Related Publication 20110102775A1 · May 5, 2011