JPH0820335B2 - Lens meter - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lens meter for measuring optical characteristics of spectacle lenses, contact lenses and the like.

[Prior Art] In such a lens meter, a lens to be inspected is inserted at a predetermined position on an optical path of an optical system which constitutes a part of a measuring unit, and a light beam passing through the lens to be inspected is photoelectrically converted by an image sensor. After that, electrical processing is performed to obtain the optical characteristics of the lens to be inspected. The electrical processing configuration constitutes a part of the measurement unit in this way, and also configures a control unit of the man-machine interface with the inspector.

That is, the operation panel consisting of the display section and the operation switch section is exposed to the outside of the surface of the lens meter, and the electrical processing configuration is such that the display section displays the measurement stage state and the measurement result information at that time and performs inspection. The lens meter is controlled so as to allow the worker to recognize it and to take in the switch information operated by the inspector while confirming the display contents to change the state of the measurement stage.

Here, as the operation switches used for the operation of the inspector, there are a right eye switch, a left eye switch, a memory switch, a clear switch, a print switch, etc., and each of these switches changes the measurement stage state to a predetermined state. Corresponds to the functions that are set in advance.

A general measurement procedure performed by an inspector by operating such an operation switch is as follows, for example. The inspector inserts the lens to be inspected at a predetermined position in the optical system, operates the right eye switch to instruct that the measurement is for the right eye lens, and repeats the measurement, and then turns on the memory switch. Operate it to store the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens in the memory area for the right eye lens and display it fixedly.At the end of this operation, operate the right eye switch to measure the left eye lens. To repeat the measurement, and then operate the memory switch to store the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens in the memory area for the left eye lens and display it fixedly. Is operated to print out the measurement results of the optical characteristics obtained for the right eye lens and the left eye lens.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in order to perform accurate measurement, it is necessary to stably support the lens to be tested at a predetermined position of the optical system. Therefore, a measuring table on which the lens to be inspected is mounted and a pressing lever for pressing a portion of the lens to be inspected, which is not required for measurement, from the direction opposite to the measuring table toward the measuring table are provided. However, since it is designed to be pressed lightly so as not to damage the lens to be inspected, it is not possible to obtain sufficiently stable support, and therefore,
Inspectors often help. Further, in the case where the lens to be inspected is a lens incorporated in spectacles, it is further unstable even if the above-mentioned supporting member functions due to the weight of the spectacle lens on the non-supported side, and the inspector can use both hands. Occasionally, the inspector sometimes attaches both hands.

Moreover, in practice, many measurements are performed without using a pressing lever. This is because when the optical axis alignment of the lens to be inspected or the measurement site is changed, it is problematic in terms of measurement time and measurement efficiency to perform the operation of moving the pressing lever to the release position and the pressing position one by one.

As described above, the inspector is required not only to sequentially operate various operation switches during the measurement operation but also to perform an operation of holding or moving the lens to be inspected.

For this reason, some inspectors have a feeling of complexity in operating the switches. In practice, at least six switch operations are required as described above even in accordance with the basic procedure, and it is troublesome to perform the switch operation in parallel with the holding operation.

Further, there is a possibility that the holding operation of the lens to be inspected is neglected due to the switch operation and the measurement accuracy is lowered.

Further, the switch operation executed in such a situation is highly likely to be erroneous, and the operation switch in the vicinity may be erroneously operated to wastefully perform the measurement operation or the measurement operation up to that point.

That is, it can be said that the conventional lens meter has room for improvement in terms of operability and usability.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points,
It is intended to provide a lens meter excellent in operability and usability.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve the problem, in the present invention, the optical characteristics of the lens to be inspected are measured, and any one of a plurality of operation switches provided on the operation panel is used. The following components were added to the lens meter that changes the measurement stage state according to the type of operation switch operated by the first measurement stage state changing means when operated.

That is, the operation panel outside operation switch provided at a position different from the operation panel and the measurement stage state when the operation panel outside operation switch is operated are predetermined in accordance with the measurement stage state at the time of operation. A second measuring stage state changing means for changing to the next measuring stage state is provided.

[Operation] In a lens meter for measuring the optical characteristics of a lens to be inspected, for example, a measurement stage state in which the measurement operation of the lens to be inspected for the right eye or the left eye is repeated at a predetermined cycle There are a plurality of measuring stage states, such as a measuring stage state in which the measured optical characteristic result of the lens is stored in memory and fixedly displayed.

Such a change of the measurement stage state is caused by a user's operation. However, in the present invention, the measurement stage state can be changed by a switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel in consideration of operability and usability. In addition, an operation switch outside the operation panel and a second measuring stage state changing means are newly provided.

Even if the operation switch outside the operation panel is operated, this switch itself does not prescribe the measurement stage state of the change destination, and when the operation switch outside the operation panel is operated, the second measurement stage state changing means, It was decided to change the state of the measurement stage to the next state of the measurement stage that was previously determined according to the state of the measurement stage during this operation.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Overall Configuration of Embodiment First, the overall configuration of the lens meter of this embodiment will be described mainly using FIG.

In FIG. 1, the lens meter 1 of this embodiment is roughly composed of an optical system 10, a power supply unit 20, an electrical processing unit 30, and a man-machine interface unit 60.

The optical system 10 includes a light source 11, a light transmitting lens 12, a slit pattern plate 13, a collimator lens 14, a measuring table 15, and a lens 1 to be inspected.
6, the objective lens 17 and the one-dimensional image sensor 18 are arranged in this order.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 11 includes, for example, four high-intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) 11a to 11d arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the optical axis of the optical system 10. These four LEDs 11a to 11d operate to emit light in a time division manner. In the case of this embodiment, for example, four LEDs 11a to
The time during which the light emitting operation of 11d completes one cycle is one measurement cycle.

From light source 11 (more precisely from one of LEDs 11a-11d)
The emitted light rays are converted into parallel light rays by the light transmitting lens 12 and then reach the slit pattern plate 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the slit pattern plate 13 is provided with an N-shaped slit 13a, and blocks rays of the incident parallel rays that have reached other than the slit 13a. That is, N
Emit a light beam in a letter pattern. The slit pattern plate 13 can be moved in the optical axis direction by a pulse motor 13b.

The collimator lens 14 to which the light rays passing through the slit pattern plate 13 reach has two functions. one,
This is to form a light source image on the lens 16 to be inspected, and the other is to collimate the light rays forming the image of the slit 13a into parallel rays in cooperation with the lens 16 to be inspected. The latter function is, as described above, that the pulse motor 13b causes the slit pattern plate 13 to move to the collimator lens 14 and the lens 16 under test.
It is realized by arranging at the synthetic focus position of.

The measuring table 15 has a light-transmitting property, and the test lens 16 is positioned at the position of the light source image formed by the collimator lens 14.

The objective lens 17 forms an image of the slit 13a on the one-dimensional image sensor 18 located on the focal plane thereof.

The one-dimensional image sensor 18 is composed of, for example, a CCD and takes out the image information of the slit 13a as a time series electric signal. That is, a high level electric signal is obtained from the cell of the image sensor 18 irradiated with the light beam that has passed through the slit 13a, and a low level electric signal is obtained from the other cells.

Even if such a one-dimensional image sensor 18 is used as an image sensor, the slit 13a is N-shaped so that two-dimensional position information about the slit image 18a can be obtained. That is, one parallel line 1 of the slit image 18a
The ratio of the distance between 8a1 and diagonal line 18a2 and the distance between the other parallel line 18a3 and diagonal line 18a2 depends on the position in the direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the image sensor 18.

Positioning the slit pattern plate 13 so that the light beam forming the slit image by the collimator lens 14 and the lens 16 under test can be made into a parallel light beam, that is, the slit 13a and the slit image 18a are substantially optically conjugated. It is to have a good relationship.

Since the focal length of the collimator lens 14 is known, the diopter of the lens 16 to be inspected can be obtained from the position information of the slit pattern plate 13, the size information of the slit image 18a, and the like. In addition, the LEDs 11a to 11d that are emitting light and the slit image 1
The refractive power of the lens 16 to be tested can be obtained from the position information of 8a, etc.
With such information from the individual LEDs E11a to 11d, it is possible to obtain measurement site information (optical axis deviation information) and astigmatism information of the lens 16 to be inspected.

In this way, various optical characteristics can be measured by analyzing the information of the slit image 18a.

Next, the man-machine interface unit 60 will be described. The man-machine interface unit 60 has an operation panel 61.
And a foot switch 62 and a printer device 63.

The operation panel 61 includes a display section 64 and an operation switch section 65. The display unit 64 displays the state of the measurement stage and the measurement result so that the inspector can recognize it. The operation switch unit 65 includes a plurality of operation switches whose meaning is determined by the operation signal, and the operation signal of the operation switch is electrically processed by the electric processing unit.
It is given to 30 to instruct to change the measurement stage state and the like. The details of the operation panel 61 will be described later.

The foot switch 62 is connected to the lens meter main body via a cable and outputs an operation signal during operation. In this lens meter 1, the foot switch 62
The meaning of the operation signal itself from is not fixed. However, as will be described later, the measurement stage state and the like can be changed also by an operation signal from the foot switch 62. The foot switch 62 is provided because it is possible to easily instruct the change of the measurement stage state and the like even when the inspector's hand is blocked by the holding operation of the lens 16 to be inspected or the like.

The printer device 63 is provided outside the lens meter 1 and is connected to the lens meter 1 by a cable, and receives the measurement result information and prints it out.

Next, the electrical processing unit 30 will be described. The electrical processing unit 30 operates by receiving power supply from the power supply unit 20 that converts a downstream power supply voltage (for example, commercial power supply voltage) into a DC voltage.

The electrical processing section 30 is roughly composed of a control section 31, a slit image signal processing section 32, a CCD drive section 33, a display drive section 34, a light source drive section 35, a pulse motor drive section 36, and a printer drive section 37. There is.

The control unit 31 controls the overall control of the lens meter 1, and includes a CPU 40, a ROM 41 as a program memory,
It is composed of a RAM 42 as a working memory and a nonvolatile RAM 42A as a data memory. The R0M41, RAM42, and nonvolatile RAM42A include processing programs for each measurement stage state, processing programs for changing the measurement stage state in response to an operation signal from the operation switch unit 64 shown in FIG. 4, and a foot switch. The processing program shown in FIG. 5 for changing the measurement stage state according to the operation signal from 62, fixed data (calibration data, data defining the usage of the foot switch 62), etc. are stored. CPU40 according to program and data
Perform a control action. The RAM 42 is used by the CPU 40 during various processes.

The CCD driving unit 33 drives the one-dimensional image sensor 18 having a CCD structure, sequentially takes out the charge amount from each cell, and supplies it to the slit image signal processing unit 32 as a slit image signal.

The display drive unit 34 drives the display unit 64 of the operation panel 61, and displays the measurement result information, the measurement stage state information, and the like as described later.

The light source drive unit 35 drives the LEDs 11a to 11d of the light source 11 to emit light in a predetermined order and at a predetermined cycle.

The pulse motor drive unit 36 drives the pulse motor 13b based on the position command of the slit pattern plate 13 to drive the slit 1
This is to realize an optical conjugate relationship between the 3a and the slit image 18a.

The printer drive unit 37 drives the printer device 63 to print out measurement result information and the like.

The slit image signal processing unit 32 includes a clock generation circuit 50 and a counter circuit 51. This clock generation circuit 50
Is for forming a clock signal for the CCD drive unit 33 to extract the slit image signal, and also supplies the generated clock signal to the counter circuit 51. The counter circuit 51 divides the clock signal to form various timing signals. Further, the counter circuit 51 outputs a count signal and uses it for detecting various distance information on the image sensor 18. The signal output from the counter circuit 51 to the outside of the slit image signal processing unit 32 is, for example, a light emission command signal to the light source driving unit 35.

Further, the slit image signal processing unit 32 includes a peak hold circuit 52, a slice level generation circuit 53 and a comparator circuit.
Has 54. The peak hold circuit 52 holds the peak value of the slit image signal from the one-dimensional image sensor 18, and forms the slice level given to the comparator circuit 54 by the slice level generation circuit 53 according to this peak value.
The comparator circuit 54 compares the input slit image signal with this slice level to binarize the input slit image signal. Since the light transmittance changes depending on the lens 16 to be inspected, the binarization is performed by the automatic gain adjustment using the peak hold circuit 52 and the slice level generation circuit 53.

Further, the slit image signal processing section 32 includes a differentiating circuit 55, a latch circuit 56, a numerical operation circuit 57, a data RAM 58 and an address setting circuit 59. The above-mentioned binarized slit image signal in which the portion irradiated through the slit 13a and irradiated on the image sensor 18 has a high level and the other portions have a low level is differentiated by the differentiating circuit 55, and this is differentiated by the latch circuit 56. It is given as a latch command signal. The count signal from the above-mentioned counter circuit 51 is given to the latch circuit 56, and the count value at the time when the differential signal is given is latched.

As a result, the distance from the origin 18b of the image sensor 18 to one parallel line 18a1 of the slit image 18a and the diagonal line 18a2
And the distance to the other parallel line 18a3 are latched. The address setting circuit 59, to which the count value signal and the differential signal are given, synchronizes with the latch operation
Address of RAM58 is formed and various distance information is data RAM
Store in 58.

In this way, the distance information and the like stored in the data RAM 58 is given to the numerical calculation circuit 57 under the control of the control unit 31, and the numerical calculation circuit 57 obtains the optical characteristics of the lens 16 to be tested. As described above, the light flux processing is performed by the CPU 40 performing the calculation for obtaining the optical characteristics by hardware, not by software.

As described above, the optical characteristics are obtained for each light emission cycle of the light source 11 and displayed by the display unit 64 each time, but the optical characteristics are controlled as the optical characteristics determined when the memory switch described later is operated. The data is transferred to the RAM 42 on the side of the unit 31 and is fixedly displayed by the display unit 64.

Measurement Stage State This embodiment is characterized by an inspector's operation method (processing program when viewed from the lens meter 1) and operation configuration for changing the measurement stage state, as will be described later. The stage state will be described with reference to FIG.

The stage state ST0 is the origin stage state, and is the stage state when the main power is turned on or in the measurement standby state.

The stage state ST1 is a stage state in which certain optical characteristics are stored in memory regardless of whether the lens 16 to be inspected is for the right eye or the left eye. In fact, in addition to obtaining diopter information and astigmatism information by measurement, prism and addition diopter information can also be obtained by measurement, and the display mode of astigmatism information can be changed. The stage state ST1 is provided in addition to the other stage states related to measurement, printing, and memory. In other words, it is a stage state related to measurement to obtain information such as prism and addition power, and other stage states
This stage state ST1 is unique in that ST2 to ST8 are for obtaining basic power information and astigmatism information by measurement.

The stage state ST2 is a stage state in which the lens 16 to be inspected is designated for the right eye and the measurement operation is repeated.

The stage state ST3 is a stage state in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right-eye lens is fixed and stored and is fixedly displayed.

The stage state ST4 is a stage state in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens is displayed in memory and fixed display, and the measurement operation of the left eye lens is repeated.

The stage state ST5 is a stage state in which the left eye lens is designated as the lens 16 to be inspected and the measurement operation is repeated.

The stage state ST6 is a stage state in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens is confirmed and the memory and fixed display are performed.

The stage state ST7 is a stage state in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens is displayed in memory and fixed display, and the right eye lens is designated and the measurement operation is repeated.

The stage state ST8 is a stage state in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics determined for the left eye lens and the right eye lens is stored. The measurement result stored in the latest is fixedly displayed.

In addition to this, there is a printing state, but this is a state that can be moved from any stage state ST0 to ST8 when a print command is given and returns to the original stage state when the printing operation is completed. Is.

Detailed configuration of operation panel 61 and change of measurement stage state These changes between measurement stage states ST0 to ST8 can be operated by the operation switch section 65 of the operation panel 61 or the foot switch 62.

Here, the former will be described. In fact, since it is important for the inspector to recognize the measurement stage state during operation, the detailed configuration of not only the operation switch section 65 but also the display section 64 will be explained, and then the measurement stage state by the operation switch section 65 will be explained. The change of ST0 to ST8 will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the exposed surface of the operation panel 61. In FIG. 6, the left eye switch 65L and the right eye switch 65 are used as operation switches constituting the operation switch unit 65.
R, a memory switch 65M, a clear switch 65C, and a print switch 65P are arranged. Although illustration and description are omitted, in practice, other switches such as a prism switch and an addition power switch are provided on the operation panel 61.

The left-eye switch 65L is a measurement state of the left-eye lens when canceling the memory state of the determined optical characteristics of the left-eye lens or when instructing that the lens 16 to be measured is the left-eye lens. It is operated when instructing to return to. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the left eye switch 65L is operated in the origin stage state ST0, the stage state ST5, which is the measurement state in which the left eye lens is designated, is entered. In the stage state ST8 in which the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens and the right-eye lens are fixed and stored, when the left-eye switch 65L is operated, the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens are stored in the left-eye lens. Shifts to stage state ST4 in which measurement is repeated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the right-eye switch 65R releases the memory state for the case where the lens 16 to be measured is a right-eye lens or when the determined optical characteristics of the right-eye lens are released. Then, it is operated when instructing to return to the measurement state of the right eye lens. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the right eye switch 65R is operated in the origin stage state ST0, the stage state ST2 is the measurement state in which the right eye lens is designated. In the stage state ST8 in which the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens and the right-eye lens are determined and stored, when the right-eye switch 65R is operated, the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens are stored in the right-eye lens. Transition to the stage state ST7 in which the above measurement is repeated.

The memory switch 65M is for instructing that the optical characteristics required at the time of this operation are stored as fixed optical characteristics and fixedly displayed. For example, when the memory switch 65M is operated in the stage state ST2 in which the right-eye lens is the designated measurement state, the state shifts to the stage state ST3 in which the optical characteristics of the right-eye lens are memorized and fixedly displayed. It is also used as a switch that releases the memory state.

The clear switch 65C shifts to the origin stage state ST0 when the clear switch 65C is operated in any stage state ST0 to ST8.

Any of these four switches may be operated in any stage state ST0 to ST8, and each stage state ST0 to ST8 changes the measurement stage state in response to the operation of these four switches. It is designed to be changed (sometimes the same). Since these four switches are assigned with the above-mentioned state transition function, the change of the stage state at the time of operating these operation switches is arranged as shown in FIG.

The print switch 65P is for instructing the printer device 63 provided outside the lens meter 1 to transfer and print the fixed optical characteristic information stored in the memory. There is also a lens meter in which this switch functions as a transfer command even when the transfer destination is not the printer device.

The display unit 64 that allows the inspector to recognize the measurement result and the measurement stage state includes the basic optical information display unit 64a and the astigmatism information display unit 64.
b, optical center position shift information display section 64c, right eye information display section 64
R and left eye information cover section 64L.

The basic optical information display unit 64a has, for example, a liquid crystal display configuration, and digitally displays the basic optical information (spherical diopter) of the lens 16 under test in diopters.

The astigmatism information display unit 64b also has, for example, a liquid crystal display configuration and digitally displays the astigmatic power (see reference numeral 64b1) and digitally displays the angle in the astigmatic axis direction (reference numeral 64).
See b2).

These basic optical information display section 64a and astigmatism information display section 64b
In the stage states ST2, ST4, ST5, and ST7, which are the measurement states of the right-eye lens or the left-eye lens, display contents are changed for each measurement cycle (light emission cycle of the four LEDs 11a to 11d of the light source 11). In the stage states ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST8, which are memory states without measurement states, the fixed optical characteristic information is fixedly displayed.

The optical center position deviation information display unit 64c displays L indicating the origin position.
The origin indicator 64c1 has an ED configuration, and four bar display units 64c2 to 64c5 each having an LED configuration radially extending from the origin indicator 64c1 and forming a cross shape. Cross-shaped LED configuration 4
The individual bar display units 64c2 to 64c5 define a rectangular coordinate system, and the position shift of the optical center is represented by the position of the last bar segment in the light emitting state for each coordinate axis. It should be noted that the origin indicating unit 64c1 blinks both the mere memory state and the memory state including the measurement state if there is an optical characteristic that is stored, and makes it clear to the inspector.

The right eye information display section 64R is an LED having a shape of, for example, "right".
And blinks in the measurement state in which the right-eye lens is designated, and lights in the state in which the optical characteristics of the right-eye lens are stored. For example, it flashes in the stage states ST2 and ST7 and the like, and lights up in the stage states ST3, ST4 and ST8 and the like.

The left-eye information display unit 64L is, for example, an LED with a shape of "left".
In the measurement state in which the left-eye lens is designated, it blinks and lights up when the optical characteristics of the left-eye lens are stored. For example, it blinks in the stage states ST4 and ST5 and the like, and lights up in the stage states ST6, ST7 and ST8 and the like.

With the display unit 64 that performs the above-described display, the inspector can recognize the measurement stage state, the measurement result, etc., and performs the next operation such as instructing the change of the measurement stage state.

Change of Measurement Stage State by Foot Switch 62 The measurement stage state can be changed by operating the operation switch section 65, but as described above, in the case of this embodiment, it can also be changed by operating the foot switch 62. .

The process of changing the measurement stage state by operating the foot switch 62 will be described below with reference to FIG.

At the time of delivery or installation of the lens meter 1, what kind of switch the foot switch 62 is used (usage mode) is initially set, and the setting contents are the control unit.
It is stored in 31 nonvolatile RAM 42A. That is, the nonvolatile RAM 4 is used as software-like DIP switch information.
Stored in 2A.

In the case of this embodiment, by such an initial setting, the foot switch 62 can be used as a switch equivalent to the memory switch 65M, and can also be used as a switch equivalent to the print switch 65P, and further, the predetermined measurement stage state can be set. It can be used as a guidance switch for instructing to change the order.

When the main power is turned on, the control unit 31 starts the processing program shown in FIG. 5, and first sets the measurement stage state to the origin stage state ST0 and the print / clear flag F.
Is set to 0 (step 100).

After that, either operation switch or foot switch
When the operation signal is given, it is discriminated whether it is the operation signal from the operation switch or the operation signal from the foot switch 62 (steps 101, 10).
2).

As a result of the determination, if the operation signal is from the operation switch, the measurement stage state is changed as shown in FIG. 4, and then the operation signal waiting step 101 is returned to (step 10).
3).

On the other hand, if it is an operation signal from the foot switch 62, it is determined what kind of switch the foot switch 62 was initially set to (step 104).

If it is set as a switch equivalent to the memory switch 65M, the same processing as the operation of the memory switch 65M is executed to change the measurement stage state (see FIG. 4), and then the operation signal returns to the waiting step 101 (step Ten
Five).

As a result of the determination in step 104, if the foot switch 62 is set as a switch equivalent to the print switch 65P, the same processing as when the print switch 65P is operated,
That is, after the printing process of the optical characteristics in the memory state is executed, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101 (step 106).

As a result of the determination in step 104, if the foot switch 62 is set as the guidance switch for instructing the change of the predetermined order of the measurement stage state, the current measurement stage state is further determined (step 107).

The current measurement stage status is the origin stage status ST0,
Alternatively, if the memory state ST1 has no left or right designation, the stage state is changed in the same manner as when the right eye switch 65R is operated (step 108). That is, the measurement stage state ST2 in which the right-eye lens is designated is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the measurement state ST2 in which the right-eye lens is designated, the stage state is changed in the same manner as when the memory switch 65M is operated (step 10
9). That is, the stage state ST3 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens is stored is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measured stage state is the stage state ST3 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens is stored, the stage state change similar to the operation of the left eye switch 65L is performed (step 110). That is, the measurement stage state ST4 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens is stored and the left eye lens is designated is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the measurement state ST4 in which the optical characteristics of the right-eye lens are memorized and the left-eye lens is specified, the stage state is changed in the same way as when the memory switch 65M is operated (step 111).
That is, the stage state ST8 in which the measurement results of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens and the left eye lens are stored is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the measurement stage state ST5 in which the left-eye lens is designated, the stage state is changed in the same manner as when the memory switch 65M is operated (step 112). That is, the stage state ST6 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens is stored is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the stage state ST6 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens is stored, the stage state change similar to the operation of the right eye switch 65R is performed (step 113). That is, the measurement stage state ST7 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens is stored and the right eye lens is designated is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the measurement stage state ST7 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics of the left eye lens is stored, and the right eye lens is specified, the stage state change similar to the operation of the memory switch 65M is performed. (Step 114). That is, the stage state ST8 in which the measurement results of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens and the left eye lens are stored is set. After such processing, the process returns to the operation signal waiting step 101.

If the current measurement stage state is the stage state ST8 in which the measurement results of the optical characteristics of the right eye lens and the left eye lens are stored, the content of the print / clear flag F is further determined (step 115). If this flag F is 0, the same processing as when the print switch 65P is operated,
That is, after the printing process of the optical characteristics in the memory state is executed and the flag F is set to 1, the operation signal waiting step
Return to 101 (steps 116 and 117). On the other hand, flag F is 1
Then, as in the case where the clear switch 65C is operated, the origin stage state ST0 is set, the flag F is set to 0, and then the operation signal waiting step 101 is returned to (steps 118 and 119).

As described above, the measurement stage state can be changed even if the foot switch 62 is operated.

Here, when the foot switch 62 is set as a guidance switch for instructing to change the predetermined order of the measurement stage state, the foot switch 62 is moved to the next stage state described above according to the current measurement stage state. The reason is as follows. I.e. foot switch
By operating only 62, by changing the stage state of the shortest route that does not go through unnecessary stage states, the optical characteristics of the right eye lens and the left eye lens are fixed and printed out, and then the stage stage state ST0 is restored. This is because it was made possible.

Further, even if the foot switch 62 is operated from a stage in any stage state other than the origin stage state ST0, similarly, by changing the stage state of the shortest route that does not go through unnecessary stage states, This is because after the optical characteristics of the right-eye lens and the left-eye lens are determined and printed out, the origin stage state ST0 can be restored. That is, the foot switch 62
This is because the versatility is increased by making it possible to use from any stage state.

The foot switch 62 is provided in consideration of operability when both hands are closed. Also, instead of providing only the foot switch 62,
The operation switch section 65 similar to the conventional one is left because when the foot switch 62 alone is used, the change of the stage state is a straight path, and the degree of freedom in operation is low. For example, the release of the memory state or the like should not be included in the change order of the shortest route of the stage state, but the inspector may want such a thing in the actual measurement operation. In such cases, the foot switch 62
It is practical to use each operation switch rather than entrust the change of the stage state to.

Next, when the foot switch 62 is set as a guidance switch, by operating only the foot switch 62, the right eye lens and the left eye lens can be changed by changing the stage state of the shortest route that does not go through unnecessary stage states. It is clarified that the optical characteristics of can be fixed and printed out, and then the origin stage state ST0 can be restored. The initial stage state is the origin stage state ST0. Also, some display contents will be described together.

For example, depending on the first operation of the foot switch 62 performed after the right-eye lens is inserted into the optical system 10 as the lens 16 to be inspected, the measurement step in which the right-eye lens is designated is performed by passing through the processing step 108. Transition to state ST2. In this case, the basic optical information display unit 64a and the astigmatism information display unit 64b update the display contents at each measurement cycle, and the right eye information display unit 64R blinks.

Depending on the second operation of the foot switch 62, the process step 109 is performed to shift to the stage state ST3 in which the measurement result of the optical characteristics for the right eye lens is stored.
In this case, the basic optical information display unit 64a and the astigmatism information display unit 64b fixedly display the measurement result, and the right eye information display unit 64R lights up.

Depending on the third operation of the foot switch 62, by going through the processing step 110, the measurement state of the left-eye lens in which the measurement result of the optical characteristic for the right-eye lens remains stored in memory.
Move to ST4. In this case, the basic optical information display section 64a
Also, the astigmatism information display unit 64b updates the display content for each measurement cycle, the right eye information display unit 64R lights up, and the left eye information display unit 64L blinks. It is necessary to insert the left-eye lens as the lens 16 to be inspected into the optical system 10 prior to the third operation of the foot switch 62.

Depending on the fourth operation of the foot switch 62, the process step 111 is performed to shift to the memory state ST8 of the measurement result of the optical characteristics for the right eye lens and the left eye lens. In this case, the basic optical information display unit 64a and the astigmatism information display unit 64b fixedly display the measurement result of the left eye lens, and the right eye information display unit 64R and the left eye information display unit 64L are lit.

Depending on five operations of the foot switch 62, the flag F
Since 0 is 0, by going through the processing steps 115 to 117,
The measurement results of the optical characteristics for the right eye lens and the left eye lens are printed. The memory state ST8 of the measurement result of the optical characteristics for the right eye lens and the left eye lens is maintained.
Therefore, the display content does not change.

Depending on six operations of the foot switch 62, the flag F
Is 1, the process returns to the origin stage state ST0 through the processing steps 115, 118 and 119. In this case, the displayed content is also cleared.

Effects of Embodiments According to the embodiments described above, the foot switch 62 is provided in addition to the operation switch unit 65, and the foot switch 62 can be used to change the measurement stage state, so that the eyeglass lens or the like is held. Leave this foot switch 62
The state of the measurement stage can be changed by using, and the operability and usability can be improved as compared with the conventional one, and the position of the lens 16 to be inspected during measurement can be stabilized to obtain a highly accurate measurement result. .

In addition, since the stage state to which the measurement stage state is changed by the foot switch 62 is predetermined and the change is in a fixed order with respect to the continuous operation of the foot switch 62, an operation error generated in the operation switch section 65 is caused. For example, the foot switch 62 does not cause a mistake such as operating a switch near the switch to be operated to change the measurement stage state to an undesired state.

Furthermore, since the order of changing the measurement stage states by the foot switch 62 is such that no unnecessary measurement stage states are passed, the measurement time can be shortened accordingly.

A foot switch 62 that can achieve this effect
In addition, since the operation switch section 65 is left and the operation stage section 65 can be used to change the measurement stage state, the change of the measurement stage state can be performed by using any switch. The degree of freedom in operation 1 is increased. Also, since the foot switch 62 can be used from any measurement stage state,
Also in this respect, the degree of freedom in operating the lens meter 1 is increased.

Since the foot switch 62 can be used equivalently to any operation switch depending on the initial setting, the inspector can decide the usage mode of the foot switch 62, and also in this respect, it is easy to use. There is.

Note that, unlike the operation on the operation switch section 65 having a clear function, the inspector may operate the foot switch 62 without being aware of the measurement stage state of the change destination, but as described above, the display section 64 This does not cause any particular problem because the measurement stage state can be confirmed by the display. Conversely, since the foot switch 62 is provided, the display content of the display unit 64 is more important than before.

Other Examples In the above-described examples, the present invention has been shown to be applied to a lens meter intended for a lens that supplements visual acuity such as a spectacle lens or a contact lens, but a lens meter intended for another lens. The present invention can also be applied.

Although the foot switch in the above-described embodiment outputs one type of operation signal, it may output two or more types of operation signals. For example, it is possible to apply a foot switch that can swing to the left and right around the center as a fulcrum and that outputs different types of operation signals when the right side is pressed and when the left side is pressed. In this case, the operation signal when the right side is pressed can be used to change the measurement stage state of the right eye lens, and the operation signal when the left side is pressed can be used to change the measurement stage state of the left eye lens.

In the above-described embodiment, the foot switch is used as a guidance switch for giving a change command in a predetermined order of the measurement stage state by the initial setting, or is always used as an equivalent to any operation switch of the operation switch section. Although it is possible to use the foot switch, the foot switch may be used in addition to the above, depending on the initial setting. That is, it may be used as a substitute for the operation switch in the operation switch section. In the case of a lens meter having another data transfer terminal as a connector terminal for an external device in addition to the one for the printer device, for example, a foot switch may be used to instruct a transfer mode via the other data transfer terminal. it can. In practice, an optometer or a personal computer may be connected to the lens meter.

In the above-described embodiments, the foot switch is shown as a switch provided in addition to the operation switch on the operation panel, but other switches such as a hand switch and a finger switch may be applied. In this case, it is preferable that the holding operation of the lens under test be performed well. For example, if it is a hand switch, it is desirable to make it small so that the lens to be inspected can be held while holding this switch, and if it is a finger switch, it should be installed at a position where the finger of the hand holding the lens to be inspected can reach. Is preferred.

The present invention is characterized by the operation configuration, and the configurations of the optical system and the electrical processing section are not limited to those of the embodiments. Similarly, the measurement stage state is not limited to that in the above embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the operation switch outside the operation panel and the measurement stage state when the switch is operated are determined in advance according to the measurement stage state at the time of operation. Since the second measuring stage state changing means for changing to the next measuring stage state is provided, it is possible to realize a lens meter which is superior in operability and usability as compared with the conventional one.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a lens meter according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a light source, FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a slit pattern plate, and FIG. 4 is a measuring stage state and operation switches. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a change mode by the operation of the section, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a changing process of the measurement stage state according to the operation of the foot switch, and FIG. 1 ... Lens meter, 10 ... Optical system, 16 ... Test lens, 30 ... Electrical processing unit, 31 ... Control unit, 32 ... Slit image signal processing unit, 40 ... CPU, 41 ... ROM, 42 ... RAM, 4
2A: Non-volatile RAM, 60: Man-machine interface, 61: Operation panel, 62: Foot switch, 64 ...
Display, 65 …… Operation switch, ST0 to ST8 …… Measuring stage status.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for measuring an optical characteristic of a lens to be inspected, which is operated by a first measuring stage state changing means when any one of a plurality of operation switches provided on an operation panel is operated. In the lens meter for changing the state of the measurement stage according to the type of the operation switch, the operation switch outside the operation panel provided at a position different from the operation panel, and when the operation switch outside the operation panel is operated, A lens meter, comprising: a second measuring stage state changing means for changing the measuring stage state to a next measuring stage state which is predetermined according to the measuring stage state during operation.