Wavefront sensor for objective measurement of an optical system and associated methods
AssigneeAlcon Universal Ltd.
InventorGeorge H. Pettit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wavefront sensor includes an afocal relay stage for magnifying an incoming wavefront reflected from a source plane. In an exemplary application, a retina of an eye reflects an impinging light beam thereon to form a series of wavefronts. A lenslet array is positioned at a reference plane of the afocal relay stage to receive the magnified wavefront. Further downstream is positioned a means for imaging and demagnifying a focal plane image of the lenslet array at a final image plane. This demagnified image then serves as input to an analyzer, such as a charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera.
Claims20
A wavefront sensor comprising:
- an afocal relay stage for magnifying an incoming wavefront reflected from a source plane;
- a lenslet array positioned at a reference plane of the afocal relay stage for receiving the magnified wavefront;
- and
- means for imaging and demagnifying a focal plane image of the lenslet array at a final image plane, for serving as input to an analyzer.
A system for determining refractive aberrations of an eye comprising:
- means for directing a beam of light onto a cornea of an eye;
- an afocal relay stage for magnifying wavefronts of light reflected from a retina of the eye;
- a lenslet array positioned at a reference plane of the afocal relay stage for receiving the magnified wavefront;
- means for demagnifying a focal plane image of the lenslet array at a final image plane;
- and
- means for imaging the final image plane for determining aberrations from planarity of the reflected wavefronts.
A method of measuring refractive aberrations in an eye comprising the steps of:
- directing a beam of light onto a cornea of an eye;
- magnifying wavefronts of light reflected from a retina of the eye;
- directing the magnified wavefronts to a lenslet array positioned at a reference plane of the magnified wavefronts;
- demagnifying a focal plane image of the lenslet array at a final image plane;
- and
- imaging the final image plane for determining aberrations from planarity of the reflected wavefronts.
A method for constructing a system for measuring refractive aberrations in an eye comprising the steps of:
- providing means for directing a beam of light onto a cornea of an eye;
- providing means for magnifying wavefronts of light reflected from a retina of the eye;
- providing a lenslet array positioned at a reference plane of the magnified wavefronts;
- providing means for demagnifying a focal plane image of the lenslet array at a final image plane;
- and
- providing means for imaging the final image plane;
- and
- providing means for determining aberrations from planarity of the reflected wavefronts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.