American Optical Corporation

Staffan B Persson

Robert B Tackaberry

Rato Buhler

An apparatus, including a pair of spaced-cylinder lenses having their cylinder axes in one plane with a third cylinder lens slideably mounted on a carriage therebetween and having its cylinder axis positioned normal to the plane, permits the focal power in one principal meridian to be continuously varied by moving the carriage with the third cylinder lens. The lenses are supported by a rotatable assembly and the slideable carriage is supported by a track running parallel to the optical axis.

Optical apparatus for varying focal power along one principal meridian

An optical alignment system having a movable portion which contains a centering reticle and range finder, the movable portion is optically coupled to a stationary portion including a field lens to permit the precise positioning of a member relative to an object observed at the field lens. A zone parallel light and an image on the field lens permit adjustment of the member and movable portion without corresponding movement of the operator's head. The system is readily combined with an optometer to provide precision positioning of an optometer eyepiece relative to a patient's eye.

Alignment system and ophthalmic instrument incorporating the same

A compact ophthalmic instrument for refraction of patient's eyes is obtained by substantial folding of the optical system. The optical system is folded in one location using a reflection means that moves to vary the location of a target image being viewed by a patient for identifying the spherical power of a corrective lens, if any, required by the patient. A second folded portion of the optical system contains a cylinder means for cylindrically varying the target image.

Compact subjective refractive instrument

A mechanism for supporting an instrument which provides finger-tip adjustment in two or three directions is described. Torsional springs are used to counterbalance the instrument weight. An interconnected linkage arrangement permits vertical motion and horizontal motion in one direction. Horizontal motion in the other direction is obtained by axially sliding the instrument frame along shafts extending between pivot points of the interconnected linkage. An optional feature for ophthalmic instruments includes a mechanism for alternatively shifting the instrument in a horizontal direction between first and second chosen positions.

Adjustable support

An occluder for interrupting an energy beam is used to control the direction of travel and to stop a moveable member at a reference position from any position remote thereto.

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Kenmore, NY, United States of America

Staffan B Persson