The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2001
David Biggins, Williamsville, NY (US);
Douglas H. Hoover, Corfu, NY (US);
Carl E. Hynes, Williamsville, NY (US);
Donald E. Miller, West Seneca, NY (US);
Reichert, Inc., Depew, NY (US);
Abstract
A subjective ophthalmic refractor is improved for operator visibility in a darkened examination room by forming a cylinder axis scale of the refractor as a light-transmitting component having opaque scale gradations and installing a polar array of illumination sources to project light through the cylinder axis scale, which preferably includes a translucent material for diffuse illumination. In an alternative embodiment, the cylinder axis scale includes a photoluminescent material to which the scale gradations are applied. The refractor is further improved by installing respective illumination sources near a cylinder power readout and a sphere power readout of the refractor. The disclosure additionally relates to a method for retrofitting an ophthalmic refractor to illuminate the cylinder axis scale, cylinder power readout, and sphere power readout.