Patent Abstract:
A diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee, the apparatus comprises an operating part including diagnosing means for examining or measuring the body of the examinee, the operating part is brought into an operable condition by supplying power thereto, data read means for reading out data from a storage medium containing data which is individual to the examinee or to an examiner, condition detecting means for detecting whether or not the data has been read out, or whether or not the data is in a readable condition, and power supply control means for controlling power supply to the operating part based on a result detected by the detecting means.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Typically, when using a diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee (an optometry apparatus such as a visual acuity testing apparatus, an audial acuity testing apparatus, a sphygmomanometer, a body weight and body fat measurement apparatus, or the like), a power switch of the apparatus is turned on to start electrical power supply as motive power of the apparatus. After using the apparatus, the power switch is turned off to suspend the power supply. 
     Regarding such an apparatus as above, ON/OFF operations of the power switch (especially OFF operations) are important in order not to consume unnecessary power, or not to shorten the lifetime of the components such as a lamp. However, every single ON/OFF operation of the power switch has to be made manually by an examiner or an examinee, which is inconvenient. Especially in the case of an auto diagnosing apparatus which is intended to be operated by an examinee himself without presence of an examiner, it is difficult to have the examinee make ON/OFF operations (especially OFF operations) of the power switch reliably. 
     To eliminate the inconvenience, there has been suggested an apparatus having a power save mode. This type of apparatus includes a function of suspending power supply to the components, excluding a computer circuit and the like that monitor whether or not the apparatus has been operated, in the case that no operation is made for a predetermined period of time. However, in the case of this type of apparatus, power supply to a computer circuit, which is a part of operating unit, is not suspended. Therefore, it is not regarded that the power consumption is sufficiently reduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide a diagnosing apparatus which can initiate and suspend power supply with easy operation, and which is capable of saving energy more effectively as well as extending lifetime of the components. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee, the apparatus comprises an operating part including diagnosing means for examining or measuring the body of the examinee, the operating part is brought into an operable condition by supplying power thereto, data read means for reading out data from a storage medium containing data which is individual to the examinee or to an examiner, condition detecting means for detecting whether or not the data has been read out, or whether or not the data is in a readable condition, and power supply control means for controlling power supply to the operating part based on a result detected by the condition detecting means. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee, the apparatus comprises an operating part including diagnosing means for examining or measuring the body of the examinee, the operating part is brought into an operable condition by supplying power thereto, storage means for storing data on the examinee, detecting means for detecting whether or not diagnostic data obtained by the diagnostic means has been stored in the storage means, and power supply control means for controlling power supply to the operating part based on a result detected by the detecting means. 
     Further, in another aspect of the present invention, a diagnosing apparatus for examining or measuring a body of an examinee, the apparatus comprises an operating part including diagnosing means for examining or measuring the body of the examinee, the operating part is brought into an operable condition by supplying power thereto, output means for outputting diagnostic data on the examinee, detecting means for detecting whether or not the diagnostic data obtained by the diagnosing means has been outputted by the output means, and power supply control means for controlling power supply to the operating part based on a result detected by the detecting means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is a view showing an external representation of an auto visual acuity testing apparatus consistent with one preferred embodiment of a present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing a schematic configuration of optical systems and a control system of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing a Y driving system of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing an X driving system and a Z driving system of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing a travel position detecting mechanism of a measurement unit; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing an exemplary circuit for controlling power supply. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed description of one preferred embodiment of a diagnosing apparatus embodying the present invention will now be given referring to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing an auto visual acuity testing apparatus (an auto refractometer)  1  consistent with the preferred embodiment. The apparatus  1  is constituted such that an examinee can perform a visual acuity test by himself (without presence of an examiner). 
     Reference numeral  1   a  is a base. Fixedly attached to the base  1   a  is a head support unit  2  for fixedly supporting an examinee&#39;s head.  3  is a main body and  4  is a measurement unit containing optical systems described later.  5  is a joystick for moving the measurement unit  4 . The measurement unit  4  moves in X direction (a lateral direction) relative to the main body  3  by tilting the joystick  5  to right and left, and moves in Y direction (a vertical direction) relative to the main body  3  by titling the joystick  5  back and forth. To be ready for auto alignment, the measurement unit  4  is configured to be movable in X direction, Y direction and Z direction (a back and forth direction) relative to the main body  3  without operating the joystick  5  (description regarding the moving mechanism is given later in detail).  9  is an ID card reader and is connected to the apparatus  1  via a communication cable. 
     Hereinafter, description is given to a schematic configuration of the optical systems and the control system of the apparatus with reference to FIG.  2 . 
     Optical Systems 
     Reference numeral  10  is an eye refractive power measurement optical system.  11  is a pair of measurement light sources for emitting near infrared light which is disposed rotatably on a measurement optical axis L 1 .  12  is a condenser lens.  13  is a target plate which has a spot aperture therethrough, and which is movable along the optical axis L 1 .  14  is a projection lens,  15  is a beam splitter,  20  is an objective lens,  21  is a beam splitter, and  22  and  24  are relay lenses.  23  is a strip-shaped corneal reflection elimination mask located at a generally conjugate position with a cornea Ec of an eye E to be examined. The mask  23  rotates on an optical axis in synchronism with the optical sources  11 .  25  is a mobile lens which moves along the optical axis together with the target plate  13 .  26  is an image forming lens.  27  is a photodetector for measurement which rotates on the optical axis in synchronism with the light sources  11  and the mask  23 . 
     Reference numeral  30  is a fixation target optical system.  31  is a half mirror,  32  is a first relay lens which is movable along the optical axis. Movement of the lens  32  along its optical axis causes the eye E to be fogged. To move the lens  32 , a pulse motor  61  rotates a feed screw  62  causing a linear motion of a female screw  63  threadedly secured to the screw  62 .  64  is a shielding plate and  65  is a photosensor. The photosensor  65  detects an original position (a reset position) of the lens  32  based on a movement of the shielding plate  64 .  33  is a second relay lens, and  34  is a fixation target located at a focal point of the lens  33 .  35  is a condenser lens and  36  is an illumination lamp. 
     Reference numeral  45  is a target projection optical system for alignment in X and Y directions which projects a target for alignment in X and Y directions (vertical and lateral directions) from a direction of a visual axis of the eye E. Near infrared light emitted from a point light source  46  passes through a relay lens  47 , the half mirror  31 , the beam splitter  21  and then the lens  20 , thereby becoming generally parallel light. Thereafter, the light is reflected by the beam splitter  15  and projected onto the cornea Ec. 
     Reference numeral  40  is a target projection optical system for alignment in Z direction which projects a target for alignment of the apparatus in Z direction (a back and forth direction, a working distance direction) relative to the eye E. The target projection optical system  40  comprises a pair of first target projection optical systems  40   a  and  40   b  disposed symmetric with respect to the optical axis L 1 . The target projection optical system  40  also comprises a pair of second target projection optical systems  40   c  and  40   d  disposed symmetric with respect to the optical axis L 1  forming a smaller angle between their optical axes than that of the first target projection optical systems  40   a  and  40   b.  The first target projection optical systems  40   a  and  40   b  respectively include point light sources  41   a  and  41   b,  spot apertures  42   a  and  42   b,  and collimator lenses  43   a  and  43   b  so as to project a target on the cornea Ec at an infinite distance by generally parallel light. On the other hand, the second target projection optical systems  40   c  and  40   d  respectively include point light sources  41   c  and  41   d  so as to project a target on the cornea Ec at a finite distance by divergent light. 
     Reference numeral  50  is a detection optical system for detecting images of each alignment target. Each image of alignment targets formed on the cornea Ec is reflected by the beam splitter  15  and then passes through an objective lens  51  and a mirror  52  to be photographed by a CCD camera  53 . 
     Control System 
     Picture signals from the camera  53  are inputted to an image processing unit  77 . The image processing unit  77  conducts a predetermined process on the inputted image signals and send the processed image signals to a control unit  70 . Based on the signals from the image processing unit  77 , the control unit  70  obtains positions of each alignment target image, a position of a pupil and the like. 
     Reference numeral  110  is an X driving system,  100  is a Y driving system, and  120  is a Z driving system for respectively moving the measurement unit  4  in X, Y and Z directions relative to the main body  3 . 
     The Y driving system  100  (see FIG. 3) rotates a feed screw  101  by a pulse motor  100   a  fixedly provided to the main body  3 , thereby causing a female screw portion  103  fixedly provided to a Y table  102  to descend and ascend. As the result, the Y table  102  moves vertically.  104  is a guide shaft fixed to the Y table  102 . The X driving system  110  (see FIG. 4) rotates a feed screw  111  by a pulse motor  110   a  fixedly provided to the Y table  102 , thereby causing a female screw portion  113  fixedly provided to an X table  112  to move right and left. As the result, the X table  112  moves laterally.  114  is a guide groove fixedly provided to the Y table  102 , and  115  is a guide plate fixedly provided to the X table  112 . The Z driving system  120  (see FIG. 4) has a configuration similar to the X driving system  110 , and through rotation of a feed screw  121  by a pulse motor  120   a  fixedly provided to the X table  112 , a female screw portion  123  fixedly provided to the Z table  122  is moved back and forth. As the result, the Z table  122  moves back and forth.  124  is a guide groove fixedly provided to the X table  112 , and  125  is a guide plate fixedly provided to the Z table  122 . Each of these driving systems  100 ,  110  and  120  allows the measurement unit  4  mounted on the Z table  122  to move in each of X, Y and Z directions. 
     In addition, each of the driving systems  100 ,  110  and  120  is provided with a travel position detecting mechanism  200  for detecting an original position and a movement limit regarding each of X, Y and Z directions. The travel position detecting mechanism  200 , for example, for X direction is provided with photosensors  220   a  and  220   b  fixed to the Y table  102 , and also with a shielding plate  221  having a notch portion  221   a  fixed to the X table  112  (see FIG.  5 ). The photosensor  220   a  detects the original position from the timing of change in a shielding condition caused by an edge of the shielding plate  221 , and detects in which direction the X table resides based on the detected shielding condition. The photosensor  220   b  detects the movement limits at the both sides from change in a shielding condition of the notch portion  221   a  caused by the movement of the shielding plate  221 . The original position and the movement limits in Y direction and Z direction are detected using the configuration similar to that of X direction detection (description thereof is omitted). 
     The original position of the measurement unit  4  in X direction is set at a center of the main body  3 . In addition, the initial position of the measurement unit  4  is set at a shifted position from the center of the main body  3  in a direction of a right eye by half an average interpupillary distance (for example, 64 mm/2=32 mm). This initial position setting allows a measurement to be started from the right eye promptly. The original position and the initial position in Y direction are set at the center of the movable range. The original position and the initial position in Z direction are set at the farthest side from the eye E in order to avoid contact between the eye E and the measurement unit  4 . 
     Besides the components described above, a printer  6 , a communication control unit  7 , a memory  8 , a power circuit  80  and the ID card reader  9  are connected to the control unit  70 . A battery  81  is connected to the power circuit  80 , and a data collecting device  300  such as a computer is connected to the communication control unit  7 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exemplary circuit for controlling power supply. The circuit is constituted using an FET  83 , a transistor  84 , a D flip-flop  85 , an OR circuit  86  and the like.  82  is a charging circuit for charging the battery  81 . The card reader  9  has a switch  87 , and the communication control unit  7  has an RS-232C transceiver  88  as well as an LSI for communication control  89 . 
     Description is now given to operations of the apparatus having a configuration as above. 
     When starting an examination (a measurement), the examinee inserts his ID card into the card reader  9 . Once the ID card is inserted into the card reader  9  (once the card reader  9  is in a state of readiness to read data stored in the ID card), the switch  87  is turned on, the OR circuit  86  is given a signal which is held HIGH, and a CK terminal of the D flip-flop  85  is driven HIGH resulting in a HIGH output terminal Q. As the result, the transistor  84  and the FET  83  cause power to be supplied to the power circuit  80  and the following circuits, thereby putting the control unit  70 , each of the driving systems  100 ,  110  and  120 , and the other circuits into an active mode (in other words, the main power is turned on). Here, when power supply to the power circuit  80  and the following circuits is being suspended (when the active mode is not established), a power save mode works, in which power is supplied from the battery  81  to the OR circuit  86 , D flip-flop  85 , and to the transceiver  88 . 
     When the main power is on (when in the active mode), the control unit  70  executes initialization of each operating unit. In the fixation target optical system  30 , the lens  32  is temporarily moved left as seen in FIG. 2, and the photosensor  65  confirms the original position. Thereafter, the motor  61  is rotated for an amount corresponding to a predetermined number of pulses to move the lens  32  back to its initial position. As shown in FIG. 2, the initial position of the lens  32  is set at the center of the movable range which is a position corresponding to 0 diopter (0 D) with consideration of plus or minus in a refractive power of the eye. 
     In addition, initialization of each of the driving systems  100 ,  110  and  120  is executed. In the X driving system  110 , the measurement unit  4  is moved in a direction where the edge of the shielding plate  221  may be detected by the photosensor  220   a . After confirming the original position by the photosensor  220   a , the motor  110   a  is driven for an amount corresponding to a predetermined number of pulses to move the measurement unit  4  to the initial position for right eye measurement. Similarly, the Y driving system  100  and the Z driving system  120  move the measurement unit  4  to the initial position. 
     When the initialization is completed, the apparatus is in a state of readiness to start a visual acuity test. The examinee then places his chin on a chin rest  2   a  mounted to the head support unit  2 . Thereafter, the examinee operates the joystick  5  to roughly make alignment such that the right eye can see the fixation target presented inside the measurement unit  4  through a measurement window  4   a . If the joystick  5  is tilted to right and left, the control unit  70  issues signals to drive the X driving system  110  in a manner to move the measurement unit  4  in X direction. If the joystick  5  is tilted back and forth, the control unit  70  issues signals to drive the Y driving system  100  in a manner to move the measurement unit  4  in Y direction. 
     Once each image of the alignment targets projected on the cornea Ec is detected by the apparatus (the camera  53 ) through making alignment roughly in X and Y directions, the control unit  70  drives the each of the driving systems  100 ,  110  and  120  thereby performing auto alignment. That is to say, the control unit  70  drives the X driving system  110 , the Y driving system  100  based on information about the detected target image that is projected by the light source  46  and that is located at the center of all the alignment target images, thereby making precise alignment in X and Y directions automatically. In addition, after the target image projected by the light source  46  is brought into a detectable condition, the control unit  70  drives the Z driving system  120  to make precise alignment in Z direction automatically. The alignment condition in Z direction is judged thorough comparison of the height of the target images at an infinite distance projected by the projecting optical systems  40   a  and  40   b  with the height of the target images at a finite distance projected by the projecting optical systems  40   c  and  40   d  (through comparison of the distance between the target images). This judgement is made using the following characteristic: in the case of projecting targets at an infinite distance and at a finite distance, the height of (distance between) the target images at an infinite distance remains unchanged, while the height of (distance between) the target images at a finite distance changes in response to the change in the working distance (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,430 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 6-46999)). Once the alignment condition in each direction is all brought in a predetermined acceptable range, the control unit  70  automatically generates a trigger signal to perform the measurement. 
     The target of the target plate  13  illuminated by the light sources  11  is projected onto the eye E, and the image of the target reflected by a fundus Ef is detected by the photodetector  27 . The control unit  70  moves the target plate  13  together with the lens  25  to a conjugate position with the fundus Ef based on photo-receptive signals of the reflected light detected by the photodetector  27 . Next, the control unit  70  drives the motor  61  to move the lens  32  so that the eye E is fogged by adequate diopters. Thereafter, the control unit  70  rotates the light sources  11  and the photodetector  27  180° on their optical axes. During the rotation, the target plate  13  moves in response to the photo-receptive signals from the photodetector  27 , and an not-illustrated potentiometer detects the movement amount. The control unit  70  obtains values of refractive power in each meridian from the result of detection by the potentiometer, and then conducts a predetermined process on the thus obtained refractive power so as to obtain refractive power data of the eye E. 
     After completing the measurement of the right eye, the measurement unit  4  is moved to a position for a left eye measurement. Here, the movement amount may be set at an average interpupillary distance of 64 mm or the like. In the case where the examinee can not see the fixation target with his left eye even after moving the measurement unit  4 , the examinee operates the joystick  5 , similarly to the case of right eye, to make rough alignment so that the examiner can see the fixation target presented inside the measurement unit  4  with his left eye. Thereafter, the control unit  70  completes precise alignment (auto alignment) based on the detection information about the target images sent from the image processing unit  77  and performs a measurement automatically. 
     Once the measurement results on the both eyes are obtained, the control unit  70  prints out the measurement data from the printer  6  as well as to outputs (transmits) the measurement data and the ID of the examinee to the data collecting device  300  via the communication control unit  7 . After confirming that the measurement data from the apparatus  1  is properly received (or properly recorded), the data collecting device  300  transmits (transmits back) a signal indicating completion of receiving data to the apparatus  1 . Here, in order to confirm whether the measurement data has been properly received, data for checking data integrity such as check sum may be added to the data to be transmitted. 
     Once the measurement data and the ID of the examinee are transmitted from the communication control unit  7  to the device  300  and the signal indicating completion of receiving data is received by the transceiver  88 , the signal is interpreted by the control unit  70  via the LSI  89 , whereby it is determined that the data transmission (or recordation of the data by the device  300 ) has been completed. Being triggered by this, the control unit  70  makes the CL terminal of the D flip-flop  85  LOW, and the transistor  84  and FET  83  suspend power supply to the power circuit  80  and the following circuits (the power save mode is established). As described above, especially in the case of the apparatus intended to be operated for measurement by the examinee himself, if the apparatus is put into the power save mode at ordinary times (when the apparatus is not in use) and the main power is turned on (the apparatus is put into the active mode) only when the apparatus is in use, power consumption can be reduced and lifetime of the components can be extended. 
     Further, when the power is supplied to the power circuit  80  and the following circuits (when the apparatus  1  is in the active mode), the OR circuit  86 , the D flip-flop  85  and the transceiver  88  are supplied power from the power circuit  80 . In addition, the battery  81  is charged by the charging circuit  82 . 
     Still further, the apparatus  1  may be triggered to go into the active mode when an activation command signal from the device  300  is received by the transceiver  88  of the communication control unit  7 , instead of when the switch  87  of the card reader  9  is turned on (when the ID card is inserted) as described above. 
     Still further, the apparatus  1  may be triggered to go into the power save mode when the switch  87  of the card reader  87  is turned off (when the ID card is removed), instead of when the transceiver  88  receives the signal indicating completion of receiving data from the device  300 . 
     Still further, it is also possible that the apparatus  1  is triggered to go into the power save mode when the measurement data is stored into the memory  8  or when the measurement data is printed out by the printer  6 . 
     Still further, the measurement data may be stored not in the data collecting device  300  but in the ID card provided that a card reader/writer is used instead of the card reader  9 . The active mode may be triggered when the ID card is inserted or when the ID card is read out, and the power save mode may be triggered when the ID card is removed or when the measurement data is written to the ID card. 
     Still further, in the above description, main power on the secondary side of the power circuit is opened/closed. Yet, by opening/closing the primary side of the power circuit, power can be saved further. As shown in the dotted square A in FIG. 6, a latching relay  92  is disposed on the power line of the primary side that is the side upstream from a transformer  91 , and its Set coil and Reset coil are driven by respective driving circuits. Each coil is capable of making the relay contact ON/OFF by passage of pulsed current. The output terminal Q of the D flip-flop  85  is connected to a Set coil driving circuit  93 , and the control unit  70  and a CL terminal of the D flip-flop are connected to a Reset coil driving circuit  94 . In this case, the above-described circuits for opening/closing the power lines on the secondary side are no longer necessary. 
     Although the above preferred embodiment exemplary describes communications using RS-232C, it goes without saying that other cable communications or wireless communications are as well applicable. 
     Further, although the above preferred embodiment exemplary describes the auto visual acuity testing apparatus, it is needless to say that the present invention is as well applicable to other ophthalmic apparatuses. Moreover, the present invention is applicable to diagnosing apparatuses other than ophthalmic apparatuses. 
     As has been described above, the present invention can improve operability for initiating and suspending power supply. In addition, the present invention is capable of saving energy more effectively as well as extending lifetime of the components. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0