Claims
- 1. A programmable vision tester for use in an optometric examination of a patient, comprising:
an image selector for selecting a preprogrammed image; a frame buffer for temporarily storing the selected preprogrammed image; a digital display screen for displaying the selected preprogrammed image, the digital display screen including an aperture substantially aligned with a line of sight from the patient to the selected preprogrammed image so as to provide a doctor a substantially unobstructed view of the patient; a light source for illuminating the digital display screen; and a power source for supplying power to the programmable vision tester.
- 2. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, wherein the aperture extends completely through the digital display screen so as to provide the doctor an unobstructed view of the patient.
- 3. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery module.
- 4. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured for connection to an AC power outlet.
- 5. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, further comprising an internal memory storage site to store the preprogrammed image.
- 6. The programmable vision tester of claim 5, wherein the internal memory storage site comprises at least one of the following: EEPROM, EPROM, PROM, ROM, and flash memory.
- 7. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, further comprising:
an external memory storage site for storing the preprogrammed image; and an input module to interface between the external memory storage site and the frame buffer.
- 8. The programmable vision tester of claim 7, wherein the external memory storage site comprises a semiconductor memory.
- 9. The programmable vision tester of claim 7, wherein the external memory storage site comprises a magnetic medium.
- 10. The programmable vision tester of claim 7, wherein the external memory storage site comprises an optical medium.
- 11. The programmable vision tester of claim 1, wherein the preprogrammed image is graphical.
- 12. A programmable vision tester for use in an optometric examination of a patient, comprising:
a digital display screen including an aperture substantially aligned with a line of sight from the patient to the digital display screen so as to provide a doctor a substantially unobstructed view of the patient; an input port for receiving a removable memory device storing a preprogrammed image; and means for reading the preprogrammed image stored on the removable memory device.
- 13. The programmable vision tester of claim 12, wherein the aperture extends completely through the digital display screen so as to provide the doctor an unobstructed view of the patient.
- 14. A removable memory device for connection to a vision testing apparatus, comprising a memory storage site for storing image data, wherein the image data defines a preprogrammed optometric examination image.
- 15. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the optometric examination image is graphical.
- 16. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the optometric examination image includes a textual character.
- 17. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the optometric examination image includes a textual character in a preselected language.
- 18. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the memory storage site comprises at least one of the following: EEPROM, EPROM, PROM, ROM, and flash memory.
- 19. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the removable memory device comprises a semiconductor memory.
- 20. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the removable memory device comprises a magnetic medium.
- 21. The removable memory device of claim 14, wherein the removable memory device comprises an optical medium.
- 22. An optical examination method for use in examining a patient, comprising:
placing a digital display screen a selected distance from the patient, the selected distance corresponding to the patient's work environment; selecting a preprogrammed image to display on the digital display screen; displaying the selected preprogrammed image on the digital display screen; having the patient focus on the digital display screen; and examining an eye of the patient substantially along a line of sight from the patient to the selected preprogrammed image.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital display screen is part of a mechanism selected from the group including a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a vision tester substantially of the type described in claim 1, and a vision tester substantially of the type described in claim 15.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/585,895, filed May 31, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09585895 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
10329275 |
Dec 2002 |
US |