US 11,864,833 B2
Eye-imaging apparatus and method employing sequential flashing of illumination light in synchronization with the operation of an image sensor
Yan Zhou, Pleasanton, CA (US); Willem Crone, Malin, OR (US); and John Allison, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to Natus Medical Incorporated, Middleton, WI (US)
Filed by Natus Medical Incorporated, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/948,992.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/913,706, filed on Oct. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0106224 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 3/10 (2006.01); A61B 3/117 (2006.01); A61B 3/12 (2006.01); G02C 7/04 (2006.01); A61B 3/14 (2006.01); A61B 3/00 (2006.01); A61B 3/125 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 3/14 (2013.01) [A61B 3/0008 (2013.01); A61B 3/125 (2013.01); A61B 3/1208 (2013.01); A61B 3/1241 (2013.01); G02B 6/0008 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An eye-imaging apparatus comprising:
a light source selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue light sources, white light sources, and red, green, blue, and white light sources;
an image sensor with a shutter having a frame rate, the image sensor being operable to produce a live video signal;
one or more optical lenses defining an imaging path comprising an optical axis;
a contact lens; and
illuminator fibers positioned next to the contact lens;
wherein the light source is flashed repetitively in synchronization with the operation of the image sensor in producing a live video display for image or video capturing by flashing the light source on when the shutter of the image sensor is opened and the flashing the light source off when the shutter of the image sensor is closed; and
wherein an averaged amount of light output from each flashing is controlled through pulse width modulation (PWM) having a duty cycle, a pulse peak value, and a pulsing frequency, with the pulsing frequency being at least 10 times the frame rate of the image sensor.