US 12,222,483 B2
Reading codes via a surgical microscope camera
Florian Bart, Aalen (DE); Axel Lorenz, Meissen (DE); Frank Koenig, Aalen (DE); and Frank Keib, Aalen (DE)
Assigned to Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena (DE)
Filed by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena (DE)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/212,967.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 108 345.9 (DE), filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0302707 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 21/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 90/96 (2016.01); G02B 21/36 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 21/0012 (2013.01) [A61B 90/361 (2016.02); A61B 90/96 (2016.02); G02B 21/361 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a surgical microscope having a camera and an evaluation device as integral components of the surgical microscope, the camera being connected to the evaluation device to facilitate data transmission therebetween, the method comprising:
introducing a code that is able to be captured in a set frequency range of 400 to 1000 nanometers directly into a field of view of the camera;
capturing at least one image which includes the code via the camera by scanning the image which includes the code;
identifying the code via the evaluation device;
comparing the identified code via the evaluation device to set features of an activation code required to activate an operating function of the surgical microscope;
thereafter, one of the following applies:
i) if the comparison shows that the identified code has the set features of the activation code, an activation of the operating function of the surgical microscope is authorized via the evaluation device; or,
ii) if the comparison shows that the identified code does not have the set features of the activation code, the activation of the operating function of the surgical microscope is disabled;
activating the operating function associated with the activation code in response to authorization thereof; and,
wherein the camera for facilitating said data transmission includes a device for text recognition and pattern recognition to facilitate reading out and identifying codes of different configuration including QR codes and/or data matrix codes and/or barcodes and/or serial numbers and passwords.