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EP-4739193-A1 - APPARATUS HAVING A SCANNING DEVICE

EP4739193A1EP 4739193 A1EP4739193 A1EP 4739193A1EP-4739193-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10, 10') for examining an object or for scanning an eye (1), comprising a scanning device (2, 2a) having a reflective surface (3) on which at least one light beam (4) emitted by a light source (8) can be deflected, it being possible for a light beam (5a) reflected by the reflective surface (3), and emanating towards the incident light beam (4), to be pivoted by the scanning device (2) over a first angular range (6a), characterised in that optical means are provided, by means of which the emanating reflected light beam (5a) can be pivoted by moving the means through a second angular range (6c) that is greater than the first angular range (6a).

Inventors

  • BROSCHE, CHRISTOPH

Assignees

  • Heidelberg Engineering GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240516

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Device (10, 10') for examining an object or for scanning an eye (1), comprising a scanning device (2, 2a) with a reflection surface (3) onto which at least one light beam (4) emitted by a light source (8) can be directed, wherein a reflected light beam (5a) running from the reflection surface (3) towards the incident light beam (4) can be pivoted by means of the scanning device (2) over a first angular range (6a), characterized in that optical means are provided by means of which the outgoing reflected light beam (5a) can be pivoted over a second angular range (6c) after passing through the means, which is larger than the first angular range (6a).
  2. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second angular range (6c) is twice as large as the first angular range (6a).
  3. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reflected light beam (5a) emanating from the reflection surface (3) can be guided back by the optical means to the reflection surface (3) and from there can be pivoted over the second angular range (6c).
  4. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the incident light beam (4) can be guided onto the reflection surface (3) at a different angle than the returned light beam (5a).
  5. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outgoing reflected light beam (5a), after passing through the optical means, can be guided from the reflection surface (3) to an optical device (15) or an object to be examined in order to scan it.
  6. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a detector (7) or only one detector (7) is provided which detects a light beam (5b) returning from the optical device (15) or the object to be examined or a signal of the returning light beam (5b).
  7. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the returning light beam (5b) can be guided onto the reflection surface (3), from there through the optical means and from there again onto the reflection surface (3) in order to be guided from there to the detector (7).
  8. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the outgoing light beam (4) and the light beam (5b) returning to the detector (7) can be guided parallel and/or collinearly.
  9. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical means comprise at least two deflection mirrors (16a, 16b).
  10. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical means comprise at least two lenses (12a, 12b) or four lenses (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d).
  11. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical means comprise at least one curved mirror.
  12. 12. Device (10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scanning device (2) comprises an X-scanning device (2a) or is designed as such, wherein a Y-scanning device (2b) is additionally provided.
  13. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the Y-scanning device (2b) is designed as a deflection mirror, by means of which the outgoing reflected light beam (5a) can be returned to the reflection surface (3) after reflection at two preceding deflection mirrors (16a, 16b) in order to be guided from there to an optical device (15) or an object to be examined in order to scan it in the Y direction.
  14. 14. Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that light incident on the Y-scanning device (2b) can be guided through a lens (12c) or third lens (12c) and light emerging from the Y-scanning device (2b) can be guided through a further lens (12d) or fourth lens (12d).
  15. 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two lenses (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) are arranged confocally to one another and/or with the interposition of a deflection mirror (16b) or of two deflection mirrors (16a, 16b).

Description

device with a scanning device The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1. A device for scanning an eye usually comprises a scanning device with a scanning surface or reflection surface onto which an incident light beam can be directed, wherein a light beam reflected from the reflection surface onto the incident light beam can be pivoted by means of the scanning device over an angular range, the so-called scanning angle. In this way, structures can be examined by scanning with light beams. Against this background, confocal laser scanning systems with a beam and a point detector are already known. Laser scanning systems with line illumination and line detection are also known. Conventional confocal laser scanning systems are limited in terms of light intensity and speed. This is because the properties of scanning speed, scanning angle and scanning area are somewhat dependent on each other and cannot be increased arbitrarily. Scanning devices with large scanning areas and scanning angles are often relatively slow. Conversely, small scanning devices with small scanning angles are often very fast. The product of the scanning area or reflection area and the scanning angle is decisive for the light intensity and cannot be increased by optical translations. This can limit the light intensity or speed, especially for wide-angle systems. Scanning devices with small scanning angles use long focal lengths to create large intermediate images. This increases the space required for an optical system. Laser scanning systems with line illumination and line detection are only confocal in one axis. This results in lower image quality and relatively complex optics, and very sensitive line cameras are required. As soon as multiple detectors and light sources are used or the beam expansion route is taken, additional optics are required, which is associated with higher costs. The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a device with a scanning device with which a large overall scanning angle can be realized as easily as possible, in particular without reducing the scanning area or the speed. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by the features of claim 1. Firstly, it was recognized in an inventive way that there is a need for wide-angle scanning systems, especially in front of the eye ± 30° and larger, which are bright and fast and have very good image quality. It was also recognized that these wide-angle scanning systems should be as compact as possible in order to be able to be used operationally. Furthermore, it was recognized that there is a need for fast scanning systems with smaller scanning angles. According to the invention, it has been recognized that a device for examining an object or for scanning an eye must comprise at least one scanning device with a reflection surface onto which at least one light source emitted light beam can be directed, wherein a reflected light beam running from the reflection surface towards the incident light beam can be pivoted over a first angular range by means of the scanning device. In an inventive manner, optical means are provided by means of which the outgoing reflected light beam can be pivoted over a second angular range after passing through the means, the second angular range being larger than the first angular range. This means that a light beam, in particular a laser beam, runs over the same scanning surface or reflection surface of the scanning device several times, but from different angles, as in a loop, so that the overall scanning angle is increased. The light beam is redirected via beam-guiding components and imaged back onto the same scanning surface or reflection surface, or the scanning device is optically imaged onto itself. The scanning angle is increased, preferably doubled, while the scanning area remains the same. This multiplies the product of area times angle, which means that systems with greater light intensity or speed can be realized. The device described here allows for a more flexible scanner selection. A larger scanning angle means that wide-angle systems can get closer to a 1:1 image, which is an advantage due to optical symmetry in the creation of certain optical aberrations. A low optical translation leads to shorter focal lengths, which in turn has a positive effect on the space required. The second angle range could be twice as large as the first angle range. This increases the overall scanning angle particularly effectively and optimizes its magnification. The reflected light beam emanating from the reflection surface could be traced back to the reflection surface by the optical means and from there pivoted over the second angular range as a returned light beam. The light beam pivoted over the second angular range is then a double scanned Light beam. The scanning device or its scanning area is thus deflected via optical components and imaged onto itself. The light that is to be scann