Eye imaging apparatus with sequential illumination

Abstract

An eye imaging apparatus can include a housing, an optical imaging system in the housing, and a light source in the housing to illuminate an eye. The optical imaging system can include an optical window at a front end of the housing with a concave front surface for receiving the eye as well as an imaging lens disposed rearward the optical window. The apparatus can comprise a light conditioning element configured to receive light from the light source and direct said light to the eye. The apparatus can further include an image sensor in the housing disposed to receive an image of the eye from the optical imaging system. In various embodiments, light conditioning element includes at least one multi-segment surface. In some embodiments, the housing is provided with at least one hermitic seal, for example, with the optical window. In some embodiments, time sequential illumination is employed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operation of an eye imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
 emitting light through an optical window to illuminate different portions of an eye by a plurality of light emitting elements within the eye imaging apparatus, the optical window being configured to be in contact with a cornea of the eye;   varying an intensity of the emitted light from each of the plurality of light emitting elements; and   receiving a plurality of images of the eye formed by reflected light of the emitted light with a same field of view by an image sensor within the eye imaging apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein varying an intensity of the emitted light comprises activating each of the plurality of light emitting elements time-sequentially. 
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 1 , further comprising directionally controlling the emitted light by a light conditioning element within the eye imaging apparatus, the light conditioning element comprising at least one multi-segment surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of sections of the light conditioning element are separated by a plurality of barriers, each of the plurality of barriers extending in a radial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein the emitted light from the plurality of light emitting elements are transmitted directly to the light conditioning element. 
     
     
         6 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein the emitted light are transmitted from the plurality of light emitting elements to optical fiber bundles, and further transmitted from the optical fiber bundles to the light conditioning element. 
     
     
         7 . The method in  claim 1 , further comprising processing the plurality of images to create a composite image of the eye. 
     
     
         8 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises aligning the plurality of images. 
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises aligning the plurality of images based on a reference image, wherein the reference image has a same field of view. 
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises removing an unclear portion of the image and saving a clear portion of the image for different ones of the plurality of images. 
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises combining a clear portion from different ones of the plurality of images to create a composite image of the eye. 
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises adjusting the image brightness to increase uniformity in brightness in the composite image. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operation of an eye imaging apparatus to illuminate an eye time-sequentially, the method comprising:
 emitting light by each of a plurality of light emitting elements within the eye imaging apparatus time-sequentially;   directionally controlling the emitted light by a light conditioning element within the eye imaging apparatus, the light conditioning element comprising at least one multi-segment surface   transmitting the emitted light through an optical window at a front end of the eye imaging apparatus, the optical window being configured to be in contact with a cornea of the eye;   illuminating each of a plurality of portions of the eye by the emitted light time-sequentially; and   receiving a plurality of images of the eye formed by reflected light of the emitted light with a same field of view by an image sensor within the eye imaging apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein illuminating each of a plurality of portions of the eye comprises illuminating each of a plurality of portions of a posterior segment of the eye. 
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of sections of the light conditioning element are separated by a plurality of barriers, each of the plurality of barriers extending in a radial direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein the emitted light from the plurality of light emitting elements are transmitted directly to the light conditioning element. 
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein the emitted light are transmitted from the plurality of light emitting elements to optical fiber bundles, and further transmitted from the optical fiber bundles to the light conditioning element. 
     
     
         18 . The method in  claim 13 , further comprising processing the plurality of images to create a composite image of the eye. 
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein processing the plurality of images comprises aligning the plurality of images based on a reference image, wherein the reference image has a same field of view.