Blink-Detected Contact Lens Positioning for Adaptive Dioptric Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contact lenses with fixed dioptric power are inadequate for individuals with presbyopia, and existing methods for determining focal distance, such as ciliary muscle tension measurement or camera-based systems, are cumbersome or impractical for smart contact lenses.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens system with a magnet on the eyelid and a loop antenna on the lens that detects magnetic flux changes during blinking to determine the lens's position, using a processing unit to analyze pulses and adjust dioptric power based on viewing angle and focal distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cameras are attached to spectacles to measure viewing angle, then focal distance can be determined, but the system becomes bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from external spectacles and cameras, and integrates it into the contact lens itself through a magnetometer sensor. This removes the bulky external components while maintaining the focal distance measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the magnetometer sensor, processing unit, and power source within the contact lens structure. The contact lens becomes the container for these functional components, creating a compact integrated system that eliminates external hardware.
2Measurement precision
If ciliary muscle tension is measured to determine focal distance, then accurate focusing information can be obtained, but the measurement becomes complicated with reduced accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physiological measurement approach (ciliary muscle tension sensors) with a magnetic field-based measurement system. The magnetometer detects magnetic flux changes from magnets on the eyelid, providing a non-invasive, simpler measurement method that maintains accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If a magnet is placed on the eyelid and loop antenna on the contact lens, then position can be determined accurately during blinking, but the system requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural periodic blinking action of the eye to bring the magnet and loop antenna into alignment. Instead of requiring permanent precise alignment, the system leverages the repetitive blink motion to periodically establish the magnetic coupling needed for position detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a comfortable and accurate method to adjust dioptric power in response to focusing needs, eliminating the need for bulky cameras and complex muscle tension measurements.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one magnet passes over at least one edge of the loop antenna, causing a change of magnetic flux through the loop antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
According to an aspect there is provided a contact lens system comprising: at least one magnet to be arranged at an eyelid of a subject for moving with the eyelid; a contact lens to be arranged on an eyeball, the contact lens comprising a loop antenna, wherein the loop antenna is to be arranged for intersecting with a magnet trajectory of the magnet, during a blink movement of the eyelid, wherein the magnet passes over at least one edge of the loop antenna, causing a change of magnetic flux through the loop antenna; a sensor for sensing at least one pulse during the blink movement in response to the change of magnetic flux through the loop antenna; and a processing unit configured to receive data from the sensor representing the pulse, and to analyze the data for determining a position of the contact lens with respect to the magnet trajectory of the magnet.