Contact Lens Acceleration Sensor for Structure-Borne Sound Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of acoustic sensors or customary microphones in contact lenses is challenging due to medical requirements that necessitate complete embedding of components within the lens, preventing direct access to ambient air and thus rendering practical function impossible.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an acceleration sensor within the contact lens to detect structure-borne sounds produced by the wearer, allowing for voice detection and transmission without the need for direct access to ambient air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a customary microphone is integrated into the contact lens, then voice detection function is achieved, but the component cannot be completely embedded due to need for direct access to ambient air

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice detection functionVSAvoidmedical safety requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the acoustic microphone with an acceleration sensor that detects structure-borne sounds through mechanical vibrations transmitted via the contact lens material. This substitution eliminates the need for air access while maintaining voice detection capability, as the acceleration sensor converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals without requiring acoustic coupling with ambient air.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact lens material itself serves as an intermediary medium that transmits sound vibrations from the wearer's voice to the acceleration sensor. Instead of requiring direct air access, the lens material acts as a vibration conduit, enabling the sensor to detect voice signals while remaining completely embedded within the lens structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an acceleration sensor is used to detect structure-borne sound, then complete embedding is achieved, but sensitivity to air-borne sound is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete embeddingVSAvoidair-borne sound sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing a sensor that is sensitive to air-borne sounds (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using a sensor that is sensitive to structure-borne vibrations. The acceleration sensor is specifically optimized to detect mechanical vibrations transmitted through the contact lens material, which are caused by the wearer's voice, rather than detecting air pressure variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from acoustic pressure (air-borne sound) to mechanical vibration amplitude (structure-borne sound). By optimizing the acceleration sensor for detecting vibrations in the frequency range of human voice (approximately 85-255 Hz), the system achieves complete embedding while maintaining sufficient sensitivity for voice detection through the contact lens material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the acceleration sensor is completely enclosed in the contact lens, then medical safety is ensured, but direct access to ambient air for sound detection is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical safetyVSAvoidsound detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic detection with mechanical vibration detection. The acceleration sensor detects the vibrations caused by the wearer's voice that are transmitted through the contact lens material, eliminating the need for the sensor to have direct access to ambient air while maintaining complete embedding for medical safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact lens material serves multiple functions: it provides the protective barrier for medical safety, acts as a vibration transmission medium for sound detection, and serves as the mounting substrate for the acceleration sensor. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the lens material itself the detection interface rather than requiring separate acoustic access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The acceleration sensor effectively suppresses interfering noises from the surroundings, enabling clear voice signal detection even in loud environments, while ensuring the sensor is fully enclosed and safe for medical use.

Implementation Method 1

an acceleration sensor, which is preferably designed or configured to detect a structure-borne sound produced by a wearer of the contact lens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructure-borne sound detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12287535B2Contact lens, method for detecting a structure-borne sound with the aid of a contact lens, method for producing a contact lens

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A contact lens. The contact lens comprises an acceleration sensor for detecting a structure-borne sound produced by a wearer of the contact lens.