Powered Contact Lens with Peripheral Sensor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ophthalmic lenses face challenges in integrating electronic components due to manufacturing difficulties on non-planar surfaces, energy efficiency concerns, and the need for reliable power management, as well as coordinating complex functionalities like blink detection and gaze tracking for controlling lens operations.

Innovation Solution

A powered contact lens with integrated sensors and power management circuitry that detects blinks and gaze direction to control refractive power and other functions, utilizing low-power consumption and signal conditioning to prevent false positives, and incorporating a system for variable focus and communication with external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electronic components are integrated into contact lenses to provide enhanced functionality, then the lens can perform multiple functions (vision correction, zooming, health monitoring), but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the non-planar surface of the lens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact lens is divided into distinct functional zones: an optical zone for vision correction and a peripheral zone for housing electronic components. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently - the optical zone maintains its curvature for vision correction while the peripheral zone provides a platform for electronic integration, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving functional versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electronic components are positioned on the periphery of the contact lens, utilizing the lateral dimension rather than attempting to place components on the central optical surface. This dimensional redistribution allows electronic components to be integrated without interfering with the optical zone's curvature and vision correction function, easing manufacturing while enabling multiple functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sensors and electronic components are added to the lens, then enhanced functionality is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components (sensors, processors, memory, power management) are merged into a single integrated electronic system housed in the peripheral zone of the contact lens. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and interconnections required, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining enhanced functionality through the integrated system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lens incorporates multiple electronic components for various functions, then the lens can provide enhanced vision and additional capabilities, but power management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic components and sensors operate in periodic cycles rather than continuously, activating only when needed for specific functions such as zooming or health monitoring. This periodic operation significantly reduces average power consumption while maintaining the ability to provide enhanced vision and additional capabilities on demand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The power management system incorporates self-service features including automatic power states that activate or deactivate components based on detected usage patterns, and energy harvesting capabilities that capture and store ambient energy. This allows the system to manage its own power consumption efficiently while maintaining functional versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables efficient and reliable operation of ophthalmic lenses with enhanced vision correction and functionality, such as zooming and health monitoring, while maintaining comfort and safety with improved power management and accurate blink and gaze detection.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor is configured to detect a position of the pupil of the eye

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPupil position detection:

Implementation Method 2

a powered or electronic ophthalmic lens having a sensor and associated hardware and software for detecting eye gaze direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2772791B1Electronic ophthalmic lens with eye gaze sensor

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE INC

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AI summary

A gaze direction tracking system for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein. The gaze direction tracking system is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The gaze direction tracking system is utilized to determine pupil position and use this information to control various aspects of the ophthalmic lens.