Silicon Lens Driver for Variable-Focus Ophthalmic Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses and intraocular lenses, face challenges in integrating electronic components for enhanced functionality due to manufacturing difficulties, power consumption issues, and the need for compact, low-power lens drivers that can efficiently manage variable focus optics within the constraints of a small, aqueous environment.
Innovation Solution
A compact, low-power lens driver system integrated onto a silicon IC, optimized for ophthalmic devices, which includes power management circuitry, sensors, and control algorithms to efficiently actuate variable-focus optics using DC drive and reduced voltage requirements, minimizing current consumption and size while ensuring reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are integrated into contact lenses to provide enhanced functionality, then the lens can offer vision enhancement and additional features, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electronic components (lens driver, sensors, power management) onto a single integrated circuit chip that is then embedded within the contact lens. This merging approach simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate components that need to be individually positioned and connected, while still providing enhanced functionality through the integrated electronic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic components are nested within the contact lens structure, with the integrated circuit chip embedded in the lens body. This nesting approach allows the electronic system to be contained within the small form factor of the contact lens, maintaining wearability while providing additional functionality through the embedded electronics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery power is used to drive electronic components in contact lenses, then the lens can provide powered functionality, but the battery size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power management functionality from a traditional battery system and implements it through an integrated power management circuit that can harvest energy from the user's body movements and environmental sources. This extraction approach eliminates the need for a large, heavy battery while still providing powered functionality through alternative energy harvesting methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy source parameter from chemical battery power to kinetic and environmental energy harvesting. By transforming the energy input method, the system can provide powered functionality without requiring a large, heavy battery, thus reducing the weight of the contact lens while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If high voltage is applied to actuate variable-focus optics, then the lens can achieve focus adjustment, but the current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic actuation of the variable-focus optic, where high voltage is applied only when focus adjustment is needed, rather than continuously. The lens driver circuit uses pulse-width modulation and timing control to apply high voltage in brief periods, achieving focus adjustment while minimizing overall current consumption and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback control through sensors that detect the current focus state and user viewing distance. The lens driver uses this feedback information to determine when high voltage actuation is necessary, applying voltage only when focus adjustment is required. This feedback mechanism optimizes current consumption by eliminating unnecessary high-voltage applications while maintaining ease of focus adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lens driver or lens driver circuitry for an ophthalmic apparatus comprising an electronic system which actuates a variable-focus optic is disclosed herein. The lens driver is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic apparatus. 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 lens driver circuitry includes one or more power sources, one or more high voltage generators and one or more switching circuits.