ELECTRONIC OPHTHALMIC LENS WITH EYE GAZE SENSOR

• US 20140243971A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pugh, Randall Braxton, Toner, Adam, Otts, Daniel B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1624 having adjustable focus; power activated variable focus means, e.g. mechanically or electrically by the ciliary muscle or from the outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/081 Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A powered ophthalmic lens, the powered ophthalmic lens comprising:

a contact lens including an optic zone and a peripheral zone; and

an eye gaze tracking system incorporated into the peripheral zone of the contact lens, the eye gaze tracking system including a sensor to determine and track eye position, a system controller cooperatively associated with the sensor, the system controller configured to determine and track gaze direction in spatial coordinates based on information from the sensor output a control signal, and at least one actuator configured to receive the output control signal and implement a predetermined function.

2. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one photodetector positioned to capture an image of the eye.

3. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 2, wherein the at least one photodetector comprises a rear-facing camera configured to detect changes in images, patterns, or contrast to track eye movement.

4. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one accelerometer to track movement of at least one of the eye or the contact lens.

5. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one neuromuscular sensor configured to detect neuromuscular activity associated with eye movement.

6. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a signal processor configured to receive signals from the sensor, perform digital signal processing, and output one or more to the system controller.

7. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 6, wherein signal processor comprises associated memory.

8. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a power supply.

9. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a communication system for communication with at least a second contact lens.

10. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the spatial coordinates are in two dimensions.

11. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the spatial coordinates are in three dimensions.

12. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 1, wherein the eye gaze tracking system wirelessly interfaces with an external device.

13. A powered ophthalmic lens, the powered ophthalmic lens comprising:

a contact lens; and

an eye gaze tracking system incorporated into the contact lens, the eye gaze tracking system including a sensor to determine and track eye position, a system controller cooperatively associated with the sensor, the system controller configured to determine and track gaze direction in spatial coordinates based on information from the sensor output a control signal, and at least one actuator configured to receive the output control signal and implement a predetermined function.

14. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises at least one photodetector positioned to capture an image of the eye.

15. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the at least one photodetector comprises a rear-facing camera configured to detect changes in images, patterns, or contrast to track eye movement.

16. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises at least one accelerometer to track movement of at least one of the eye or the contact lens.

17. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises at least one neuromuscular sensor configured to detect neuromuscular activity associated with eye movement.

18. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a signal processor configured to receive signals from the sensor, perform digital signal processing, and output one or more to the system controller.

19. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 18, wherein signal processor comprises associated memory.

20. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a power supply.

21. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the eye gaze tracking system further comprises a communication system for communication with at least a second contact lens.

22. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the spatial coordinates are in two dimensions.

23. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the spatial coordinates are in three dimensions.

24. The powered ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, wherein the eye gaze tracking system wirelessly interfaces with an external device.

25. A powered ophthalmic lens, the powered ophthalmic lens comprising:

an intraocular lens; and

an eye gaze tracking system incorporated into the intraocular lens, the eye gaze tracking system including a sensor to determine and track eye position, a system controller cooperatively associated with the sensor, the system controller configured to determine and track gaze direction in spatial coordinates based on information from the sensor output a control signal, and at least one actuator configured to receive the output control signal and implement a predetermined function.