WEARABLE DEVICE AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20160154256A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yajima, Masakazu, Nakamura, Takatoshi, Iwasaki, Masanori, Hirabayashi, Takayuki, Kawakami, Itaru
• Granted Patent: US 10,534,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present technology relates to a wearable device and an electricity supply system that make it possible to reduce the stress on a user in relation to electricity supply. A power generating unit is provided on the external world-side surface or the eyeball-side surface of a contact lens-type wearable device. The power generating unit generates electric power by chemical reaction with a substance contained in a secretion or a body fluid of a user wearing the wearable device, and a power managing unit supplies the electric power obtained in the power generating unit to each part of the wearable device. Thus, the power generating unit performs electricity generation using the secretion or the body fluid of the user as fuel; thereby, electric power can be stably supplied, and the stress on the user in relation to electricity supply can be reduced. The present technology can be applied to a contact lens-type wearable device.

Claims

1. A wearable device wearable on an eyeball, comprising:

a power generating unit configured to generate electric power by chemical reaction with a substance supplied from an outside; and

a power managing unit configured to supply electric power obtained in the power generating unit to each part.

2. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating unit generates electric power by chemical reaction with the substance contained in a secretion or a body fluid of a user wearing the wearable device.

3. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the substance is a sugar.

4. The wearable device according to claim 2, further comprising

an electricity storage unit configured to store electric power obtained in the power generating unit.

5. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the power generating unit is provided on a surface on an opposite side to the eyeball side of the wearable device and generates electric power by chemical reaction with the substance contained in a tear as the secretion.

6. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the power generating unit is provided on a film attachable to and detachable from the wearable device.

7. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the power generating unit is located on a front surface of an eyelid of the user, a back surface of an eyelid of the user, or a surface of a tissue around an eye of the user when the wearable device is worn on the user.

8. The wearable device according to claim 7, wherein the power generating unit is attachable to and detachable from the wearable device.

9. The wearable device according to claim 7, wherein the power generating unit generates electric power by chemical reaction with the substance contained in at least one of blood and aqueous humor as the body fluid.

10. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the power generating unit is provided so as to cover an outer periphery of the wearable device.

11. The wearable device according to claim 2, further comprising

a processing unit configured to perform processing in accordance with a concentration of the substance supplied to the power generating unit.

12. The wearable device according to claim 2, further comprising

a processing unit configured to monitor a change in the substance contained in the secretion or the body fluid of the user supplied to the power generating unit.

13. The wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the processing unit estimates health condition or stress condition of the user on the basis of a monitoring result of a change in the substance.

14. An electricity supply system comprising:

a wearable device wearable on an eyeball; and

a storage case configured to store the wearable device,

the wearable device including

a power generating unit configured to generate electric power by chemical reaction with a substance supplied from an outside,

a power managing unit configured to supply electric power obtained in the power generating unit to each part, and

an electricity storage unit configured to store electric power obtained in the power generating unit,

wherein the storage case is capable of retaining a storage liquid containing the substance in such a manner that the wearable device is in a state of being impregnated with the storage liquid.