SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR OPHTHALMIC LENSES WITH WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20180203260A1
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Published: 07/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald David
• Granted Patent: US 11,137,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/00 Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48
• 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: G02C 7/041 bifocal; multifocal
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/086 Auxiliary lenses located directly on a main spectacle lens or in the immediate vicinity of main spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

An ophthalmic device includes a lens and an electronic component embedded in the lens to enhance the functionality of the lens. The ophthalmic device includes a first coil to wirelessly receive energy from an external device, such as a wireless charger, and wirelessly transmits the received energy to a second coil coupled to the electronic component so as to power the electronic component. The first coil can function as part of a repeater to facilitate the wireless charging. The repeater can receive electrical energy wirelessly and works with various positions, sizes, and shapes of the electronic component. The wireless power efficiency can also be increased using the repeater to concentrate a magnetic flux within the second coil.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a lens;

a first coil, operably coupled to the lens, to receive electrical energy wirelessly from an external device;

a second coil, embedded in the lens, to receive the electrical energy wirelessly from the first coil; and

at least one electronic component, embedded in the lens, to consume at least a portion of the electrical energy received by the second coil.

2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the lens is a spectacle lens and the first coil is disposed about a perimeter of the spectacle lens.

3. The ophthalmic device of claim 2, further comprising:

frames holding the spectacle lens,

wherein the first coil is disposed between the spectacle lens and the frames.

4. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is disposed on a lens frame holding the lens.

5. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the lens has no optical power.

6. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is configured to receive the electrical energy from the external device via magnetic resonance.

7. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is configured to receive the electrical energy from the external device via magnetic induction.

8. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the lens is a contact lens and the first coil is embedded within the contact lens.

9. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the lens is a contact lens and the first coil is disposed about a perimeter of the contact lens.

10. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the second coil is concentric with the first coil.

11. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage element, embedded in the lens and operably coupled to the second coil, to store the electrical energy received by the second coil, wherein the at least one electronic component consumes the electrical energy stored in the energy storage unit.

12. The ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein the energy storage element comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, or a supercapacitor.

13. The ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein the energy storage element comprises a thin film battery disposed at a periphery of the at least one electronic component.

14. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component comprises:

an electro-active element having a transmission that changes in response to an application of a voltage to the electro-active element.

15. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component comprises:

an electro-active element having a refractive index that changes in response to application of a voltage to the electro-active element.

16. The ophthalmic device of claim 15, further including:

a range finder, operably coupled to the electro-active element, to measure a distance between a wearer of the ophthalmic device and an object of interest,

wherein the voltage is based at least in part on the distance.

17. A method of operating an ophthalmic device including a lens and at least one electronic component embedded in the lens, the method comprising:

receiving electrical energy wirelessly from an external device using a first coil coupled to the lens;

transmitting the electrical energy wirelessly from the first coil to a second coil embedded in the lens;

storing the electrical energy received by the second coil into an energy storage element;

operating the at least one electronic component using at least a portion of the electrical energy stored by the energy storage element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein storing the electrical energy comprises storing the electrical energy into a thin film battery disposed between the lens and the first coil.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the electrical energy comprises receiving the electrical energy from the external device via magnetic resonance.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the electrical energy comprises receiving the electrical energy from the external device via magnetic induction.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the electrical energy comprises transmitting the electrical energy from the first coil to the second coil concentric with the first coil.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein operating the at least one electronic component comprises:

applying a voltage to the at least one electronic component including an electro-active element to change a transmission of the electro-active element.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

measuring an ambient light level around the ophthalmic device; and

applying the voltage based at least in part on the ambient light level.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein operating the at least one electronic component comprises:

applying a voltage to the at least one electronic component including an electro-active element to change a refractive index of the electro-active element.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

measuring a distance between a wearer of the ophthalmic device and an object of interest; and

applying the voltage based at least in part on the distance.

26. Spectacles comprising:

spectacle frames;

a lens disposed in the spectacle frames;

a first coil, disposed about a perimeter of the lens, to receive electrical energy wirelessly from an external device;

an insulator, disposed between the first coil and an electronic component, to insulate the coil from the electronic components.

a second coil, embedded in the lens, to receive the electrical energy wirelessly from the first coil;

a battery, embedded in the lens and operably coupled to the second coil, to store the electrical energy received by the second coil; and

the electronic component, embedded in the lens and operably coupled to the battery, to consume at least a portion of the electrical energy stored by the power supply.