Eye contact lens video display system

• US 5,682,210 A
• Filed: 12/08/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weirich, John
• Original Assignee: Weirich, John
• Inventors: Weirich, John
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/569,870
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 348/739, 348/795, 348/115, 348/61-63, 348/169
• US Class Current: 348/739
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors

Abstract

A contact lens video display system is described which provides a low power, light weight, fully immersive three dimensional visual environment for the wearer. A visual display along with supporting circuitry, battery, and an antenna is formed into a contact lens. The contact lenses are worn on the eyes covering the field of view. Video data is sent to the lens display device from an eyeglass device holding transmitting antenna. The eyeglasses also house eye movement sensors and a backlight for the lens display. The glasses are connected to a data source such as a computer which sends video data to the antenna in the glasses. Furthermore, the eye movement sensors in the glasses send signals to the computer which enables the computer to alter the displayed images in reaction to eye movements and eyelid blinks. The contact lens display device can be connected to any source of video data, thus also enabling the viewing of television, movies, and so on.

Claims

1. A visual display system comprising:

an eye contact lens and visual information display means forming a part of said lens,

said visual information display means comprising an opto-electronic display, a programmable electric circuit in communication with the display, an electromagnetic wave antenna and receiver in communication with the programmable electric circuit and a first source of electric energy in communication with the electric circuit and the receiver, whereby electromagnetic waves are converted by the antenna, receiver, electric circuit and display into a visual display viewable by a wearer of the eye contact lens, and

including means to track eye movement of a wearer of the contact lens comprising lamp means and eye movement detection means both locatable adjacent the wearer'"'"'s eye and means to communicate eye movement information arising from lamp light reflected to the eye movement tracking means to the programmable electric circuit.

2. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the means to communicate eye movement information comprises a second antenna, electro-magnetic wave broadcast means attached to the second antenna and a second source of electric energy in communication with the broadcast means.

3. The visual display system of claim 2 including a source of video data in communication with the broadcast means.

4. The visual display system of claim 3 wherein the lamp means, the means to track eye movement and the means to communicate eye movement information are all located on eyeglass frames locatable on a wearer.

5. The visual display system of claim 4 wherein the source of video data is separately locatable on a wearer and in electrical communication with the broadcast means.

6. The visual display system of claim 4 wherein the source of video data includes broadcast means and antenna means to broadcast directly to the electromagnetic wave antenna and receiver of the contact lens.

7. The visual display system of claim 3 wherein the source of video data includes broadcast means and antenna means to broadcast directly to the electromagnetic wave antenna and receiver of the contact lens.

8. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the first source of electric energy comprises a rechargable battery, said battery including electric access means for recharging at the surface of the contact lens.