EYES CLOSED INTERFACE

• US 20170227792A1
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: STARNER, Thad Eugene, OTIS, Brian, BRAUN, Max Benjamin, JOHNSON, Michael Patrick, PLETCHER, Nathan, HADDOCK, Joshua N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,394,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• 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: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• 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 7/049 Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/081 Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length

Abstract

An eye-mountable device including a lens including a polymeric material, the lens operable to be removably mounted over a corneal surface of an eye and to be compatible with a motion of an eyelid when the concave surface is so mounted; a sensor coupled to the lens and operable to provide output data indicative of whether an eyelid of an eye on which the lens is mounted is closed; and a display operable to display a light signal in response to the output data from the sensor that the eyelid is closed. A method including determining whether an eyelid of a wearer of an eye-mountable device is closed; and when an eyelid of a wearer is closed, sending a light signal from the eye-mountable device.

Claims

1. An eye-mountable device comprising:

a lens comprising a polymeric material, the lens operable to be removably mounted over an eye and to be compatible with a motion of an eyelid when the concave surface is so mounted;

a sensor coupled to the lens and operable to provide output data indicative of whether an eyelid of an eye on which the lens is mounted is closed; and

a display operable to display a light signal in response to the output data from the sensor that the eyelid is closed.

2. The eye-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable to detect a light change.

3. The eye-mountable device of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a photocell.

4. The eye-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable to detect a movement of the lens.

5. The eye-mountable device of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

6. The eye-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the lens and operable to power a light signal displayed on the display.

7. The eye-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising control electronics coupled to the lens.

8. The eye-mountable device of claim 7, wherein the control electronics are operable to monitor a state of the device and to send a signal to the display indicative of the monitored state.

9. The eye-mountable device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a power source and the monitored state is a charge of the power source.

10. The eye-mountable device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a dynamic optic and the monitored state is a state of the dynamic optic.

11. The eye-mountable device of claim 7, wherein the control electronics are operable to monitor a bodily condition and to send a signal to the display of the bodily condition.

12. The eye-mountable device of claim 11, wherein the signal comprises a series of signals.

13. The eye-mountable device of claim 7, wherein the control electronics are operable to send a signal on the display of a phone notification.

14. The eye-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the device further comprising a second sensor operable to sense a movement of an eye and a controller coupled to the second sensor and operable to receive a signal from the second sensor.

15. The eye-mountable device of claim 14, wherein the second sensor is operable to sense a left or right or up or down movement of the eye.

16. A method comprising:

determining whether an eyelid of a wearer of an eye-mountable device is closed; and

when an eyelid of a wearer is closed, sending a light signal from the eye-mountable device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the light signal is indicative of a bodily condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the light signal comprises a first signal indicative of the bodily condition in a first state and a different second signal indicative of the bodily condition in a second state that is different from the first state.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the light signal is indicative of a state of the device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the state of the device is a power source charge.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the eye-mountable device comprises a dynamic optic and the light signal is indicative of a state of the dynamic optic.