Methods and apparatus for actuating an ophthalmic lens in response to ciliary muscle motion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10172704-B2
Application number	US-201514816249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2015
Priority date	Nov 2, 2004
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

Eyewear is provided including a frame, and a camera connected with the frame, in which the camera is configured to be controlled by a remote controller. The camera may be configured to capture video and/or a photo. The eyewear may include data storage, and the camera may be connected to the data storage. A wrist watch may be configured to act both as a time piece and a controller of the camera. The eyewear may also include a heads up display and/or a video file player. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an ophthalmic lens having an optic zone and a peripheral zone attached to and extending from the optic zone:
a variable optic element incorporated into the optic zone of the ophthalmic lens, the variable optic element being configured to change an optical power of the ophthalmic lens; and
a sensing system attached to the peripheral zone of the ophthalmic lens, the sensing system being configured to detect motion of a ciliary muscle associated with the process of accommodation and to generate an action for controlling the variable optic element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic lens is flexible.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication element to wirelessly receive an external signal for the processor to generate the action for controlling the variable optic element.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing system is configured to generate a first action in response to detection of a first motion of the ciliary muscle and to generate a second action, different from the first action, in response to a second motion of the ciliary muscle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first motion of the ciliary muscle comprises tension and the first action controls the variable optic element to achieve near focus; and
the second motion of the ciliary muscle comprises compression and the second action controls the variable optic element to achieve far focus.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power source, electrically coupled to the variable optic element, to power the variable optic element.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery and a capacitor.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the power source is configured to store electrical power generated by the motion of the ciliary muscle.

9. A method of actuating a variable optic element incorporated into an optic zone of an ophthalmic lens, the method comprising:
detecting motion of a ciliary muscle associated with the process of accommodation; and
generating an action for controlling the variable optic element in response to the motion of the ciliary muscle,
wherein the detecting motion of the ciliary muscle is performed by a sensing system attached to a peripheral zone attached to and extending from the optic zone of the ophthalmic lens.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating another action for controlling the variable optic element in response to a wireless signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein generating the action comprises:
generating a first action in response to detection of a first motion of the ciliary muscle, and
generating a second action, different from the first action, in response to a second motion of the ciliary muscle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first motion of the ciliary muscle comprises tension and the first action controls the variable optic element to achieve near focus; and
the second motion of the ciliary muscle comprises compression and the second action controls the variable optic element to achieve far focus.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
storing electrical power generated by the motion of the ciliary muscle with a power source of the ophthalmic lens.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensing system comprises a piezoelectric element and the detecting motion comprises sensing a change in current flow in the piezoelectric element.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing system comprises a piezoelectric element configured to produce a change in current flow in response to the motion of the ciliary muscle.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ciliary body attachment point configured to attach the sensing system to the ciliary muscle.

Assignees

• E Vision Smart Optics Inc

Inventors

• Blum Ronald D
• Kokonaski William
• Duston Dwight P

Classifications

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• A61F2/1627

  for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting · CPC title