Methods and apparatus for positioning a structure on a polymer layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782942-B2
Application number	US-201314143842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for positioning a structure on a polymer layer are described. A method may involve forming a first polymer layer. The method may further involve positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, where the apparatus comprises a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned and a plunger located around the first end of the rod that presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned. And the method may involve forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, where the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
forming a first polymer layer;
positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, wherein the apparatus comprises a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned and a plunger coaxially located around the first end of the rod, wherein the plunger presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned; and
forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, wherein the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a housing and a spring, wherein the rod further comprises a second end, and wherein the spring is connected to the second end of the rod and is configured to retract the rod into the housing during the positioning of the structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rod or plunger comprises a polymer material.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a non-stick coating to the plunger.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the rod supports the structure via an interference fit between the structure and the first end of the rod.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the rod comprises an alignment feature, and wherein the first end of the rod supports the structure via aligning the structure with the alignment feature of the first end of the rod.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a housing, and wherein positioning the structure on the first polymer layer comprises:
placing the structure at the first end of the rod;
orienting the apparatus over the first polymer layer, wherein the orienting of the apparatus over the first polymer layer positions a portion of the structure directly above a predetermined location on the first polymer layer;
bringing the apparatus and the first polymer layer together, such that the first end of the rod contacts the first polymer layer; and
driving the apparatus into a transfer position, wherein in the transfer position: (i) the plunger presses the structure onto the first polymer layer and (ii) the rod retracts into the housing.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises a flange, and wherein driving the apparatus into the transfer position comprises applying force to the flange.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
applying an adhesive to the structure; and
in the transfer position, curing the adhesive.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising bending the structure.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a ring-shaped substrate.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises an electronic component.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the rod comprises a circular shape, wherein the plunger comprises a ring, and wherein an inner diameter of the plunger is greater than an outer diameter of the first end of the rod.

14. A method comprising:
forming a first polymer layer;
positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, wherein the apparatus comprises a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned and a plunger located around the first end of the rod, wherein the plunger presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned, wherein the first end of the rod supports the structure via an interference fit between the structure and the first end of the rod; and
forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, wherein the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a housing and a spring, wherein the rod further comprises a second end, and wherein the spring is connected to the second end of the rod and is configured to retract the rod into the housing during the positioning of the structure.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the rod or plunger comprises a polymer material.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a non-stick coating to the plunger.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the structure comprises a ring-shaped substrate.

19. A method comprising:
forming a first polymer layer;
positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing, a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned, and a plunger located around the first end of the rod, wherein the plunger presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned, wherein positioning the structure on the first polymer layer comprises driving the apparatus into a transfer position, and wherein in the transfer position: (i) the plunger presses the structure onto the first polymer layer and (ii) the rod retracts into the housing; and
forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, wherein the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the housing further comprises a flange, and wherein driving the apparatus into the transfer position comprises applying force to the flange.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
applying an adhesive to the structure; and
in the transfer position, curing the adhesive.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising bending the structure.

Assignees

• Verily Life Sciences Llc

Inventors

• Linhardt Jeffrey George
• Barrows Daniel Patrick

Classifications

• B29D11/00038

  Production of contact lenses · CPC title

• B29C65/4845

  Radiation curing adhesives, e.g. UV light curing adhesives · CPC title

• B29C65/7844

  cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined (parts to be joined comprising holes or slots for the purpose of positioning said parts B29C65/7808; parts to be joined comprising inter-cooperating positioning features B29C65/7814; welding using friction, the welding tool cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined B29C65/069) · CPC title

• B29C66/8161

  said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material · CPC title

• B29D11/00807 Primary

  Producing lenses combined with electronics, e.g. chips · CPC title