System controller for variable-optic electronic ophthalmic lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9980810-B2
Application number	US-201313780707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2013
Priority date	Apr 3, 2012
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A system controller for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system which actuates a variable-focus optic is disclosed herein. The system controller is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The controller including multiple state machines configured as digital logic gates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ophthalmic apparatus comprising:
an ophthalmic device including a soft plastic portion having an electronic insert comprising a variable-focus lens in the center thereof;
an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic device and configured for use in at least one of in or on the eye, the electronic system mounted on the electronic insert around the variable-focus lens;
a system controller incorporated into the electronic system for controlling the operation thereof, the system controller being configured to implement a master state machine that receives a master state machine clock signal and outputs at least one signal, the system controller including a clock and reset subsystem and at least one subsystem configured to implement a subsystem state machine to control an electronic component of the electronic system, wherein the master state machine progresses through a predetermined sequence of states, and wherein the clock and reset generator subsystem and master state machine interoperate to supply a state machine clock signal and an enable signal operable to activate and then deactivate the at least one subsystem upon completion of the subsystem's operation to reduce power consumption, a subsystem clock signal being at a higher frequency than the master state machine clock signal;
electronic circuitry incorporated into the electronic system, the electronic circuitry being operatively associated with and providing power to the system controller, the electronic circuitry including one or more power sources and one or more of clock generation circuits or inputs; and
at least one actuator configured to receive the at least one output from the system controller to control the operation of the variable-focus lens.

2. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a contact lens.

3. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

4. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the master state machine is implemented in hardware.

5. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the master state machine is implemented in software.

6. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the master state machine is implemented in a combination of hardware and software.

7. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the clock and reset generator subsystem comprises a low-frequency clock source and counter.

8. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the system controller is configured to have only the low-frequency clock source and counter in an active state upon a reset, at a startup, and/or between a sampling and an actuation action.

9. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the clock and reset generator circuit is configured to provide a state machine clock and a state machine reset to the master state machine and periodically activate the master state machine.

10. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor and a first sensor signal path, wherein the master state machine is configured to periodically enable the first sensor and the first sensor signal path and receive a sensor signal having a value or sequence of values, and wherein the activation period corresponds to a predetermined sample rate of the first sensor and first sensor signal path.

11. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a second sensor and a second sensor signal path, wherein the master state machine is configured to enable the second sensor and the second sensor signal path upon detecting a unique predetermined value or sequence of values from the first sensor and first sensor signal path.

12. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first sensor and the first sensor signal path comprises a photosensor and photosensor signal path and the sensor signal comprises a value indicating an incident light level on the photosensor.

13. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined sequence of values represents a blink pattern.

14. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the master state machine enables a lens driver upon detection of a first blink pattern.

15. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the master state machine enables at least one of a light or electromagnetic receiver upon detection of a second blink pattern.

16. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the electronic system further comprises a subsystem having a high-speed clock configured to provide a “done” signal indicating completion of its operations to the master state machine.

17. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises power management circuitry.

18. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises one or more high voltage generators.

19. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises one or more switching circuits.

20. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises one or more sensors.

21. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises a digital blink detection subsystem.

22. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsystems comprises a charge pump voltage multiplier controller subsystem.

23. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises a digital receiver subsystem.

24. An ophthalmic apparatus comprising:
an ophthalmic device including a soft plastic portion having an electronic insert comprising a variable-focus lens in the center thereof;
an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic device and configured for use in at least one of in or on the eye, the electronic system mounted on the electronic insert around the variable-focus lens;
a system controller incorporated into the electronic system for controlling the operation thereof, the system controller being configured to implement a master state machine that receives a master state machine clock signal and outputs at least one signal, the system controller including a clock and reset subsystem and at least one subsystem configured to implement a subsystem state machine to control an electronic component of the electronic system, wherein the master state machine progresses through a predetermined sequence of states, and wherein the subsystem receives a subsystem clock signal having a higher frequency than the master state machine clock signal and wherein the subsystem generates a done signal operable to disables the subsystem clock signal upon completion of the subsystem's operation to reduce power consumption;
electronic circuitry incorporated into the electronic system, the electronic circuitry being operatively associated with and providing power to the system controller, the electronic circuitry including one or more power sources and one or more of clock generation circuits or inputs; and
at least one actuator configured to receive the at least one output from the system controller to control the operation of the variable-focus lens.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Humphreys Scott Robert
• Toner Adam
• Pugh Randall Braxton

Classifications

• A61F2/1624 Primary

  having adjustable focus; power activated variable focus means, e.g. mechanically or electrically by the ciliary muscle or from the outside · CPC title

• A61F2250/0002

  for data transfer · CPC title

• A61F2/16 Primary

  Intraocular lenses · CPC title

• G02C7/04 Primary

  Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) · CPC title

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title