U.S. patent application number 16/433961 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-19 for ophthalmic devices incorporating photonic elements.
The applicant listed for this patent is Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.. Invention is credited to Frederick A. Flitsch, Randall B. Pugh.
Application Number | 20190285914 16/433961 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50272529 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-19 |
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20190285914/US20190285914A1-20190919-D00009.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190285914 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pugh; Randall B. ; et
al. |
September 19, 2019 |
OPHTHALMIC DEVICES INCORPORATING PHOTONIC ELEMENTS
Abstract
This invention describes Ophthalmic Devices with media inserts
that have photonic elements upon or within them. In some
embodiments passive ophthalmic devices of various kinds may be
formed. Methods and devices for active ophthalmic devices based on
photonic based projection systems may also be formed.
Inventors: |
Pugh; Randall B.; (St.
Johns, FL) ; Flitsch; Frederick A.; (New Windsor,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. |
Jacksonville |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50272529 |
Appl. No.: |
16/433961 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15266558 |
Sep 15, 2016 |
10317705 |
|
|
16433961 |
|
|
|
|
13833877 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
9465236 |
|
|
15266558 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 27/017 20130101;
G02B 27/0172 20130101; G02C 7/04 20130101; G02C 11/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02C 11/00 20060101
G02C011/00; G02B 27/01 20060101 G02B027/01; G02C 7/04 20060101
G02C007/04 |
Claims
1. An ophthalmic device comprising: at least a one light source
that emits light; at least one photonic emitter that emits at least
some of the light received from the light source; an electronic
component that applies an electrical potential to the light
source.
2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the photonic emitter
is comprised of a semiconducting material.
3. The ophthalmic device of claim 2 wherein: the semiconducting
material comprises silicon.
4. The ophthalmic device of claim 3 wherein: the photonic emitter
additionally comprises a resistive heating element.
5. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the light source
comprises a light emitting diode.
6. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the light source
comprises a laser.
7. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 additionally comprising: a
pixel based light modulating system.
8. The ophthalmic device of claim 7 wherein: the pixel based light
modulation system comprises a surface region that is free of energy
and capable of being altered by the application of an
electropotential field.
9. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the at least one
photonic emitter receives light via evanescent coupling.
10. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 further comprising: a light
pipe optically coupled to the at least one light source.
11. The ophthalmic device of claim 23, wherein: the at least one
photonic emitter comprises a light receiving portion which runs
parallel to the light pipe.
12. The ophthalmic device of claim 24, wherein: the at least one
photonic emitter comprises a radiator portion shaped in a
diffraction grating.
13. The ophthalmic device of claim 8, wherein: the pixel based
light modulation system comprises a meniscus based lens.
14. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: light from the
photonic emitter proceeds in an altered directed than that incident
upon the photonic emitter.
15. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the photonic emitter
further comprises an antenna structure to transmit light.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/266,558, filed Sep. 16, 2015, and entitled
"OPHTHALMIC DEVICES INCORPORATING PHOTONIC ELEMENTS" which is a
Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/833,877, filed on
Mar. 15, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF USE
[0002] This invention describes Ophthalmic Devices that have
Photonic Emitters upon or within them.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditionally, an ophthalmic device, such as a contact lens,
an intraocular lens, or a punctal plug, included a biocompatible
device with a corrective, cosmetic, or therapeutic quality. A
contact lens, for example, may provide one or more of vision
correcting functionality, cosmetic enhancement, and therapeutic
effects. Each function is provided by a physical characteristic of
the lens. A design incorporating a refractive quality into a lens
may provide a vision corrective function. A pigment incorporated
into the lens may provide a cosmetic enhancement. An active agent
incorporated into a lens may provide a therapeutic functionality.
Such physical characteristics are accomplished without the lens
entering into an energized state. A punctal plug has traditionally
been a passive device.
[0004] Novel ophthalmic devices based on energized and
non-energized ophthalmic inserts have recently been described.
These devices may use the energization function to power active
optical components.
[0005] Recently, it has been demonstrated that nanoscale photonic
elements may be useful in projecting photons from arrays of said
elements. In both the near field and the far field perspectives of
the photon projection, images may be obtained.
[0006] It may be useful to define ophthalmic devices to result from
the incorporation of nanoscale photonic elements or arrays of such
elements into said ophthalmic devices.
SUMMARY
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention includes an encapsulated
Media Insert with Photonic Emitters that may be included into an
energized Ophthalmic Device, and in some embodiments, specifically,
a contact lens. The Photonic Emitters may provide light patterns or
dynamic images from light patterns that may be used to convey
information or data through an ophthalmic device to a user's retina
in the form of the light patterns. In some embodiments, an
energized Ophthalmic Device with a projection system comprising an
array of Photonic Emitters where the image is filtered by a
corresponding array of light modulating elements and projected
through an electro-optic lens system is provided.
[0008] The present invention therefore includes disclosure of
Ophthalmic devices which contain Photonic Emitters. The Ophthalmic
devices may additionally include light sources which provide light
to the Photonic Emitters. The novel Ophthalmic devices may
additionally include electronic components that control and pass
energy in the form of electrical potential to the light source. The
electronic components may receive their energy from energization
elements. In some embodiments, these components may all be
assembled in an Ophthalmic device that may have a size and shape
that is consistent with the Ophthalmic device occupying a position
that is between a user's eye surface and a that eye's respective
eye lid.
[0009] In some embodiments, the Photonic Emitters of such a device
may be formed in a semiconducting material which may include or be
made of silicon. Designs of the Photonic Emitters may have numerous
aspects useful to their function. For example, the incorporation of
resistive heating elements in their structure may allow for
Photonic Emitter elements that influence the phase characteristics
of light that pass through them. Other design elements, such as the
length and separation of portions of the Photonic Emitter relative
to light pipes that provide photons to the system, may be
important.
[0010] The light sources that provide light to the Photonic
Emitters and to the systems formed from combinations of these
Photonic Emitters may be of different types. Some embodiments may
be comprised of light emitting diodes for the light source. Other
embodiments may comprise solid state laser elements as at least
part of the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may
be comprised of combinations of multiple light sources. The
combination may be of Led and Laser sources or of individual
sources of each type, where the individual sources may have
different wavelength characteristics. For example, a solid-state
light emitting element of either a diode type or a laser type may
be one of at least the following color choices: Red, Orange,
Yellow, Green, or Blue to mention some examples. In some
embodiments, the light source may be formed in or upon the same
substrate as the Photonic Emitter in a processing flow that my in
one flow process light sources, electronic components and optical
components. In other embodiments, separate light source components
may be attached to the systems comprising Photonic Emitters.
[0011] The Ophthalmic device may include elements and systems of
elements that act on the intensity of light emitted from a Photonic
Emitter before it leaves the ophthalmic device. In some
embodiments, each Photonic Emitter may comprise a pixel element,
and each pixel element may also have a Light Modulating Element. A
combination of these light modulating elements may be considered a
light modulating system. When each of the light modulating elements
is paired with a Photonic Emitter or a repeating combination of
Photonic Emitters, the system may be considered as a Pixel Based
Light Modulating System.
[0012] The Light Modulating Elements may function by interposing a
material that filters light into the light path arising from the
Photonic Emitters. In some embodiments, this function may be
performed using Electro-Wetting on Dielectric (EWOD) based
phenomena, where a surface region within the device may be
constructed to have a nascent surface free energy. The EWOD device
may then also have a combination of immiscible liquids or fluids
that interact differently with the surface region of defined
nascent surface free energy. A controlled application of an
electro-potential across the surface region may be useful in
altering its surface free energy or its effective surface free
energy and thus interact with the combination of immiscible fluids
differently. If at least one of the fluids absorbs or scatters the
light emanating from the Photonic Emitter and the other does not,
by changing which fluids are or are not in the light path, a
control or modulation of the light intensity may be obtained and
this may be called light modulation.
[0013] An Ophthalmic device may be formed by incorporating a
projection system along with energization elements, control
circuitry, communication circuitry and data processing circuitry
into a single entity. The projection system may be made up of a
subsystem comprising at least a Photonic Emitter element, a light
source, a light modulating element and a lens element. The
projection systems may also be made up of subsystems that comprise
combinations of Photonic Emitter elements and an associated Pixel
Based Light Modulating Elements.
[0014] An ophthalmic device, which incorporates a projection
system, may display data or information in various forms. The
display may project text-based information. Similarly, the display
may project images. The images may be of the form of digital images
comprised of multiple pixels of image data projected. The images
may be displayed as a monochrome display or alternatively have
various degrees of color. By altering the display on a time scale,
the projection system may display data in the form of video of
various formats.
[0015] The exemplary display of an ophthalmic display comprising a
system of Photonic Emitters may incorporate lenses as part of the
ophthalmic device. These lenses may act on the image formed from
the system of photonic emitters and focus that image in various
ways onto the user's retina. The far field image created by the
array of photonic emitters or the near field image created by the
array of photonic emitters may be focused by the lens system. In
some embodiments, the lens system may comprise multiple lens
subsystems. In some embodiments, the lens subsystems may have
elements that have a fixed focal characteristic or a fixed focal
length. In other embodiments, the lens subsystem may include at
least a first variable focal length lens. An example of such a
variable focal length lens may include a meniscus-based lens that
may also function utilizing the EWOD effect. Complex variable focal
length lens may also be formed with multiple electrode regions that
may be useful to move the focal point characteristic of the lens
both from a focal length perspective but also from a translational
perspective that may effectively vary where the image is projected.
In some cases, the image may be projected by the system through a
user's eye and upon a user's retina. When projected on the user's
retina, the size of the image formed by the extent of the imaged
photonic elements may be less than a square centimeter in size. In
other embodiments the size may be less than or approximately equal
to a square millimeter in size.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a Media Insert
for an energized ophthalmic device and an exemplary embodiment of
an energized Ophthalmic Device.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary contact lens with various
features including an incorporated annular multi-piece insert that
may be useful for implementing aspects of the art herein.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment to
that demonstrated in FIG. 2 wherein the insert comprises material
in the optical zone.
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary Photonic Emitter structures
consistent with structures described in the state of the art
elsewhere, which may be useful for implementing aspects of the art
herein.
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates an array structure of Photonic Emitters
with a light source and means of coupling the light source to the
array.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary device comprising an array
of Photonic Emitters within a portion of the optical zone of an
exemplary ophthalmic device.
[0022] FIG. 7. Illustrates an exemplary light modulating element
structure that may be useful for implementing aspects of the art
herein.
[0023] FIG. 8. Illustrates an alternative exemplary light
modulating element structure that may be useful for implementing
aspects of the art herein.
[0024] FIG. 9. Illustrates an exemplary energized ophthalmic device
for a projection system comprising photonic arrays, light phase or
intensity modulation arrays and lens systems that may be useful for
implementing aspects of the art herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention relates to an ophthalmic device having
Photonic Emitters that may project light patterns in the
environment of the eye. In the following sections detailed
descriptions of embodiments of the invention will be given. The
description of both preferred and alternative embodiments are
exemplary embodiments only, and it is understood that to those
skilled in the art that variations, modifications and alterations
may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that said
exemplary embodiments do not limit the scope of the underlying
invention.
Glossary
[0026] In this description and claims directed to the presented
invention, various terms may be used for which the following
definitions will apply:
[0027] Electro-wetting on Dielectric or EWOD: as used herein refers
to a class of devices or a class of portions of devices where a
combination of immiscible fluids or liquids, a surface region with
defined surface free energy and an electro-potential field are
present. Typically, the electro-potential field will alter the
surface free energy of the surface region, which may alter the
interaction of the immiscible fluids with the surface region.
[0028] Energized: as used herein refers to the state of being able
to supply electrical current to or to have electrical energy stored
within.
[0029] Energy: as used herein refers to the capacity of a physical
system to do work. Many uses within this invention may relate to
the said capacity being able to perform electrical actions in doing
work.
[0030] Energy Source: as used herein refers to a device or layer
that is capable of supplying Energy or placing a logical or
electrical device in an Energized state.
[0031] Energy Harvester: as used herein refers to a device capable
of extracting energy from the environment and converting it to
electrical energy.
[0032] Functionalized: as used herein refers to making a layer or
device able to perform a function including for example,
energization, activation, or control.
[0033] Leakage: as used herein refers to unwanted loss of
energy.
[0034] Lens or Ophthalmic Device: as used herein refers to any
device that resides in or on the eye. These devices may provide
optical correction, may be cosmetic, or may provide functionality
unrelated to the eye. For example, the term lens may refer to a
contact lens, intraocular lens, overlay lens, ocular insert,
optical insert, or other similar device through which vision is
corrected or modified, or through which eye physiology is
cosmetically enhanced (e.g. iris color) without impeding vision.
Alternatively, the Lens may provide non-optic functions such as,
for example, monitoring glucose or administrating medicine. In some
embodiments, the preferred lenses of the invention are soft contact
lenses are made from silicone elastomers or hydrogels, which
include, for example, silicone hydrogels, and fluorohydrogels.
[0035] Lens-forming mixture or Reactive Mixture or Reactive Monomer
Mixture (RMM): as used herein refers to a monomer or prepolymer
material that may be cured and crosslinked or crosslinked to form
an ophthalmic lens. Various embodiments may include lens-forming
mixtures with one or more additives such as, for example, UV
blockers, tints, photoinitiators or catalysts, and other additives
one might desire in an ophthalmic lenses such as, contact or
intraocular lenses.
[0036] Lens-forming Surface: as used herein refers to a surface
that is used to mold a lens. In some embodiments, any such surface
can have an optical quality surface finish, which indicates that it
is sufficiently smooth and formed so that a lens surface fashioned
by the polymerization of a lens forming material in contact with
the molding surface is optically acceptable. Further, in some
embodiments, the lens-forming surface can have a geometry that is
necessary to impart to the lens surface the desired optical
characteristics, including without limitation, spherical,
aspherical and cylinder power, wave front aberration correction,
corneal topography correction and the like as well as any
combinations thereof.
[0037] Light Modulating Element as used herein refers to a device
or portion of a device that modulates the intensity of light
transmitting from one side to another. The ideal light modulating
elements in embodiments herein will transmit all light in one state
and no light in another. Practical elements may substantially
achieve the ideal aspects.
[0038] Lithium Ion Cell: as used herein refers to an
electrochemical cell where Lithium ions move through the cell to
generate electrical energy. This electrochemical cell, typically
called a battery, may be reenergized or recharged in its typical
forms.
[0039] Media Insert: as used herein refers to an encapsulated
insert that will be included in an energized ophthalmic device. The
energization elements and circuitry may be incorporated in the
Media Insert. The Media Insert defines the primary purpose of the
energized ophthalmic device. For example, in embodiments where the
energized ophthalmic device allows the user to adjust the optic
power, the Media Insert may include energization elements that
control a liquid meniscus portion in the Optical Zone.
Alternatively, a Media Insert may be annular so that the Optical
Zone is void of material. In such embodiments, the energized
function of the Lens may not be optic quality but may be, for
example, monitoring glucose or administering medicine.
[0040] Mold: as used herein refers to a rigid or semi-rigid object
that may be used to form lenses from uncured formulations. Some
preferred molds include two mold parts forming a front curve mold
part and a back curve mold part.
[0041] Operating Mode: as used herein refers to a high current draw
state where the current over a circuit allows the device to perform
its primary energized function.
[0042] Optical Zone: as used herein refers to an area of an
ophthalmic lens through which a wearer of the ophthalmic lens
sees.
[0043] Photonic Emitter: as used herein refers to a device or
device portion that may receive incident light and transmit that
light into free space. The light may typically proceed in an
altered direction than that incident upon the emitter. The Emitter
may typically comprise an antenna structure to transmit the
light.
[0044] Pixel Based Light Modulation System: as used herein refers
to a combination of light modulating elements that function
individually wherein each individually function portion of the
light modulation system may be considered a pixel or picture
element.
[0045] Power: as used herein refers to work done or energy
transferred per unit of time.
[0046] Rechargeable or Re-energizable: as used herein refers to a
capability of being restored to a state with higher capacity to do
work. Many uses within this invention may relate to the capability
of being restored with the ability to flow electrical current at a
certain rate and for a certain, reestablished period.
[0047] Reenergize or Recharge: as used herein refers to restoring
to a state with higher capacity to do work. Many uses within this
invention may relate to restoring a device to the capability to
flow electrical current at a certain rate and for a certain,
reestablished period.
[0048] Reference: as use herein refers to a circuit which produces
an, ideally, fixed and stable voltage or current output suitable
for use in other circuits. A reference may be derived from a
bandgap, may be compensated for temperature, supply, and process
variation, and may be tailored specifically to a particular
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
[0049] Released from a Mold: as used herein refers to a lens is
either completely separated from the mold, or is only loosely
attached so that it may be removed with mild agitation or pushed
off with a swab.
[0050] Reset Function: as used herein refers to a self-triggering
algorithmic mechanism to set a circuit to a specific predetermined
state, including, for example, logic state or an energization
state. A Reset Function may include, for example, a power-on reset
circuit, which may work in conjunction with the Switching Mechanism
to ensure proper bring-up of the chip, both on initial connection
to the power source and on wakeup from Storage Mode.
[0051] Sleep Mode or Standby Mode: as used herein refers to a low
current draw state of an energized device after the Switching
Mechanism has been closed that allows for energy conservation when
Operating Mode is not required.
[0052] Stacked: as used herein means to place at least two
component layers in proximity to each other such that at least a
portion of one surface of one of the layers contacts a first
surface of a second layer. In some embodiments, a film, whether for
adhesion or other functions may reside between the two layers that
are in contact with each other through said film.
[0053] Stacked Integrated Component Devices or SIC Devices: as used
herein refers to the products of packaging technologies that
assemble thin layers of substrates that may contain electrical and
electromechanical devices into operative-integrated devices by
means of stacking at least a portion of each layer upon each other.
The layers may comprise component devices of various types,
materials, shapes, and sizes. Furthermore, the layers may be made
of various device production technologies to fit and assume various
contours.
[0054] Storage Mode: as used herein refers to a state of a system
comprising electronic components where a power source is supplying
or is required to supply a minimal designed load current. This term
is not interchangeable with Standby Mode.
[0055] Substrate Insert: as used herein refers to a formable or
rigid substrate capable of supporting an Energy Source within an
ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, the Substrate insert also
supports one or more components.
[0056] Switching Mechanism: as used herein refers to a component
integrated with the circuit providing various levels of resistance
that may be responsive to an outside stimulus, which is independent
of the ophthalmic device.
Energized Ophthalmic Device
[0057] Proceeding to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a Media
Insert 100 for an energized ophthalmic device and a corresponding
energized ophthalmic device 150 are illustrated. The Media Insert
100 may comprise an Optical Zone 120 that may or may not be
functional to provide vision correction. Where the energized
function of the ophthalmic device is unrelated to vision, the
Optical Zone 120 of the Media Insert 100 may be void of material.
In some embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may include a portion not
in the Optical Zone 120 comprising a substrate 115 incorporated
with energization elements 110 and electronic components 105. There
may be numerous embodiments relating to including Photonic Emitters
into ophthalmic devices.
[0058] In some embodiments, a power source 110, which may be, for
example, a battery, and a load 105, which may be, for example, a
semiconductor die, may be attached to the substrate 115. Conductive
traces 125 and 130 may electrically interconnect the electronic
components 105 and the energization elements 110. The Media Insert
100 may be fully encapsulated to protect and contain the
energization elements, traces, and electronic components. In some
embodiments, the encapsulating material may be semi-permeable, for
example, to prevent specific substances, such as water, from
entering the Media Insert 100 and to allow specific substances,
such as ambient gasses or the byproducts of reactions within
energization elements, to penetrate or escape from the Media Insert
100.
[0059] In some embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may be included in
an ophthalmic device 150, which may comprise a polymeric
biocompatible material. The ophthalmic device 150 may include a
rigid center, soft skirt design wherein a central rigid optical
element comprises the Media Insert 100. In some specific
embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may be in direct contact with the
atmosphere and the corneal surface on respective anterior and
posterior surfaces, or alternatively, the Media Insert 100 may be
encapsulated in the ophthalmic device 150. The periphery 155 of the
ophthalmic Lens 150 may be a soft skirt material, including, for
example, a hydrogel material.
[0060] The infrastructure of the media insert 100 and the
ophthalmic device 150 may provide an environment for numerous
embodiments involving light projection with Photonic Emitters,
which may be combined with active or non-active lens devices and in
some embodiments with light intensity modulating arrays. Some of
these embodiments may involve purely passive function of the
portion of the ophthalmic device not related to the photonic
projection components. Other embodiments, may involve the
ophthalmic device having active functions that may complement or
supplement the function of the photonic projection components. For
example, the non-projection portions of the device may provide
vision correction or active "screening" of the device such that its
transparency to incident light is reduced.
[0061] Proceeding to FIG. 2, item 200 a depiction of an exemplary
multi-piece insert may be illustrated in cross section. The insert
of this type is an annular insert with a ring of material around a
central optical zone that is devoid of material. In FIG. 2, the
ophthalmic device, 220, may have a cross sectional representation,
230, which represents a cross section through the location
represented by line 210. In an exemplary embodiment, the region of
the insert outside the optic zone of the ophthalmic device may
include energization elements and controlling electronics to
support active elements of various kinds. These active elements may
typically include sensors and communication elements of various
types. Alternatively, in some embodiments of the inventive art
herein may provide the control and energization function for a
projection element based upon photonic projection elements. As
well, outside the optic zone of the device there may be printed
patterns placed on the insert as shown by item 221 and in cross
section as items 231.
[0062] In some embodiments, there may be a requirement for
orientation of the ophthalmic lens within the ocular environment.
Items 250 and 260 may represent stabilization zone features that
can aid in orienting the formed ophthalmic lens upon a user's eye.
Moreover, in some embodiments the use of orientation features upon
the multi-piece annular insert may allow for its orientation
relative to the molded stabilization features, which may be
particularly important for placements of projection elements and
lens systems that do not have dynamic focus and centering
controls.
[0063] Proceeding to FIG. 3, item 300 a variation of the exemplary
multi-piece insert shown in FIG. 2 may be illustrated in cross
section. In FIG. 3, the ophthalmic device, 320, may have a cross
sectional representation, 330, which represents a cross section
through the location represented by line 310. In an exemplary
embodiment, the optic zone of the ophthalmic device 320 may include
a portion where an active focal adjusting lens system such as a
liquid meniscus based lens system 335 may be found. As well,
outside the optic zone of the device there may be portions of the
insert that contain energization elements and control and
activation components at 336. For similar motivations as the
embodiment in FIG. 2, there may be alignment features or
stabilization zones incorporated into the ophthalmic device as
shown as items 350 and 360, and there may be patterns printed upon
the insert as features 331.
Photonic Projection Elements
[0064] Proceeding to FIG. 4, item 400 Photonic Emitters are
displayed. There may be numerous manners of defining emitter (which
may also be considered radiator) elements for use with photonic
applications. In 400, item 410 demonstrates a simple Photonic
Emitter element consistent with some definitions described in the
state of the art. The source of the photons for the system may be a
light pipe 420 that runs parallel to coupling portions 430 of the
radiator element. Photons travelling through the light pipe 420 may
couple to the coupling portions 430 by a process which may be
called evanescent coupling; an exponentially decaying phenomena in
the near region to the periphery of the light pipe. The coupling
will allow photons to move from the light pipe to the radiator
element. The degree of the coupling and therefore the number of
photons that enter the radiator element, which is a type of
intensity, may be modulated by a number of phenomena such as the
materials used, the ambient conditions but more importantly the
structural design of the system. The length of the parallel portion
of item 430 and the gap between this region and the light pipe, 435
may dominate the efficiency of coupling and can be used to adjust
the nominal relative intensity of a Photonic Emitter in a
collection of Photonic Emitters. In item 410, the light will
proceed through the element's light guiding components, 430 until
it reaches the radiator portion shaped in a diffraction grating.
Numerous effects can be exploited to increase the efficiency of
light through the Photonic Emitter, as for example the constructed
angle of the emission surfaces and their shape and gap dimension.
Ideally as much light as possible will be emitted at 440 in one
direction, for example "out of the page."
[0065] At 450, a more sophisticated Photonic Emitter may be found.
A heating mechanism may be incorporated into the emitter cell. It
may be comprised of a resistive heater built into the Photonic
Emitter. In embodiments, where the emitter is formed in
semiconducting materials, like silicon, the resistor may be formed
in the same layer where it may be doped to alter resistivity
characteristics. By flowing a current from a contact 480, through a
resistive arm 470, and through a portion of the emitter body 430
and back through another portion of the resistive arm 471 and
through a contact 460, the Photonic Emitter may have a portion of
the light path differentially heated. Thermal effects in light
pipes such as that of item 430 may alter the phase characteristics
of the light that travels through them. Thus, the Photonic Emitter
of item 450 may have a certain intensity of light emitted from it
based on the intensity in the source light pipe 420 and the
efficiency of coupling of source light into the emitter device
based on the proximity of a coupling region of the emitter device
and the dimensions of that coupling region. Moreover, in addition
the phase of that light may be controllably altered based on the
application of an electrical current through the heater portion
between item 460 and 480. Control of the relative phase of emitted
light in such a manner may result in the effective transmission of
information encoded in the phase characteristics being observable
in the far field image of an array built with such Photonic
Emitters where the phase of individual pixels may be controlled by
the thermal state imposed on portions of the emitter device. There
may be numerous materials that such a Photonic Emitter may be
constructed in and there may be numerous means for different
materials to introduce phase effects including thermal controls and
mechanical stress controls as non-limiting examples.
[0066] Proceeding to FIG. 5, item 500 an exemplary array
constructed from Photonic Emitters is depicted. In some
embodiments, the Photonic Emitter pixel 520 may be defined in a
similar fashion to the elements at 410 or 450. In item 500, the
cells are depicted of the type in item 450. Light is supplied from
a light source 540 that may in some embodiments be comprised of one
or more laser elements emitting light into one or more supply light
pipes for the Photonic Emitter array. Electrical current flowing
through the heated portions of a pixel 520 may be introduced by
conductive metal lines built into the Photonic Emitter in similar
fashions to the metal lines in an integrated circuit. A set of word
lines 530 may have corresponding bit lines 535 to allow the
addressing of individual cells in an efficient fashion. In some
embodiments, the photonic array may be built into the silicon
substrate useful to construct control electronics for the array
itself. The exemplary pixel elements such as 520 may have a
dimension about 9 microns by 9 microns or smaller. Thus, an array
of 64.times.64 emitters may have a scale of roughly 0.5 mm by 0.5
mm in size. The actual dimensions of the pixels may vary in a
matrix and may be different for different targeted wavelengths of
emission.
[0067] In the inset 550 of item 500, a close up version of the
light source and the supply light pipe or pipes, 540 may be shown.
Light from a source, 561 may be guided into the light pipe. Along
the dimension of the light pipe, additional distribution elements
in the form of additional light pipes may be found. Items 570, 571
and 572 may demonstrate light pipes coupled into the main supply
light pipe and running roughly perpendicular to distribute light to
rows of Photonic Emitters. The design aspects of the pipes and the
individual pixel elements along the row may be optimized for each
element so that a particular intensity pattern along the row and in
the array may be obtained. In a preferred example, the array may be
designed such that the resulting emission intensity from each pixel
is approximately the same for all elements.
[0068] In some embodiments, multiple light sources at different
wavelengths may be used to impart light on a single source light
pipe 540 or in some embodiments; the light pipe 540 may be
comprised of multiple pipes. In the example, there may be three
different light sources 561, 562 and 563. Where in a non-limiting
example source 561 may comprise a red light source, source 562 may
comprise a green light source and 563 may comprise a blue light
source. There may be numerous types of sources of light consistent
with the inventive art including solid state lasers, or solid state
light emitting diodes, or filtered incandescent lamps as non
limiting examples. In embodiments where the relative phase of the
pixels in the array may be important for encoding information, the
light source may be characterized by a desired coherence of the
light output. Other embodiments may function with non-coherent
light sources.
[0069] If there are multiple wavelengths provided in the supply
source, the interaction of the rows of light pipes shown as item
570 may be controlled so that one light source is favored for a
particular row. This may be controlled by the use of filtering
materials in the region where the light pipe for a row 570 couples
to the supply light pipe. Alternatively, if there are multiple
supply light pipes, the pipes for the non-desired wavelengths for a
particular light source may be blocked by absorbing material. There
may be numerous materials that may be used to block the light
coupling including metallic materials or the use of heavy doping
levels in a semiconductor material.
[0070] In an alternative embodiment, the multiple light sources may
have a duty cycle. They may be turned on or off for their turn to
use the source light pipes. In such an embodiment, there may not be
a need for either multiple source lines or controls to funnel
different light sources to different regions of the array. However,
the design of the Photonic Emitter pixel may have to be performed
in such a manner that is not optimized for a particular wavelength
but optimized for all wavelengths employed. In some embodiments,
the pixel may be comprised by multiple emitters where one of the
emitters may be optimized for a particular source.
[0071] In the array of item 510 where the individual pixels include
phase shifting components within their design, it may be useful to
include lenses that allow for the focusing of the far field image
of the array onto a particular point, which may include a user's
retina. In a single light source embodiment, it may be important
for coherent light to be used as the source. The resulting far
field image may comprise an image constructed from the phase
information within the individual pixels. An example of such an
embodiment where a photonic array projecting far field phase
controlled pixel images may be depicted in FIG. 6, item 600. An
ophthalmic insert 610 as has been described, which may contain
energization elements, and control circuitry may control electrical
signals through an electrical bus 630. In some embodiments, this
bus may be constructed of conductors with as little visible light
absorbance characteristics as possible. For example, Indium Tin
Oxide (ITO) may be an example. A projection system 620 may be
located at the center of the optical zone and may comprise an array
of Photonic Emitters as shown in item 650 along with control
circuitry, light sources, and lensing elements to mention a few of
the included components.
[0072] An alternative embodiment may involve the use of the
photonic array as an emitter of light where the phase
characteristics are not the primary focus. Proceeding to FIG. 7,
item 700 an example of a pixel element 720 utilizing the exemplary
Photonic Emitter without incorporated heater may be found. In some
embodiments, the incorporation of the heater may still be
desirable, but for example, it is not depicted. If the near field
image of the resulting array is focused on a particular position,
the light source may be part of a projection system where each
pixel has an element that controls the transmitted intensity that
proceeds from the emitter to the user's retina. In FIG. 7, an
example of a light intensity-controlling element aligned to each
photonic emission element may be found.
[0073] The phenomena of Electro-wetting on Dielectrics may be used
to control intensity transmitted on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The
technique acts on combinations of liquids by changing the surface
free energy of surfaces near the liquids. Combinations of
immiscible liquids, where one liquid, for example is a polar liquid
like an aqueous solution, and the other liquid is a non polar
liquid like an oil may be effective for EWOD devices. One of these
liquids may be formulated to be transparent to light in a
particular desired wavelength regime whereas the other liquid may
be opaque at those or all visible wavelengths. The liquid itself
may have such properties, or the liquid may be combined with dying
agents to result in the desired wavelength blocking effect. And, it
may be possible to include different combinations of liquids with
different inherent wavelength blocking capabilities in different
pixel elements in the same device.
[0074] In an example embodiment, an oil based non-aqueous liquid
may comprise a dying agent to render an effective absorbance in a
layer of an EWOD pixel cell that may be considered a Light
Modulating Element. In FIG. 7, item 710 may comprise a pixel
element where the oil-based liquid is located across the pixel and
absorbs significant quantities of light. There may be isolation
structure 711 and 716 that define the edges of the pixel cell. The
oil-based liquid may be that depicted as item 717 in the exemplary
pixel based EWOD cell. A portion of the cell at item 713 may be
coated with a material that has a surface free energy such that it
may repel oil-based fluids. The aqueous fluid may be represented as
item 718. Therefore in a standard non energized state, the fluids
would prefer to assume a location where the dyed oil based phase is
localized across the interior region of the pixel away from surface
713, and therefore in the light path of light proceeding through
the pixel. A combination of electrodes 715 and 714 along with a
dielectric underlying or comprising the material of surface 713
allows for an application of an electro-potential across the two
immiscible liquids. By applying an electro-potential across the
electrodes, the free energy of surface 713 may be altered to
attract the oil-based liquid of item 717 to it as may be observed
at 720. When the dyed fluid 717 is drawn to the sidewall region of
the electrode as shown as 727 it is moved out of the optical path
and the pixel becomes more transparent to light through it. This
embodiment would therefore allow for the pixel-based control of
light emanating from a Photonic Emitter to be passed on through. In
some embodiments, this may allow for a projection system to be
formed from a combination of an array of Photonic Emitters each
with a corresponding pixel element comprising an electro-wetting on
dielectric cell to control transmittance. These embodiments may
also comprise a light source, control electronics for both the
light source and the pixel elements, and a lens system to focus the
near field image at a desired location, which may comprise a user's
retina. There may be numerous alternatives to the electro-wetting
on dielectric cell that may allow for the control of the
transmittance of light near a Photonic Emitter. Additionally, the
example provided of the electro-wetting on dielectric based cell
may have numerous alternatives including for example the reversal
of the type of fluid that may comprise a dye or an inherent quality
to block light.
[0075] Proceeding to FIG. 8, item 800 an alternative embodiment of
an EWOD pixel based light intensity-modulating cell is depicted. In
this embodiment, the electrode in proximity to a surface along
which a fluid will be attracted is not on the sidewall of a
vertical structure but along one of the cell faces. Because the
device may operate with light proceeding through this surface, the
use of relatively transparent electrodes is important in such
embodiments. As mentioned in previous discussions, the use of ITO
as the material for the electrode may be an acceptable solution. As
well, there may be modifications that allow the electrode to be
located on the periphery of the EWOD cell face as well.
Nevertheless, in FIG. 8, item 810 may represent a cell where the
light absorbing material is blocking the majority of the cell
surface. Item 817 may represent a fluid with an absorbing
characteristic this is either inherent or results from the use of
dyes. Item 818 may represent the other fluid that may not
significantly interact with light through the cell. Item 813 may
represent a surface which has a defined surface free energy which
may be either inherent or may result from processing designed to
establish a surface characteristic. Item 812 may be an optional
layer of dielectric material that may be present if item 813 is
created either as an additional film upon a dielectric or as a
surface modification of a dielectric. Item 814 may be an electrode
useful in defining the region of the dielectric surface that is
affected when an electro-potential is applied across the EWOD cell.
Items 811 and 816 may be the structural containment that is used to
define pixels. When an electro-potential is applied across the cell
at points 814 and 815, the state of the cell may be as depicted in
item 820. By causing the light absorbing fluid to be repelled in
the region of the surface above the electrode 814, the fluid moves
to the edge of the pixel element as shown by 827 on the cell
depiction. Therefore, it is moved out of the optical path and the
pixel becomes more transparent to light through it.
Energized Ophthalmic Devices with Photonic Emitters
[0076] Proceeding to FIG. 9, item 900 an embodiment that
incorporates many of the discussed aspects of a Photonic based
imaging system is displayed. Item 910 may be an ophthalmic device
capable of being worn on a user's eye surface. It may be formed of
a hydrogel-based skirt 911 that completely surrounds in some
embodiments, or partially surrounds or supports an insert device in
other embodiments. In the depiction, the skirt 911 surrounds a
fundamentally annular insert device 936. Sealed within the insert
device 936 may be energization elements, electronic circuitry for
control, activation, communication, processing and the like. The
energization elements may be single use battery elements or
rechargeable elements along with power control systems, which
enable the recharging of the device. The components may be located
in the insert device as discrete components or as stacked
integrated devices with multiple active layers.
[0077] The ophthalmic device may have structural and cosmetic
aspects to it including, stabilization elements 950 and 960 which
may be useful for defining orientation of the device upon the
user's eye and for centering the device appropriately. The
fundamentally annular device may have patterns printed upon one or
more of its surfaces depicted as an iris pattern item 921 and in
the cross section 930, along the line 915, as items 931.
[0078] The insert device may have a photonic-based imaging system
in a small region of the optical zone as shown as item 940. As
mentioned previously, in some embodiments a 64.times.64 pixel
imaging system may be formed with a size roughly 0.5 mm.times.0.5
mm in size. In cross section, it may be observed that item 940 may
be a photonic projection component that may comprise photonic
emitter elements; an EWOD based pixel transmittance control device,
a light source or multiple light sources and electronics to control
these components. The photonic-based imaging system may be attached
to a lens system 950 and be connected to the annular insert
component by a data and power interconnection bus 941.
[0079] In some embodiments, the lens system may be formed of static
lens components that focus the near field image of the imaging
system to a fixed location in space related to the body of the
ophthalmic device. In other embodiments, the lens system may also
include active components. For example, a meniscus based lens
device with multiple electrode regions may be used to both
translate the center of the projected image and adjust the focal
power of the device to adjust the focus and effectively the size of
the image projected. The lens device may have its own control
electronics or alternatively it may be controlled and powered by
either the photonic-based imaging component or the annular insert
device or both.
[0080] In some embodiments, the display may be a 64.times.64 based
projection system, but more or less pixels are easily within the
scope of the inventive art, which may be limited by the size of the
pixel elements and the ophthalmic device itself. The display may be
useful for displaying dot matrix textual data, image data or video
data. The lens system may be used to expand the effective pixel
size of the display in some embodiments by rastering the projection
system across the user's eye while displaying data. The display may
be monochromatic in nature or alternatively have a color range
based on multiple light sources. Data to be displayed may be
communicated to the ophthalmic lens from an outside source, or data
may originate from the ophthalmic device itself from sensors, or
memory components for example. In some cases data may originate
both from external sources with communication and from within the
ophthalmic device itself.
* * * * *