About Topic In Short:

Who:

Institute Name - University of Washington, Authors - Babak Parviz, Ehsan Saeedi, and Andrew Lingley.

What:

Smart contact lenses that can implement AR-based navigation by incorporating microelectronics and wireless communication technologies.

How:

The lenses are constructed by integrating microelectronics such as wireless chips, antennas, and miniature LEDs into the soft contact lenses using layers of polymers. The working involves sensing the surroundings through built-in sensors, processing the information, displaying the information using micro LEDs, and communicating wirelessly with external devices.

Introduction

Smart contact lenses have been a subject of interest in recent years. The ability to display augmented reality (AR) on a contact lens can revolutionize the way we interact with our surroundings. In this article, we will discuss the development of smart contact lenses capable of implementing AR-based navigation.

Background

Smart contact lenses are contact lenses that can provide various types of information, including health monitoring and augmented reality. The main challenge in developing smart contact lenses for AR is the requirement for low power electrochromic displays. Previous methods for applying the required material, pure Prussian blue, as a film on a substrate using electric plating have limited the ability to produce advanced displays capable of expressing various types of information such as letters, numbers, and images.

The Ink Meniscus Approach

Researchers from the Smart 3D Printing team at KERI and Professor Lim-Doo Jeong's team at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a new core technology for smart contact lenses. This technology enables the realization of AR by printing micro-patterns on a lens display using a 3D printer, without the need for voltage. The key to this achievement is the meniscus of the ink used in the process. The meniscus of acidic-ferric-ferricyanide ink forms between the micronozzle and the substrate. The precursor ions undergo spontaneous reactions leading to the heterogeneous crystallization of FeFe(CN)6 on the substrate within the meniscus, and solvent evaporation takes place on the surface of the meniscus. The meniscus phenomenon offers a significant advantage in that there is no restriction on the type of substrate used.

Printing Process

During the printing process, precise nozzle movements enable the crystallization of Prussian blue, resulting in the formation of micro-patterns. These patterns can be formed on both flat and curved surfaces, producing very fine patterns with a resolution of 7.2 micrometers. The resulting color is continuous and uniform, making it ideal for smart contact lens displays for AR.

Applications

The primary application area for smart contact lenses capable of AR-based navigation is expected to be navigation. By wearing the lenses, AR-based navigation can be displayed directly in front of the user's eyes. Additionally, popular games like "Pokemon Go" can be enjoyed through the lenses without the need for a smartphone.

Thus Speak Authors/Experts

According to Dr. Seol Seung-Kwon of KERI, "Our achievement is a development of 3D printing technology that can print functional micro-patterns on non-planner substrate that can commercialize advanced smart contact lenses to implement AR. It will greatly contribute to the miniaturization and versatility of AR devices."

Conclusion

The development of smart contact lenses capable of implementing AR-based navigation is a significant achievement. The ink meniscus approach used in this technology enables the realization of AR by printing micro-patterns on a lens display using a 3D printer without the need for voltage. The primary application area for this technology is expected to be navigation.

Image Gallery

Professor Im Doo Jung (center) and his research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST.

Image presents a schematic of the PB-based EC display with a navigation function in an AR smart contact lens that shows directions to the destination to a user on the EC display by receiving GPS coordinates in real time. Credit: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute.