Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEIERMINING THE ORIENTATION OF AN
OPHTHALMIC LENS
[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a method and system for determining
the
orientation of an ophthahnic lens.
[0005] Optical components are items that are used to bend, split, diffuse,
reflect or
otherwise alter or refocus light wavelengths. These optical components are
usually formed from
a piece of shaped glass or plastic, among other materials. Optical light
sources include
astronomical objects, or devices that produce or radiate light when excited,
such as, lasers,
diodes, and lamps. The light produced can be in the visible range, the
infrared range or
ultraviolet ranges, of the electromagnetic spectrum.
[0006] One class of optical components is found in imaging systems, such
as, a
monocular, binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, telescopic gun sights,
theodolites,
microscopes, medical equipment, or cameras. Another class is directed towards
ophthalmic
devices for the correction of visual impairments such as myopia, hyperopia,
presbyopia, and
astigmatism. Such devices are typically corrective lenses, contact lenses,
soft contact lenses,
intraocular lenses, overlay lenses, ocular inserts, and optical inserts, or
eyeglasses.
1
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100071 The contact lens market in the United States is a multi-billion
dollar market.
Recent data indicates that nearly 36 million Americans, almost 13% of the US
population, wear contact lenses. There are numerous manufacturers of contact
lenses and
many different channels of distribution, including eye care practitioners
(e.g.,
ophthalmologists and optometrists), national and regional optical chains, mass
merchants,
and mail order and online stores. The contact lenses include any of the
following basic
types: soft, rigid gas permeable and hard. Soft contact lenses are made of a
highly
flexible material such as a plastic hydrogel polymer, hydroxyethylmethacrylate
(HEMA)
that contains water or silicone or hydrophilic hydrogels. Rigid gas permeable
contact
lenses, frequently referred to as RGP contact lenses, are composcd of a firm
plastic
material and do not contain water. RGP lenses permit oxygen to pass directly
through the
lens to the eye, thus these lenses are gas permeable. In contrast, hard
contact lenses are
made of a hard plastic material, such as polymethyl methylacrylate (PMMA),
which does
not allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye.
10008) One issue facing lens wearers, eyecare practitioners, and the
industry, has
been the inability to readily distinguish between lenses intended for the left
eye and/or the
right eye. This is particularly relevant in such instances where thc lenses
are unwittingly
mixed-up. Typically, mix-ups can occur at various stages, such as, during
their
manufacture, shipment or preparation in the office of a fitter, or by the
user. To counter
this problem, contact lenses are often manufactured with identifying marks,
which have
been hailed as being helpful in distinguishing between the right and left
contact lenses.
These marks include alphanumeric characterS, such as serial numbers, lot and
batch
numbers, brand name, and optical powers, and may be located on the edge of the
lens.
However, these methods depend on the visual inspection of the lenses by the
user in order
to interpret the markings, which is not strictly useful for a user with
already impaired
vision, and thus may be undecipherable. The methods for providing identifying
marks are
well known, and include, using a laser, electrical discharge, machining,
mechanical
scribing, diamond scribing, ultrasonic scribing, holographic marking, and
scattering by
surface disruption. Also, these identification methods are manufacturing
intensive, and
require the use of expensive equipment.
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CA 02717328 2010-10-14
100091 Yet another problem facing users and the industry is the inability
to readily
determine which surface of the lens should be disposed against the eye. This
problem has
been further exacerbated by the development of newer polymers for soft contact
lenses,
in which the thickness of the lenses has been steadily reduced to the point
where the
lenses can easily end up being inside out, instead of right side out, In this
orientation the
lens can distort the optical properties of the lens, and may cause discomfort
to the eye and
in some instances can result in eye damage. Prior art methods to solve this
problem, apart
from using markings as described above, include recommendations to users to
verify that
the lens is not turned inside out by placing on their forefinger and checking
its profile. In
this method, it is stated that the lens should assume a natural, curved, bowl-
like shape,
however, if the lens edges tend to point outward, then the lens is inside out.
Another
method is to gently squeeze the lens between the thumb and forefinger, and if
the lens is
right side out then the edges should turn inward, otherwise the edges will
turn slightly
outward and the lens is thus inside out. It is clear that these methods are
subjective, time-
consuming, and may even be frustrating to a user, while still presenting a
substantially
low chance for correct lens orientation determination.
100101 Further, certain types of defects in the eye can only be corrected
by lenses
which are not spherical. For instance, to effectively correct for astigmatism
or
presbyopia, the lens is manufactured so that it exhibits different optical
properties at
different portions thereof. As such, correction of astigmatism involves
accurately aligning
the principle power meridians of the lens with the principle refractive
meridians in the
eye, and maintaining the lens at a specific orientation with respect to the
meridians of the
eye. Misalignment errors will prevent proper correction of astigmatism. Such
lenses
include spherically asymmetrical lenses or toric lenses. One method for
maintaining the
lens in particular orientation involves constructing the lens with its
intended bottom third
thicker than its intended top two thirds, or the lens includes a relatively
thick central zone
and thinner top and bottom zones. However, because of irregularities in the
shape of the
cornea. interference by the lower lid, the lens does not stay in its preferred
orientation,
and may settle to a position that is rotated 5 or more degrees from its
intended position.
This rotation must be measured and taken into account in the cylinder portion
of the lens
prescription. One prior art method for measuring the rotation includes placing
a trial lens
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on the eye of the patient and, with a slit lamp, projecting a narrow beam of
light across
the center of the patients pupil and a reference point. The angle formed by
the narrow
light beam and the vertical is considered to be the rotation of the lens.
However, such a
method is uncomfortable for the user who is subjected to looking at the light,
and
decentralization of the pupil with respect to the centcr of the cornea, or of
the lens with
respect to the center of the cornea, or both can cause the measurement to be
inaccurate.
100111 It is thus one of the objects of this invention to mitigate or
obviate at least one
of the aforementioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(00121 In one of its aspects the present invention provides a manufacturing
method
for an optical device, comprising a step of providing the optical device with
data carrier
means for carrying data related to the optical device, the data carrier
comprising a device
operable in at least one of an electrical mode and/or a magnetic mode; the
data carrier
means being deposited on, attached to, at least one of a posterior surface, an
anterior
surface, or combined with the optical device material, wherein data carrier
means emits a
data signal periodically, or automatically, or in response to a external
signal from an
external means; the data signal bearing the data related to the optical
device, the data
comprising at least one of a SKU, unique ID, manufacturer, logo, material of
manufacture, composition, lot no., batch no., warehouse related data;
promotional
material (rebate for next pair purchase or free trials), lens features and
benefits data,
health warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage
data,
regulatory data, authenticity data, fitting details, orientation of the lens
(inside-out/right
side-out or back surface/front surface), lens type data, lens care or handling
information,
recommended usage information such as wear schedule, filling pharmacy, health
professional information, time, an optical lens user's personal details,
prescription
information, right eye/left eye identification data, expiration data, a URI,
spectral passing
band(nm), UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe value, transmittance A,
or haze(%)
for a particular thickness.
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100131 In another of its aspects the present invention provides an optical
device with
data carrier ineans for carrying data related to the optical device, the data
carrier means
being operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a magnetic mode; the
data carrier
means being associated with an optical device by at least one of depositing
on, printing
on, combining, inserting, implanting, glueing, laminating, hot pressing,
rolling into,
molding, stamping, retrofitting, embossing, emulsifying, suspending, floating
or mixing
in liquids, electrostatic bonding, embedding by polymer polymerization,
wherein the data
carrier means emits a data signal periodically or in response to a external
signal from an
external means; the data signal bearing the data related to .the optical
device, the data
including any of a SKI), unique ID, manufacturer, logo, material of
manufacture.
composition, lot no., batch no., warehouse related data; promotional material
(rebate for
next pair purchase or free trials), optical device features and benefits data,
health
warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage data,
regulatory
data, authenticity data, fitting details, orientation of optical device
(insidc-outhight side-
out or posterior surface/the anterior surface), optical device type data,
optical device care
or handling information. indications, recommended usage information such as
wear
schedule, filling pharmacy, health professional information, time, an optical
device user's
personal details, prescription information, right eye/left cyc identification
data, expiration
data, URI., spectral passing band(nrn), UV cut-off, optical refractive index,
Abbe value,
transmittance % or haze(%) for a particular thickness.
100141 The optical device comprises at least one of a contact lens, intra-
ocular lens,
lens for eyeglasses. or an optical lens, a monocular lens, soft contact
lenses, overlay
lenses, ocular inserts, and optical inserts, a trial lens, a test lens, a
fitting lens, cosmetic
lenses, binoculars lens, a telescope lens, a spotting scope lens, a telescopic
gun sight lens,
a theodolite lens, a microscope lens, a camera lens, an imaging lens, a
CCD/CMOS lens,
a custom lens, a medical device lens, a lens for automotive applications, an
optical filter,
a cut-off filter, an optical low-pass filter, a window, an optical window, a
diffuser, a
plate, a prism, a prism mirror, a mirror, optical glass, strip form, blanks or
fine gobs, a
glass substrate, a glass-ceramic substrates, a TS-I0 glass-ceramic substrate,
a LCOS
prism or lens, a beam splitter, an astronomical optical component, an optical
component
for illumination systems, an optical component educational optics, a magnifier
lens, an
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CA 02717328 2010-10-14
optical component for spectroscopic applications, and an optical component Ibr
a medical
apparatus or medical system.
[00151 In another of its aspects the present invention provides a method
and system
for detennining the orientation of an optical device. The optical device
comprises an
anterior surface and a posterior surlace, the method having the steps of
providing the
optical device with uniquely identifiable data carrier means for carrying data
related to
the optical device, the data carrier cotnprising a device operable in at least
one of an
electrical mode and a magnetic mode; the data carrier means being deposited on
at least
one of a posterior surface, an anterior surface, and an edge surface; causing
the data
carrier means to emit a data signal; processing the emitted data signal to
determine the
characteristics the emitted data signal, and hence the orientation of the
lens. For example,
a user can readily determine the eye contacting surface ofe contact lens prior
to insertion.
100161 In another of its aspects the present invention provides a method
for
determining the orientation of an optical device in order to place the device
in a preferred
orientation, the method including the steps of: having data carrier means
associated with
thc optical device, the at least one data carrier having a unique identifier;
transmitting a
signal from a reader to the data carrier means; comparing signals from the
data carrier
arriving at least two receivers of a data carrier reader with closely spaced
antennae;
determining the identity of the data carrier, an angle of arrival of the
signals from the data
carrier means and hence the distance of that data carrier means from the data
carrier
reader; issuing at least one advisory signal indicative of the orientation of
the device with
respect to the desired application site, or a preferred orientation, whereby
the at least one
advisory signal is an aid to correct the rotation or orientation of the device
for placement
in the preferred orientation of the lens.
10017] In another of its aspects the present invention provides a method of
determining a toric contact lens angle of lens rotation on the cornea of a
person's eye so
that a suitable contact lens can be prescribed. Alternatively, this method may
be applied
to other optical devices that includes an optical power which varies radially
and
circumferentially about the optic axis of the device.
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100181 In another of its
aspects the present invention provides a computer-readable
medium containing program instructions stored thereon, which when executed by
a
processor causc the processor to perform operations comprising: causing a data
carrier
included with a ophthalmic lens to emit a data signal periodically,
automatically, or in
response to a external signal from the data carrier, wherein the data carrier
comprising a
device operable in a magnetic and/or electrical mode, outputting information
related to
the data signal, and wherein the information comprises at least one of a SKU,
unique ID,
manufacturer, logo, material of manufacture, composition, lot no., batch no.,
warehouse
related data; promotional material (rebate for next pair purchase or free
trials), lens
features and benefits data, health warnings, data on potential risk or
complications,
insurance coverage data, regulatory data, authenticity data, fitting details,
orientation of
the lens (inside-out/right side-out or convex surface/concave surface), lens
type data, lens
care or handling information, recommended usage information such as wear
schedule,
frequency of wear, compliance data, compliance-related statistics, lens
ordering data,
filling pharmacy, health professional information, time data, an ophthalmic
lens user's
personal details, prescription information, right eye/left eye identification
data, expiration
data, a UR1, spectral passing band(nm), UV cut-off, optical refractive index,
Abbe value,
transmittance % or haze( /0) for a particular thickness, lens case replacement
schedule,
and cyc examination schedule.
100191 In another of its
aspects the present invention provides a method and system,
and a method of manufacturing thereof, for a contact lens having an optical
power which
varies radially and circumferentially about the optic axis of the lens
comprising data
carrier means associated with the lens, the data carrier being disposed in the
peripheral
portion of the lens adjacent the periphery and along at least one axis of the
lens, or the
data carrier being disposed in a predetermined position as a marker, to cause
the lens to
maintain a predetennined orientation upon the eye of a wearer and consistently
maintain
a preferred orientation upon the eye of a wearer based on the location of the
data carrier
means marker on the lens_
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100201 Advantageously, by having the correct orientation of lens, problems
such as
distortion of the optical properties of the lens, and discomfort to the eye,
and eye damage,
are significantly diminished.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100211 These and other features of the exemplary embodiments or the present
invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in
which
reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
100221 Figure 1 depicts a schematic of an exemplary system for determining
the
characteristics of the optical lens;
100231 Figure 2 depicts a plan view of an optical lens. in an exemplary
embodiment =
of the present invention;
100241 Figure 3 depicts a schematic of another exemplary system determining
the
characteristics of the optical lens, in another exemplary embodiment;
100251 Figure 4 depicts an exemplary container for use with the system of
Figure 2;
100261 igure 5 depicts a schematic block diagram of the exemplary system of
I' igure
3;
100271 , Figure 6 depicts an exemplary system for determining the
characteristics of
the optical lens, in another exemplary embodiment;
100281 Figure 7 depicts another exemplary system for determining the
characteristics
of the optical lens, in another exemplary embodiment;
100291 Figure 8 depicts a flowchart outlining exemplary steps for
determining the
orientation of an optical lens;
100301 Figure 9 depicts another exemplary system for determining the
characteristics
of an optical lens in an exemplary manufacturing environment; and
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10031j Figure 10 depicts a plan view of an optical lens, in another
exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
10032J DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
100331 The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and
is nut
intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention.
Furthermore,
there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented
in the
preceding technical fleld, background, brief summary or the following detailed
description.
100341 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an optical device 10
having
features for characterization thereof, such as an ophthalmic device, in an
exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. The ophthalmic device 10, as disclosed in
the
exeinplary embodiments,. includes, but is not limited to, ophthalmic lenses,
soft contact
lenses, hard contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, multi-fecal contact
lenses, colored
contact lenses, disposable contact lenses, extended wear contact lenses, gas
permeable
(GP) contact lenses, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, monovision
lenses,
orthokeratology lenses, prosthetic contact lenses, silicone hydrogel contact
lenses,
special-effect contact lenses, specialty lenses, toric contact lenses, bi-
torie contact. Jenses.
aspherics. lenticulars, spheres, intraocular lenses or implantable collamer
lenses (1CL),
cosmetic lenses, overlay lenses and onlay lenses.
[00351 An exemplary ophthalmic lens 10 includes an anterior surface 12, an
opposing posterior surface 14 surrounded by a peripheral edge 16, an edge
surface (not
shown). such as a spherical lens formed from surfaces 12, 14 which have a
spherical
curvature. The contact lens 10 also includes an optical zone 13 surrounded by
a
peripheral zone 18. The contact lens .10 can comprise any known material
useful for
making contact lenses, which may include, but is not limited to HEMA,
POLYMACON,
METAPH1LCON A, HEMA 38 (TEFILCON), POLYHEMA, CROFILCON A,
HEIV1FILCON A, HEMA 38 (TEF1LCON) PHEMFILCON A, TETRAF1LCON A, 41%
OMAFILCON A, HEMA-GMMA, ,MODIFIED HEMA, PMMA, BENZ x-3, BENZ
METAPHILCON, HEFILCON B, CROFILCON A, TEFILCON, SYNERG1CON A,
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CA 02717328 2010-10-14
HEMA-V1NYL METHACRYL, HEMA-VP, XYLOF1LCON A, DL 77, HIOXIF1LCON
A, BOSTON ES, BOSTON XO, BOSTON ES, SI LPERM 50, FSA, PARAGON DK 60,
FLUOROSILICONE ACRYLATE, SILOXANE-FLIJOROCARBON ACRYLATE,
HILAFILCON B, BALAF1LCON A, ALPHAF1LCON A, METHAFILCON A,
NELFICON A, V1FILCON A, VASURF1LCON A, OCUFILCON B, ETAFILCON A.
GALYFILCON, and SENOFILCON A, galyfilcon A, senofilcon A, genfilcon A,
lenefilcon A, comfilcon A, acquafilcon A, balafilcon A, lotrafilcon A,
narafileon A, and
silicone hydrogels.
100361 The lens
10 includes at least one data carrier 20 or 22 on any surface of the
lens 10, such as the anterior surface 12, the posterior surface 14, or the
edge surface (not
shown) extending between the anterior surface 12 and the posterior surface 14,
where the
anterior surface is in contact with the eye. The data carrier 20 or 22 may be
any suitable
means for retaining data operable in an electrical and/or magnetic mode, such
as a radio
identification device or RFID tag, as implemented in an exemplary embodiment
of the
present invention. For example, each of the tags 20 can be implemented as a
passive tag,
an active tag, or a semi-passive tag. Those skilled in the art will recognize
that active,
semi-passive tags, or passive tags share many features and that can be used
with this
invention. In the past an RFID device that did not actively transmit to a
reader was
known as a 'tag,' while an RFID device that actively transmitted to a reader
was known =
as a transponder (TRANSmitter+resPONDER). It has become common in the
industry,
however, to interchange terminology and refer to these devices as either tags
or
transponders more or less interchangeably. In this specification, for clarity
of usage, the
term 'tag' is used to refer generally to all RFID devices.
100371
Generally, RFID systems use a variety of techniques to transmit data to and
from the tag. For transmission to the tag, the data.can bc transmitted using
any of a
variety of modulation techniques including, but not limited to, amplitude
modulation
(AM), phase modulation (PM), and frequency modulation (FM). Furthermore, the
data
transmitted to the tag can be encoded using any of a variety of techniques,
including
frequency shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse duration
modulation (PDM) and amplitude shill keying (ASK). In general, passive tags
have no
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CA 02717328 2010-10-14
battery or internal power source. and operate by back-scattering or load
modulation of an
incident RF signal, which may be transmitted by one of the Although some types
of
passive tags can store energy for a period of time, passive tags typically
require
continuous input power as an energy source. Active tags generally include an
internal
power source such as a battery, photovoltaics, or any other suitable type of
power source,
such as an energy scavenging device. Exemplary energy scavenging devices
include
devices that source energy from the environment, such as radiation (solar, RF,
and so
forth), or photovoltaic energy, vibration spectra of office windows, copy
machines,
microwave ovens, industrial motors, freeway traffic. RF power. or human gait.
Further,
active tags can transmit RF signals automatically, or in response to a request
or a
command provided by a reader, on a predetermined schedule (e.g., every 10
seconds or
every 300 seconds). or upon detection of a threshold event. This energy source
permits
active tag to create and transmit strong response signals even in regions
where the
interrogating radio frequency field is weak, and thus an active tag can bc
detected at
greater range. Semi-passive tags are hybrids of passive and active tags, and
are generally
configured to provide improved read-range, data storage, sensor
sophistication, level of
security, etc., in comparison with purely passive tags.
100381 As discussed
above, passive and semi-passive tags transmit by selectively
reflecting and absorbing energy from the reader, in a process generally
referred to as
backscatter modulation. Again, in backscatter modulation, the data can be
encoded using
a variety of techniques. For example, the data can be encoded using FSK, where
the tag
absorb-reflects at one rate to represent a First state (e.g., "one") and at
another rate to
represent a second state (e.g., "zero"). As another example, the data can be
encoded using
ASK, where the tag absorb-reflects at one rate for some duration to represent
a first state
(e.g.. "one") and ceases back scatter modulation for another duration to
represent a
second state (e.g., "zero'). RFID systems also typically use a variety of
different
frequency ranges, such as, 30 KHz-500 KHz, 850 MHz-950 MHz and 2.4 GHz-2.5
GHz,
depending on the regulatory spectrum allocations and performance requirements
matched
to various application requirements.
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100391 As an example, the tag 20 may include the contactless IC chip, which
is
manufactured by Hitachi, Japan, measuring OA 5x0.15 millimeters (mm), 7.5
micrometer
(gm) thick or the -chipIm which features an internal antenna. These chips can
thus
operate entirely on their own, making it possible to use -Chip as RFID IC
tags without
the need to attach external devices, such as antennae, making these tags, or
similar tags,
ideal for application in the present invention. Similar to the 0.15 mm square
chip, the g-
chip is manufactured by Hitachi, Japan, using silicon-on-insulator (SOD
fabrication
process technology. The -chip operates at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, and
includes a 128-
bit ROM for storing a unique ID and may include a non-volatile memory.
Typically, this
type of tag 20, or similar, is dimensioned to be attached to, imprinted on, or
embedded in
a contact lens 10 or 11 without detriment to the user's vision or comfort.
Other suitable
next-generation multi-band UHF-RFID tags with built-in antenna, such as UHF-
RFID
chips in 800 MHz-2.45 GHz frequency-range may be used, or any tags based on
the
EPCglobal standard, such as the EPCglobal UHF Generation 2 standard. Another
exemplary tag includes an 'internal coil antenna is formed directly on the
surface of the
chip, such as Coil-On-ChipTm technology from Maxell, Japan. Alternatively, a
chip
lacking an 'internal' or on-board antenna may include a suitable external
antenna.
100401 The optical devices 10 are manufactured using any one of the above
noted
materials, and may be manufactured in accordance with methods known to those
skilled
in the art of the specific optic device being produced. For example, if an
intraocular lens
is to be produced, the same may be manufactured by methods known to those
skilled in
the art of intraocular lens production. Generally, among the known methods for
soft
contact lens manufacturing is spin casting, a method by which liquid monomer
is injected
into a spinning mold to create the desired lens shape, thickness and size. The
monomer is
distributed along the mold according to the centrifugal force, gravity and
surface tension
of the liquid. Slower rotations produce smaller diameters, thicker centers,
flatter base
curves and plus powers. The opposite is true for faster rotations. When the
desired
parameters are obtained, UV light is used to polymerize the monomer into a
solid lens.
The lens is then hydrated to its final state. Another method is lathe cutting
is where a
polymerized soft lens material in the rigid state is lathe cut similar to an
RGP lens. After
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CA 02717328 2010-10-14
cutting and polishing the lenses, they go through a hydration stage that
creates the final
soft contact lens. The lens will have specific water content after hydration,
depending on
the polymer. Yet another method is cast molding, a method which requires two
molds
between which liquid lens material is injected, and the lens is kept in a
liquid state
throughout the manufacturing process. As such, a data carrier 20 can be
included with the
liquid monomer, or may be placed on one of the molds prior to introduction of
the lens
material such that the data carrier 20 is located on the anterior surface or
posterior surface
of the eventual lens 10. Preferably. the data carrier 20 is so positioned on
the mold such
that it is located at a predetermined location on the eventual lens 10.
Alternatively, the
data carrier is included with the eventual lens at any appropriate point in
the
manufacturing process, or after the manufacturing process by any other
suitable methods,
as described above.
100411 In another
exemplary embodiment, the data carrier 20 includes devices
manufactured using printable electronics technology, such as printed Rill)
ICs, or
organic, chipless, polymer-based tags, or made with conductive inks, or
electronics. ICs
and nanocircuits comprising printed transistors based on carbon nanotubes that
can store
and transmit data. For example. tags 20 may he produced with common commercial
printing processes such as flexographic, rotogravure, offset or rotary screen
usinu, special
inks and materials. A variety of electronic inks with conductive, insulating,
or
semiconductor qualities, are printed in successive layers on plastic
substrates to form
electronic circuits including organic field effect transistors (OFETs). The
electronic inks
may be opaque, or transparent and thus undetectable to thc human eye, and arc
compatible with the particular contact lens material. In an exemplary method
of
developing and manufacturing complete RFID tags uses ink jet technology used
to print
silver fluid, or inks containing silver dispersions, with features of less
than 20 microns.
The printable antenna and the circuit chip may be printed directly onto the
suitable
contact lens material, such that, at least one antenna and at least one
circuit chip is
electrically connected to the anterior surface, and/or the opposing posterior
surface of the
contact lens material. Alternatively, the antenna and the circuit chip may be
printed onto
a polymer film material, or other suitable carrier material, which is attached
to thc contact
lens 10, 11. Alternatively, active tags may include printable photovoltaics,
or printable
- 13 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
batteries. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the tag 20 is a magnetic tag,
based on
nanotechnology and mierotechnology. The magnetic tag 20 includes certain
materials
which possess unique magnetic properties that permit individual items to be
precisely
identified.
100421 Preferably, the
tag 20 or 22 is located on the lens 10 in a predetermined
location, such as, along at least one axis 17, 19 or 21 of the contact lens
10. Preferably,
the tag 20 is dimensioned so that it does not interfere substantially with the
lens 10
configuration, alter the prescription, or cause the lens 10 to deteriorate, or
does not irritate
the eye of the lens wearer or give any discomfort to the lens wearer.
100431 Figure 3 shows a
system 23 for determining the characteristics of optical
lenses 10, 11. The system 23 cornprises a container 24 for storing the pair of
lenses 10
and 11, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Disposed within a
receptacle 26 of the container 24 is the contact lens 10, while the contact
lens 11 is
disposed within a receptacle 28, in a conventional manner. The container 24
has a
substantially planar top surface and the receptacles 26, 28 are generally
concave when
viewed from the side of the container 24. The receptacles 26, 28 include a
liquid medium,
such as a solution which may be, but is not limited to, saline solutions,
buffered solutions,
deionized water, or any other suitable contact lens storing liquid or lens
care solution, that
is used for the sterilization and storage of contact lenses. The lens 10 is
prescribed for
the user's left eye, hereinafter the left lens 10, includes at least onc data
carricr 20 or 22,
and the lens 11 is prescribed for the user's right eye, hereinafter the right
lens 11, with at
least one data carrier 30 or 32 The system 23 also includes at least one
external means,
such as an interrogation unit or data carrier readers 34 and 36, which have
the capability
of reading data associated with the data carrier 20, 22, 30, or 32; or writing
data to the
data carrier 20, 22, 30, or 32. For convenience, only the reader 34 will be
discussed in
operation with the tag 20, since this operation is similar to the interaction
between the
reader 34 and tag 22; and similar to the interaction between the reader 36 and
tag 30, 32:
and the readers 34 and 36 possess like elements, while tags 20, 22 and 30, 32
also possess
like elements. Alternatively, the container 24 includes the only one reader 34
for
identification of either lens 10 or 11.
- 14 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
= 100441 In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the
container 24 has
a receptacle 26 for storing a lens 10 with the tags 20, 22 associated
therewith. The
container 24 also includes a reader 34, a cover 35, a display 56, an LED 58
and a speaker
60. The reader 34 can thus interrogate the tag 20, even when the lens 10 is in
contact with
liquid storage medium. Thus, the user can verify the identity or
characteristics of the lens
by referring to the output signal. For example, the reader 34 is enabled by
the user
manually to display the characteristics of lens 10, or automatically upon
sensing the
user's proximity to the container 24 through contactless proximity sensor
means, and so
forth.
100451 Figure 5 shows an exemplary passive tag 20 in a block
diagram form, and
includes a processor module 38, a computer readable medium 40 or memory
module, a
transmitter/receiver module 42, and an antenna module 44. The
transmitter/receiver
module 42 controls the communication of data to and from the external reader
34 via the
antenna module 44 comprising an antenna and any associated electronic
circuitry. The
computer readable medium 40 serves many functions including accommodating
security
data and operating system instructions for the tag 20 which, in conjunction
with the
processor 38 or processing logic, performs the internal "house-keeping"
functions such as
response delay timing, data flow control and power supply switching. The
computer
readable medium 40 may include non-volatile programmable memory and/or
volatile
memory for data storage. The computer readable medium 40 also facilitates
temporary
data storage during tag 20 interrogations and response, and store the tag 20
data and
retains data when the tag 20 is in a quiescent or power-saving "sleep" state.
The computer
readable medium 40 may further include data buffers to temporarily hold
incoming data
following demodulation, and outgoing data for modulation.
100461 The tag 20 data may include, and is not limited to, an
identification number
or a unique ID used to identify the tag 20 associated with a particular
contact lens, SKU,
manufacturer, logo, material of manufacture, composition, date of manufacture,
lot. no.,
batch no., warehouse related data; promotional material (rebate for next pair
purchase or
free trials). lens features and description, lens benefits data, health
warnings, data on
potential risk or complications, insurance coverage data, regulatory data,
authenticity
- 15 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
data, encryption data, fitting details, lens type data, lens care or handling
information,
recommended usage information such as wear schedule, expiration data, URI.,
lot
number, storing liquid medium, UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe
value,
transmittance % or haze(%) for a particular thickness, and so forth.
(00471 As further shown in Figure 5, the reader 34 includes a processor
module 48, a
computer readable medium 50, a transmitter/receiver module 52, an antenna
module 54
and a power supply unit 55. The antenna module 54, which may include an
antenna array,
is coupled to the transmitter/receiver module 52, which includes a
transmitter/receiver or
multiple transmitters/receivers to emit electromagnetic waves that are used to
provide an
interrogating field to the tag 20, and receive response signals from the tag
20 via a
receiver or multiple receivers. The reader 34 also includes an actuation means
for
powering on same, the actuation means may bc require user intervention, or may
be
automatic. As such, the actuation means may include any of the following:
switch,
sensor, proximity switch means (AC or DC inductive and capacitive), or reads
triggered
by a schedule, an external event or command. The memory capacity on the
computer
readable medium 50 of the reader 34 can be unlimited, and can be coupled to
other
memory modules on the devices such as volatile and non-volatile memory,
including, but
not limited to, flash memory, hard disk drive, Floppy, optical disks (DVDs,
CDs etc.) The
reader 34 may include a database with a computer readable medium which stores
records
of any of' the above-noted data relating to the contact lens 10. The tag 20
may further
include interface circuitry to direct and accommodate the interrogation field
energy for
powering purposes and triggering of the tag 20 responses. For example, the
reader 34
may transmit activating signals or interrogation signals to the tag 20
automatically on a
periodic basis. The reader 34 may also employ sleep modes to conserve power.
The
reader 34 includes input/output means for interacting with the system 23 or
for outputting
advisory signals or warnings. The input/output means may include, but arc not
limited to,
display means 56, such as a touch screen display with a graphical user
interface, a
microphone, stylus, keypad, keyboard, buttons, and LED(s) 58. a speaker 60.
100481 In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
receptacle 26
is assigned to hold the left lens 10, while the receptacle 28 is assigned to
hold the right
- 16-
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
lens I I. As such, due to these predetermined assignments, it is expected that
the left lens
and the right lens 11 be stored in their respective receptacles 26 or 28, as
shown in
Figure 3 or 4. Therefore, the left reader 34 issues interrogation signals to
the left
receptacle 26, and processes the received tag data to determine the identity
of the lens 10
or 11. If the lens is indeed the left lens 10, then the left reader 34 outputs
a signal
indicative of a match to the user, otherwise the left reader 34 outputs a
signal indicative
of a no-match, or that the lens does not belong in that particular receptacle
16. The output
signal may be in any form that provides a stimulus to a human body, such as
visually,
auditorily. For example, the visual output signal for a match or no match may
include any
number of messages with at least one alphanumeric character or at least one
symbol or
combination of characters and/or symbols or figures. Thus the messages can
include any
language or any widely accepted or predetermined symbols indicative of a
positive state
Or a negative state. The right reader 36 also works in a similar fashion to
determine the
identity of a lens 10 or I l.
100491 The output signals may be in the form of visible signals such as
light from an
LED 58. The LED 58 may output a particular visible signal depending on the
outcome of
the match/non-match determination, or may emit a visible signal with a
particular duty
cycle, such as 30 percent for a match and 90 percent tor a non-match. For
example, a
match can be indicated by an LED 58 that is lit permanently for a
predetermined time,
while or a non-match can be a flashing LED 58, such that the two states are
clearly
distinguishable. The LED 58 may be blinked on and off in a binary code pattern
or Gray
code pattern. By using the Gray code pattern each LED 58 is turned on and off
in turn for
only one cycle of a predetermined repeated pattern. Alternatively, the system
23 may
include different colored LEDs 58 to indicate a particular outcome.
100501 In the instance of output signals being in the form of audible
signals, a
speaker 60 outputs a particular audible signal depending on the outcome of the
match/non-match determination. Also, the speaker 60 may emit an audible signal
with a
particular duty cycle of indicative of a positive state or a negative state,
such as a fast
beeping sound for a non-match and a slow beeping sound for a match. However,
these
messages may include both visual signals and audible signals. Advantageously,
audible
- 17-
=
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
signals are beneficial where ambient light conditions are poor, or when vision
is impaired
temporarily, or when a visual aid is required to decipher the information
presented via the
output means 56. Alternatively, the system 23 may include only one reader 34
or 36 to
determine the identity of the lenses 10, 11, such that a user can determine
the identity of
the lens 10 or 11 before storage, in order to place the lens 10 or 11 in the
correct
receptacle 26 or 28, or before insertion of the lens 10 or 11 into the eye.
100511 The data carrier includes a device 20 operable in at least one of an
electrical
mode and a magnetic mode, such as a tag 20, as described above. The contact
lens 10 is
included with a tag 20 at manufacture, or included with the lens 10 post
manufacture by
any suitable means, and data, such as: expiration data, SKU, manufacturer,
authentication
data, date of manufacture, is written onto the memory 40 of the tag 20.
100521 For example, the following data relating to a typical contact lens
prescription,
may be included at manufacture:
100531 OS-
10054] Brand name: Riffed Lens =
100551 BC: 8.2
100561 DIA: 10.2
100571 POWER: -3.50
100581 OD-
100591 Brand Name: Riffed Lens
100601 BC: 8.2,
100611 DIA: 10.2
100621 POWER; -2.00
100631 CYL & AXIS: -1.75 X 90
- 18 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
10064) The BC or base
curve¨measure of curvature with regard to the contact lens
= and in most cases this decimal figure is the same for both the left and
the right eyes.
10065) DIA or DIAM.--
decimul figure for a measure of' the diameter of the contact
lens=
100661 POWER--the
lenses' power (sometimes also called the sphere or Rx number)
is either written in a "positive" (+) or "negative "." format and can range
from between -
20.00 to +20.00.
1006711 CYL refers to
the strength of the patients astigmatism and is represented by a
+ or -number. The AXIS provides information on the "orientation" of the
astigmatism
and can anything between 0 and 180 degrees.
100681 Also, additional
data may be included with the tag 20 post-manufacture. Data
may be written at the dispensing point or point-of-sale (POS) by an eyecare
practitioner,
such as, optometrists. ophthalmologists and opticians, or at the operating
point by the
user. The post-manufacture data in addition to contact lens manufacture data,
as stated
above, may include prescribing eyecare practitioner, filling pharmacy, health
professional
information, date & time the prescription was filled, lens user's personal
details,
prescription information, right eye/left eye identification data, fitting
details, and so forth.
100691 In another
exemplary embodiment, the contact lens 10 is associated with a tag
20 post-manufacture, such as, at the dispensing point or point-of-sale (POS)
by an
cyccare practitioner, such as, optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians,
or at the
operating point by the Ltscr. Therefore, the eyccare practitioner can write
data onto the tag
20, as stated above.
100701 In another
exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the reader 34 is
.
integrated in a digital data processing device 64, which can include a
personal computer
(PC), a computer workstation. a laptop computer, a server computer, a
mainframe
computer, a wearable computing device, a tablet computing device, a handheld
device
(e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Pocket t)CTM. a cellular
telephone, an e-mail
device, a smart phone, a wrist watch, an information appliance, and/or another
type of
- 19-
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
generic or special-purpose, processor-controlled device capable of receiving,
processing,
and/or transmitting digital data. Typically, a digital data processing device
64 includes a
processor, a computer readable medium and input/output means. Processor refers
to the
logic circuitry that responds to and processes instructions that drive digital
data
processing devices such as, without limitation, a central processing unit, an
arithmetic
logic unit, an application specific integrated circuit, a task engine, and/or
combinations,
arrangements, or multiples thereof. Instructions for programs or other
executables can be
pre-loaded into a programmable rneniory that is accessible to the processor
and/or can be
dynamically loaded into/from one or more volatile (e.g., RAM, cache, etc.)
and/or non-
volatile (e.g., a hard drive, optical disk, compact disk (CD), digital video
disk (DVD),
magnetic disk, magnetic; tape, internal hard drive, external hard drive,
random access
memory (RAM), redundant array of independent disks (RAID), IC memory card,
flash
memory, or removable memory device) memory elements communicatively coupled to
the processor. The instructions can, for example, correspond to the
initialization of
hardware within the digital data processing devices, an operating system that
enables the
hardware elements to communicate under software control and enables other
computer
programs to communicate, and/or software application programs that are
designed to
perform operations for other computer programs. Thus, a set of instructions is
included in
the computer-readable medium is for performing operations or functions related
to the
system 23 or the operation of the digital data processing device 64. For
exarnple, the
system 23 may provide a computer program product encoded in a computer-
readable
medium including a plurality of computer executable steps for a digital data
processing
device 64 to determine the identity of a lens 10 or 11, or determine whether
the lens 10 or
I I is inside-out, or whether the lenses 10, 11 need to be replaced based on
the expiration
data. A user can interact with thc system 23, for example, viewing a eormnand
line, using
a graphical and/or other user interface, and entering commands via an input
device, such
as a mouse, microphone, a keyboard, a touch sensitive screen, a stylus, a.
track ball, a
keypad, etc., and receiving advisory signals via output means such as display
means,
speaker. LEDs, and so forth, as shown in Figure 6. Inputs from the user can be
received
via an input/output (I/0) subsystem and routed to processor via an internal
bus (e.g.,
system bus) for execution under the control of the operating system. The
input/output
=
-20-
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
means for interacting with the system 21 may he embodied within the digital
data
processing device 64, such as the graphical user interface, display means, a
touch screen
display, stylus, keypad, keyboard, blittons, a microphone, and a speaker.
Alternatively,
the reader 34 can be added onto any of the afore-mentioned devices 64 as a
peripheral,
such as an SD/SDIO card reader inserted in an SD/SDIO card slot of the device
64, or a
USB reader, or a serial reader, or a reader coupled to a dock connector.
(00711 More specifically, the computer-readable medium containing program
instructions stored thereon, when executed by the processor cause the
processor to
perform operations comprising causing a data carrier 20, 22, 30, or 32
included with a
ophthalmic lens 10 or 11 to emit a data signal periodically, automatically, or
in response
to a external signal from the data carrier 20, 22, 30, or 32, wherein the data
carrier 20, 22,
30, or 32 comprising a device operable in a magnetic and/or electrical mode,
such as an
RFID tag or an RFID chip with *suitable antenna means. The executable
instructions also
cause the processor to display information related to the data signal, and
wherein the
information comprises at least one of a SKU, unique ID, manufacturer, logo,
material of
manufacture, composition, lot no., batch no., warehouse related data;
promotional
material (rebate for next pair purchase or free trials), lens features and
benefits data,
health warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage
data,
regulatory- data, authenticity data, fitting details, orientation of the lens
(inside-out/right
side-out or convex surface/concave surface), lens type data, lens care or
handling
information, recommended usage information such as wear schedule, frequency of
wear,
compliance data, compliance-related statistics, lens ordering data, filling
pharmacy,
health professional information, time data, an ophthalmic lens user's personal
details,
prescription information, right eye/left eye identification data, expiration
data, a URI,
spectral passing band(nm), UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe value,
transmittance % or haze(%) for a particular thickness, lens case replacement
schedule,
and eye examination schedule.
10072! In another exemplary embodiment, the reader 34 may be integrated in
vehicle
components, such as, on or in dash electronics. UPS receiver, steering wheel.
rear view
mirror, car seat; household appliances/items or consumer electronics, such as
televisions,
-21 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
media players, desktop telephones, headsets, visors, spectacle frames,
clothing, hats,
helmets, clocks, mirrors, display screens, tables, countertops.
100731 In another
exemplary embodiment, the orientation of an optical device 10 can
be readily determined prior to application, that is, the system 23 may
determine whether
an ophthalmic lens 10 is inverted, creased or physically distorted. For
example, for a
contact lens 10, the anterior surface 12 or the posterior surface 14 can be
determined
based on the response characteristics by the tag 20 to the reader 34, and may
bc used to
inform a user of the orientation of the lens 10 in a contact lens container
24, or in relation
to a reader 34 or 36, or to readily determine the eye contacting surface,
prior to insertion
into the eye, as shown in Figure 7. As an example, the data carrier 20 on the
anterior
surface 12 has a first unique identifier while the data carrier 22 on the
posterior surface
14 has a second unique identifier, such that the reader 34 can distinguish
which device 20
or 22 is closest to the reader 34, hence which lens surface 12 or 14, based on
the response
times or emitted data signal characteristics, from the respective devices 20,
22. When the
contact lens 10 is properly oriented for insertion, that is, the concave
portion or anterior
surface 12 of the lens 10 is toward the eye, a confirmatory message is
provided to the
user, either visually or auditorily. However, should the lens 10 have anterior
surface 12
/ facing outwardly (i.e. it is inverted and its posterior surface 14 is now
toward the eye,
then a corresponding warning message issued, including any other appropriate
actions
needed to correct the orientation of the lens 10. The reader 34 with at least
one receiver
52 can measure the intensity of the signals from the tags 20, 22 established
as base points.
The reader processor 48 collects the data from the receiver(s) 52 and
determines the
location date tags 20, 22 using algorithms and time-of-arrival (TOA)
differentiation of a
signal emitted from the tag 20 or 22 to a number of receivers 52, via
multilateration, or
hyperbolic positioning. It is noted that knowledge of the signal arrival times
and signal
transmit times generally provides sufficient information for performing
interference
profiling, tag tracking. Other methods, such as triangulation may be employed.
Alternatively, for active tags 20, 22, a tag transmitter 42 located with the
lens 10
transmits, at selected intervals, transmissions including at least a unique
identifier.
- 22 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
100741 Using triangulation methods, or other methods described above, the
system
may determine the orientation, the diameter of the lens 10 by using the
signals from
device 20e, 22b and 22a located at predetermined locations on the lens 10,
among others.
As shown in Figure 9, using an antenna or antenna array 54 a, b, c of the
reader 34, the
relationship between the distance (d1) of device 20c and the reader 34, and
the distance
between the distance (d2) of device 22a, may determine whether the lens 10 is
inverted or
not. For example, when di < d2 represents a non-inverted lens 10, then if di >
(12 the lens
is inverted. Correspondingly, the distance (d3) between the device 22h and the
reader
34 may also be compared to di Also, a determination as to whether de d2, or
cl3 are
within predetermined threshold. Meanwhile, another separation distance d4
between 22a
and 22b represent the diameter of the lens 10, and should d.4 exceed a
predetermined
threshold then the lens 10 is most likely creased.
100751 Such a determination may be useful in a typical manufacturing
process, where
an ophthalmic lens 10 is suspended in a solution in a packaging, or any
receptacle that
may be used to sterilize the ophthalmic lens 10. The packaging, such as a
blister package,
is typically sealed by a cover, such as, foil laminates, transparent
laminates, hardened
plastics and flexible plastics, prior to delivery to the user, and the
packaging is inspected
to determine whether the ophthalmic lens 10 is present or disposed in a
preferred
orientation, prior to applying the cover. In an industrial application it is
preferred that thc
inverted lens 10 be discarded prior to covering and sterilizing the lens 10,
and packaging
with missing lenses 10 are also preferably discarded, Figure 9. Blister
packages 24 with
lens 10 or 11 move along on a conveyor 66, with a reader 34 positioned above
or below
the conveyor. As stated above, the angle of arrival of the signal from devices
20c, 22a, or
22b may also be used to determine the orientation of thc lens 10 with rcspect
to a
preferred orientation; or determine whether the lens 10 is creased or damaged.
For
example, the angles of arrival a, p or (1) associated with signals from device
20c, 22a, or
22b may be compared predetermined angles of arrival representative of a lens
10 in a
preferred orientation. Also, the differences between the angles of arrival, 0,
may be used
to determine whether thc lens 10 is creased or properly orientated, by
comparing 0 to a
predetermined threshold. As shown in Figures 3, 4. 7 and 9. the readers 34 and
36 are
- 23 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
located anywhere within reading distance of the devices 20 or 22, in order to
determine
the orientation of the lens 10. In one example, an off-the-shelf contact lens
container (i.e.
without a reader 34) is placed on a display screen with an integrated reader
34, of a
device 64, such as a smartphone or a tablet computing device. In another
example, an off-
the-shelf contact lens container (i.e. without a reader 34) is placed on/or
adjacent to, a
surface with integrated reader 34, such as a mai, a mirror, In another
example,
100761 The reader 34 is able to determine the orientation of the lens 10 by
the data
signals received from the uniquely 1Ded tags 20, 22, and/or with respect to a
reference
point. This determination can be done any number of methods, such as those
mentioned
above, for example, the reader 34 is able to determine the identity and
location of the tag
20 or 22 on the lens 10 with respect to the eye, the angle of arrival of the
signals from the
tag 20 or 22, and hence the direction of that tag 20 or 22 from the reader 34
by comparing
signals arriving at two receivers 52 with closely spaced antennae 54. Other
tags 25 a, h,
may be included at various axes, such as axis 21, or predetermined locations
of the lens
to aid in correct orientation of the lens 10. The reader 34 thus processes the
data from
any of the tags 20, 22 or 25 to determine the current orientation of the lens
10 with
respect to the user's eye, and provide feedback to the user on how to proceed,
such as,
how to correct the orientation, or to proceed with insertion when the lens 10
is properly
oriented.
100771 In another exemplary embodiment, the reader 34, as described above,
outputs
an image of the lens 10 on a display 56, using the idcntity, and location of
the tags 20, 22
in a 2D or 3-D space. For instance, the lags 20, 22 act as fiducial markers or
alignment
means, whose precise location on the lens 10 is known, and thus with a
sufficient number
of strategically- placed tags 20, 22, image acquisition or image
reconstruction of the lens
10 showing the shape or orientation of the lens 10 is possible. Therefore, the
image
would show the orientation of the lens 10 with respect to the eye of a user,
as an aid to
correct the rotation or orientation of the lens 10. Other advisory signals
issued by the
reader 34 may be visual or auditory.
=
- 24 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
100781 In more detail, as shown in Figure 9, the method determining the
orientation
of an optical device 10, such as the contact lens of Figures 2 and 10,
includes the steps of
providing an optical lens 10 with at least one data carrier 20 or 22 for
carrying data
related to the optical lens 10, the data carrier 20 or 22 being operable in at
least one of an
electrical mode and a magnetic mode; the data carrier 20 or 22 being included
on the
anterior surface 12 and/or posterior surface 14, or edge surface (step 200);
providing an
interrogating signal incident on the data carrier 20 or 22 from a reader 34,
to cause the
data carrier 20 or 22 to emit a data signal in response to the interrogating
signal or
causing the data carrier 20 to emit a data signal periodically, or in response
to an
interrogating signal (step 202); comparing the response data signals incident
on at least
two receivers 52 of the reader 34; processing the emitted data signals to
determine the
characteristics the emitted data signals (step 204), the reader 34 may include
at least one
array of adjacent antennae 54 measuring the range from that array to thc data
carriers 20,
22, identity of data carriers 20, 22 in the field, range and pointing vector
to the tag 20, 22
in a 11), 21) or 313 space, and also track of movement of data carriers 20, 22
in the reader
34 zone. The array contains at least one transmit antenna 54 for energising
the passive
data carriers 20, 22, or providing an interrogation signal, and at least one
antenna 54 for
each receiver 52. Thus, the reader 34 is able to identify the data carriers
20, 22, and also
measure the range and direction of those data carriers 20, 22 from the reader
antennae 54
By comparing signals arriving at two identical receivers with closely spaced
antennae 54
(step 206), the reader 34 is able to determine the angle of arrival of the
signals from the
tag 20 and hence the direction of that tag 20 from the reader 34, to thus
determine the
orientation of the lens 10 (step 208), and an appropriate advisory signal
follows (step
210).
100791 Alternatively, in step 206 the reader 34 determines the emitted
signal
intensity by the data carrier 20, or attenuation thereof, whereby the data
signal emitted by
the device 20 on the anterior surface.12 is distinguishable from the data
signal emitted by
the device 20 on the posterior surface 14, or whereby the data signal emitted
by the
device 20 on one surface 12 of the optical device 10 directly in front of the
reader 34 is
distinguishable from the data signal emitted by a device 20 on the opposing
surface 14 of
the same optical device 10, such that the attenuation, inherent in the optical
device 10
25 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
material, to the data signal can be deciphered or detected. Alternatively, at
least one
siirfrice. 12 or 14, or edge surface, of the lens 10 includes more data
carriers 20 or 22 than
the other, such that when interrogated, the data carriers 20 one surface 12
will have
stronger signal intensities than those corresponding to the data carriers 22
on the other
side 14. As an example, a predetermined procedure is established as to the
placement of
the data carriers 20, such as five devices 20 on the anterior surface 12, each
with a unique
identifier, and two devices 22 on the posterior surface 14, each with a unique
identifier.
Upon interrogation, there would be a distinction between the signal
intensities of the five
devices 20 on the anterior surface 12 versus the two devices 22 on the
posterior surface
14, and if the signal intensities of the five devices 20 on the anterior
surface 12 are
greater than those of the two devices 22 on the posterior surface 14, then it
follows that
anterior surface 12 is closest to the reader 34 (step 208). and the
appropriate advisory
signal is issued to the user (step 210).
100801 In
yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a
method and system, and a method of manufacturing thereof, for causing an
optical device
10, having an optical power which varies radially and circumferentially about
the optic
axis of the device 10, to consistently maintain the device 10 in a preferred
orientation.
For example, a toric lens 10 should be placed in a predetermined orientation
upon the eye
of a user for proper vision correction. A method of determining a toric
contact lens 10
angle of lens rotation on the cornea of a person's eye so that a suitable
contact lens 10 can
be prescribed or dispensed. A contact lens 10, or trial lens 10, comprising at
least one tag
20 or 22 associated with the lens 10, is placed on the eye to be evaluated. At
least one tag
20 or 22 is disposed on the lens 10 and along at least one predetermined axis
for
correlation with at least one axis of the wearer's eye. As an example. as
shown in Figure
10, at least one tag 22a, b, c, or d, is deposited on the lens surface 12 or
14, attached to
the lens 10, or associated with the lens 10. As an example, tag 22a is located
along the
= 90th meridian 17 which corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye of
the user, and
near the top 17' of that vertical axis 17. As such, for proper orientation the
top 17' is
intended to be located adjacent the top of the user's eye, whereas tag 22e is
located along
the 90th meridian 17 and near the bottom 17" of that vertical axis 17. As
such, for proper
orientation the top 17' is intended to be located adjacent the bottom of the
user's eye. The
-26-
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
Ions 10 may include other tags 20 a, b or c deposited on the lens surface 12
or 14,
attached to the lens 10, or associated with the lens 10, along an axis 19
which
corresponds to the horizontal meridian 19 of the eye of the user.
Alternatively, other tags
(not shown) may be located at the edge surface of the lens 10. These tags 20,
22 to assist
the user in placing the lens 10 in the eye, and for observing movement of the
lens 10
upon the surface of the eye. The presence of eyelids pressing on the toric
contact lens 10
and the gravitational pull on the lens 10, especially if it has prism ballast,
will cause the
lens 10 to rotate on a cornea having astigmatism characteristics, causing the
tag 20 or 22
to be at an angle to the horizontal axis 19 or to the vertical axis of the
user's eye. As such,
the rotation of the lens 10, such as a conventional asymmetric contact lens,
within the eye
can he measured while the user's head is in a predetermined position by
comparison of
the position of the at least one data carrier 10 to a predetermined axis of
the eye. By so
doing, the exact angle of lens rotation is determined so that the correct
toric contact lens
can be prescribed.
=
10081J The reader 34 is able to determine the orientation of the lens I 0
by the data
signals received from the uniquely 1Ded tags 20, 22, and or with respect to in
combination with a reference point. This determination can be done any number
of
methods, such as those mentioned above, for example, the reader 34 is able to
determine
thc identity and location of the tag 20 or 22 on the lens 10 with respect to
the eye, the
angle of arrival of the signals from the tag 20 or 22, and hence the direction
of that tag 20
or 22 from the reader 34 by comparing signals arriving at two identical
receivers 52 with
closely spaced antennae 54. Other tags 25 a, b. may be included at various
axes, such as
axis 21, or predetermined locations of the lens 10 to aid in correct
orientation of the lens
10. The reader 34 thus processes the data from any of the tags 20, 22 or 25 to
determine
the current orientation of the lens 10 with respect to the user's eye, and
provide feedback
to the user on how to proceed. such as, how to correct the orientation. or to
proceed with
insertion when the lens 10 is properly oriented.
100821 In another exemplary embodiment, the system 23 includes an optical
device
10, such as a lens, having at least one alignment means for aligning an
optical axis of the
lens 10 with a predetermined position of the eye; at least one photographing
means for
27 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
photographing an anterior segment of the eye such that the optical axis of the
lens 10 is
aligned with the predetermined position of the eye by at least one alignment
means;
measurement means to obtain measurement data on the eye necessary for vision
correction, such as the orientation of the axis of the cylindrical correction,
and at least
one position-detecting means for processing the image of the anterior eye
segment on a
display means to detect a position of the pupil, processing the coordinates of
the
alignment means on the contact lens 10 to detect the position of the contact
lens 10 as
installed on the eye based on an objective decision. The system 23 may be used
for
determining the characteristics of an eye in order to determine the correct
prescription for
a lens 10. As stated above, for an aspherical lens 10, it is necessary to make
a visual axis,
that is hy line of sight a center position of a pupil, correspond with an
optical axis of the
contact lens 10 so as to obtain adequate fitting of the contact lens 10. As
such, the
relationship of the positions between the pupil and the contact lens 10 must
be
determined. In an exemplary system 23, a test contact lens 10, or fitting
lens, having a
plurality of data carriers 20 at predetermined locations of the lens 10, such
as known axes
for alignment purposes, is placed on the eye and the anterior eye segment is
photographed by a camera. The eye may be photographed while being exposed to
light of
varying intensities or illuminance, to provide responsive images of the eye
showing the
pupil, iris and screla, on a display means. The acquired images of eye and the
lens 10
may thus be processed, and based on these processed images and the locations
of the
alignment means or data carriers 20, eye measurements can thus be carried out,
for
example, the coordinates of the pupil edges, the center position of the pupil
edges, or
coordinates of the pupil center, and so forth. Therefore, the relationship of
relative
positions between a contact lens 10 and a pupil is measured quantitatively and
precisely.
Therefore, it is possible to readily obtain the position of the pupil center
relative to the
optical axis of the eye-ball position, and/or the lens 10, non-subjectively as
with prior art
methods, and the rotational angle and displacement, or the like, of the
contact lens 10 can
he calculated quantitatively, which facilitates determination of the
prescription. This
provides the practitioner with the ability to observe orientation of the lens
10, and thus
the test lens 10 provides a template for a proper lens prescription for that
particular
measured eye. As such, the practitioner or the lens wearer can use this system
23 to
- 28 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
ensure that the actual prescribed lens 10 is properly placed or oriented
within the eye
according the prescription fitting details, using the advisory signals
outputted by the
system 23. Also, effective measurements can be made for a contact lens which
requires
an analysis on a complicated use condition, for example. a contact lens like a
custom
lens. or a bifocal lens, trifocal lens, rnultifocal lens, and a progressive
lens, in which the
pupil is covered by a plurality of optical power regions.
100831 In another exemplary embodiment, a reader 34 resident on the
container 24
includes a network interface for coupling to a digital data processing device
64 or
network. The network can include a series of network nodes (e.g., the clients
and servers)
that can be interconnected by network devices and wired and/or wireless
communication
lines (e.g., public carrier lines, private lines, satellite lines, etc.) that
enable the network
nodes to communicate. The transfer of data (e.g.. messages) between network
nodes can.
be facilitated by network devices, such as routers, switches, multiplexers,
bridges,
gateways, etc., that can manipulate and/or route data from an originating node
to a server
node regardless of dissimilarities in the network topology (e.g., bus, star,
token ring),
spatial distance (e.g., local, metropolitan, wide area network, internet),
transmission
technology (e.g., TCP/IP, Systems Network Architecture), data type (e.g.,
data, voice,
video, multimedia), nature of connection (e.g., switched, non-switched, dial-
up,
dedicated, or virtual), and/or physical link (e.g., optical fiber, coaxial
cable, twisted pair,
wireless, etc.) between the originating and server network nodes. As an
example, the
reader 34 may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection, such as
F,thernet. IEEE
1394, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, EDGE, PSTN, ATM, ISDN, 802.1X, USB, Parallel, Serial,
liART (RS-266c), among others. In this case, the input/output means for
interacting with
the system 23 are embodied within the digital data processing device, such as
the
graphical user interface, display means. stylus, keypad, keyboard, buttons,
touch screen
display. microphone, and speaker.
10()841 Alternatively, the reader 34 is a standalone handheld device., or
is coupled to
a digital data processing device 64 or network. A non-integrated reader 34 may
be used
with multiple containers 24. so that contact lens case 24 may be disposed of
periodically
to reduce your risk of infection. Therefore, a non-integrated reader 34 may be
more
- 29 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
economical than an integrated reader 34, as the non-integrated reader 34 can
be easily
associated or de-associated with a contact lens container 24 to permit re-use
with another
container 24, while also maintaining historical data pertaining to the user,
contact lens 10
use, and so forth.
100851 Alternatively, the system 23 issues advisory signals, such
as reminders, alerts
& warnings, to the user and third parties, such as, eye-care practitioners,
pharmacy or
central server/database via the wired or wireless network. The alerts may be
provided via
= telephone, voice-mail, fax, email, SMS, IM, MMS, website, social
networking site, snail
mail, courier, and so forth. Alternatively, third parties receive the advisory
signals for
analysis and may take certain actions based the nature of the advisory
signals. For
example, upon receipt of an advisory signal pertaining to creased, ripped or
damaged
contact lens 10, the third party may automatically fill a new prescription for
replacement
lenses 10, 11 and send them to the user, or may seek user intervention before
filling the
new prescription, in accordance with user-determined lens replacement rules.
Alternatively, a third party may issue recall notices directly to affected
users based on the
device 10 characteristics, such as batch no., SKU, manufacturer, date of
manufacture,
material, and so forth. Affected user may be automatically provided with new
lenses 10,
1 l, without any user intervention in a seamless process. Such advisory
signals may also
be used for a container 24 with limited display capabilities or a reader 34,
with limited
computing resources, coupled to a digital data processing device 64 or
network.
10086] The third party may also analyze the received data and
track the amount of
time the lenses 10, I I are actually worn by the user, and compile reports
relating the user
data. The third party may thus determine whether the prescription is being
followed, for
example if dailies are worn for more than 24 lirs, or whether overnights are
being worn
beyond the prescribed maximum time period, such as 30 days. Using the received
data,
the third party may recommend a wearing time dependent on the user's
individual needs,
or recommend another prescription with a different wearing schedule. The
reports may
also be issued to the user and any other interested parties, such as,
insurance companies
or parents or guardians.
=
- 30 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
=
The reader 34, either standalone or attached or integrated in the digital data
processing device, may be coupled to another digital data processing device 64
or
network to enable a user to order lenses 10, 11, for example, when the lenses
10, 11 are
nearing expiration, have expired, or have been damaged. Through the
input/output means
fir interacting with the system 23, a user may place carry out a transaction
for the
purpose of ordering or purchasing lenses 10, 11 from a pharmacy, retailer or
virtual store
for a replacement lens or pair, based on the data stored on the tag 20. The
prescription
details, user details, shipping address, eyecare practitioner information, and
so forth, arc
sent to the pharmacy, retailer or online store via a wired or wireless
connection to carry
out a commercial transaction; and any suitable payment means, such as, credit
cards,
debit cards, cheque, wire transfer, electronic money. C.O.D., and so forth,
may be used to
complete the transaction. In one example, the system 23 includes an RFID-NFC
enabled
mobile device 64, capable of ordering a pair of lenses 10, 11. Near Field
Communication
(NFC) technology, a very short-range radio frequency identification (RFID)
protocol that
provides secure communications between various devices. By having this
relatively short
read distance, security is enhanced as this substantially diminishes the
possibility of
eavesdropping or man-in-the middle attacks. In a NFC-enabled mobile device 64,
such as
a mobile phone, the reader 34 is powered by the batteries within a mobile
phone 56 to
allow communication with a NFC tag 20 on a lens 10. Using account information
stored
in the mobile device 64 the user can automatically place an order to a
pharmacy or
retailer for a replacement lens I 0 or 11 or lens pair 10, 11, based on the
data stored on the
tag 20, and any other data provided by the user. The reader 34 within the
mobile device
64, or wallet phone, automatically connects via the cellular connection or
through NFC-
.
enabled Wi-Fi or Illuetooth to the pharmacy, retailer or virtual store to
carry out the
commercial transaction. Alternatively, the lenses 10, 11 may be ordered
automatically by
the system 23, or by the pharmacy, retailer or virtual store, upon
determination of
impending expiry of the lenses 10, 11, or in accordance with predetermined
lens
replacement rules stored in a computer readable medium 50.
100881 In
one example, a device 64 with a reader integrated with the display screen
interrogates the data carrier of lenses 10, 11 at predetermined intervals when
adjacent to
the lenses 10, 11, for example, when placed to the ear while in conversation.
The device
-31 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
64 can thus issue advisory signals to the user, and the advisory signals may
be displayed
on the display screen or announced to the user at predetermined moments, such
as, 011
powering on the device, or before performing other actions on the device, such
as making
a call, selecting a playlist or sending a text message, or pop-up reminders
during. any of
said user actions on the device 64. Alternatively, the advisory signals or
alerts may be
automatically included with the device's 64 scheduling software or a calendar
application, or the advisory signals may be sent to any user-defined
recipient.
100891 In yet another exemplary embodiment, communication may be
accomplished
between the reader 34 and a tag 20 via different media or frequencies for
different
purposes (e.g., infrared light, or acoustics).
10090] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the optical device 10 is an
ophthalmic
lens for eyeglasses or spectacles comprising an identifying means, wherein the
identifying means 20 is operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a
magnetic
mode to emit data associated with the prescription lens 10. Oftentimes, when a
user of the
eyeglasses needs to replace the eyeglasses, for any number of reasons, such
as, a
scratched lens, a broken lens. In some instances, the user may not have a
valid
prescription handy, so a new eye examination with the eyecare practitioner has
to be
arranged. The other option may be to test the broken or scratched lenses with
complicated
instruments. Using the present invention, the prescription data can be readily
determined
and verified with the user thus foregoing a costly eye-examination or
determination of the
prescription of existing glasses by complicated instruments. Spectacle lenses
are made
form two main types of materials--plastic 01" glass. Plastic lenses are often
CR39 or
polycarbonate. Glass lenses come in a variety of refractive indexes, designed
to minimise
the thickness. The types of spectacle lenses include, but are not limited to,
single vision
lenses, either spherical or with astigmatic correction, bifocal lenses,
trifocal lenses,
multilocal lenses, progressive lenses, aphakic lenses, photochromic lenses,
coated lenses,
hi index lenses, toughened lenses, aspheric lenses, polarized lenses, among
others.
109911 In another exemplary embodiment, the tag 20 is configured as a read-
only
lag, programmable write-once/read-many tag, or re-programmable read-many/write-
- 32 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
many tag. In general, read-only tags have permanent unalterable code (e.g.,
identification
and/or other data), which is fixed in embedded memory at the time of
manufacture.
Programmable write-once/read-many tags include embedded memory that can be
written
to once in the field with the desired information. Re-programmable read-
many/write-
many tags include embedded memory that can be written to multiple times with
the
desired information. Since it is impossible to rewrite the data on a write-
once/read-many
tag, this provides a high level of security and authenticity. Upon purchase of
the lens with
the passive tag 20, the data. such as. the unique ID, is associated with the
prescription
details. arid other data as described above. Therefore, the unique ID used to
perform a
lookup in a secure system. and no unique personal information about the user
is present
within that unique ID. As described above, a reader 34 with a network
interface is
coupled to a digital data processing device 64 or network to access the data
record with
the unique ID. Therefore, as an example. the unique ID may be associated with
a right
lens 10 or a len lens 11. such that the invention can be practiced as
described above.
100921 In another
exemplary embodiment, the container 24 will only accept a known
lens 10. For example, the reader 34 reads the lens identification data when
the lens 10 is
first introduced in the container 24,= and stores that lens identification
data. The next time
a lens 10 or 11 is introduced in that lens container 24, the reader 34
verifies whether the
lens 10 or 11 bears predetermined lens identification data, if there is a
match then a signal
indicative of this outcome is issued. As such, the container 24 may include a
releasable
lock operable in accordance with the identity of the lenses 10, 11, the age or
wearable life
of the lenses 10, 11 and/or the identity of the user. In one example,
following a
predetermined number of advisory signals imploring the user to replace the
lenses 10, 11,
or seek a new prescription, the container 24 is locked, and can only be opened
after -
resetting the lock, or by the introduction of a lens 10 with valid
prescription data for the
particular user. This functionality is useful in a situation where there is
more than one
container 24 in an environment, such as a household bathroom, changing room or
locker
room, where there exists a chance a user may choose another user's container
24 by
mistake. For health reasons, different users are encouraged not to swap
containers 24 to
curb spread of infection through the transfer of micro-organisms between
lenses 10 or
containers 24.
- 33 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
100931 In yet another exemplary embodiment, the tag 20 includes a
photovoltaic
array that acts as both a light signal receiver (extracting data and clock
information from
the reader) and a means to convert light into electrical power to operate the
RF1D digital
IC chip. The tag 20 responds to a unique signal from the tag reader and when
activated,
would send information back to the reader 34, via electromagnetic means.
10094] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system 23 .-supports
various
security features that ensure the integrity, confidentiality and privacy of
information
stored or transmitted, such as: (a) mutualauthentication¨where the tag 20 can
verify that
the reader 34 is authentic and can prove its own authenticity to the reader 34
before
starting a secure communication session or a secure transaction; (b) strong
information
security--for complete data protection, information stored on tag 20 can bc
encrypted and
communication between the tag 20 and the reader 34 can be encrypted to prevent
eavesdropping. The authentication data of the contact lens 18 is verified with
the logic
means 48 or external means to help combat counterfeiting. Additional security
technologies may also be used to ensure information integrity. Additionally,
the tag 20
may include built-in tamper-resistance by employing a variety of hardware and
software
capabilities that detect and react to tampering attempts and help counter
possible attacks.
The system 23 may also include the ability to process information and uniquely
provide
authenticated information access and protect the privacy of personal
information. The tag
20 can verify the authority of the information requester 34 and then allow
access only to
the information required. Access to stored infbrmation can also be further
protected by a
challenge-response scheme, such as a personal identification number (PIN) or
biometrics
to protect privacy and counter unauthorized access. Other security options
include
providing only non-confidential information on the tag 20, and using
information
pointers, rather than actual information, using 'kill commands' to permanently
render the
tag 20 inoperable by at any point in the life of the lens 20 while protecting
against
inadvertent or malicious disablement of the tag 20, or using a disguised EPC
number, or
unique identifier, during transaction to helping protect tag identity and tag
data.
100951 In yet another exemplary embodiment, the above methods and systems
are
applicable to the optical devices which are used for a component, or the like,
of an optical
- 34 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
instrument or information equipment. where identification and/or orientation
(installing
direction of an optical device, such, back surface or front surface, or side)
of the optical _
device may need to be readily determined prior to installation or use within
certain
equipment. For some optical applications, the individual optical components
must be
mounted in a system structure, and the components have certain
characteristics, such as,
spectral passing band (nrn), UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe value,
transmittance % or haze (%) for a particular thickness. thermal coefficient or
expansion,
density, UV cut-off, MILeode. Such devices may include, but are not limited
to, pickup
lens of an optical communication disk, an optical communication module, a
pickup lens
of a laser printer, an optical disk device, camera lens, and a telescope lens,
lens for a
monocular, binoculars, telescope, spotting scope, magnifier, telescopic gun
sight,
theodolite, microscope, and camera (photographic lens), among others. The
optical
devices may be fabricated using a variety of materials including optical
glasses,
engineered plastics and crystalline materials. Glass material is the most
common type
because of its excellent optical properties such as high light transmission
and
environmental stability. Other materials include quartz, sapphire, fused
silica, and a wide
range of plastics. such as, acrylic (PMMA), polystyrene polycarbonate (optical
grade),
NAS. polyole fin(Zeonex), Arton F, Optores (OZ1000- I 100), Optores (OZ 1 310-
1330),
among others, and glass-ceramic materials. Plastic optics can also be combined
with glass
optics to form hybrid optical systems. Therefore, providing thc optical lens
with at least
one data currier for carrying data related to the optical lens facilitates
acquiring the
relevant data. This method and apparatus is particularly beneficial where the
devices arc
relatively small, thus making it difficult to employ prior art methods, such
as, engraving,
for visual inspection by a user to determine the installation surface. As a
further example,
the uge of the optical devices, such as, resistive touchscreens can be tracked
or
determined, such that usage in field can be studied, or compared to MTBF
ratings, or the
age may be used to determine a replacement schedule.
10096] Although a plurality of data carrier means activatable by suitable
fields have
been specifically disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the present
invention is not
restricted to these. Any electrically and/or magnetically operable device
suitable for the
indicated purpose may be employed in embodiments of the present invention. In
- 35 -
CA 02717328 2010-10-14
particular, it is to be understood that the operation of the data carrier
means need not be
wholly electrical and/or magnetic, and thus for example optical and/or
acoustic elements
may be employed in conjunction with electrical and/or magnetic devices in
alternative
embodiment s.
100971 It is further to be understood that the invention is not restricted
to magnetic
and/or electrical fields to be put into practice. Any other type of field
(electromagnetic or
otherwise) which is suitable to activate a cooperable data carrier means in
accordance
with the present invention can be employed. Thus, in alternative embodiments
of the
invention for example fields comprising radiation anywhere within the
electromagnetic
spectrum may bc employed, and also other fields such as acoustic or other non-
=
electromagnetic fields may be employed in suitably adapted embodiments.
100981 The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in
order to
best explain the present invention and its particular application and to
thereby enable
those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. However, those skilled
in the art
will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented
for the
purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not
intended to
be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many
modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing
from the spirit
of the forthcoming claims.
100991 The preceding description has heen provided with particular
reference to
preferred embodiments thereof and examples, hut it will be understood that
variations
, and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims
which may
include the phrase ''at least one of A. B and C" as an alternative expression
that means
one or more of A. B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguidc
v.
DIRECTV. 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir.2004).
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