LED mounted in a contact lens for possible virtual / augmented reality displays

TL;DR

Ben experiments with embedding an LED in a contact lens, exploring power transmission and construction challenges.

Transcript

oh my god it's an LED in a contact lens I think VR displays are right around the corner hey everyone Ben here it seems every so often on the Internet this story comes up with about the contact lens with an LED in it and I think the group that did this put it into a rabbit's eye so I thought I'd one-up them and put it into my own eye so let me show ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Embedding an LED in a contact lens poses challenges in power transmission due to limited space.
• ✊ Inductive coupling is a viable method for powering an LED in a contact lens.
• 😀 Constructing the contact lens involves combining lenses with a coil in distilled water and facing comfort issues.
• 🙂 Optics are necessary to focus the light and create a functional display in a contact lens.
• 💿 Technical barriers exist for developing contact lens displays, requiring additional optical elements for each pixel.
• 💖 Experimentation with power transmission methods like inductive coupling and spark-gap transmitters is essential for embedded LED projects.
• 🧑‍🏭 Comfort and wearability are crucial factors to consider when embedding electronic components in contact lenses.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Ben plan to power the LED embedded in the contact lens?

Ben aimed to power the LED through inductive coupling due to limited space, initially considering a tuned circuit with a capacitor but opting for a direct coil connection to the LED.

Q: What challenges did Ben face with power transmission in the contact lens?

Ben experimented with various drivers for power transmission, ultimately resorting to a spark-gap transmitter due to space constraints and the need for efficient power flow through the LED.

Q: How did Ben construct the contact lens with the embedded LED?

Ben used two soft contact lenses with a receiver coil laminated between them, attempting to meld them together with tweezers heated to melt the plastic, facing comfort issues in the process.

Q: What technical issues did Ben encounter in creating a display in the contact lens?

Ben realized the need for optics to focus the LED's light and prevent it from spreading across the entire retina, highlighting the complexity of creating a functional display in a contact lens.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ben embeds an LED in a contact lens for potential VR displays.

• Uses inductive coupling for power transmission, facing challenges due to limited space.

• Constructs the lens by combining two lenses with a coil in distilled water, facing comfort issues.