Methods for providing a dyed polymer layer
View Patent ↗Body-mountable devices comprising a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of an electronic structure embedded in a transparent polymer are described. An example method for fabricating a body-mountable device includes providing a dyed polymer material on an electronic structure. The electronic structure comprises at least one antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method also includes molding the dyed polymer material to provide a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of the electronic structure.
1. A method comprising:
forming a first polymer layer;
adhering an electronic structure to the first polymer layer, wherein the electronic structure comprises at least one antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device;
providing a dyed polymer material on the electronic structure;
molding the dyed polymer material to provide a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of the electronic structure, wherein the dyed polymer layer reduces a visibility of one or more components of the electronic structure included in the portion of the electronic structure; and
forming a second polymer layer over the dyed polymer layer, the electronic structure, and first polymer layer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dyed polymer layer covers substantially all of a surface of the at least one antenna.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electronic structure comprises a posterior side and an anterior side, and wherein the portion of the electronic structure includes a surface on the anterior side of the electronic structure.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein dyed polymer layer covers substantially all of one or more surfaces of the electronic device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer layer defines a posterior surface of an eye-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines an anterior surface of the eye-mountable device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a color of the dyed polymer layer comprises one or more shades of blue, hazel, green, brown, or black.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein molding the dyed polymer material comprises:
aligning, over the electronic structure, a mold that has a shape substantially similar to at least the portion of the electronic structure; and
using the mold to compress the dyed polymer material on a surface of the electronic structure.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a cavity of the mold is configured to provide a thickness of the dyed polymer layer that is between about 10 micrometers and about 100 micrometers.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dyed polymer comprises silicone.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dyed polymer layer and at least one of the first polymer layer or the second polymer layer comprise a substantially similar polymer material.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dyed polymer layer is substantially opaque.