IP Library Granted Patent US 12,360,402
Granted Patent B2
US 12,360,402 · App. 17/841,441 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Isolation control circuit for an electronic contact lens

Inventors: Job Nalianya (Sunnyvale, CA); Mohammad Hekmat (Portola Valley, CA); David Zakharian (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Tectus Corporation
G02C11/10G02C7/04H01M10/425H01M2010/4271H01M2220/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,360,402
App. No.
17/841,441
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic contact lens. In some embodiments, the electronic contact lens includes: a power management circuit; and a first cell, the power management circuit including an active switch, the active switch being configured to isolate the first cell from other contact lens elements when the power management circuit is powered down.

Claims (58)

1. An electronic contact lens, comprising:

a power management circuit; and

a first cell,

the power management circuit comprising an active switch,

the active switch being configured to isolate the first cell from other contact lens elements when the power management circuit is powered down,

wherein:

the power management circuit comprises:

a first switching circuit in a first voltage domain defined by the power management circuit, and

a second switching circuit in a second voltage domain defined by the first cell;

the second switching circuit comprises the active switch;

the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit are connected in series between the first cell and the power management circuit;

the first switching circuit comprises a first series switch, connected between the power management circuit and a common node;

the second switching circuit comprises a second series switch, connected between the power management circuit and the common node;

the second series switch is the active switch;

the first switching circuit further comprises a first shunt switch, connected between the common node and ground; and

the second switching circuit further comprises a second shunt switch, connected between the common node and ground.

2. The electronic contact lens of claim 1 , wherein:

the first shunt switch is configured to be turned off when the first series switch is turned on, and

the second shunt switch is configured to be turned off when the second series switch is turned on.

3. The electronic contact lens of claim 1 , wherein:

the first series switch is a field effect transistor;

the first shunt switch is a field effect transistor; and

the gate of the first series switch is connected to the gate of the first shunt switch.

4. The electronic contact lens of claim 3 , wherein the first series switch is a field effect transistor of a first channel type; and

the first shunt switch is a field effect transistor of a second channel type, different from the first channel type.

5. The electronic contact lens of claim 4 , wherein the first series switch is a p-channel field effect transistor; and

the first shunt switch is an n-channel field effect transistor.

6. The electronic contact lens of claim 3 , further comprising a first control circuit, the first control circuit being configured to:

pull down the gate of the first series switch and the gate of the first shunt switch when a first control signal is high and a second control signal is low.

7. The electronic contact lens of claim 6 , wherein the first control circuit comprises a transistor and an inverter, the transistor being connected between an input of the inverter and ground, and the output of the inverter being connected to the gate of the first series switch and the gate of the first shunt switch.

8. The electronic contact lens of claim 6 , further comprising a pulldown circuit for generating the second control signal, the pulldown circuit being configured:

to generate a high signal when the power management circuit is powered down and any charged cell, of a plurality of cells including the first cell, is connected to the power management circuit; and

to generate a low signal otherwise.

9. The electronic contact lens of claim 8 , wherein the pulldown circuit comprises:

a diode-OR circuit having:

a plurality of inputs each connected to a respective cell of a plurality of cells including the first cell, and

an output; and

a resistor connected in series between:

the output of the diode-OR circuit and

a first transistor connected to ground,

a gate of the first transistor being connected to a ready signal, the ready signal being:

high when the power management circuit is powered up, and

low otherwise.

10. The electronic contact lens of claim 9 , wherein the ready signal is an output of a bandgap voltage reference circuit of the power management circuit.

11. The electronic contact lens of claim 9 , further comprising a diode-connected field effect transistor connected in parallel with the first transistor.

12. The electronic contact lens of claim 9 , further comprising a buffer having an input connected to the resistor and to the first transistor.

13. The electronic contact lens of claim 1 , wherein:

the second series switch is a field effect transistor;

the second shunt switch is a field effect transistor; and

the gate of the second series switch is connected to the gate of the second shunt switch.

14. The electronic contact lens of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second control circuit comprising:

a transistor, and

an inverter; and

a level shifter,

the transistor being connected between an input of the inverter and ground,

the output of the inverter being connected to the gate of the second series switch and the gate of the second shunt switch, and

the level shifter being connected between an input for the first control signal and the input of the inverter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2024
From: NALIANYA, JOB; HEKMAT, MOHAMMAD; ZAKHARIAN, DAVID
To: TECTUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068838/0194 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230408846A1 · Dec 21, 2023
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