Encoding of blink information via wireless contact lens for eye-machine interaction

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Blinks serve physiological and communicative functions, offering potential for eye-machine interaction (EMI).
• Existing EMI devices struggle with wireless functionality, comfort, and complex encoding/decoding.
• Conscious blink encoding can enhance human capabilities in rehabilitation, communication, and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a wireless, wearable contact lens for encoding conscious blink information.
• To create a comfortable and biocompatible EMI device using a soft contact lens.
• To demonstrate multi-route blink-based command decoding for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Integration of an RLC oscillating loop within a soft contact lens.
• Incorporation of a mechanosensitive capacitor and inductive coil for signal generation.
• Development of a five-route blink-based control command decoding mechanism.

Main Results:

• The developed EMI contact lens demonstrated wearability and biocompatibility in human trials.
• The device achieved a sensitivity of 0.153 MHz/mmHg for intraocular pressure monitoring.
• Successful five-route blink-based control command decoding was achieved, demonstrated by drone trajectory control.

Conclusions:

• The wireless EMI contact lens offers a novel and comfortable approach to human-machine interaction.
• This technology transcends limitations of traditional brain-computer interfaces.
• The device has potential applications in motor/language rehabilitation, silent communication, and command execution.