This report analyzes research trends of smart contact lens with a focus on components, sensors and materials involved and also highlights the key companies involved in this space.

1. USING PATSEER TO SEARCH &
ANALYZE PATENTS ON SMART
CONTACT LENS
Note: All analysis and charts shown in this report have been prepared online using PatSeer. This report should not be construed as
business advice and the insights are not to be used as the basis for investment or business decisions of any kind without your own
research and validation. Gridlogics Technologies Pvt. Ltd disclaims all warranties whether express, implied or statutory, of reliability,
accuracy or completeness of results, with regards to the information contained in this report.

2. Smart Contact Lens - Overview
• Smart Contact Lenses are lenses which help in monitoring blood sugar levels in people with
diabetes or look for signs of glaucoma and other diseases. The lenses could also map images directly
onto the field of view, creating head-up displays for the ultimate augmented reality experience,
without wearing glasses or a headset. To produce such lenses, researchers are merging transparent,
eye-friendly materials with microelectronics
• Evolution of contact lenses started in 1508 when Leonardo da Vinci conceptualized the first contact
lens
• Then in 1827 a British astronomer proposed the idea of making a mold of a human eye that could
fit the curvature of the eye
• In 1936, William Fienbloom developed a hybrid contact lens using glass and plastic materials
• In 1959, first hydrophilic water absorbing hydrogel soft contact lenses were made. In 1971 first soft
contact lens was approved by FDA in United States
• In 2008, as a proof of concept, Babak Parviz at the University of Washington in Seattle created a
prototype contact lens containing a single red LED. Using the same technology, he has now created a
lens capable of monitoring glucose levels in people with diabetes. Parviz's design calls for the contact
lens to send this information wirelessly to a portable device worn by diabetic patients, allowing them
to manage their diet and medication more accurately
• In 2014 Google announced a smart Contact Lens that can continuously monitor glucose levels in
tears
• The application domains of these so-called ’smart’ contact lenses have up till now been mainly
limited to biomedical sensing and augmented reality

3. Search methodology and steps followed to accumulate patent data
Using PatSeer, we searched individual publications and then collapsed them to one member per Family
(Simple Families). Patent families is a group of one or more patent applications in multiple countries
which represent the same invention.
The publications included in the report are updated as of 30th June 2016.
(TACD:((smart) wd2 (contact or intraocular or disposable or bionic) wd2 lens*)
OR
TAC:((camera or sensor or sensing or actuat?r or antenna*) w5 (contact lens*)))
1. We started with a set of 322 records (unique families). After manual review of the complete data set, we
came across some irrelevant records which were removed
2. We flagged/rated each individual record using Search Recall™ option present in PatSeer
3. We then filtered, analyzed and came across some unwanted records
4. After analyzing those unwanted records we restricted our search to filings post 2000
5. After all the above steps we came to an accurate data set of 97 families, which were considered for all the
analysis covered in this report
6. These results were moved to PatSeer project for further analysis
This report analyzes research trends of smart contact lens with a focus on
components, sensors and materials involved and also highlights the key
companies involved in this space.

4. The search results were added to a Project (in PatSeer) and classified around following five
different areas
Smart Contact Lens - Categorization
Note: All the charts and analysis in this report have been generated on Unique Simple Families and on the latest
ownership data available for the record.

5. • We can see that Components is the most active research area followed by Biometric
Sensing and Materials
Distribution of Patents across various Categories

6. Filing Trend for Smart Contact Lens
• Chart shows filing trend for smart contact lens since 2000 with respect to their earliest priority
years
• We can see that there has been a steep rise in new invention filings in the last 4 years

7. Key Companies in Smart Contact Lenses
• The chart shows top ten patent holders in smart contact lens
• Few Observations:
• Verily Life Sciences, subsidiary of Alphabet leads the research followed by
Johnson & Johnson and Sensimed
• Other major companies like Samsung and Sony appear in top 10 thereby
indicating their focus area in smart contact lens

8. Where is Research being done?
• The map shows the geographical spread of patents families by country of the earliest
application
• Patent protection is being sought mostly from United States with 63 families closely
followed by Korea and China with 7 and 4 families respectively

9. Focus of key Companies across various Smart Lens Components
• Few Observations:
• Verily Life Sciences has major research interest in Antenna, Sensors, Actuators & radio frequency
power transfer
• Sensimed which is majorly into biometric sensing has records spread across sensors, antennas
and MEMS which form a part sensing devices

10. Focus of key Companies across different Types of Sensors
• The chart above shows various sensors used by different companies
• Few Observations:
• Sensimed uses only Piezoelectric and Telemetric sensors
• Verily Life Sciences use all the sensors for biometric sensing except Tilt sensors

11. Smart Lens Sensors and their applications
• The table above shows the application areas where different smart contact lens sensors have
been patented
• Few Observations:
• Ophthalmic sensors are commonly used for the detection of Glucose levels
• Telemetric sensors are used to detect all the deficiencies or diseases except cancer and
fatigue
• Piezoelectric sensors are used to detect Glaucoma

12. One of the earliest Smart
Contact Lens Patents
• One of the earliest
granted patents :
US5898004 relating to
smart contact lens is held
by University Of
Pittsburgh dealing with
detection of glucose with
the help of contact lens.
• This record and its
subsequent applications
(continuations et al) have
been cited by many
companies as shown.
• The counts in the chart
indicate the number of
unique families that cite
and the companies
represent current owners
of the records..
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
6
16
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
GENSEN TECHNOLOGIES INC
GLUCOSET AS
GUANGZHOU SUGARCANE INDUSTRY RES INST
HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
HARVARD COLLEGE
HELLER ADAM
HELLER EPHRAIM
INSTRACTION GMBH DE
INTEL CORP
INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I LLC
ABREU MARCIO MARC
ARSENAULT ANDRE
CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LTD
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
COLLOIDAL MATERIALS LLC
DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
DOMSCHKE ANGELIKA MARIA
KABILAN SATYAMOORTHY
LEIN APPLIED DIAGNOSTICS LIMITED
LOWE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
MAGNAMEDICS GMBH
NAT INST MATERIALS SCIENCE
OPALUX INC CA
SEIKO EPSON CORP
SMART HOLOGRAMS LTD
SMITH DAWN
ILLUMINA INC
UNIV CAMBRIDGE TECH
CHARLES STARK DRAPER LAB INC
ECHO THERAPEUTICS INC
EYESENSE AG
LEIN APPLIED DIAGNOSTICS
NOVARTIS AG
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
GEELUX HOLDINGS LTD
PPG IND INC
GEARBOX LLC
ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC

13. Contd..
• The table below shows patents/applications where smart contact lenses are used to
capture, record, process, project, stabilize or playback images
Note: To view the full text of the records you can click on the respective record numbers
Record Number
Filing
Date
Current
Assignee
Title Abstract
US2016097940A1
12-Feb-
2014
SONY CORP
Contact lens and storage
medium
[Object] To provide a contact lens and storage medium capable of
controlling an image pickup unit provided in the contact lens.
[Solution] Provided is a contact lens including: a lens unit configured
to be worn on an eyeball; an image pickup unit configured to
capture an image of a subject, the image pickup unit being provided
in the lens unit; and an image pickup control unit configured to
control the image pickup unit.
US2016091737A1
11-Mar-
2015
SAMSUNG
ELECTRONICS
CO LTD
Smart contact lenses for
augmented reality and
methods of manufacturing and
operating the same
Example embodiments disclose a smart contact lens for augmented
reality and methods of manufacturing and operating the smart
contact lens. The smart contact lens includes a first contact lens, a
display unit in a center region of the first contact lens, a peripheral
device on the first contact lens and around the display unit, the
peripheral device being connected to the display unit, and a
passivation layer covering the display unit and the peripheral device
US9254085B2
15-Mar-
2013
NATIONAL
TAIWAN
UNIVERSITY
System and method for
monitoring change of
intraocular pressure and
contact lens for sensing change
of intraocular pressure
A system and a method for monitoring change of intraocular
pressure and a contact lens for sensing change of intraocular
pressure are provided. The contact lens includes a first material
layer and a first pattern. The center of the first material layer has an
optical region, and the optical region corresponds to a cornea region
of an eyeball. The first pattern is formed on the optical region.
List of Inventions related to
Image Processing in Smart Lenses

14. US9050185B2
28-Feb-
2013
JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VISION
CARE INC
Electronic ophthalmic lens with pupil
convergence sensor
A pupil position and convergence detection system
for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic
system is described herein. The pupil position and
convergence detection system is part of an
electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic
lens. The electronic system includes one or more
batteries or other power sources, power
management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock
generation circuitry, control algorithms and
circuitry, and lens driver circuitry.
US2014243971A1
28-Feb-
2013
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
VISION CARE INC
Electronic ophthalmic lens with eye
gaze sensor
A gaze direction tracking system for an ophthalmic
lens comprising an electronic system is described
herein. The gaze direction tracking system is part of
an electronic system incorporated into the
ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one
or more batteries or other power sources, power
management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock
generation circuitry, control algorithms and
circuitry, and lens driver circuitry
US2009185135A1
22-Jan-
2009
VOLK DONALD A
Real image forming eye examination
lens utilizing two reflecting surfaces
providing upright image
A diagnostic and therapeutic contact lens is
provided for use with biomicroscopes for the
examination and treatment of structures of the eye.
The lens comprises a contacting surface adapted for
placement on the cornea of an eye, two reflecting
surfaces, and a refracting surface. A light ray
emanating from the structure of the eye enters the
lens and contributes to the formation of a correctly
oriented real image.
Contd..
List of Inventions related to
Image Processing in Smart Lenses

15. US7477366B2
07-Dec-
2006
COOPERVISION
INTERNATIONAL
HOLDING CO LP
Contact lens blister packages and
methods for automated
inspection of hydrated contact
lenses
A contact lens package includes a base member including a
cavity dimensioned to accommodate contact lens and a liquid
therein. The combination of the cavity, the contact lens, and
the liquid cooperate to collimate partially collimated light
directed toward a bottom surface of the cavity. The cavity
can be sealed by attaching a removable sealing member to
the base member around the cavity. Methods of inspecting
ophthalmic lenses using the present packages are also
described.
US2014081178A1
17-Sep-
2012
VERILY LIFE
SCIENCES LLC
Sensing System
This disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for
detection of eye blinking using an active contact lens with
multiple sensors and detecting orientation of the active
contact lens.
US9261955B2
04-Sep-
2014
LG ELECTRONICS
CO LTD
Wearable device and method of
controlling therefor
A method of controlling a wearable device according to one
embodiment of the present specification can include the
steps of displaying content on a display unit of the wearable
device, sensing a tilt angle of the wearable device and
providing a control interface providing control of the content.
List of Inventions related to
Image Processing in Smart Lenses

16. • The table below shows patents/applications where smart lenses have been used for vision
magnification
Note: To view the full text of the records you can click on the respective record numbers
Contd..
Record Number Filing Date
Current
Assignee
Title Abstract
US9247877B2
20-Oct-
2011
CONTACT
LENS
PRECISION
LABORATORI
ES LTD, UNIV
DUNDEE
Device for monitoring
intraocular pressure
Disclosed is a device adapted to measure intraocular
pressure comprising: a corneal contact lens having a
pressure sensor mounted in a recess or cavity in the
contact lens, and wherein the contact lens has a back
surface which is formed so as to protrude in a desired
portion beyond the profile of the adjacent part of the
lens and thus to press against the cornea, which
protruding portion experiences a reactive deformation
which is detected directly or indirectly by the pressure
sensor.
WO2015157855A1
15-Apr-
2015
BAIG
MAARIJ,
CHEN RAY,
GANDHI
HARRY, GAO
HUAYI
Functional contact lens and
related systems and methods
Various embodiments are described herein for a
Functional Contact Lens (FCL) for detecting at least one
target analyte. The FCL may comprise a substrate for
supporting electronic components and providing
structural support for the functional contact lens; at least
one sensing element disposed on the substrate for
sensing the at least one target analyte and undergoing a
physical change representing a sensed signal; and an
antenna disposed on the substrate for transmitting the
sensed signal to an external device, the antenna being
coupled to the at least one sensing element.
List of Inventions related to
Vision Correction in Smart Lenses

17. US2012268712A1
11-Oct-
2011
ADLENS
BEACON INC
Fluid Filled Adjustable
Contact Lenses
A fluid-filled adjustable contact lens is provided. An exemplary
contact lens includes a lens chamber configured to be positioned on
a pupil of a user wearing the contact lens; a reservoir fluidly
connected to the lens chamber; an actuator configured to transfer
fluid back and forth between the lens chamber and the reservoir; a
sensor configured to sense movement from the user and transmit a
control signal when a predetermined movement is performed by
the user; and a processor configured to actuate the actuator upon
receipt of the control signal from the sensor.
US7964390B2
03-Feb-
2005
CASE
WESTERN
RESERVE
UNIVERSITY
Sensor system
A sensor probe suited for implanting into the skin of a person
includes a sensor body which may be formed from a polymer which
includes 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). A sensing system is
supported by the body. The sensing system exhibits a detectable
change when the probe is exposed to the analyte in the fluid.
US2009185135A1
22-Jan-
2009
VOLK
DONALD A
Real image forming eye
examination lens
utilizing two reflecting
surfaces providing
upright image
A diagnostic and therapeutic contact lens is provided for use with
biomicroscopes for the examination and treatment of structures of
the eye. The lens comprises a contacting surface adapted for
placement on the cornea of an eye, two reflecting surfaces, and a
refracting surface. A light ray emanating from the structure of the
eye enters the lens and contributes to the formation of a correctly
oriented real image.
CN101163991A
26-Aug-
2005
COOPERVISIO
N INTERNAT
HOLDINGS
Silicone hydrogel contact
lens
Eye compatible contact lenses comprising configured to put in the
animal eyes or human eye film on the angle of the glass body. Said
lens body is composed of a hydrophilic silicon-containing polymeric
material to prepare. The lens bodies have oxygen permeability of
the water content of surface wettability flexibility and / or even
during sleep it is composed of glasses wearer the design of the
wearing.
List of Inventions related to
Vision Correction in Smart Lenses

18. • Table below contains list of records where contact lenses are used for multi or auto focal adjustments
Record Number Filing Date
Current
Assignee
Title Abstract
US9323073B2
28-Feb-
2013
JOHNSON &
JOHNSON
VISION CARE
INC
Electronic
ophthalmic lens
with emitter-
detector pair
sensor
An emitter-detector pair sensor may be incorporated into a powered or
electronic ophthalmic lens. The emitter-detector pair sensor may be
configured to determine the distance from the sensor to an object in its path.
Based upon this information, a system controller of the ophthalmic lens may
output a signal to an actuator of the ophthalmic lens to control a variable
power optic of the ophthalmic lens.
US2016097940A1
12-Feb-
2014
SONY CORP
Contact lens and
storage medium
[Object] To provide a contact lens and storage medium capable of controlling
an image pickup unit provided in the contact lens. [Solution] Provided is a
contact lens including: a lens unit configured to be worn on an eyeball; an
image pickup unit configured to capture an image of a subject, the image
pickup unit being provided in the lens unit; and an image pickup control unit
configured to control the image pickup unit.
US2012268712A1
11-Oct-
2011
ADLENS
BEACON INC
Fluid Filled
Adjustable Contact
Lenses
A fluid-filled adjustable contact lens is provided. An exemplary contact lens
includes a lens chamber configured to be positioned on a pupil of a user
wearing the contact lens; a reservoir fluidly connected to the lens chamber;
an actuator configured to transfer fluid back and forth between the lens
chamber and the reservoir; a sensor configured to sense movement from the
user and transmit a control signal when a predetermined movement is
performed by the user; and a processor configured to actuate the actuator
upon receipt of the control signal from the sensor.
DE102009021702B4
17-May-
2009
BINDER
HELMUT DE
An
accommodating
contact lens
Contact lens (100) comprising the following components: – Means for
adapting the refractive power (10) in response to a control signal, – at least
one position sensor (20), – Means for detecting a relative position of the
position sensor (20) with at least one other position sensor arranged on a
further contact lens, so that a eyes position of the detected relative position
of the position sensor (20) to the further position sensor can be determined.

19. Verily Life Sciences – Brief Background
• A branch of Google (now Alphabet Inc) - “Google Life Sciences,” changed name recently
to Verily Life Sciences
• Verily is focused on using technology to better understand health, as well as
prevent, detect, and manage disease. Some of the projects undertaken by Verily include smart
contact lenses equipped with a glucose sensor to better treat and monitor diabetes, a cardiac
and activity sensor, and Liftware utensils for people with tremors
• Verily already has several projects in the works, including the development of a smart contact
lens in partnership with the Swiss drug maker Novartis that has an embedded glucose sensing
contact lens
• Novartis announced that its eye care division Alcon has entered into an agreement with Verily
Life Science to in-license its "smart lens" technology for all ocular medical uses
• Verily is developing the smart contact lenses with a vision that people with diabetes can easily
monitor themselves by continuously monitoring the glucose levels in there tears

20. Verily Life Sciences - Key Patent IPC areas
• The pie shows top ten IC classes in which Verily Life Sciences has active interest
• G02 which is related to optics has the maximum number of families followed by A61 (medical
science; hygiene)
• With optics Verily Life Sciences is also focusing on the communication aspect (H04) of contact lenses
Class Definition
G02 Optics
A61 Medical science; hygiene
G06 Computing; Calculating; Counting
G01 Measuring; testing
H05 Electric techniques not otherwise provided
H04 Electric communication technique
H01 Basic electric elements
G09 Cryptography; display
G08 Signalling
F02 Combustion engines; hot-gas or combustion-
product engine plants

21. Verily Life Sciences – Key topics covered in Patents filed
• The figures below show various technologies and keywords used across patents filed by Verily Life
Sciences. Finer topics within the patent text were considered for generating the second chart
• It can be seen that a major chunk of records of Verily revolve around the different sensors and
components used in Smart Contact Lenses
Key Topics Finer Topics

22. IBM - GlobalFoundries
• GlobalFoundries has recently acquired IBM Microelectronics
business
• In September 2015, IBM Microelectronics business had
announced a breakthrough in microprocessor manufacturing
technology which could result in the development of truly
smart contact lenses
• Thanks to this new production process, chips are expected to
be faster and consume less energy, which is extremely
important when designing such tiny devices as digital contact
lenses
• As a part of the technology transfer process IBM has also
transferred it IP portfolio. The below application is a part of
that transfer.
Number /
Title
Filing Date
Original
Assignee
Current Assignee Date of Transfer Abstract
US2015029424A1
Variable focal length
lens
24-Jul-2014 IBM GLOBALFOUNDRIES 10-Sept-2015
An adjustable focal length lens structure
comprising a first adjustable focal length lens.
The first adjustable focal length lens comprises
an inner surface of a first side having a first
curvature. The first adjustable focal length lens
also comprises a first transparent conducting
electrode on the first side. The first adjustable
focal length lens also comprises an inner surface
of a second side having a second curvature.

23. About PatSeer

24. PatSeer Overview
Coverage
 61 million+ full text records of 42 countries and 102 million+ biblio records covering 104 + countries
 PDFs, Front Page Images, Mosaics, Simple/Extended Families, Bwd/Fwd Citations and more
 Updated multiple times each week with manual data quality checks
Search
 Search full-text in Original Language (incl. Non Latin Text) and English. Legal Status Search enhancements
include date range, Event, Event Country (Incl. Designated Country Code events for EP,WO)
 Fully featured Search Syntax with 191+ search fields
 No compromise on search techniques –Proximity, complex Boolean with proximity, command line
searching, wildcards, truncation
Search Aids
 Annotate records and families using PatSeer Search Recall™
 Normalized Assignee Names & Corporate Tree for Top 3000 companies
 Looking up Matching Assignee /Inventor names
 Semantic Search Suggester
 Search History, Saved Searches and Alerts
Search Result Handling
 Collapse results by Simple/Extended family or by Application Number
 Multiple Result Views, Custom View, Detailed Record View, KWIC view, Hit Analysis
 Citations by Self or by Family, Co-citation analysis
Analysis
 Analyze search results via charts (column/line/pie/area/bubble/heatmap/geographical map)
 Unique Chart Layering technology allows for Multi and Cross Dimensional charting
Exports
 Export upto 20K records at a time in multiple formats including Word/Excel/CSV/XML/PDF/Patent iNSIGHT
Pro format
 Charts can be also included in Word and Excel exports
Projects
 Save and analyze upto 70K records in a project
 Import your meta data from CSV /Excel files
 Leverage flags, ratings, custom fields, hierarchical categories to add context to your analysis
 Share and Collaborate project data effectively using Patent Dashlets™

25. PatSeer
61 million+ Full Text
Records from 42
Patent Offices
(US, EP, WO, DE, FR,
GB, JP, KR, CN, ES, C
A, CH, AT, AU
,IN, BR, TH, RU, PH,
SE, NO, DK, FI, BE, N
L, LU, MX, AP, CO, D
D, EA, IL, MA, MC, O
A, TW, TJ, KG, AM, U
Z, MD, GE)
DOCDB
102 million+
Biblio records
covering 104+
countries
INPADOC
53 million+
Families and
Legal Status
Normalized
Assignee
Names for Top
3000
Companies
Corporate Tree
for top 3000
patent holding
Corporate
Groups
US
Reassignments
and
Maintenance
Data
Semantic Index of
Conceptually
Related Terms for
Search Assistance
PDFs, Mosaic
,Calculated
Fields and
more..
Searchable Full
Text English
Translations of
JP, KR, CN, FR
, DE, DK, FI, R
U, NL, LU
PatSeer Database Content
Value Added
Content

26. For more information on PatSeer please visit
http://patseer.com
For any feedback on this report please contact us at: feedback_tr@patentinsightpro.com