# US 10,873,401 B1 · Employing optical signals for power and/or communication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,401 B1 - Document ID: US10873401B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/295,658 - Filed: 2019-03-07 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-26 - Assignees: Verily Life Sciences LLC - Applicants: Verily Life Sciences LLC - Inventors: Nathan Pletcher; Brian Otis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873401B1 ## CPC - H04B 10/807: {Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal} - A61B 5/0017: {transmitting optical signals} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/6821: {Eye} - A61B 5/72: {Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes} - G02C 7/04: Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) - G02C 11/10: {Electronic devices other than hearing aids} - G06K 7/10158: {methods and means used by the interrogation device for reliably powering the wireless record carriers using an electromagnetic interrogation field} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract Apparatus, systems and methods employing contact lens sensors are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes a substrate that forms at least a portion of the body of the contact lens; an optical communication device disposed on or within the substrate; and a photodetector disposed on or within the substrate, wherein the photodetector harvests light emitted from a device and generates power from the harvested light. In some aspects, an apparatus comprises a tag having a circuit including: an optical communication device; and a photodetector that harvests light received and generates power from the harvested light. The tag can be disposed on or within a contact lens in various aspects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensing device, comprising: one or more sensors configured to sense one or more biological features associated with an eye; a photodetector, wherein the photodetector is configured to harvest ambient light and to generate power from the harvested light; and an optical communication device configured to transmit an optical signal, wherein the optical signal communicates information about the one or more sensed biological features. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the photodetector comprises at least one of a photovoltaic cell or a solar cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical communication device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical communication device comprises a reflector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are powered by the power generated from the harvested light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical communication device is powered by the power generated from the harvested light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical communication device is configured to modulate the optical signal with the information about the one or more sensed biological features. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical signal comprises visible light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical signal comprises infrared light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent substrate that forms at least part of a body of the sensing device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sensing device of claim 10, wherein the photodetector is disposed on or within the transparent substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The sensing device of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed on or within the transparent substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The sensing device of claim 10, wherein the optical communication device is disposed on or within the transparent substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a memory. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: sensing, by one or more sensors in a sensing device at an eye, one or more biological features associated with the eye; harvesting, by a photodetector in the sensing device, ambient light to generate power for the sensing device; and transmitting, by an optical communication device in the sensing device, an optical signal, wherein the optical signal communicates information about the one or more sensed biological features. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: powering the one or more sensors by the power generated from the harvested light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: powering the optical communication device by the power generated from the harvested light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: modulating, by the optical communication device, the optical signal with the information about the one or more sensed biological features. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the sensing device comprises a memory, further comprising: storing the information about the one or more sensed biological features in the memory.