New micro battery solves smart contact lens conundrum

The technology has reportedly courted the interest of the US military and has the potential to one day deliver enhanced visual capabilities in the battlefield, as well as medical and automotive assistance.The research team from IMT’s Optics Department and the Flexible Electronics Department at the Centre Microélectronique de Provence have donstrated their micro battery by integrating it into a contact lens. The Bbattery supplied power to an LED for several hours, roving the need for a bulky external energy source.The battery is now expected to power other contact lens technology under development at IMT, including wireless radio frequency communication and detection of optical gaze direction.“The applications are vast, ranging from health (surgical assistance) to automotive (driving assistance) and concern the erging connected objects sector,” Professor Jean-Louis de Bougrenet de la Tocnaye, from IMT, said.The researchers noted their project also allowed for the integration of the latest advances in “graphene-based flexible electronics”. This will make it possible to work with transparent materials when, developing smart lenses.