Sony Contact Lens Camera Would Take Pic by Blinking

Sony has filed a patent application for a contact lens camera which would be powered wirelessly and controlled by blinking, according to Forbes.

The device appears to be more advanced than a similar device Google filed a patent for in 2012, noted Forbes, with more features and controls.

Tech Times said Samsung also filed for a similar patent last month in South Korea.

"Filed under the title 'Contact Lens And Storage Medium,' the Sony device appears to be, despite its seemingly impossibly small dimensions, a fully-fledged imaging device, incorporating a lens, an imaging sensor, data storage and a wireless communication module. It even offers the possibility of zooming, autofocus and image stabilization," said Forbes.

In something that seems to be out of a spy movie, according to the patent application dated April 6, the contact lens camera can record images and transmit them.

"The patent, which has not yet been approved, describes the lens as capable of taking photos with just a blink of the eye," said Tech Times. "The lens can take images once it detects a conscious blinking of the user's eyes.

"The eye wear will also include a storage medium where the videos and photos can be stored sans requiring an external storage device. This internal storage mechanism is what makes Sony's patent different from that of Samsung. Samsung's contact lenses require that the captured images be sent to another device, such as a smartphone."

Digital Trends said the lens will come with embedded piezoelectric sensors that can measure eyelid closure time, enabling the device to distinguish between an average blinks and extended blinks for control.

"Wearers can use their blink to delete frames in a video recording and more," said Digital Trends. "The lens also includes a gyro to detect when a user is tilting their head and can realign the video recording to the correct orientation. Last but not least is a power source that uses electromagnetic induction to keep the lens operating throughout the day."

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