Patents by Inventor James Etzkorn

James Etzkorn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9176332
    Abstract: Contact lenses and methods of manufacture are provided. A contact lens can include: an electronics substrate having components formed thereon and disposed within a contact lens forming (CLF) polymer, wherein a first one of the components is positioned at a first region of the electronics substrate and a second one of the components is positioned at a second region of the electronics substrate, the second region being opposite the first region; and a plurality of CLF polymer layers molded such that the plurality of CLF polymer layers has a first thickness in a region of the electronics substrate associated with the first one of the components and has a second thickness in a region of the electronics substrate associated with the second one of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Jeffrey George Linhardt
  • Patent number: 9161712
    Abstract: A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure has a first side defined by a first layer of bio-compatible material, a second side defined by a second layer of bio-compatible material, an electronic component, and a conductive pattern that defines sensor electrodes. A portion of the second layer of bio-compatible material is removed by etching to create at least one opening in the second side in which the sensor electrodes are exposed. The etching further removes a portion of the first layer of bio-compatible material so as to create at least one opening in the first side that is connected to the at least opening in the second side. With this arrangement of openings, analytes can reach the sensor electrodes from either the first side or the second side of the bio-compatible structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20150282743
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have a first side edge and a second side edge. The reference electrode can be situated such that at least a portion of the first and second side edges of the working electrode are adjacent respective sections of the reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Zenghe Liu
  • Patent number: 9113829
    Abstract: A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure includes an electronic component having electrical contacts, sensor electrodes, and electrical interconnects between the sensor electrodes and the electrical contacts. The bio-compatible structure is fabricated such that it is fully encapsulated by a bio-compatible material, except for the sensor electrodes. In the fabrication, the electronic component is positioned on a first layer of bio-compatible material and a second layer of bio-compatible material is formed over the first layer of bio-compatible material and the electronic component. The electrical contacts are exposed by removing a portion of the second layer, a conductive pattern is formed to define the sensor electrodes and electrical interconnects, and a third layer of bio-compatible material is formed over the conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20150214567
    Abstract: A battery includes an electrolyte disposed on a substantially planar substrate. The electrolyte has a first surface extending from the substrate and in contact with a cathode. The electrolyte has a second surface extending from the substrate and in contact with an anode. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The anode and the cathode are non-overlapping. The battery additionally includes a biocompatible protective layer that covers the electrolyte and at least portions of the anode and cathode. The battery can be disposed in an eye-mountable device or other device to power electronics in the device. The battery can be configured to be rechargeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Ramesh Bhardwaj
  • Publication number: 20150212340
    Abstract: A contact lens having a thin silicon chip integrated therein is provided along with methods for assembling the silicon chip within the contact lens. In an aspect, a method includes creating a plurality of lens contact pads on a lens substrate and creating a plurality of chip contact pads on a chip. The method further involves applying assembly bonding material to the each of the plurality of lens contact pads or chip contact pads, aligning the plurality of lens contact pads with the plurality of chip contact pads, bonding the chip to the lens substrate via the assembly bonding material using flip chip bonding, and forming a contact lens with the lens substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 9084561
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have a first side edge and a second side edge. The reference electrode can be situated such that at least a portion of the first and second side edges of the working electrode are adjacent respective sections of the reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Zenghe Liu
  • Publication number: 20150173602
    Abstract: Molded electronic structures configured for use in body-mountable devices and methods for embedding molded electronic structures in a body-mountable device are described. An example method may include molding an electronic structure to have first curvature corresponding to a first radius of curvature. The electronic structure may include an antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method may also include adhering the molded electronic structure to a first polymer layer. The example method may additionally include forming a second polymer layer over the molded electronic structure adhered to the first polymer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Barrows, Zenghe Liu, Jeffrey George Linherdt, James Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20150173680
    Abstract: A method may involve providing a conductive pattern on a bio-compatible layer. The conductive pattern may include a first conductive layer that comprises a first metal and a second conductive layer that comprises a second metal. The second conductive layer may be over the first conductive layer, and the first metal may be more malleable than the second metal. The method may also include mounting an electrical component to the conductive pattern to provide an electrochemical sensor. The electrochemical sensor may be configured for use in a body-mountable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Harvey Ho, Zenghe Liu
  • Patent number: 9054079
    Abstract: A contact lens having a thin silicon chip integrated therein is provided along with methods for assembling the silicon chip within the contact lens. In an aspect, a method includes creating a plurality of lens contact pads on a lens substrate and creating a plurality of chip contact pads on a chip. The method further involves applying assembly bonding material to the each of the plurality of lens contact pads or chip contact pads, aligning the plurality of lens contact pads with the plurality of chip contact pads, bonding the chip to the lens substrate via the assembly bonding material using flip chip bonding, and forming a contact lens with the lens substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 9009958
    Abstract: A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure includes an electronic component having electrical contacts, sensor electrodes, and electrical interconnects between the sensor electrodes and the electrical contacts. The bio-compatible structure is fabricated such that it is fully encapsulated by a bio-compatible material, except for the sensor electrodes. In the fabrication, the electronic component is positioned on a first layer of bio-compatible material and a second layer of bio-compatible material is formed over the first layer of bio-compatible material and the electronic component. The electrical contacts are exposed by removing a portion of the second layer, a conductive pattern is formed to define the sensor electrodes and electrical interconnects, and a third layer of bio-compatible material is formed over the conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 8985763
    Abstract: Contact lenses and methods of manufacturing contact lenses are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: forming a substrate having an uneven surface; providing a sensor at a first region of the substrate; providing a chip at a second region of the substrate; and encapsulating the substrate, sensor and chip in a polymer. The method also includes: patterning interconnections from the first region of the substrate to the second region of the substrate; and patterning metal pads proximate to the second region of the substrate. The chip can be provided on a metal pad. The uneven surface can be a sloped surface or one or more sloped channels in the substrate, and the channels can be wide enough to receive interconnections for the chip and to receive the chip. Further, the substrate can be ring-shaped and curved prior to encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Babak Amirparviz
  • Publication number: 20150065820
    Abstract: A method may involve: forming a sacrificial layer on a working substrate; forming a first bio-compatible layer on the sacrificial layer such that the first bio-compatible layer adheres to the sacrificial layer; forming a conductive pattern on the first bio-compatible layer; mounting an electronic component to the conductive pattern; forming a second bio-compatible layer over the first bio-compatible layer, the electronic component, and the conductive pattern; and removing the sacrificial layer to release the bio-compatible device from the working substrate. The first bio-compatible layer defines a first side of a bio-compatible device. The second bio-compatible layer defines a second side of the bio-compatible device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Harvey Ho, James Etzkorn, Huanfen Yao
  • Patent number: 8960899
    Abstract: A contact lens having a thin silicon chip integrated therein is provided along with methods for assembling the silicon chip within the contact lens. In an aspect, a method includes creating a plurality of lens contact pads on a lens substrate and creating a plurality of chip contact pads on a chip. The method further involves applying assembly bonding material to the each of the plurality of lens contact pads or chip contact pads, aligning the plurality of lens contact pads with the plurality of chip contact pads, bonding the chip to the lens substrate via the assembly bonding material using flip chip bonding, and forming a contact lens with the lens substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 8960898
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and/or methods to restrict light entering an opening of an eye pupil by detecting pupil dilation, detecting incoming light intensity or direction, and adjusting light restricting properties of one or more light restricting regions of the contact lens based upon the detected pupil dilation parameters and incoming light intensity or direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Brian Otis
  • Patent number: 8950068
    Abstract: A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure has a first side defined by a first layer of bio-compatible material, a second side defined by a second layer of bio-compatible material, an electronic component, and a conductive pattern that defines sensor electrodes. A portion of the second layer of bio-compatible material is removed by etching to create at least one opening in the second side in which the sensor electrodes are exposed. The etching further removes a portion of the first layer of bio-compatible material so as to create at least one opening in the first side that is connected to the at least opening in the second side. With this arrangement of openings, analytes can reach the sensor electrodes from either the first side or the second side of the bio-compatible structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20150038809
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode and a reference electrode that reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. An example assembly process includes: forming a sacrificial layer on a working substrate; forming a first layer of a bio-compatible material on the sacrificial layer; providing an electronics module on the first layer of the bio-compatible material, forming a second layer of the bio-compatible material to cover the electronics module; and annealing the first and second layers of the bio-compatible material together to form an encapsulated structure having the electronics module fully encapsulated by the bio-compatible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Babak Amirparviz
  • Publication number: 20140371559
    Abstract: Body-mountable devices and methods for embedding a structure in a body-mountable device are described. A body-mountable device includes a transparent polymer and a structure embedded in the transparent polymer. The transparent polymer defines a posterior side and an anterior side of the body-mountable device. The structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna. The antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Stephen O'Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20140371560
    Abstract: Body-mountable devices and methods for embedding a structure in a body-mountable device are described. A body-mountable device includes a transparent polymer and a structure embedded in the transparent polymer. The transparent polymer defines a posterior side and an anterior side of the body-mountable device. The structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna. The antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Stephen O'Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20140371558
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have a first side edge and a second side edge. The reference electrode can be situated such that at least a portion of the first and second side edges of the working electrode are adjacent respective sections of the reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Zenghe Liu