DETECTOR ELEMENT

yThe detector used is a micro photodiode.

yLight of sufficient photon energy strikes the diode , it

excites an electron and a positively charged electron

hole

yThe micro photodiodes convert the light energy from

images into electro chemical impulses that stimulate

the remaining functional cells of the retina in patients

yThe detector element is a photodiode which emits an

output signal as a function of intensity of incoming

signal

yThe output of detector is fed to the coupler

20

COUPLER

yThe coupler is used to couple the output of detector to

the optic nerve

yIt used a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) tip

yThe STM tip receives an electrical signal from the

photodiode and transmits an electrical signal to the

retinal nerves

ySTM tips are basically metal wires that are finely

sharpened at one end

yThis end is coupled to the photodiode , while the

sharpened end is directed towards the retina for

releasing current at specific point on the retina

21

WORKING OF ARTIFICIAL EYE

yVisual signals are captured by a small video camera in the

eyeglasses of the blind person using a charge coupled

device(CCD) sensor

yThe CCD sensor digitises the visual images intercepted by

the camera

yThe digital representations of the images are then beamed

via laser pulses into a microchip implanted in the eye and

processed through a microcomputer worn on a belt

yThe signals are transmitted to the electrode array in the eye

yThe array stimulates optical nerves, which the carry a signal

to the brain

22

RETINAL STIMULATION

yTo ways of retinal stimulation

yThey are sub-retinal stimulation and epi-retinal

stimulation

ySub retinal approach involves the electrical

stimulation of inner retina from the sub retinal space

by implantation of a semiconductor based micro

photodiode array(MPA) into this location.

yThe epiretinal approach involves a semiconductor

based device placed above the retina ,close to or in

contact with the nerve fiber layer retinal ganglion cells.23

SUB-RETINALV S EPI-RETINAL

STIMULATION

yFixing a electrode array is easier with sub-retinal

stimulation than epiretinal stimulation.

ySub retinal stimulation intact optics whereas epiretinal

stimulation does not.

ySub retinal stimulation is a lot of more electrical power

that epiretinal stimulation

ySub retinal stimulation can used retinals circuitry.

epiretinal stimulation requires the processing of visual

information into specific patterns for stimulation of

retinal ganglion cells.

24

ADV ANTAGES

yASR microchip can restore eye sight for millions of

blind people.

yIf the future artificial retinas can be made from thin

films that can shift their molecular configurations on- the-f ly, it may be
possible to even configure the retinas to look at different parts of the light
specific as well.

yThe silicon retina can also be used in cameras for

remote monitoring for safety, identification purpose.

yThe researchers have built a prototype that contains

256 pixels, and are working to make a more complete silicon-based system
that can be used in autonomous robot and smart sensors.