By Duncan Adams
Imagine an eyeglass lens that snaps into focus electronically and automatically, at different distances, responding to directions from a microprocessor imbedded in the eyeglass frame.
A Roanoke company, eVision, has acquired an option from Motorola Inc. to use a patent eVision claims could help it continue development of just such an electronic lens. Motorola also has joined the product development team and, along with Shamir Optical of Israel, has become a co-owner of eVision, according to an announcement Monday.
"This technology leapfrogs every type of spectacle lens that's currently available," said Ron Blum, president and CEO of both the Egg Factory LLC and subsidiary eVision. "It is transformational technology with the potential to be disruptive technology."
A "disruptive technology," said Sunder Malkani of the Egg Factory, is one that changes the rules of the game for an industry, affecting manufacturing, distribution and sales.
Blum, an inventor, optometrist and founder of both Innotech and the Egg Factory, has been involved before in innovative advances in eye care technology. In 1997, he sold Innotech to Johnson & Johnson for $135 million. Recently, Johnson & Johnson announced details about the company's Definity 2 eyeglass lens, which will be produced by the Spectacle Lens Group in Roanoke. Ironically, Johnson & Johnson officials described the Definity 2 lens, a multi-focus lens, as an innovative, industry-altering product for the eye care industry.
"The Egg Factory is not attempting to harm Johnson & Johnson," said Blum, who emphasized that eVision's electro-active focusing optics are not ready for a product launch.
"I want to stress that what we are working on is early stage research and development, which is progressing nicely and shows great promise," he said. Eventually, he said, Johnson & Johnson might be interested in taking on the lens' actual production.
"We, of course, are going to try to license this opportunity to a large, global player. And it's only natural to consider Johnson & Johnson," said Blum.
Although Blum's sale of Innotech to Johnson & Johnson did include a provision that he not compete with Johnson & Johnson in the eye care market, the clause expires in January, said Blum, and only applies to sales.
"It doesn't prevent the development of technologies," he said.
John McKeegan, spokesman for Johnson & Johnson, could not be reached for comment.
The Egg Factory, said Malkani, works to create and nurture innovative products and technologies for Fortune 500 companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Motorola. The Egg Factory's office is off Franklin Road, near Tanglewood Mall.
"We are a creator and packager of innovations," Malkani said. "We are a knowledge capital company. We have the knack and the ability to recognize huge ideas in their embryonic stage. We focus on the front end, the high-risk part of the process. We sell or license opportunities to large companies. Exit companies do what they do best - sales, manufacturing, distribution."
And although Blum repeatedly stressed during a recent interview that eVision's electronic lens remains in its early stages, he also said a "benchtop prototype" has been developed that uses chemistry and electricity to change a lens' power.
"We have already achieved proof of concept. This is not a dream," said Blum. "Proof of concept was achieved in a different part of the world in February."
According to the Egg Factory, "eVision's technology has the potential to revolutionize the $50 billion worldwide vision care industry."
The company would not disclose specific details of its agreement with Motorola for the option on licensing the relevant patent from the electronics giant. Payment terms involve both cash and equity, according to eVision.
"Motorola is looking at licensing our technologies where we can find strategic business partners that will take our technologies and develop healthy markets for them," said Keith Bergelt, director and general manager of Motorola's Strategic Intellectual Asset Management. "In the past, if we had no immediate need for a new technology, we simply warehoused it; today, we are actively licensing such technologies to the benefit of other companies, consumers and Motorola's shareholders."
And a lens that focuses electronically and automatically could benefit consumers who suffer from "presbyopia," a condition related to aging that causes a loss of flexibility of the lens inside the eye. Today, presbyopia is treated with multifocal lenses, such as bifocals, trifocals and progressive addition lenses. Users of current lenses sometimes complain of distortion and a feeling of nausea when they attempt to focus on objects at varying distances.
Duncan Adams can be reached at 981-3324 or duncana@roanoke.com
Lens technology uses infrared, voltage and liquid crystal
The Motorola U.S. patent that eVision has an option to license reads as follows:
"Eyeglasses including lenses that contain liquid crystal nematic materials with variable refractive indexes. A voltage is applied across the materials to change the refractive index in accordance with a measured distance so that the lenses are always automatically focused as the operator looks at objects different distances away. The distances are measured by an infrared ranging system included in the glasses, which system changes the voltage applied to the material in accordance with changes in distance."
According to Ron Blum, president and CEO of both the Egg Factory and eVision, Motorola's expertise in electronics will be paired with eVision's optics knowledge and Shamir Optical's design capabilities to continue the development of a lens that can focus electronically.
ROANOKE TIMES
Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Section: BUSINESS
Edition: METRO
Page: A6
