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Nordic-powered smart lenses automatically adjust focus to enhance near and far vision
25
Feb
2025
2025
Oslo, Norway
ViXion01S eyewear uses Nordic nRF52840 SoC to supervise sensors for distance measurement and nPM1300 PMIC for low power system management
Japanese Technology company ViXion Inc. has released a smart eyewear solution that provides automatic, hands-free focus adjustment for both near and far vision, while maintaining the lightweight feel of regular glasses.
Designed to address various vision challenges including presbyopia (long sightedness) and myopia (short sightedness), ‘ViXion01S’ weighs 33 g (without outer lenses) and uses integrated sensors to measure the distance to viewing targets, enabling the device to modify lens shape to substitute for or enhance the eye's natural focusing function. The lenses in the outer frame can be removed with one touch and customized to accommodate individual eye problems such as astigmatism.
“Our primary target market for ViXion01S is people over 40 who struggle with presbyopia,” explains Seiichiro Nambu, CEO, ViXion Inc. “The device is ideal for daily activities such as reading, model building, and detailed work like sewing. We've also received significant adoption from professionals such as dentists who need to switch between reading glasses, prescription glasses, and magnifying glasses while their hands are occupied.”
The nRF52840 supervises sensors and controls lens functionality
ViXion01S employs the Kaga FEI ‘EJ2840’ module based on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840 multiprotocol SoC to supervise the sensors and control all product functions, including lens control, sensor control, and button and buzzer operations. The nRF52840’s powerful 64 MHz, Arm® Cortex®-M4 processor is designed to support the Floating Point (FP) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) computations typical of high-end wireless applications.
The nRF52840 SoC also provides the Bluetooth® LE wireless connectivity enabling configuration and control of the ViXion01S eyewear from the user’s iOS/Android smartphone via the associated ‘ViXion Connect’ app, as well as rapid over-the-air device firmware update (OTA-DFU) capability.
As a wearable device, we needed to optimize battery capacity for all-day usage while maintaining a compact and lightweight design, necessitating a low-power wireless module alongside an effective power management solution
Seiichiro Nambu, CEO, ViXion Inc.
The nPM1300 extends battery life for all-day usage
The ViXion01S device uses a 3.7 V, 150 mAh Li-Po battery to provide approximately 15 hours of operation time and 3 hours of charging time. This longevity is achieved thanks in part to the ultra-low power capabilities of the nRF52840, supported by the integration of the Nordic nPM1300 Power Management IC (PMIC). The nPM1300 PMIC simplifies system design by integrating essential power management functions required for embedded Bluetooth LE designs into one small package, enabling longer run times and efficient battery charging with fewer components.
“As a wearable device, we needed to optimize battery capacity for all-day usage while maintaining a compact and lightweight design, necessitating a low-power wireless module alongside an effective power management solution,” says Nambu. “Using a single SoC to control all device functions is particularly advantageous, as our previous product required multiple SoCs, which resulted in increased power consumption and challenging inter-SoC communication.
“While initially attracted by the fuel gauge functionality of the Nordic nPM1300 PMIC, we also appreciated its ability to handle most power functions without additional components, thus reducing the BoM [Bill of Materials].”
