Eyewear

Abstract

To provide an eyewear comprising a switch excellent in operability.SOLUTION: An eyewear comprises: a lens; a frame comprising a front supporting the lens and a temple connected to the front; an electric component built into the lens or the frame; and the switch of the electric component. The switch is arranged in such a manner to be exposed to the surface of the temple and has a first portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the temple and becoming thicker when first portion more separates from the front.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to eyewear.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, eyewear equipped with various electrical components has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses eyewear in which a liquid crystal device, which is one of the electrical components, is incorporated into a lens. Also, Patent Document 2 has proposed eyewear in which a projector, which is one of the electrical components, is incorporated into a temple.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When eyewear includes an electrical component, a switch for operating the electrical component is required. However, the switch is arranged in a place that does not enter the field of view of the user wearing the eyewear. Therefore, in the state of wearing the eyewear, the user cannot visually recognize the switch. Accordingly, the user needs to search for the switch blindly and operate it surely.

[0005] An object of this disclosure is to provide eyewear provided with a switch having good operability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One embodiment of eyewear according to the present disclosure comprises a lens, a frame having a front supporting the lens and temples connected to the front, an electrical component incorporated in the lens or the frame, and a switch for the electrical component, wherein the switch is positioned to be exposed on the surface of the temple and has a first portion that extends in the longitudinal direction of the temple and becomes thicker as it moves away from the front. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, eyewear equipped with user-friendly switches can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view of eyewear according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Right side view of the right temple. [Figure 3] Plan view of the right temple. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The eyewear according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely illustrative and do not preclude the application of various modifications and technologies not explicitly shown in the embodiments below.

[0010] In this specification, the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions of eyewear are defined as follows: When eyewear is worn and the user wearing the eyewear is in a standing position, the direction the user is facing is the front direction, the opposite direction is the back direction, the direction of the user's right hand is the right direction, and the direction of the user's left hand is the left direction. Furthermore, the direction above the user's head is the up direction, and the opposite direction is the down direction.

[0011] In addition, in all the drawings used to explain the embodiments, identical elements are generally denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0012] The overall eyewear 1 of one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the eyewear 1 of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] The eyewear 1 comprises a pair of lenses 2. Each lens 2 incorporates a liquid crystal lens 3, which is an example of an electrical component. The pair of lenses 2 are supported by a frame 4.

[0014] The frame 4 comprises a front 5 and a pair of temples 6. The front 5 supports a pair of lenses 2 arranged side by side and is connected to the pair of temples 6 via hinges near both ends. The temples 6 are rotatable relative to the front 5 via hinges.

[0015] Figure 2 is a right side view of the right temple 6, and Figure 3 is a top view of the right temple 6.

[0016] The temple 6 has a shape that is thinner than other parts in a relatively long area extending from a portion slightly forward of the center in the front-to-back direction to a predetermined portion at the rear. Furthermore, the thinner portion has a shape that is scooped out at the bottom compared to other parts. This thinner portion is easier to bend than other parts, and it is an area that can be adjusted for fitting. Since a wide area of ​​the temple 6 can be bent for fitting, the eyewear 1 according to this embodiment can provide a better fit to a wider range of users.

[0017] A switch 7 is positioned on the right side (i.e., the outer surface) of the right temple 6, so as to be exposed on the surface of the temple 6. Inside the right temple 6 is a circuit board that generates signals to control the liquid crystal lens 3 according to the operation of the switch 7, and a battery that supplies power to drive the liquid crystal lens 3. Conductive materials are positioned inside the right temple 6 and the front 5, and a transparent electrode connected to the liquid crystal lens 3 is positioned on the lens 2. The conductive materials and the transparent electrode are electrically connected.

[0018] Note that the switch 7 may be disposed on the left side surface (i.e., the outer surface) of the left template 6. Also, in this case, the substrate and the battery may be disposed inside the left template 6.

[0019] The switch 7 is a switch of the liquid crystal lens 3 which is an electrical component. In the present embodiment, the switch 7 is a touch switch that can operate the liquid crystal lens 3 by touching it. Specifically, it is a capacitance switch. Therefore, when the liquid crystal lens 3 is not operating, if the user continues to touch the switch 7 for a predetermined time, the liquid crystal lens 3 will operate. Also, when the liquid crystal lens 3 is operating, if the user continues to touch the switch 7 for a predetermined time, the operation of the liquid crystal lens 3 will stop and it will be in a non-operating state.

[0020] The switch 7 has a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the template 6, for example, a rectangular shape whose long side is parallel to the extending direction of the template 6. The switch 7 has a first portion 71 that becomes thicker as it moves away from the front 5 and a second portion 72 that becomes thinner as it moves away from the front 5. At the rear end of the first portion 71 (the position farthest from the front 5), there is a ridge line 73. Note that the ridge line 73 may be a curved surface that smoothly connects the first portion 71 and the second portion 72. Also, the first portion 72 only needs to extend in the longitudinal direction of the template 6, and the extending direction of the first portion 72 may be substantially parallel to the template 6 or may not be substantially parallel to the template 6.

[0021] The eyewear 1 configured as described above is opened to a state where a pair of templates 6 are opened as shown in FIG. 1 and is worn by the user. When the user wants to operate the liquid crystal lens 3 or stop the operation, for example, the user touches the switch 7 with the index finger of the right hand for a predetermined time. Then, the liquid crystal lens 3 operates.

[0022] The switch 7 is arranged to be exposed on the surface of the temple 6, and has a first portion 71 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the temple 6 and becomes thicker as it moves away from the front 5. Therefore, after the user touches the front side portion of the temple 6 or the right end of the front 5 with the pad of the finger, and then slides the finger from the front to the back while keeping the pad of the finger in contact with the temple 6, the user will notice that there is a portion that gradually bulges from the surface of the temple 6. This bulging portion is the switch 7. Therefore, the user can recognize the location of the switch 7 without visual confirmation and can surely operate the switch 7.

[0023] Moreover, since the first portion 71 has a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the temple 6 and becomes thicker as it moves away from the front 5, when the user notices the bulge, contact between the user's finger and the switch 7 has already been realized for a certain period of time. Therefore, even if the user separates the fingertip from the switch 7 within a relatively short time after noticing the bulge, the contact time required to operate the switch 7 can be completed. In other words, it is possible to give the user the feeling that the operation of the switch 7 can be completed in a shorter time. For example, it is necessary to touch the switch 7 for X seconds to operate the liquid crystal lens 3, and assume that the user touches the first portion 71 for Y seconds before sliding the finger and noticing the bulge. In this case, after noticing the bulge, the user can operate the liquid crystal lens 3 by simply touching the switch 7 for Z (= X - Y) seconds.

[0024] Also, the switch 7 according to the present embodiment has a second portion 72 that becomes thinner as it moves away from the front 5. That is, the switch 7 has a portion where the shape changes abruptly between the first portion 71 and the second portion 72, that is, a ridge line 73. Therefore, the bulging shape of the switch 7 becomes more noticeable to the user.

[0025] Furthermore, the second part 72 is located behind the first part 71 and is a part that can be touched with a finger. In other words, the second part 72 is a part that can be continued to be touched by a finger that has slid from the front past the first part 71. Therefore, even if the user notices the protrusion but is unable to stop sliding their finger while it is in contact with the first part 71, they can continue to touch the switch 7. Thus, they can complete the contact time necessary to operate the switch 7.

[0026] The inclination angle of the first portion 71 with respect to the surface of the temple 6 may be greater than, equal to, or less than the inclination angle of the second portion 72 with respect to the surface of the temple 6. In other words, the length of the first portion 71 along the extending direction of the temple 6 may be shorter than, equal to, or longer than that of the second portion 72. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the first portion 71 with respect to the surface of the temple 6 is smaller than the inclination angle of the second portion 72 with respect to the surface of the temple 6. That is, the length of the first portion 71 along the extending direction of the temple 6 is longer than that of the second portion 72. Therefore, without increasing the overall length of the switch 7, the time the user is in contact with the first portion 71 can be increased, and the switch 7 can be equipped with a second portion 72 that can be contacted if the user has passed the first portion 71.

[0027] Furthermore, if the overall length of switch 7 increases, there is a higher possibility that the user may unintentionally touch switch 7, causing the liquid crystal lens 3 to activate or deactivate unintentionally. Therefore, it is preferable that the overall length of switch 7 be less than or equal to a predetermined value, for example, 20 mm or less.

[0028] The surface shapes of the first part 71 and the second part 72 may be any shape, for example, they may be planar. In this embodiment, the first part 71 has a concave curved surface shape, and the second part 72 has a convex curved surface shape. By having the first part 71 have a concave curved surface shape and the second part 72 have a convex curved surface shape, the change in the surface shape of the switch 7 on and around the edge 73 can be made more prominent compared to the case where the first part 71 and the second part 72 have planar shapes. Consequently, it is possible to make it easier for the user to notice that they are touching the switch 7 while suppressing the height of the protrusion.

[0029] Furthermore, if the height of the switch 7 is too high, there is a higher possibility that the user may unintentionally touch the switch 7, causing the liquid crystal lens 3 to activate or deactivate unintentionally. Therefore, it is preferable that the height of the switch 7 be below a predetermined value, for example, 5 mm or less.

[0030] The eyewear relating to this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also includes various modifications that do not depart from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0031] For example, switch 7 may be a touch switch of a type other than a capacitive switch, such as a pressure-sensitive switch. Alternatively, switch 7 may be a mechanical switch that generates a signal when pressed or slid, rather than a touch switch.

[0032] The switch 7 does not have to have a second part 72. In other words, the switch 7 may have only a first part 71. In this case, the rear end of the first part may be formed, for example, by a plane perpendicular to the outer surface of the temple 6.

[0033] The electrical components of the eyewear 1 according to this disclosure are not limited to the liquid crystal lens 3. The electrical components may be, for example, a lens density adjustment device incorporated into the lens 2, or a projector, microphone, and speaker incorporated into the frame 4.

[0034] Additionally, the switch 7 may be located on the top or bottom surface of the temple 6. [Industrial applicability]

[0035] This disclosure can be used as various eyewear equipped with electrical components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 Eyewear 2 lenses 3. LCD lens 4 frames 5 Front 6 Temples 7 Switches 71 Part 1 72 Part 2 73 Ridge

Claims

1. Lens and, A frame comprising a front supporting the lens and temples connected to the front, Electrical components incorporated into the lens or frame, The aforementioned electrical component switch, Eyewear equipped with, The switch is positioned so as to be exposed on the surface of the temple, The aforementioned switch is The temple comprises a first portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and becomes thicker as it moves away from the front, and a second portion that becomes thinner as it moves away from the front. The switch has a ridge between the first part and the second part, The first part has a concave curved shape, The second part has a convex curved shape. Eyewear.

2. The inclination angle of the first portion with respect to the surface of the temple is smaller than the inclination angle of the second portion with respect to the surface of the temple. Eyewear according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned switch is a touch switch. Eyewear according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned touch switch is a capacitive switch. Eyewear according to claim 3.

5. The first portion extends substantially parallel to the temple, Eyewear according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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