Electro-active Spectacle Frames with Spring Conductive Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in incorporating electronics into eyewear without compromising aesthetics or functionality, while maintaining minimal stock keeping units, allowing for robust placement, and ensuring affordability.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electro-active frame featuring a spring mechanism and conductive paths from the temple to the lens housing, utilizing conductive materials and compliant conductive elements to establish electrical connections, which are selectively available based on the frame's position, thereby conserving power and reducing component duplication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronics are incorporated into eyewear, then functionality is improved, but aesthetics and manufacturing complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism serves dual purposes: providing mechanical tension for the temple and serving as a conductive path for electrical connections. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the electronic functionality in the eyewear
2Reliability
If conductive paths are provided for multiple temple positions, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism dynamically adjusts the conductive path based on the temple's position. When the temple is in the correct position, the spring maintains reliable electrical contact; when positioned incorrectly, the contact is naturally broken. This dynamic behavior ensures reliable connections only when needed, avoiding continuous energy consumption
3Ease of operation
If spring mechanism is used for temple coupling, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is integrated directly into the conductive path structure, merging the mechanical coupling function with the electrical connection function. This integration means that the same component that provides ease of temple attachment also serves as the electrical conductor, thereby not increasing overall device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the integration of electronics into eyewear that maintains aesthetic appeal, reduces component complexity, and conserves power by selectively providing a conductive path, while minimizing redundant components and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mechanism coupled to the first temple and the lens housing
Implementation Method 2
A first conductive path is provided from the first temple to the lens housing
Data Source
AI summary
A first device is provided. The first device includes a lens comprising at least a first electrical contact and a lens housing holding the lens. The lens housing includes at least a second electrical contact. The first device further comprises a compliant conductive element disposed between the first and the second electrical contact. The compliant conductive element electrically connects the first and second electrical contacts.