Electro-active Eyewear Frame with Spring-Loaded Conductive Hinge
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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 electro-active frame features a spring mechanism and conductive paths from the temple to the lens housing, utilizing pogo pins and conductive materials to establish electrical connections, which are selectively available based on the temple's position relative to the lens housing.
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 patent merges the temple component with the hinge mechanism, creating an integrated assembly where the temple arm directly incorporates the hinge structure. This reduces the total number of separate components and simplifies manufacturing while enabling electronic integration through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The temple-hinge assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the structural connection between lens housing and temple arm, enables rotational movement for adjusting fit, and incorporates electrical contacts for powering electronic components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple frame components are maintained for different electronic configurations, then adaptability is improved, but inventory complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized temple-hinge assembly with integrated electrical contacts can accommodate different electronic configurations (with or without electronics, different electronic components) without requiring different frame parts. This universal design allows a single base frame to support multiple electronic configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is divided into modular components where the temple-hinge assembly can be independently configured. Electronics can be added or removed from the temple without affecting the lens housing or other frame components, allowing flexible configuration with a standardized base frame.
3Ease of operation
If the temple is disconnected from the lens housing, then comfort is improved, but electrical connectivity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides dynamic movement capability, allowing the temple to rotate and adjust to different positions and angles. This dynamic adjustment enables the user to optimize comfort while maintaining the electrical connection through the flexible hinge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary between the temple and lens housing, providing both mechanical connection for movement and electrical connection through integrated contacts. This intermediary structure allows disconnection for comfort while maintaining connectivity when needed.
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 provides a comfortable fit, conserves power by disconnecting electronics when not in use, and allows for the integration of electronic components without increasing the number of frame components, thus maintaining aesthetic appeal and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring mechanism coupled to the first temple and the lens housing
Implementation Method 2
a first conductive path provided by the first spring mechanism... a first conductive path from the first temple to the lens housing
Data Source
AI summary
A first device is provided that comprises a frame. The frame further comprises a lens housing adapted to support a first lens and a second lens, a first temple movable coupled to the lens housing, and a second temple movably coupled to the lens housing. The first device further comprises a first spring mechanism coupled to the first temple and the lens housing. A first conductive path is provided from the first temple to the lens housing for at least one position of the first temple relative to the frame.