Foldable Eyewear Connector Layout for Hidden Charging Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Eyewear with onboard electronics is often bulky and unwieldy due to the presence of ports and connection mechanisms for power and data transfer, making them difficult to transport and aesthetically unappealing when not in use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a connector that is hidden when the eyewear is in a wearable configuration but exposed when folded, allowing for seamless integration with a case that houses a battery for charging and data transfer, using magnetic elements for secure contact and a linkage assembly for easy access to the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ports and connection mechanisms are integrated into the eyewear for power and data transfer, then functionality is improved, but the eyewear becomes bulky and unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is extracted from the main body of the eyewear and relocated to the temple tip, allowing it to be hidden when not in use and exposed only when needed for charging or data transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is nested within the temple structure itself, utilizing the temple's volume to house the connection mechanism rather than adding separate external components
2Ease of operation
If ports are visible and accessible on the eyewear, then ease of connection is improved, but aesthetics and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The connector's visibility and accessibility are made dynamic through the temple's movement - hidden when the temple is in normal position, automatically exposed when the temple is folded back for connection
Solution Approach 2:
The temple itself acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the exposure of the connector, using its movement to seamlessly transition between hidden and accessible states
3Volume of moving object
If the eyewear is made slimmer and more portable, then ease of transport is improved, but access to connection mechanisms becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The temple's folding action automatically performs the function of exposing the connector, eliminating the need for separate manual operations to access the connection mechanism
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 a slimmer, more portable, and aesthetically pleasing eyewear that can be easily charged and connected to external sources, improving functionality and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
using magnetic elements for secure contact
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems and methods for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device includes a body, electronics, and a connector. The body is configured to hold one or more optical elements, the body being disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view. The electronics are carried by the body. The connector is configured to enable establishment of an electrical and/or electronic connection with the electronics via the connector, the connector being housed by the body such that the connector is substantially obscured from view when the body is in the wearable condition, and such that the connector is exposed for connective access when the body is in the collapsed condition.