Eyewear Frame Coil Layout for Cable-Free Battery Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eyewear battery charging methods are cumbersome due to the need for physical cables, which are aesthetically unattractive and limit design freedom, and are difficult to use in compact storage spaces.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a receiver coil encircling one or multiple lenses within the eyewear frame for wireless inductive charging, powered by a transmitter coil in a separate charging device, allowing efficient charging without compromising the design or functionality of the eyewear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cable-driven charger is used to charge the battery, then the battery can be charged reliably, but the charging process becomes cumbersome and aesthetically unattractive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging reliabilityVSAvoidcharging convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an inductive wireless charging system using electromagnetic fields. The receiver coil in the eyewear communicates with a transmitter coil in the charging case, eliminating the need for physical cable attachment and improving both convenience and aesthetics while maintaining reliable charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a cable-driven charger is used to charge the battery, then the battery can be charged, but the design freedom of the eyewear is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging capabilityVSAvoiddesign freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cable interface is replaced with an embedded receiver coil that can be integrated into the eyewear frame without visible external connections. This allows the eyewear to maintain its aesthetic design and geometric dimensions while retaining full charging capability through wireless inductive coupling with a charging case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the receiver coil is placed in the eyewear, then wireless charging is enabled, but the coil volume increases the overall eyewear size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless charging functionalityVSAvoidreceiver coil volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver coil is nested within the existing eyewear frame structure, utilizing the space around the lens without adding external bulk. The coil is arranged to encircle the lens and is enclosed by the lens frame, effectively hiding it within the existing geometric dimensions of the eyewear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver coil is arranged in a planar configuration around the lens, utilizing the two-dimensional space available in the frame rather than adding volume in the third dimension. This allows the coil to be embedded within the frame's thickness without significantly increasing the overall size of the eyewear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If the receiver coil encircles the lens, then wireless charging efficiency is improved, but light transmission through the lens is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoidlight transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver coil is positioned in the peripheral regions of the lens frame where it does not interfere with the central optical path of the lens. The coil encircles the lens but is arranged to minimize obstruction of light transmission to the wearer's eye, maintaining both charging efficiency and optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables convenient and aesthetically unobtrusive wireless charging of eyewear batteries, maintaining design flexibility and ensuring efficient power transfer even with non-flat lens frames, while minimizing the volume of the receiver coil.

Implementation Method 1

The wireless charging means comprises a receiver coil arranged so that it encircles one or several of said lenses, which receiver coil is arranged to be remotely powered by a corresponding transmitter coil in a separate charging device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3596536B1Eyewear with wireless charging means
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 SKUGGA TECH AB
  • EP3596536B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3596536B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP3596536B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Eyewear (100) comprising at least one lens (110,120), a lens frame (111,121), a battery (170) and means for wireless charging of said battery (170), which wireless charging means comprises a receiver coil (181) arranged to be remotely powered by a corresponding transmitter coil (340) in a separate charging device (300). The invention is characterised in that the receiver coil (181) is arranged so that it encircles at least one of said one or several lenses (110,120), forming part of or being enclosed in said lens frame (111,121), whereby light passing through the at least one lens (110,120) will also pass through a coil hole.