Eyewear Temple Window Structure for Passive Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices generate heat that impairs their normal functions, necessitating effective thermal management solutions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a thermal management system in the temples of electronic eyewear devices, featuring a thermally conductive stiffener overmolded with a non-thermally conductive material to form a window, allowing heat dissipation through convection and providing both aesthetic and functional benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are integrated into wearable devices, then functionality is improved, but heat generation increases causing thermal management issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the main device body and relocates it to the temple portion. The stiffener in the temple acts as a separate heat dissipation component that pulls heat away from the electronic components housed in the device body, effectively separating the heat generation zone from the heat dissipation zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffener serves as an intermediary thermal conduit between the electronic components and the ambient environment. It thermally couples to the device body or housing near the electronic components and extends to expose heat dissipation surfaces at the temple, mediating heat transfer from the enclosed components to the external atmosphere.
2Shape
If temples are made with solid overmolded material for aesthetics and comfort, then appearance and wearability are improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a window or opening in the overmolded temple material at specific locations where heat dissipation is needed. The overmolded material maintains its aesthetic and comfort properties in areas where it is not needed for thermal management, while the window portions allow heat to escape to the ambient environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The temple combines different materials with complementary properties: the overmolded material provides aesthetics and comfort, while the stiffener (which may be metallic or thermally conductive) provides structural support and heat dissipation. This composite structure allows simultaneous achievement of aesthetic appearance and thermal management functionality.
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
The system effectively dissipates heat generated by onboard components, maintaining normal device operation while enhancing the device's appearance and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The temples each have a thermally conductive stiffener with a non-thermally conductive overmolded material forming a window
Implementation Method 2
The window in each temple exposes interior components, such the stiffener to ambient air, and allows heat generated by electronic components to be released to ambient air to cool the components through convection
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic eyewear device having temples that are lightweight, aesthetically pleasant, and include thermal management. The temples each have a thermally conductive stiffener with a non-thermally conductive overmolded material forming a window. The window in each temple exposes interior components, such the stiffener to ambient air, and allows heat generated by electronic components to be released to ambient air to cool the components through convection. The windows also allow the stiffeners to be coupled to tooling and are easily overmolded. The windows provide both an aesthetic feature and a functional feature.