Flexible Printed Circuit Hinge for Head-Mounted Wearable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional head-mounted wearable devices face challenges in their physical configuration, particularly in providing a low-profile and reliable connection between the left and right temples due to difficulties in establishing a wired connection, leading to early breakage and bulkiness, which affects user experience.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted wearable device design featuring a hinge with an open core that allows a flexible printed circuit to twist, maintaining a consistent distance between bends and reducing strain on conductors, enabling a smaller hinge and more reliable connection without excess material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wired connection is established between the left and right temples, then connectivity is achieved, but the connection becomes bulky and prone to early breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical wired connection between temples with a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) that integrates electrical conductors into a flexible substrate. This substitution eliminates the need for rigid wires and connectors, reducing bulkiness and improving reliability by preventing early breakage associated with mechanical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as a thin, flexible film to establish the connection between temples. The FPC can bend and twist to accommodate the folding hinge mechanism while maintaining electrical connectivity, thereby avoiding the bulkiness and fragility of traditional wired connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If a hinge is designed to allow folding, then portability is improved, but the connection between temples becomes strained and prone to breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidconnection durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a folding hinge that allows the temples to transition between folded and unfolded states. The flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is integrated into the hinge mechanism, enabling it to dynamically bend and twist during folding operations while maintaining electrical connectivity, thus preserving both portability and connection durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The FPC serves as a flexible film that can accommodate the mechanical stress of folding. Its flexibility allows it to bend and twist within the hinge without straining the conductors, maintaining reliability while enabling the folding capability for improved portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If excess material is provided in the hinge, then connection reliability is improved, but the device becomes bulkier

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidhinge volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The FPC is designed as a thin, flexible film that passes through the hinge with precisely controlled bends. This eliminates the need for excess material to accommodate folding, as the FPC can bend sharply without straining the conductors. The result is a compact hinge with minimal volume that maintains high connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Volume of moving object

If the FPC bends sharply during folding, then the hinge becomes more compact, but strain on conductors increases causing early breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehinge volumeVSAvoidconductor durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The FPC is constructed as a flexible film with conductors embedded or printed on its surface. The flexibility of the FPC substrate allows it to bend sharply within the compact hinge without imposing excessive strain on the conductors. This enables a compact hinge design while maintaining conductor durability and preventing early breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS10670888B1Head-mounted wearable device with integrated circuitry

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A head-mounted wearable device incorporates a channel inset into a front frame. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) is arranged within the channel and allows communication between a left side of the front frame to a right side. Using the FPC, electronics in a left temple attached to the front frame are connected to the electronics in a right temple attached to the front frame. A retention piece is used to maintain the FPC within the channel, provide protection from an external environment, and so forth. The retention piece may comprise an overmold of silicone plastic.