Modular Eyewear Temple Insert Modules for Audio Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eyewear devices are not easily reconfigurable to meet different user needs, are often expensive, and personal audio devices like earbuds obstruct the ear canal, interfering with hearing of far-field sounds.
Innovation Solution
A modularized eyewear system with interchangeable temples and temple insert modules, equipped with wireless communication systems, processors, and speakers, allowing users to hear audio broadcasts without obstructing their ear canal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional earbuds are used for personal audio transmission, then audio delivery is achieved, but the ear canal is obstructed and hearing of far-field sounds is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the temple insert module with speaker positioned in the temple arm) that mediates between the audio source and the user's ear. Instead of placing the audio device directly in the ear canal, the speaker is positioned in the temple arm to broadcast audio near the ear, achieving audio delivery without ear canal obstruction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prescription eyewear is customized for different users, then user-specific needs are met, but cost increases and reconfigurability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eyewear into modular components: a base frame and interchangeable temple insert modules. Each temple insert module can be independently configured with different electronics (or without electronics), allowing users to customize their eyewear for different needs while maintaining a simple base structure that is easy to reconfigure by swapping modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The base frame is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of temple insert modules. This allows a single pair of eyewear to serve multiple functions and adapt to different user needs by simply changing the temple insert modules, rather than creating entirely different custom eyewear for each use case.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expensive customized eyewear is manufactured for each user, then user needs are precisely met, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the eyewear into a standardized base frame and interchangeable temple insert modules, the patent enables mass production of the base frame and separate production of module components. This reduces manufacturing cost compared to producing fully customized eyewear for each user, while still allowing precise meeting of user needs through module selection and combination.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are taught that provide reconfigurable components for eyewear devices. A reconfigurable component for use in an eyewear device, includes a first temple. The first temple is configured for use with the eyewear device. The first temple further includes a first engagement portion. The first temple includes a first temple insert module (TIM). The first temple insert module is releasably couplable with the first engagement portion. The reconfigurable component can include at least one of a sensor and a display. The first temple insert module further includes a first wireless communication system. The first wireless communication system is configured to communicate wirelessly with a user device. The first temple insert module further includes a processor and a first speaker. The processor is configured to receive an input from at least one of the sensor and the first wireless communication system and to generate an output. At least one of the first speaker and the display are configured to receive the output. In operation, when a user wears the eyewear device the user can hear audio broadcast from the first speaker when the first wireless communication system is in an on state and may see an image with the display.