Smart Eyewear Tactile Controls for Glove-Compatible Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart eyewear with touchpads cannot be operated while wearing gloves, limiting functionality in environments where glove use is necessary.
Innovation Solution
The development of eyewear with a tactile switch that can be operated by a user wearing gloves, featuring a three-way tactile switch for performing multiple functions with haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch-sensitive controls are used on smart eyewear, then the eyewear can be controlled with ease, but the eyewear cannot be operated while wearing gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into two distinct types: touch-sensitive controls for gloveless operation and tactile switches for gloved operation. This segmentation allows the eyewear system to support both operating modes simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between ease of touch control and compatibility with glove wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyewear system is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both touch-sensitive controls and tactile switches, enabling the same device to be operated in multiple ways depending on whether the user is wearing gloves or not. This universal design approach allows one system to serve multiple operational contexts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tactile switches are added to enable glove operation, then compatibility with glove wear is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile switches are integrated into the temple structure of the eyewear, merging the control function with the existing structural components. This integration approach minimizes additional complexity by utilizing available space and structural elements rather than adding completely separate control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Eyewear having speakers and a microphone, configured to pair or connect with mobile devices, and having a three-way tactile switch that can be operated by a user to perform various functions while a user of the eyewear is wearing gloves. The tactile switch may be configured to rotate about an axis and/or may be configured so that it can be pressed into the frame or temples of the eyewear. The tactile switch may be configured to have the paired or connected mobile device perform different functions depending on the direction, pressure and/or the duration of time the tactile switch is pressed.