Temple Arm Hinge Biasing for Smart Glasses Display Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible and deformable frames in head-mounted computing devices like smart glasses can cause inconsistent alignment of displays, leading to visual discomfort due to inconsistent alignment with the eye box, as they lack mechanisms for adjusting the biasing force and point of engagement during rotation of temple arm portions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hinge mechanism with a rotation mechanism, biasing mechanism, and adjustment mechanism that allows for adjustable biasing force and point of engagement between temple arm and rim portions, using components like barrel hinges, leaf springs, and threaded collars to maintain display alignment and user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible and deformable frame material is used, then ease of adjustment and comfort fit are improved, but display alignment consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into flexible portions (temple arms, nose bridge) and rigid portions (front frame, display housing). This segmentation allows different parts to have different flexibility characteristics, enabling overall adaptability while maintaining local rigidity for display alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the frame have different mechanical properties - the temple arms and nose bridge are made flexible for adjustment, while the front frame and display housing are made rigid to maintain precise display alignment. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall adaptability and local precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If rigid frame components are used, then display alignment is maintained, but flexibility and deformability for fit adjustment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is segmented into rigid sections (front frame, display housing) that maintain alignment precision and flexible sections (temple arms, nose bridge) that provide fit adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Rigid materials and structures are used specifically in portions requiring precise display alignment, while flexible materials are used in portions requiring fit adjustment. This localized application of different material properties resolves the contradiction between alignment precision and adjustability.
3Ease of operation
If flexible frame material is used, then comfort fit is improved, but force control during temple arm rotation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing mechanism (spring) is introduced as an intermediary between the temple arm and front frame. This spring provides controlled biasing force during rotation, enabling comfortable adjustment while maintaining precise force control that flexible material alone cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant and pre-load of the biasing spring can be adjusted to control the biasing force characteristics. This parameter adjustment capability allows optimization of both comfort during adjustment and stability during wear, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and force control.
4Manufacturing precision
If rigid frame is used, then electronic component alignment is maintained, but adaptability to different head sizes and shapes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into rigid portions (housing electronic components and display) and flexible portions (temple arms, nose bridge). This allows the rigid portions to maintain precise component alignment while flexible portions adapt to different head sizes and shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
Rigid materials are used in portions requiring precise electronic component alignment, while flexible materials are used in portions requiring adaptation to different head geometries. This localized material selection resolves the contradiction between alignment precision and anatomical adaptability.
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 mechanism provides adjustable biasing force and point of engagement, ensuring consistent display alignment and user comfort by accommodating different head sizes and shapes, reducing discomfort and maintaining electronic component alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing mechanism includes a shaft coupled to the barrel hinge, and a compression spring coupled on a first portion of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
a friction element is positioned between a surface of the barrel hinge and a corresponding surface of the front frame portion
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for adjusting a level of force exerted by the temple arm portions of a frame of a head mounted wearable device are provided. Hinge mechanisms that provide for the rotatable coupling of a temple arm portion to a rim portion of a frame of the head mounted wearable device, or glasses, may include a rotation mechanism that facilitates rotation of the temple arm portion relative to the rim portion, and a biasing mechanism that can be adjusted to apply a desired level of lateral force to a head of a user wearing the glasses. The hinge mechanisms may allow for adjustments to biasing rates and/or pre-load levels and/or amounts of temple arm portion rotation prior to engagement to adjust the applied force to desired levels and maintain user comfort.