Electronic frame for an optical device and a method for operating said electronic frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10684496-B2
Application number	US-201615762807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

An electronic frame for an optical device, including: a frame surface element configured to house, at least in part, at least one lens, and connected to at least one temple by respective ends; a circuit controlling operation of at least one electronic component; at least one magnetic or electric field transmitter and one magnetic or electric field sensor, at least one of the sensor or transmitter mounted to be movable relative to one another between first and second positions, the sensor configured to detect a first field direction and a first field value emitted by the transmitter in the first position, and a second field direction and a second field value emitted by the transmitter in the second position, to generate a first position signal or a second position signal towards the control circuit to prompt a response from the control circuit towards the at least one electronic component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic frame for an optical device, the electronic frame comprising:
a front frame element configured to house at least partially at least one lens, the front frame element being connected to at least one temple via respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple;
a control circuit configured to control an operation of at least one electronic component; and
at least one magnetic-field emitter and respectively one magnetic-field sensor, one at least of the sensor or emitter being mounted to be movable with respect to the other, between a first position and a second position, the magnetic-field sensor configured to detect a difference between:
a first field direction and/or a first field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the first position, and
respectively, a second field direction and/or a second field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the second position,

to generate a first-position signal or a second-position signal to the control circuit, to cause a response of the control circuit in a direction of the at least one electronic component,
the respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple being connected by a hinge element having an axis of rotation, the magnetic-field emitter being a magnet held in place in the hinge and the magnetic-field sensor being fastened to the temple so that the magnetic-field sensor always remains at a same distance from the magnet.

2. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-field emitter is positioned at one of the ends among the ends of the front frame element or of the temple and the magnetic-field sensor is positioned at the other end of the ends of the front frame element or of the temple.

3. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnet is polarized in a radial direction.

4. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnet includes a through-hole to accommodate a screw, allowing the magnet to be fastened to the electronic frame.

5. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-field sensor includes a detection surface and the magnetic-field sensor is a sensor measuring a value of a magnetic field at the detection surface in a preset measurement direction.

6. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the preset measurement direction is concurrent with the axis of rotation of the hinge and in a plane normal to the axis of rotation.

7. The electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-field sensor is an analog sensor, the sensor being an anisotropic magnetoresistance sensor, a Hall-effect sensor, or a Reed sensor.

8. An assembly comprising:
the electronic frame as claimed in claim 1 ; and
a device configured to charge the electronic frame, the electronic frame including a charging holder,
wherein the control circuit is configured to permit the frame to charge only if the control circuit receives a second-position signal.

9. A method for operating an electronic frame that includes
a front frame element configured to house at least partially at least one lens, the front frame element being connected to at least one temple via respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple,
a control circuit configured to control an operation of at least one electronic component, and at least one magnetic-field emitter and respectively one magnetic-field sensor, one at least of the sensor or emitter being mounted to be movable with respect to the other, between a first position and a second position, the magnetic-field sensor configured to detect a difference between: a first field direction and/or a first field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the first position, and respectively, a second field direction and/or a second field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the second position, to generate a first-position signal or a second-position signal to the control circuit, to cause a response of the control circuit in a direction of the at least one electronic component,
the respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple being connected by a hinge element having an axis of rotation, the magnetic-field emitter being a magnet held in place in the hinge and the magnetic-field sensor being fastened to the temple so that the magnetic-field sensor always remains at a same distance from the magnet, the method comprising:
when the control circuit receives a second-position signal, placing, by the control circuit, the electronic frame on standby.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the electronic frame includes a plurality of electronic components, the method further comprising:
when the control circuit receives a second-position signal, deactivating, by the control circuit, operation of one of the electronic components.

11. A method for operating an electronic frame for an assembly that includes the electronic frame and a device for charging the electronic frame, the electronic frame including
a charging holder,
a front frame element configured to house at least partially at least one lens, the front frame element being connected to at least one temple via respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple,
a control circuit configured to control an operation of at least one electronic component, and at least one magnetic-field emitter and respectively one magnetic-field sensor, one at least of the sensor or emitter being mounted to be movable with respect to the other, between a first position and a second position, the magnetic-field sensor configured to detect a difference between: a first field direction and/or a first field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the first position, and respectively, a second field direction and/or a second field value of the field emitted by the magnetic-field emitter in the second position, to generate a first-position signal or a second-position signal to the control circuit, to cause a response of the control circuit in a direction of the at least one electronic component,
the respective ends of the front frame element and of the temple being connected by a hinge element having an axis of rotation, the magnetic-field emitter being a magnet held in place in the hinge and the magnetic-field sensor being fastened to the temple so that the magnetic-field sensor always remains at a same distance from the magnet, wherein
the control circuit is configured to permit the frame to charge only if the control circuit receives a second-position signal, the method comprising:
when the control circuit receives a first-position signal, preventing, by the control circuit, the electronic frame from charging.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
when the control circuit receives a second-position signal, permitting, by the control circuit, the electronic frame to charge.

Assignees

• Essilor Int

Inventors

• Jouard Ludovic
• Gilbert Cedric

Classifications

• G02C7/101

  having an electro-optical light valve (electro-optical elements per se G02F) · CPC title

• G02C7/081

  Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length · CPC title

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C5/22

  Hinges (pivotal connection in general F16C11/00) · CPC title