Electronic eyeglasses and methods of manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9442305-B2
Application number	US-201313916480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2013
Priority date	Jun 14, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the design and manufacturing of electronic eyeglasses and associated components thereof. Electronic eyeglasses consist of electro-active lenses, receiving electrical signals that turn them on and off from an electronic control module. The electronic control module is embedded within a temple of the eyeglass frame, and is powered by a removable power source pack residing at a temple tip through a flexible cable. Various methods describe the interconnection schemes between the components of the electronic eyeglasses.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a hinge for an eyeglass frame adapted to rotatably attach a temple to a frame front, the hinge having an axis of rotation;
a gap, disposed along the axis of rotation;
an electrical conductor running through the gap;
a top rotatable connection, comprising a first top part rotatably connected to a second top part, rotatable around the axis of rotation;
a bottom rotatable connection, comprising a first bottom part rotatably connected to a second bottom part, rotatable around the axis of rotation;
the first top part and the second top part are rotatably connected by a first screw;
the first bottom part and the second bottom part are rotatably connected by a second screw; and
the second screw has opposite handed threads relative to the first screw;
wherein the electrical conductor enters the gap on a plane normal to the axis of rotation and leaves the gap on the same plane; and
wherein the gap is disposed between the top rotatable connection and the bottom rotatable connection.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is an eyeglass frame comprising:
a temple and a frame front rotatably connected to each other by the hinge, wherein the hinge has an open position, corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is worn by a user and a closed position corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is folded, such that for the open position, the closed position, and all rotational positions in between, there is a path for the electrical conductor to run from the temple to the frame front through an axis of rotation of the hinge in the gap.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein:
the first top part and the second bottom part are rigidly connected to each other and to the frame front; and
the second top part and the second bottom part are rigidly connected to each other and to the temple.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the electrical conductor crosses the gap in an orientation within 10° of perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hinge.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises a wire.

6. The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a lens supported by the frame front and comprising a first electrical component; and
a second electrical component supported by the temple.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the electrical conductor provides a conducting path between the first electrical component and the second electrical component such that it provides an electrical signal to the first electrical component of the lens.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first electrical component comprises electrical contacts disposed along a top edge of the lens.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the second electrical component comprises an electronic control module coupled to a power source.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the lens is an electronic lens.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is an eyeglass frame comprising:
wherein the electrical conductor comprises a flex cable.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the flex cable comprises a service loop.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the flex cable is a continuous cable that runs from a first location to a second location; wherein the first location is on the temple and more distally located than the axis of rotation, and the second location is on the frame front.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the flex cable is a continuous cable that runs from a first location to a second location; wherein the first location is on the temple and more distally located than the axis of rotation, and the second location is on the frame front.

15. A device, comprising:
a hinge for an eyeglass frame adapted to rotatably attach a temple to a frame front, the hinge having an axis of rotation;
a gap, disposed along the axis of rotation;
an electrical conductor running through the gap;
a top rotatable connection, comprising a first top part rotatably connected to a second top part, rotatable around the axis of rotation; and
a bottom rotatable connection, comprising a first bottom part rotatably connected to a second bottom part, rotatable around the axis of rotation;
wherein the electrical conductor enters the gap on a plane normal to the axis of rotation and leaves the gap on the same plane;
wherein the gap is disposed between the top rotatable connection and the bottom rotatable connection; and
wherein the first bottom part comprises a pin and the second bottom part comprises a hole such that the pin rotatably fits into the hole.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is an eyeglass frame comprising:
a temple and a frame front rotatably connected to each other by the hinge, wherein the hinge has an open position, corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is worn by a user and a closed position corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is folded, such that for the open position, the closed position, and all rotational positions in between, there is a path for the electrical conductor to run from the temple to the frame front through an axis of rotation of the hinge in the gap.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises a flex cable.

18. A device, comprising:
a hinge for an eyeglass frame adapted to rotatably attach a temple to a frame front, the hinge having an axis of rotation;
a gap, disposed along the axis of rotation;
an electrical conductor running through the gap;
a top rotatable connection, comprising a first top part rotatably connected to a second top part, rotatable around the axis of rotation; and
a bottom rotatable connection, comprising a first bottom part rotatably connected to a second bottom part, rotatable around the axis of rotation;
wherein the electrical conductor enters the gap on a plane normal to the axis of rotation and leaves the gap on the same plane;
wherein the gap is disposed between the top rotatable connection and the bottom rotatable connection; and
wherein the first top part comprises a pin and the second top part comprises a hole such that the pin rotatably fits into the hole.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the device is an eyeglass frame comprising:
a temple and a frame front rotatably connected to each other by the hinge, wherein the hinge has an open position, corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is worn by a user and a closed position corresponding to a position of the frame front and the temple when a pair of eyeglasses is folded, such that for the open position, the closed position, and all rotational positions in between, there is a path for the electrical conductor to run from the temple to the frame front through an axis of rotation of the hinge in the gap.

20. The device of claim 18 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises a flex cable.

21. A device, comprising:
a hinge for an eyeglass frame adapted to rotatably attach a temple to a frame front, the hinge having an axis of rotation;
a gap, disposed along the axis of rotation;
an electrical conductor running through the gap;
a top rotatable connection, comprising a first top part rotatably connected to a second top part, rotatable around the axis of rotation;
a bottom rotatable connection, comprising a first bottom part rotatably connected to a second bottom part, rot

Assignees

• Mitsui Chemicals Inc

Inventors

• Blum Ronald D
• Adams Sophie
• Boyd David
• Clompus Richard
• Graham Mark
• Haddock Joshua
• Hall Robert
• Iyer Venki
• Kokonaski William
• Willey Charles
• Wang Yongping
• Longa Claudio Dalla

Classifications

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• B29D12/02

  Spectacle frames (constructional form G02C) · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C5/146

  having special front end · CPC title

• G02C7/081

  Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length · CPC title