Moisture-resistant electronic spectacle frames

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9470909-B2
Application number	US-201514715127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 17, 2011
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

Eyewear including an optical functional member, control electronics, and a sealed electrical connective element connecting the electronics to the optical functional member. The connective element can directly connect the electronics to the optical functional member, or can connect through an intermediate contact, e.g., a plug-and-receptacle. The connective element can be routed from the electronics, around a rimlock of the eyewear to the optical functional member. The connective element can be a conductive compressible member, such as conductive rubber. In some embodiments, the connective element can be a multiconductor cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Eyewear comprising:
an optical functional member comprising a lens;
an electrically-insulating gasket disposed on an edge of the lens;
an electronics module comprising electronics for controlling the optical functional member; and
at least one sealed electrical connective element connecting the electronics of the electronics module to the optical functional member;
wherein the gasket extends around the entire circumference of the lens;
wherein the gasket defines at least one aperture therethrough;
wherein the electrical connective element connects to the optical functional member through the aperture; and
wherein the gasket is not conductive.

2. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:
the optical functional member comprises at least one electrical connector,
the connective element directly connects the electronics of the electronics module to the at least one electrical connector of the optical functional member, and
the electronics module is sealed.

3. The eyewear of claim 1 :
further comprising at least one intermediate electrical contact; and
wherein:
the optical functional member comprises at least one electrical connector, and

the connective element connects the electronics of the electronics module to the at least one electrical connector of the optical functional member through the at least one intermediate electrical contact.

4. The eyewear of claim 3 wherein:
the intermediate electrical contact comprises a plug-and-receptacle.

5. The eyewear of claim 3 wherein the intermediate electrical contact is located at one of: a rim of the eyewear, a surface of the optical functional member, a frame front of the eyewear, an electronic display, or an electronic controller.

6. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:
the eyewear further comprises a temple and a rimlock, and wherein:
the electronics module is located in the temple, and
the connective element is routed from the electronics module through the rimlock to the optical functional member.

7. The eyewear of claim 6 wherein:
the rimlock comprises an upper rimlock and a lower rimlock, and
the connective element is routed between the upper rimlock and the lower rimlock.

8. The eyewear of claim 6 wherein:
the rimlock comprises an upper rimlock and a lower rimlock, and
the connective element forms a layer between the upper rimlock and the lower rimlock.

9. The eyewear of claim 8 wherein:
the layer is an electrically insulating layer.

10. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:
the connective element is a conductive compressible member.

11. The eyewear of claim 10 wherein:
the conductive compressible member is conductive rubber.

12. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:
the connective element comprises a multi-conductor cable.

13. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:
the at least one sealed electrical conductive element is at least one of: moisture resistant, salt resistant, and moisture proof.

Assignees

• Mitsui Chemicals Inc

Inventors

• Willey Charles
• Haddock Joshua
• Graham Mark
• Dalla Longa Claudio
• Blum Ronald
• Kokanaski William

Classifications

• H01R35/04

  Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle {with frictional contact members} · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title

• G02C7/101

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

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• H01R13/2414

  conductive elastomers · CPC title