Electronic eyeglasses and methods of manufacturing
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.
1. An eyewear, comprising:
an optical device having electro-active material; and
a temple comprising
an electronic control module that controls the optical device;
a connector box;
a first electrical connector located inside the connector box; and
a power source pack that is configured to be removably attached to the temple and that comprises
an insertion portion that is configured to be inserted into and being housed by the connector box of the temple, and
a covering portion that is configured to cover a tip of the temple when the power source pack is attached to the temple, wherein
the insertion portion includes a power source and a second electrical connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the power source and the first electrical connector of the temple,
wherein a diameter of the insertion portion is less than or equal to a diameter of the connector box, and
wherein a diameter of the covering portion is greater than or equal to a diameter of the tip of the temple.
2. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the second part of the temple is sealed and moisture resistant when the second part of the temple is attached to the first part of the temple.
3. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the first part of the temple further comprises
an internal metal tube.
4. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the second part of the temple comprises a plastic housing having spring mechanical contacts.
5. The eyewear of claim 4 , wherein the spring mechanical contacts are configured to remove the second part of the temple from the first part of the temple when pressed.
6. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the electronics control module of the temple is configured to turn the power of the eyewear on and off.
7. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are selected from the group consisting of a fixed connector and a push-push connector.
8. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the power source pack enclosed in the temple may be at least one rechargeable battery.
9. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the power source pack enclosed in the temple is selected from the group consisting of rechargeable batteries and single-use batteries.
10. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the optical device is a spectacle lens.
11. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the electro-active material is liquid crystal.
12. A temple of an eyewear, comprising:
an electronic control module; and
a temple, comprising:
a power source pack disposed inside a tip of the temple, wherein the power source comprises an insertion portion that is configured to be inserted into and housed by a connector box of the temple, a covering portion that is configured to cover the tip of the temple when the power pack is attached to the temple, and a power source; and
an electrical connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the power source pack and the electronics control module,
wherein a diameter of the insertion portion is less than or equal to a diameter of the connector box,
wherein a diameter of the covering portion is greater than or equal to a diameter of the tip of the temple, and
wherein the electronic control module is configured to control an optical device.
13. An apparatus, comprising:
a port disposed in a temple configured to receive a power source pack; and
a USB plug configured to receive power for charging of the power source pack; wherein:
the power source pack is removably attached to the port and is configured to form a covering portion of a tip of the temple of an eyewear such that the power source pack provides power to an electronic control module when attached to the temple.
14. A system, comprising:
an eyewear, the eyewear comprising:
an optical device having electro-active material; and
a temple, comprising:
an electronic control module disposed in the temple; and
a power source pack removably attached to the tip of the temple, comprising:
a power source, wherein the power source comprises an insertion portion that is configured to be inserted into and housed by a connector box of the temple and a covering portion that is configured to cover the tip of the temple when the power pack is attached to the temple; and
an electrical connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the power source and the electronics control module,
wherein the electronic control module controls the optical device;
a power source charger, comprising:
a port, the port configured to removably attach to the tip of the temple;
a USB plug configured to receive power which enables charging of the power source when the tip of the temple is attached to the port.