IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,498,583
Granted Patent B2
US 12,498,583 · App. 17/725,245 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Eyewear having a projector with heat sink shields

Inventors: Andrea Ashwood (Culver City, CA); David G. Fliszar (Manhattan Beach, CA); Jason Heger (Louisville, CO); Ugur Olgun (West Hollywood, CA); Michael Christian Ryner (Santa Monica, CA); Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons (Redondo Beach, CA); Stephen Andrew Steger (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Snap Inc.
G02B27/0176G03B21/16G06F1/1656G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,498,583
App. No.
17/725,245
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projector, such as for eyewear, having a first and second shield that individually sink heat from a light source and provide electromagnetic (EM) shielding for the projector, and a processor controlling the projector. The shields sink heat evenly and efficiently, to different portions of the eyewear. In one example, the heat is directed in different directions. The shields encompass the light source and the processor, and they may be parallel to one another. The thickness of the shield coupled to the light source is thicker proximate the light source. The shields may be separated from each other by a thermal insulating material.

Claims (30)

1 . Eyewear, comprising:

a frame;

a temple coupled to the frame;

an optical component supported by the frame; and

a projector, comprising:

a light source configured to generate a light beam;

a controller configured to control the light source;

a display configured to modulate the light beam to generate an image;

a first shield and a second shield disposed on opposite sides of the projector, and together encompassing the light source and the controller;

the first shield thermally coupled to the light source and configured to sink heat generated by the light source; and

the second shield thermally coupled to the controller and configured to sink heat generated by the controller, wherein the first shield and the second shield are thermally isolated from one another, wherein heat of one of the shields is configured to be sunk only to the frame, and heat of the other shield is configured to be sunk only to the temple.

2 . The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the first shield and the second shield are parallel to each other.

3 . The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the light source is coupled to the first shield by a thermal insulating material (TIM).

4 . The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the first shield has a greater thickness proximate the light source than at a portion disposed away from the light source.

5 . The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shields sink heat in different directions.

6 . A heat sink configured to couple to a projector of an eyewear having a frame and a temple coupled to the frame, the projector having a light source configured to generate a light beam, a controller configured to control the light source, a display configured to modulate the light beam to generate an image, a first shield and a second shield disposed on opposite sides of the projector, and together encompassing the light source and the controller, comprising:

the first shield thermally configured to couple to the light source and configured to sink heat generated by the light source to the frame; and

the second shield thermally configured to couple to the controller and configured to sink heat generated by the controller to the temple, wherein the first shield and the second shield are thermally isolated from one another, wherein heat of one of the shields is sunk only to the frame, and heat of the other shield is sunk only to the temple.

7 . The heat sink of claim 6 , wherein the first shield and the second shield are parallel to each other.

8 . The heat sink of claim 6 , wherein the light source is coupled to the first shield by a thermal insulating material (TIM).

9 . The heat sink of claim 6 , wherein the first shield has a greater thickness proximate a portion to be coupled to the light source than at a portion disposed away from the light source.

10 . The heat sink of claim 6 , wherein the first and second shields sink heat in different directions.

11 . The heat sink of claim 10 , wherein the first shield is coupled to a frame of an eyewear device, and the second shield is coupled to a temple of the eyewear device.

12 . A method of using a projector of an eyewear having a frame, a temple coupled to the frame, and a light source configured to generate a light beam, a controller configured to control the light source, a display configured to modulate the light beam to generate an image, a first shield and a second shield disposed on opposite sides of the projector, and together encompassing the light source and the controller, the first shield thermally coupled to the light source and configured to sink heat generated by the light source, and the second shield thermally coupled to the controller and configured to sink heat generated by the controller, wherein the first shield and the second shield are thermally isolated from one another, comprising:

the first shield sinking heat from the light source; and

the second shield sinking heat from the controller, wherein heat of one of the first-shields is sunk only to the frame, and heat of the other shield is sunk only to the temple.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first shield and the second shield are parallel to each other.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the light source is coupled to the first shield by a thermal insulating material (TIM).

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first shield has a greater thickness proximate the light source than at a portion disposed away from the light source.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second shields sink heat in different directions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2025
From: ASHWOOD, ANDREA; FLISZAR, DAVID G.; HEGER, JASON; OLGUN, UGUR; RYNER, MICHAEL CHRISTIAN; MCSWEENEY SIMONS, PATRICK TIMOTHY; STEGER, STEPHEN ANDREW
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 072976/0427 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63178650 · Apr 23, 2021
Related Publication 20220342222A1 · Oct 27, 2022
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