Wearable device with heat transfer pathway

• US 10,317,700 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashwood, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US15/648,037
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351 62, 351111, 351158, 345 7- 9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20445 the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff

Abstract

A wearable device is disclosed according to one embodiment. The wearable device can include an eyewear body, onboard electronic components and a heat transfer device. The eyewear body can be configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements mounted on the eyewear body within a field of view of the user. The onboard electronic components can be carried by the eyewear body at a first portion of the eyewear body and can comprise a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof. The elongate heat transfer device can be disposed within the eyewear body and can be thermally coupled to the heat source. The heat transfer device can extend lengthwise between the heat source and the thermal coupling to transfer heat from the heat source through the eyewear body.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

a frame configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements mounted on the frame within a field of view of the user;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame at a first end portion of the frame that extends longitudinally rearward to interface with a first temple, the onboard electronic components comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; and

an elongate heat transfer device disposed within the frame and thermally coupled to the heat source and extending lengthwise across the frame between the heat source and a second end portion of the frame that extends longitudinally rearward to interface with a second temple, the heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the heat source to the second end portion.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a core wire configured to form part of a structural framework for at least part of the frame.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a first thermal coupling thermally coupled to the heat transfer device at the second end portion of the frame, wherein the first thermal coupling comprises one or more of a heat sink, a core wire, and a heat pipe.

4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein:

the first temple is connected to the frame by a first articulated joint disposed at the first end portion; and

the second temple is connected to the frame by a second articulated joint disposed at the second end portion.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, further comprising a second thermal coupling comprising at least one heat sink for the heat source extending between the heat source and a core wire of the temple across the first articulated joint between the first temple and the frame.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the second thermal coupling comprises one or more portions of the first articulated joint, and wherein the first articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including a cap hinge that comprises a portion of the second thermal coupling, the cap hinge forms a portion of the frame and the hinge assembly.

7. The wearable device of claim 4, further comprising:

a core wire located within the second temple; and

the first thermal coupling thermally coupled to the core wire across the second articulated joint between the second temple and the frame.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe having a wick extending along at least a portion of a lateral length thereof, the heat pipe configured to carry a working fluid that is evaporated to a vapor at a first lateral end portion thereof by the heat from the heat source and direct the vapor to a second lateral end portion thereof where the vapor condenses back to the working fluid and is absorbed by the wick.

9. Smart glasses comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements, the frame having a first lateral end portion disposed to a first side of the one or more optical elements and an opposing second lateral end portion disposed to a second side of the one or more optical elements;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame within the first lateral end portion and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; and

a heat transfer device carried by the frame and extending laterally along substantially an entirety of the frame from the first lateral end portion of the frame to the second lateral end portion of the frame, wherein the heat transfer device is thermally coupled to the heat source at the first lateral end portion and is configured to transfer the heat from the heat source to the second lateral end portion of the frame, and wherein the heat transfer device comprises a core wire configured to form part of a structural framework for at least part of the frame.

10. The smart glasses of claim 9, further comprising:

an elongated temple having a core wire that forms a portion thereof, the temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint between the temple and the frame; and

a thermal coupling carried by the frame and arranged to generally interface a portion of the temple, the thermal coupling configured to conduct the heat away from the heat source across the articulated joint to the core wire within the temple.

11. The smart glasses of claim 10, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including a cap hinge that comprises a portion of the thermal coupling, the cap hinge forms a portion of the frame and the hinge assembly.

12. The smart glasses of claim 10, wherein the second lateral end portion is configured to house the thermal coupling, and wherein the heat transfer device is thermally coupled to the thermal coupling at the second lateral end portion.

13. The smart glasses of claim 12, wherein the thermal coupling comprises one or more of a heat sink, a core wire, and a heat pipe.

14. The smart glasses of claim 9, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe having a wick extending along at least a portion of a lateral length thereof, the heat pipe configured to carry a working fluid that is evaporated to a vapor at a first lateral portion thereof by the heat from the heat source and direct the vapor to a second lateral portion thereof where the vapor condenses back to the working fluid and is absorbed by the wick.

15. The smart glasses of claim 9, further comprising:

a second temple connected to the second lateral end portion of the frame at a second articulated joint;

a core wire located within the second temple; and

a thermal coupling thermally coupled to the heat transfer device at the second lateral end portion of the frame, the thermal coupling additionally thermally coupled to the core wire across the second articulated joint between the second temple and the frame.

16. Smart glasses comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements, the frame having a first lateral end portion disposed to a first side of the one or more optical elements and an opposing second lateral end portion disposed to a second side of the one or more optical elements;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame within the first lateral end portion and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; and

a thermal coupling carried by the frame within the second lateral end portion; and

a heat transfer device carried by the frame and extending laterally along substantially an entirety of the frame from the first lateral end portion of the frame to the second lateral end portion of the frame, wherein the heat transfer device is thermally coupled to the heat source at the first lateral end portion and is thermally coupled to the thermal coupling at the second lateral end portion, and wherein the heat transfer device is configured to transfer the heat from the heat source to the thermal coupling.

17. The smart glasses of claim 16, further comprising:

an elongated temple having a core wire that forms a portion thereof, the temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint between the temple and the frame; and

a second thermal coupling carried by the frame and arranged to generally interface a portion of the temple, the second thermal coupling configured to conduct at least a portion of the heat away from the heat source across the articulated joint to the core wire within the temple.

18. The smart glasses of claim 17, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including a cap hinge that comprises a portion of the second thermal coupling, the cap hinge forms a portion of the frame and the hinge assembly.

19. The smart glasses of claim 16, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe having a wick extending along at least a portion of a lateral length thereof, the heat pipe configured to carry a working fluid that is evaporated to a vapor at a first lateral portion thereof by the heat from the heat source and direct the vapor to a second lateral portion thereof where the vapor condenses back to the working fluid and is absorbed by the wick.