Battery assembly for a wearable electronic device

• US 10,317,706 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung X
• Application Number:
  US15/949,860
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351111, 351 41, 351121, 16228
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/008 Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/238 Flexibility or foldability
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. According to one embodiment, a temple assembly forming part of the smart glasses is disclosed. The assembly can include a temple mechanical connection, a battery carrier, a battery, and a temple body. The temple mechanical connection is configured to form an articulated joint at a first longitudinal end portion thereof with a frame of the wearable electronic glasses. The battery carrier is rigidly attached to the temple mechanical connection at a second longitudinal end portion thereof. The battery is mounted on the battery carrier. The temple body comprises a plastics material, and is configured to house the battery and battery carrier and interface with the second longitudinal end portion of the temple mechanical connection. The battery and battery carrier are generally longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal extent of the temple body, and are configured to form at least part of a structural framework for the temple body.

Claims

1. Wearable electronic glasses, comprising:

a rigid battery carrier;

a battery mounted to the rigid battery carrier;

a frame configured to hole a pair of optical elements; and

a temple connected to the frame by an articulated joint, one or both of the temple and the frame carrying onboard electronics that are powered by the battery;

wherein the rigid battery carrier is at least partially housed in one of the temple and the frame and forms at least part of a structural framework of one of the temple and the frame, and wherein the rigid battery carrier is secured to the articulated joint to provide reinforcement to the articulated joint.

2. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 1, wherein one or more of the temple and the frame are formed of a plastics material of a relatively lower rigidity than a material of the battery carrier.

3. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 1, wherein the rigid battery carrier is secured to the articulated joint to provide reinforcement to the articulated joint by a weld between the battery carrier and the articulated joint.

4. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 1, wherein the temple houses the battery and battery carrier, and wherein the frame is configured to carry the onboard electronics powered by the battery.

5. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 4, wherein the temple is configured with at least a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to the onboard electronics across the articulated joint between the temple and the frame.

6. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 1, wherein the battery and the battery carrier are imbedded and totally encased within the temple.

7. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 1, wherein one or more of the temple and the frame the temple comprises at least one of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic material, cellulosic acetate, an eco-plastics material, or a thermoplastics material that is less rigid than a material of the battery carrier.

8. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements;

a temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint such that the temple is disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view;

one or more onboard electronics components carried by at least one of the frame and the temple; and

a battery assembly at least partially housed within one of the frame and the temple, the battery assembly including a battery mounted on a battery carrier, the battery assembly configured to form at least part of a structural framework for the temple and being rigidly attached to a portion of the articulated joint.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the battery assembly is rigidly attached to a portion of the articulated joint.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein one or more of the temple and the frame are formed of a plastics material of a relatively lower rigidity than a material of the battery carrier.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the temple houses the battery and battery carrier, and wherein the frame is configured to carry the onboard electronics powered by the battery.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the temple is configured with at least a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to the onboard electronics across the articulated joint between the temple and the frame.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the battery and the battery carrier are imbedded and totally encased within the temple.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein one or more of the temple and the frame the temple comprises at least one of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic material, cellulosic acetate, an eco-plastics material, or a thermoplastics material that is less rigid than a material of the battery carrier.

15. Wearable electronic glasses, comprising:

a rigid battery carrier;

a battery mounted to the rigid battery carrier;

a frame configured to hole a pair of optical elements; and

a temple connected to the frame by an articulated joint, one or both of the temple and the frame carrying onboard electronics that are powered by the battery, wherein the rigid battery carrier is at least partially housed in one of the temple and the frame and forms at least part of a structural framework of one of the temple and the frame, and wherein one or more of the temple and the frame are formed of a plastics material of a relatively lower rigidity than a material of the battery carrier.

16. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 15, wherein the rigid battery carrier is secured to the articulated joint to provide reinforcement to the articulated joint by a weld between the battery carrier and the articulated joint.

17. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 15, wherein the temple houses the battery and battery carrier, and wherein the frame is configured to carry the onboard electronics powered by the battery.

18. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 17, wherein the temple is configured with at least a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to the onboard electronics across the articulated joint between the temple and the frame.

19. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 15, wherein the battery and the battery carrier are imbedded and totally encased within the temple.

20. The wearable electronic glasses of claim 15, wherein one or more of the temple and the frame the temple comprises at least one of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic material, cellulosic acetate, an eco-plastics material, or a thermoplastics material that is less rigid than a material of the battery carrier.