ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY IN LOW-VISION READER

• US 20120176580A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Original Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Inventors: Sonsino, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US13/325,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/14 Mirrors; Prisms

Abstract

A low-version reader (LVR) includes a frame adapted to be worn by a person as well as first and second light sources supported by the frame and positioned to project light beams focusing on a working surface. The LVR also includes a first battery embedded in the frame and a first power-supply circuit that regulates power provided by the first battery to energize the first light source. The first battery is rechargeable and in electrical communication through a first discharge path with the first light source. The first discharge path allows the first battery to energize the first light source. A first charger receptacle in electrical communication through a first charge path with the first battery. The first charge path allows charging the first battery when a power charger is coupled with the first charger receptacle.

Claims

1. A low-version reader, comprising:

a frame adapted to be worn by a person;

first and second light sources supported by the frame and positioned to project light beams focusing on a working surface;

a first battery embedded in the frame; and

a first power-supply circuit that regulates power provided by the first battery to energize the first light source.

2. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the first power-supply circuit regulates a current applied to the first light source.

3. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the first power-supply circuit regulates a voltage applied to the first light source.

4. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the first power-supply circuit is a constant current driver coupled with the first light source and configured such that generally constant current is applied to the first light source.

5. The low-version reader of claim 1, further comprising a first switch that selectively allows and disallows energizing the first light source by the first battery.

6. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are positioned inwardly such that, when the LVR is assembled with a pair of lenses that generally define a first longitudinal axis and a first plane generally on which the pair of lenses are positioned, the light beams projected by the first and second light sources each have a center axis in a plane that has an angle less than 90 degree relative to the first plane and that is perpendicular to a second plane, the second plane being generally perpendicular to the first plane and the longitudinal axis being generally in, or parallel to, the second plane.

7. The low-version reader of claim 6, wherein the first and second light sources are further positioned such that the center axis of each of the light beams is in a plane (a) in, or parallel to, which the first longitudinal axis is generally and (b) that generally has an angle less than 90 degree relative to the second plane.

8. The low-version reader of claim 7, wherein the center axes of the light beams intersect at a point on the working surface.

9. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a first temple arm that supports the first light source, the first temple arm defines a second longitudinal axis and a side plane that is generally parallel to a side face of the first temple arm;

wherein the first light source is positioned such that the center axis of the light beam projected by the first light source is generally in a plane that is perpendicular to a top plane and that has an angle less than 90°

relative to the side plane, the top plane being generally parallel to the second longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the side plane.

10. The low-version reader of claim 9, wherein the first light source is positioned such that the center axis of the light beam projected by the first light source is in a plane that is perpendicular to the side plane and that has an angle less than 90°

relative to the top plane.

11. The low-version reader of claim 1, wherein the frame includes:

a first temple arm; and

a first connecting bracket adapted to be fixed with a first lens, wherein the first connecting bracket is connected with the first temple arm through a first hinge;

wherein the first switch selectively allows and disallows electrical communication between the first light source and the first battery in accordance with positions of the first temple arm relative to the first connecting bracket.

12. The low-version reader of claim 11, further comprising:

a first magnet;

wherein the first switch is a first reed switch, the first temple arm rotates about the first hinge between first and second positions;

wherein the first reed switch and the first magnet each are located in a respective different one of the first connecting bracket and the first temple arm such that the first magnet turns on the first reed switch when the first temple arm is at the first position, and does not turn on the first reed switch when the first temple arm is at the second position.

13. The low-version reader of claim 12, further comprising:

a second temple arm; and

a second connecting bracket adapted to be fixed with a second lens, wherein the second connecting bracket is connected with the second temple arm through a second hinge;

a second magnet;

a second reed switch;

wherein the second temple arm rotates about the second hinge between third and fourth positions relative to the second connecting bracket;

wherein the second reed switch and the second magnet each are located in a respective different one of the second connecting bracket and the second temple arm such that the second magnet turns on the second reed switch when the second temple arm is at the third position, and does not turn on the second reed switch when the second temple arm is at the fourth position.

14. The low-version reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a first integrated circuit board embedded in the first frame, a battery management circuit mounted on the first integrated circuit board and configured to sense a voltage of the first battery and to, in response to a sensed voltage that is above a first threshold, disallow charging the first battery, as well as to, in response to a sensed voltage that is below a second threshold, disallow discharging the battery.

15. The low-version reader of claim 1, further comprising a first integrated circuit board, wherein the first integrated circuit board defines a plane that is substantially parallel to a major side face of the first temple arm;

wherein the first battery further comprises first and second cells that are adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of the first temple arm and that are mounted on the first integrated circuit board.

16. The low-version reader of claim 1, further comprising a first charger receptacle in electrical communication through a charge path with the first battery, wherein the first battery is a rechargeable battery and the charge path allows charging the first battery when a power charger is coupled with the first charger receptacle.

17. The low-version reader of claim 16, further comprising a charger having a first charger plug adapted to be coupled with the first charger receptacle.

18. The low-version reader of claim 1, further comprising an oculus lens that has an induced prism in a range between about 4 PD and about 22 PD with a lens power that is greater than about +4.00 diopters and less than about +20.00 diopters such that in use, the oculus lens focuses at a distance that is greater than about 5 cm and less than about 25 cm.

19. The low-version reader of claim 18, wherein the oculus lens is an oculus dexter lens or an oculus sinister lens.

20. An electronics assembly, comprising:

a first light source;

at least one first battery that is rechargeable and in electrical communication through a first discharge path with the first light source, wherein the first discharge path allows the first battery to energize the first light source;

a first charger receptacle in electrical communication through a first charge path with the first battery, wherein the first charge path allows charging the first battery when a power charger is coupled with the first charger receptacle; and

a first power-supply module that regulates power provided by the first battery to energize the first light source.

21. The electronics assembly of claim 20, wherein the first power-supply module is in electrical communication with the first battery and the first light source and is configured to regulate the current provided to the first light source to be within a predetermined range.

22. The electronics assembly of claim 20, wherein the power-supply module regulates a current applied to the first light source.

23. The electronics assembly of claim 20, wherein the power-supply module regulates a voltage applied to the first light source.

24. The electronics assembly of claim 20, wherein the power-supply module is a constant current driver coupled with the first light source and configured such that generally a constant current is applied to the first light source.

25. The electronics assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

a first control module that is configured to

receive a first voltage from the first battery,

in response to the first voltage that is above a first threshold, disallow charging the first battery,

in response to the first voltage that is not below a second threshold and not above the first threshold, allow charging the first battery, and

in response to the first voltage that is below the second threshold, disallow energizing the first light source by the first battery.

26. The electronics assembly of claim 25, wherein the first control module is further configured to:

disconnect the first charge path when disallowing charging the first battery, and

connect the first charge path when allowing charging the first battery.

27. The electronics assembly of claim 26, further comprising a first charge switch module located in the first charge path, wherein the first control module is further configured to output signals to the first charge switch module to selectively connect and disconnect the first charge path.

28. The electronics assembly of claim 27, wherein the first control module is further configured to disconnect the first discharge path when disallowing energizing the light source by the first battery.

29. The electronics assembly of claim 28, further comprising a first discharge switch module located in the first discharge path, wherein the first control module is further configured to output signals to selectively connect and disconnecting the first discharge path.

30. The electronics assembly of claim 20, further comprising a first switch that is in a communication path between the first light source and the first battery and that selectively allows and disallows energizing the first light source by the first battery.

31. The electronics assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one second battery;

a second charger receptacle in electrical communication through a second charge path with the second battery, wherein the second charge path allows charging the second battery when a power charger is coupled with the second charger receptacle; and

a directional module located in an electrical communication path between the first and second charger receptacles and preventing current flow from the second charger receptacle to the first charger receptacle.

32. The electronics assembly of claim 20 configured to be used in a low-version reader that comprises an oculus lens, which has an induced prism in a range between about 4 PD and about 22 PD with a lens power that is greater than about +4.00 diopters and less than about +20.00 diopters such that in use, the oculus lens focuses at a distance that is greater than about 5 cm and less than about 25 cm.

33. The electronics assembly of claim 32, wherein the oculus lens is an oculus dexter lens or an oculus sinister lens.

34. An electrical circuitry, comprising:

an LED having an anode and a cathode;

a charger receptacle having an anode and a cathode;

at least one battery that is rechargeable, an anode of the battery being in electrical communication with the anode of the charger receptacle and the anode of the LED; and

a power-supply circuit that regulates power provided by the battery to energize the LED, the power-supply circuit having first, second, and third nodes, wherein

the first node is in electrical communication with the anode of the LED,

the second node is in electrical communication with the cathode of the LED,

the third node is in electrical communication with the cathode of the battery.

35. The electrical circuitry of claim 34, further comprising

a control circuit having at least nodes S, M, C, and D;

wherein the at least one battery includes first and second batteries connected via an intermediate node;

wherein the node S is in electrical communication with the anode of the first battery, the node M is in electrical communication with the intermediate node;

wherein the control circuit is configured to,

in response to a voltage that is applied to the node S and that is above a first threshold, output a signal at a first voltage at the node C and a signal at a second voltage at the node D,

in response to a voltage that is applied to the node S and that is below a second threshold, output a signal at the first voltage at the node D,

in response to a voltage that is applied to the node S and that is not below the second threshold and that is not above the first threshold, output a signal at the second voltage at the node C.

36. The electrical circuitry of claim 35, further comprising:

a switch circuit in the charge path and the discharge path and having charge input node, discharge input node, charge source node, and discharge source node, wherein

the charge input node is in electrical communication with the node C,

the charge source node is in electrical communication with the cathode of the charger receptacle,

the discharge input node is in electrical communication with the node D,

the discharge source node is in electrical communication with the cathode of the second battery, and

the switch circuit selectively connect and disconnect the charge and discharge paths in accordance with signals received at the charge and discharge input nodes, respectively.

37. The electrical circuitry of claim 35, wherein the control circuit further balances voltages of the first and second batteries in response to a voltage detected at the M node.

38. The electrical circuitry of claim 34, further comprising a reed switch placed in one of (a) an electrical communication path between the anode of the LED and the anode of the first battery and (b) an electrical communication path between a cathode of the LED and the cathode of the second battery.

39. The electrical circuitry of claim 34, further comprising a diode, an anode of the diode in electrical communication with the anode of the charger receptacle, a cathode of the diode in electrical communication with the anode of the first battery.

40. The electrical circuitry of claim 34 configured to be used in a low-version reader that comprises an oculus lens, which has an induced prism in a range between about 4 PD and about 22 PD with a lens power that is greater than about +4.00 diopters and less than about +20.00 diopters such that in use, the oculus lens focuses at a distance that is greater than about 5 cm and less than about 25 cm.

41. The electrical circuitry of claim 40, wherein the oculus lens is an oculus dexter lens or an oculus sinister lens.