Electrochromic eyewear
First Claim
1. Electrochromic eyewear comprising:
- an eyewear frame;
an electrochromic lens mounted in said frame, said lens being capable of switching its visible light transmissivity in response to switching control logic;
one or more switches mounted in said frame, the actuation of at least one of said switches affecting switching of said lens via said switching control logic; and
a power supply contained within said frame, said power supply including a controller, a first battery for supplying standby current to said controller, a second battery for supplying switching current through said connected switch to said lens, with said controller including a switch-mode power converter capable of charging said second battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power and control system for micro-electronics is described, as for lightweight, battery-powered electrochromic (EC) eyewear. Preferably such system includes a primary, lithium-type cell and a secondary, sealed lead acid-type cell in a hybrid, power-sharing configuration capable of supplying the low-energy, high-current (pulse) drain requirements of microelectronics, e.g. a switchable EC lens. A switch-mode power supply controller manages the power-sharing load on the hybrid battery system such that the secondary cell is charged by the primary cell. The system is capable of meeting short-term pulse drain requirements of switching EC lenses from clear to fully darkened at an acceptably fast rate and long-term operating life requirements of approximately 1500 cycles. The invented lead acid-type battery preferably is elongate, of uniform, right-rectangular cross section and provides over 20 mA-hours'"'"' capacity and the invented lithium-type battery preferably also is elongate, of uniform, right-rectangular cross section and provides over 180 mA-hours'"'"' capacity, all in a tiny volume compatible with one or more volume-restricted spaces. Preferably, the lithium-type and lead acid-type batteries are of approximately equal form factor and volume, for symmetric placement thereof in a void within either temple. The temples are hingedly connected with the eyewear'"'"'s front piece via a unique leaf spring that biases the former into one of two orientations relative to the latter. Dual like-cell battery configurations also are disclosed, along with a flexible circuit defining one or more frame-mounted transmissivity switches. A microcontroller is described that fits within a tiny void formed in the eyewear'"'"'s bridge. Finally an external, battery-powered battery charger case and circuit are described for use with EC eyewear powered by dual lead acid batteries.
57 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Electrochromic eyewear comprising:
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an eyewear frame; an electrochromic lens mounted in said frame, said lens being capable of switching its visible light transmissivity in response to switching control logic; one or more switches mounted in said frame, the actuation of at least one of said switches affecting switching of said lens via said switching control logic; and a power supply contained within said frame, said power supply including a controller, a first battery for supplying standby current to said controller, a second battery for supplying switching current through said connected switch to said lens, with said controller including a switch-mode power converter capable of charging said second battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pair of electrochromic eyeglasses comprising:
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a front piece including two electrochromic-lens-receiving supports and a hollow bridge connecting the supports, said supports each including a recess extending around an internal surface of the supports'"'"' periphery, each recess being configured for holding an electrochromic lens; temple members connected to either side of said front piece by a corresponding hinge, each temple member including an elongate chamber for enclosing a battery; and a flex circuit assembly fitted substantially within said front piece, said circuit assembly including a proximal active-component circuit region for driving the electrochromic lenses, the circuit assembly including plural-conductor regions extending from said active-component circuit region in generally opposite directions for routing through said support recesses, through said hinges and at least partway into said chambers for electrical connection of batteries contained therein with the active-component circuit region of said flex circuit assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification