Electric connection configuration for electro-optical device

• US 5,980,037 A
• Filed: 02/04/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luxottica Leasing S.P.A. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Luxottica Leasing S.P.A. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Conway, Simon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US09/018,551
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/41, 351/49, 351/44, 351/45, 351/46
• US Class Current: 351/49
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F

Abstract

An electric connection configuration for an electro-optical device comprises a brow bar member which houses the electronics of the device, and a pair of flexible conductor tabs which attach to the electronics in the housing and extend therefrom to form electrodes for connection to the lenses. When the brow bar is attached to the frame, the conductor tabs hang over the frame and extend within the space formed by the eye openings of the frame. As the lenses are fitted into a respective eye opening, the flexible conductor tabs are folded back such that they become sandwiched between the edge of the lens and the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible conductor tabs each form a positive electrode, and a pair of screws, which also serve to attach the brow bar to the frame, each form a negative electrode for attachment to a respective lens.

Claims

1. An electric connection configuration for an electro-optical device having a frame formed at least in part by first and second eyewires, said eyewires adapted to secure a pair of lenses therein, said configuration comprising:

a) a brow bar member forming a housing wherein electronics for operating said electro-optical device are contained;

b) first and second, flexible connector tabs attached to said brow bar and electrically connected at first ends thereof to said electronics held within said housing, said first and second connector tabs extending from said brow bar, over said frame and folded back and secured between a respective said eyewire and lens, said first and second connector tabs each forming at least one electrode connection between said electronics in said housing and a respective said lens.

2. The electric connection configuration of claim 1, and further comprising a pair of screws which secure said brow bar member to said frame and establish a second electrode connection between said electronics in said housing and a respective said lens.

3. The electric connection configuration of claim 2 wherein each said flexible connector tabs forms a positive electrode and each said screw forms a negative electrode for a respective said lens.

4. The electric connection configuration of claim 1, and further comprising third and fourth flexible connector tabs attached to said brow bar and spaced from said first and second connector tabs, respectively, said third and fourth connector tabs electrically connected to said electronics in said housing and extending from said brow bar, over said frame and folded back and secured between a respective said eyewire and lens, said third and fourth connector tabs each forming a second electrode connection between said electronics in said housing and a respective said lens.

5. The electric connection configuration of claim 4 wherein said first and third flexible conductor tabs form the positive and negative electrode for one of said lenses, and said second and fourth flexible conductor tab form the positive and negative electrode for the other of said lenses, respectively.

6. The electric connection configuration of claim 4 wherein said frame includes a bridge area and said brow bar member includes a U-shaped portion which fits over and conceals said bridge area of said frame.

7. The electric connection configuration of claim 1, wherein said brow bar member includes a solar panel power source electrically connected to said electronics in said housing.

8. The electric connection configuration of claim 7 wherein said housing, including said solar panel and electronics, is separable from said brow bar member, said brow bar member being elongated and having first and second, opposite ends attached to said first and second eyewires, respectively, said first and second conductor tabs forming first and second electrodes for a respective said lens, and said first and second ends of said brow bar forming third and fourth electrodes for a respective said lens.

9. The electric connection configuration of claim 8, and further comprising a back plate having first and second bosses which extend through a respective pair of holes formed in said brow bar member for attaching said housing to said brow bar member.

10. A method of electrically connecting an electro-optical device to an eyewear frame having first and second eyewires, said method comprising:

a) providing a housing in the form of a brow bar member;

b) placing the electronics in said housing;

c) electrically connecting first ends of first and second flexible conductor tabs to said electronics in said housing with said flexible conductor tabs having second ends extending from said housing;

d) attaching said brow bar member to said frame with said first and second flexible conductor tabs extending over a respective one of said first and second eyewires; and

e) inserting a pair of lenses into said first and second eyewires while folding back said first and second flexible conductor tabs such that said first and second conductor tabs become sandwiched between said the edge of a respective said lens and eyewire, said first and second flexible conductor tabs each forming at least one electrode connection to a respective said lens.

11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising the step of:

attaching said brow bar member to said frame with first and second screws, said first and second screws also forming third and fourth electrode connections, of opposite polarity than said at least one electrode connection of said flexible conductor tabs, for electric connection to a respective said lens.

12. The method of claim 10, and further comprising the steps of:

f) providing third and fourth flexible conductor tabs, each having first ends connected to said electronics in said housing with said third and fourth flexible conductor tabs having second ends extending from said housing, over said frame and extending within the space formed by said first and second eyewires, respectively; and

g) folding said third and fourth flexible conductor tabs back when inserting said lenses into said first and second eyewires, respectively, such that said third and fourth flexible conductor tabs become sandwiched between a respective said lens and eyewire, said third and fourth flexible conductor tabs forming third and fourth electrodes, of opposite polarity than said first and second flexible conductor tabs, which electrically connect to said lenses, respectively.