Power unit assembly for use with a liquid crystal eyewear device

• US 8,231,995 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alphamicron Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alphamicron Incorporated
• Inventors: Park, Eui-Yeul, Miller, Roy, Kosa, Tamas, Taheri, Bahman
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/487,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20090256978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/100, 320/112, 320/114, 349/13, 349/14
• US Class Current: 429/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/023 with variable transmission, e.g. photochromic for welding A61F9/067
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/026 Paddings; Cushions; Fittings to the face
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13 based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells

Abstract

A goggle includes a lens assembly which comprises a front lens, a rear lens spaced apart from the front lens, and a liquid crystal device disposed on one of the lenses. The goggle includes a frame, which defines an aperture and a peripheral channel. The peripheral channel receives the front lens and the rear lens is positioned rearward of the channel so that the aperture receives the lens assembly. A power unit includes a battery and a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is connected to a pair of prongs that are electrically connectable to the liquid crystal device for operation thereof. The power unit provides a master switch connected to the battery to control application of power to the drive circuit, and a state change switch to control application of power from the drive circuit, through the prongs, to the liquid crystal device.

Claims

1. A power unit assembly that supplies power to a flexible liquid crystal eyewear device, comprising:

a power unit and a retainer, said power unit comprising;

a housing;

a battery carried by said housing;

a drive circuit carried by said housing and connected to said battery;

at least two electrical leads extending from said housing and connected to said drive circuit, wherein said electrical leads are connectable to a flexible electrode layer of said flexible liquid crystal eyewear device; and

a state change switch carried by said housing and adapted to control application of power from said at least two electrical leads to the flexible liquid crystal eyewear device;

wherein said power unit and said retainer are attachable to said flexible liquid crystal eyewear device so as to connect and to maintain electrical connectivity between said electrical leads and said flexible electrode layer, and

wherein said power unit assembly is detachable from said flexible liquid crystal eyewear device.

2. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a master switch connected to said battery to control application of power to said drive circuit.

3. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a master switch carried by said housing;

a processor carried by said housing;

a resistor/capacitor network carried by said housing and connected between said master switch and said battery to generate an operational frequency;

said state change switch connected to said processor, wherein actuation of said state change switch applies power to actuate the flexible liquid crystal eyewear device.

4. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least two electrical leads are spring-loaded.

5. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing has two insulated prongs extending from said housing in a parallel arrangement and each said electrical lead is spring-loaded and projects from a same respective side of each said prong.

6. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible liquid crystal eyewear device is attached to a lens that is carried in a frame, and wherein said lens is adapted to float within said frame while maintaining its electrical connection to said power unit.

7. The power unit assembly according to claim 6, wherein said power unit assembly is detachably connected to said frame.

8. The power unit assembly according to claim 6,

wherein said housing has at least one prong extending from said housing, wherein said at least one prong is receivable within a notch that is within said retainer, said notch adapted to receive and secure the at least one prong so that when assembled, said retainer secures the power unit to said frame.

9. The power unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible liquid crystal eyewear device is attached to a ski goggle lens.

10. A power unit assembly that supplies power to a liquid crystal ski goggle, comprising:

a power unit and a retainer, said power unit comprising;

a housing;

a battery carried by said housing;

a drive circuit carried by said housing and connected to said battery;

at least two electrical leads extending from said housing and connected to said drive circuit wherein said electrical leads are connectable to a flexible electrode layer of said liquid crystal ski goggle; and

a state change switch carried by said housing and adapted to control application of power from said power unit to said liquid crystal ski goggle,

wherein said power unit assembly is attachable to said liquid crystal ski goggle so as to connect and maintain electrical connectivity between said electrical leads and said flexible electrode layer of said liquid crystal ski goggle during flexion of said liquid crystal ski goggle, and

wherein said power unit assembly is detachable from said liquid crystal ski goggle.

11. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein said housing has a master switch connected to said battery to control application of power to said drive circuit.

12. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a master switch carried by said housing,

a processor carried by said housing;

a resistor/capacitor network carried by said housing and connected between said master switch and said battery to generate an operational frequency;

said state change switch connected to said processor, wherein actuation of said state change switch applies power to actuate said liquid crystal ski goggle.

13. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least two electrical leads are spring-loaded.

14. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein said housing has two insulated prongs extending from said housing in a parallel arrangement and each said electrical lead is spring-loaded and projects from a same respective side of each said prong.

15. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein said liquid crystal ski goggle comprises a frame and a lens which carries a liquid crystal device and wherein said lens is adapted to float within said frame while the liquid crystal device maintains its electrical connection to said power unit.

16. The power unit assembly according to claim 15, wherein said power unit is detachably connected to said frame.

17. The power unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein said liquid crystal ski goggle comprises a frame, and

wherein said housing has at least one prong extending from said housing, wherein said at least one prong is receivable within a notch that is within said retainer, said notch adapted to receive and secure the at least one prong so that when assembled, said retainer secures said power unit to said frame.

18. A power unit assembly that supplies power to a flexible goggle having a frame and a flexible liquid crystal device, said power unit assembly comprising:

a power unit comprising a housing carrying a battery, a drive circuit, at least two electrical leads connected to said drive circuit; and

a state change switch adapted to control application of power to said flexible liquid crystal device; and

a power unit retainer;

wherein said power unit is configured to be secured to the frame when assembled with said power unit retainer and wherein said assembled power unit and power unit retainer secure an electrical connection to said flexible liquid crystal device.

19. The power unit assembly according to claim 18, wherein said power unit when assembled with said power unit retainer securely retains electrical connectivity with said flexible liquid crystal device within said frame while allowing the flexible liquid crystal device to float within said frame.

20. The power unit assembly according to claim 18, wherein said power unit housing comprises at least one prong and wherein said power unit retainer comprises a notch adapted to receive and secure said at least one prong.

21. The power unit assembly according to claim 18, wherein said power unit comprises one or more prongs and said power unit retainer comprises a notched wall having notches that receive said one or more prongs, wherein said notched wall is received between said one or more prongs so as to maintain an electrical connection to said flexible liquid crystal device while allowing flexing thereof.