Wearable device with heat transfer pathway

• US 9,740,023 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashwood, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US15/084,683
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351 62, 351111, 351158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20445 the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff

Abstract

A wearable device is disclosed according to one embodiment. The wearable device can include an eyewear body, onboard electronic components, a thermal coupling and a heat transfer device. The eyewear body can be configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements mounted on the eyewear body within a field of view of the user. The onboard electronic components can be carried by the eyewear body at a first portion of the eyewear body and can comprise a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof. The thermal coupling can be thermally coupled to the heat transfer device at a second portion of the eyewear body. The elongate heat transfer device can be disposed within the eyewear body and can be thermally coupled to the heat source and the thermal coupling. The heat transfer device can extend lengthwise between the heat source and the thermal coupling to transfer heat from the heat source to the thermal coupling.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

an eyewear body configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements mounted on the eyewear body within a field of view of the user;

onboard electronic components carried by the eyewear body at a first portion of the eyewear body and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof;

a thermal coupling disposed at a second portion of the eyewear body; and

an elongate heat transfer device disposed within the eyewear body and thermally coupled to the heat source and the thermal coupling and extending lengthwise between the heat source and the thermal coupling to transfer heat from the heat source to the thermal coupling;

wherein the heat transfer device comprises a core wire configured to form part of a structural framework for at least part of the eyewear body.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the eyewear body comprises:

a frame configured to hold the one or more optical elements, the heat transfer device is located within the frame and extends laterally along the frame in a direction transverse to an operative viewing direction of the one or more optical elements, the heat transfer device being located adjacent opposite ends of different of the one or more optical elements; and

an elongate temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint.

3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the heat source is housed in a first lateral end portion of the frame, and the thermal coupling is housed in a second lateral end portion on a side of the frame opposite to the first lateral end portion.

4. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the heat source is located within the frame, the wearable device further comprising a second thermal coupling comprising at least one heat sink for the heat source extending between the heat source and a core wire of the temple across the articulated joint between the temple and the frame.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the second thermal coupling comprises one or more portions of the articulated joint, and wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including a cap hinge that comprises a portion of the thermal coupling, the cap hinge forms a portion of the frame and the hinge assembly.

6. The wearable device of claim 2, further comprising:

a second temple connected to the second lateral portion of the frame at a second articulated joint;

a core wire located within the second temple; and

the thermal coupling thermally coupled to the heat transfer device at the second lateral portion of the frame, the thermal coupling additionally thermally coupled to the core wire across the second articulated joint between the second temple and the frame.

7. A wearable device comprising:

an eyewear body configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements mounted on the eyewear body within a field of view of the user;

onboard electronic components carried by the eyewear body at a first portion of the eyewear body and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof;

a thermal coupling disposed at a second portion of the eyewear body; and

an elongate heat transfer device disposed within the eyewear body and thermally coupled to the heat source and the thermal coupling and extending lengthwise between the heat source and the thermal coupling to transfer heat from the heat source to the thermal coupling;

wherein the heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe having a wick extending along at least a portion of a lateral length thereof, the heat pipe configured to carry a working fluid that is evaporated to a vapor at a first lateral end portion thereof by the heat from the heat source and direct the vapor to a second lateral end portion thereof where the vapor condenses back to the working fluid and is absorbed by the wick.

8. A pair of smart glasses, the smart glasses comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements, the frame having a first lateral portion disposed to a first side of the one or more optical elements and an opposing second lateral portion disposed to a second side of the one or more optical elements;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame within the first lateral portion and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; and

a heat transfer device carried by the frame and extending laterally along the frame from the first lateral portion of the frame to the second lateral portion of the frame, the heat transfer device thermally coupled to the heat source at the first lateral portion and configured to transfer the heat from the heat source to the second lateral portion of the frame;

an elongated temple having a core wire that forms a portion thereof, the temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint between the temple and the frame; and

a thermal coupling carried by the frame and arranged to generally interface a portion of the temple, the thermal coupling configured to conduct the heat away from the heat source across the articulated joint to the core wire within the temple.

9. The smart glasses of claim 8, wherein articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including a cap hinge that comprises a portion of the thermal coupling, the cap hinge forms a portion of the frame and the hinge assembly.

10. The smart glasses of claim 8, wherein the second lateral portion is configured to house the thermal coupling, and wherein the heat transfer device is thermally coupled to the thermal coupling at the second lateral portion.

11. The smart glasses of claim 10, wherein the thermal coupling comprises one or more of a heat sink, a core wire, and a heat pipe.

12. The smart glasses of claim 8, further comprising:

a second temple connected to the second lateral portion of the frame at a second articulated joint;

a core wire located within the second temple; and

a second thermal coupling thermally coupled to the heat transfer device at the second lateral portion of the frame, the second thermal coupling additionally thermally coupled to the core wire across the second articulated joint between the second temple and the frame.

13. A pair of smart glasses, the smart glasses comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements, the frame having a first lateral portion disposed to a first side of the one or more optical elements and an opposing second lateral portion disposed to a second side of the one or more optical elements;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame within the first lateral portion and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; and

a thermal coupling carried by the frame within the second lateral portion; and

a heat transfer device carried by the frame and extending laterally along the frame from the first lateral portion of the frame to the second lateral portion of the frame, the heat transfer device thermally coupled to the heat source at the first lateral portion and thermally coupled to the thermal coupling at the second lateral portion, the heat transfer device configured to transfer the heat from the heat source to the thermal coupling;

an elongated temple having a core wire that forms a portion thereof, the temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint between the temple and the frame; and

a second thermal coupling carried by the frame and arranged to generally interface a portion of the temple, the second thermal coupling configured to conduct at least a portion of the heat away from the heat source across the articulated joint to the core wire within the temple.

14. The smart glasses of claim 13, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe having a wick extending along at least a portion of a lateral length thereof, the heat pipe configured to carry a working fluid that is evaporated to a vapor at a first lateral portion thereof by the heat from the heat source and direct the vapor to a second lateral portion thereof where the vapor condenses back to the working fluid and is absorbed by the wick.