Wearable electronic device with articulated joint

• US 9,746,692 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Streets, Nicholas, Lin, Jun, Steger, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US15/086,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20170248799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 351153, 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

Apparatuses, systems for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. The wearable device can comprise a frame, an elongate temple and an articulated joint. The frame can define one or more optical element holders configured to hold respective optical elements for viewing by a user in a viewing direction. The temple can be moveably connected to the frame for holding the frame in position when the device is worn by the user. The articulated joint can connect the temple and the frame to permit movement of the temple relative to the frame between a wearable position in which the temple is generally aligned with the viewing direction, and a collapsed position in which the temple extends generally transversely to the viewing direction. The articulated joint can include a base foot fixed to the frame and oriented transversely to the viewing direction.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

a frame defining one or more optical element holders configured to hold respective optical elements for viewing by a user in a viewing direction;

an elongate temple moveably connected to the frame for holding the frame in position when the device is worn by the user;

an articulated joint connecting the temple and the frame to permit movement of the temple relative to the frame between a wearable position in which the temple is generally aligned with the viewing direction, and a collapsed position in which the temple extends generally transversely to the viewing direction, the articulated joint including a base foot fixed to the frame and oriented transversely to the viewing direction, wherein the base foot is configured to be embedded into the housing and is configured to have the housing extend into and around at least a portion of the base foot; and

onboard electronic components housed by at least one of the temple and the frame;

wherein the onboard electronic components are housed in the frame in a first end portion located at a lateral end of the frame, the first end portion projecting rearward relative to the one or more optical element holders and comprising a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive the onboard electronic components therein.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the base foot of the articulated joint comprises a rear end face of the housing and comprises the rear end face that interfaces with the temple.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly, the base foot forming part of a cap hinge which additionally extends rearward from the housing and is configured to couple with a hinge component of the temple.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the base foot is configured to form substantially an entirety of a rear end face of the housing.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the base foot is configured to be flush with a surface of the housing and has a longitudinal thickness substantially similar to a longitudinal thickness of the housing.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal thickness of the base foot is between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm.

7. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the base foot has a width and a height that are each are up to 10 times larger than the longitudinal thickness.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the base foot includes one or more features that are configured to facilitate a connection and a load transfer between the housing and the base foot.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly including the base foot that forms both a portion of the frame and a part of the hinge assembly.

10. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the base foot is additionally a portion of a housing of the frame that is integrated into the housing, the base foot is abutted along one or more internal surfaces disposed within the frame in a conductive heat exchange relationship by one or more heat sinks internal to the frame.

11. A wearable device comprising:

a frame defining one or more optical element holders configured to hold respective optical elements for viewing by a user in a viewing direction;

an elongate temple moveably connected to the frame for holding the frame in position when the device is worn by the user;

an articulated joint connecting the temple and the frame to permit movement of the temple relative to the frame between a wearable position in which the temple is generally aligned with the viewing direction, and a collapsed position in which the temple extends generally transversely to the viewing direction, the articulated joint including a base foot fixed to the frame and oriented transversely to the viewing direction, wherein the base foot includes one or more features that are configured to facilitate a connection and a load transfer between the housing and the base foot, and wherein the one or more features include an aperture configured to receive a part of the housing therein; and

onboard electronic components housed by at least one of the temple and the frame;

wherein the onboard electronic components are housed in the frame in a first end portion located at a lateral end of the frame, the first end portion projecting rearward relative to the one or more optical element holders and comprising a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive the onboard electronic components therein.

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

a frame defining one or more optical element holders configured to hold respective optical elements for viewing by a user in a viewing direction;

an elongate temple moveably connected to the frame for holding the frame in position when the device is worn by the user;

onboard electronic components housed in the frame in a first end portion located at a lateral end of the frame, the first end portion projecting rearward relative to the one or more optical element holders and comprising a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive the onboard electronic components therein; and

a hinge assembly connecting the temple to the frame, the hinge assembly having a base foot that forms substantially an entirety of a rear end face of the housing that interfaces with the temple, wherein the base foot is configured to be flush with a surface of the housing and is configured to be embedded into the housing.

13. The smart glasses of claim 12, wherein the base foot is configured to facilitate a connection and load transfer between the housing and the base foot.