Heat sink configuration for wearable electronic device

• US 9,851,585 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashwood, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US15/073,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20170248801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 351111, 351 41
• 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. According to one embodiment, the wearable device can include an eyewear body, onboard electronic components, and a core wire. 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 and can comprise a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof. The core wire can be disposed within the body to form part of a structural framework for at least part of the eyewear body. The core wire can be thermally coupled to the heat source to provide a heat sink for the heat source.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

an eyewear body including a frame configured for wearing by a user to hold one or more optical elements within a field of view of the user and an elongate temple connected to the frame at an articulated joint;

onboard electronic components carried by the eyewear body and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof, wherein the heat source is located within the frame;

a core wire that is disposed within the body to form part of a structural framework for at least part of the eyewear body, the core wire being thermally coupled to the heat source to provide a heat sink for the heat source, wherein the core wire is located within the temple and extends longitudinally along the temple from a first longitudinal end portion thereof toward a second longitudinal end portion thereof; and

a thermal coupling comprising at least a second heat sink for the heat source extending between the heat source and the core wire across the articulated joint between the temple and the frame.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the thermal coupling is configured to conduct heat across the articulated joint both when the temple is in a wearable condition and when the temple is in a collapsed condition.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the thermal coupling comprises one or more portions of the articulated joint.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, 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.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the cap hinge is a portion of a casing of the frame that is integrally formed therewith and has a portion extending therefrom, the cap hinge 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.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the onboard electronic components are disposed entirely within the frame and are carried by the one or more heat sinks internal to the frame.

7. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the thermal coupling and hinge assembly further includes a temple hinge configured to be coupled to the cap hinge by a screw, the temple hinge comprising a third heat sink that is coupled to the core wire in a conductive heat exchange relationship, and wherein the thermal coupling is configured such that the heat from the onboard electronic components is conducted to the cap hinge, through the screw and temple hinge to the core wire within the temple.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second temple connected to the frame at a second articulated joint;

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

a second core wire located within the second temple, the device further comprising a second thermal coupling extending between the second heat source and the second core wire across the second articulated joint between the second temple and the frame.

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

a 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;

onboard electronic components carried by the frame and comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof; 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 onboard electronic components across the articulated joint to the core wire within the temple.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the thermal coupling is configured to conduct heat across the articulated joint both when the temple is in a wearable condition and when the temple is in a collapsed condition.

11. The wearable device of claim 9, 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.

12. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the cap hinge is a portion of a casing of the frame that is integrally formed therewith and has a portion extending therefrom, the cap hinge 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.

13. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the onboard electronic components are disposed entirely within the frame and are carried by the one or more heat sinks internal to the frame, and wherein the hinge assembly further includes a temple hinge configured to be coupled to the cap hinge by a screw, the temple hinge comprising a heat sink that is coupled to the core wire in a conductive heat exchange relationship.

14. The wearable device of claim 13, wherein the heat from the onboard electronic components is directed to the cap hinge, through the screw and temple hinge to the core wire within the temple.

15. A system including a wearable device, the system comprising:

smart glasses comprising;

a 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,

onboard electronic components carried by at least one of the frame and the temple, the onboard electronic components comprising a heat source that generates heat during electrically powered operation thereof,

a core wire disposed within at least one of the frame and the temple to form part of a structural framework for the at least one of the frame and the temple, the core wire being thermally coupled to the heat source to provide a heat sink for the heat source,

a case configured to receive the frame and the temple therein with the temple disposed in a collapsed condition, and

a thermal coupling carried by the frame and arranged to generally interface a portion of the temple, the thermal coupling configured to conduct heat across the articulated joint when the temple is in the collapsed condition and the temple and the frame are received in the case.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the case includes a connector configured to couple to with one of a charging or data port of the eyewear.

17. The system of claim 15, 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, and wherein the cap hinge is an integrally formed portion of a casing of the frame and has a portion extending therefrom, the cap hinge 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.