Battery assembly for a wearable electronic device

• US 9,971,171 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2017
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Application Number:
  US15/672,028
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351 41, 351153, 16228
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/008 Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/238 Flexibility or foldability
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. According to one embodiment, a temple assembly forming part of the smart glasses is disclosed. The assembly can include a temple mechanical connection, a battery carrier, a battery, and a temple body. The temple mechanical connection is configured to form an articulated joint at a first longitudinal end portion thereof with a frame of the wearable electronic glasses. The battery carrier is rigidly attached to the temple mechanical connection at a second longitudinal end portion thereof. The battery is mounted on the battery carrier. The temple body comprises a plastics material, and is configured to house the battery and battery carrier and interface with the second longitudinal end portion of the temple mechanical connection. The battery and battery carrier are generally longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal extent of the temple body, and are configured to form at least part of a structural framework for the temple body.

Claims

1. A method of forming a wearable device comprising:

mounting a battery on a rigid battery carrier to form a battery assembly;

forming a first component of the device by housing the battery assembly in a body of a plastics material that is relatively lower in rigidity than a material of battery carrier, so that the battery assembly is configured to form at least part of a structural framework of the first component; and

connecting together the first component to a second component at an articulated joint, the battery assembly being secured to the articulated joint by a rigid mechanical connection formed at least, in part within a body of the first device component, the second component being configured to carry onboard electronics to be powered by the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first component comprises:

machining a base to form a cavity therein;

inserting the battery assembly into the cavity; and

machining a cover separate from the base and configured to thermally mate therewith.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the first component further includes thermally bonding the cover to the base to enclose the battery and the battery carrier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein forming the first component further includes polishing the second portion to remove a seam between the base and the cover.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing the battery in the battery carrier by affixing the battery to the battery carrier with an adhesive.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising plating the battery carrier to provide for electrical insulation of the battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises smart glasses and the first component comprises a temple and the second component comprises a frame.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first component comprises molding to form the first component portion around the battery carrier and the battery to enclose the battery and battery carrier therein.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an electrically conductive connection between the battery and a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to the onboard electronics across the articulated joint between the first component and the second component.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly and the rigid mechanical connection comprises a weld between the battery carrier to the hinge assembly.

11. A temple assembly forming part of wearable electronic glasses, the assembly comprising:

a temple mechanical connection configured to form an articulated joint at a first longitudinal end portion thereof with a frame of the wearable electronic glasses;

a battery carrier rigidly attached to the temple mechanical connection at a second longitudinal end portion thereof;

a battery mounted on the battery carrier; and

a temple body comprising a plastics material, the temple body configured to house the battery and battery carrier and interface with the second longitudinal end portion of the temple mechanical connection, wherein the battery and battery carrier are generally longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal extent of the temple body and are configured to form at least part of a structural framework for the temple body.

12. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the frame is configured to carry onboard electronics components powered by the battery.

13. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the temple body is configured with at least a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to the onboard electronics components across the articulated joint between the temple body and the frame.

14. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the battery and the battery carrier are imbedded and totally encased within the temple body.

15. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the temple body comprises at least one of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic material, cellulosic acetate, an eco-plastics material, or a thermoplastics material that is less rigid than a material of the battery carrier.

16. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the temple mechanical connection comprises a hinge assembly that is welded to the battery carrier.

17. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements,

a temple body connected to the frame at an articulated joint such that the temple body is disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view;

one or more onboard electronics components carried by the frame and the temple body; and

a battery assembly at least partially housed within the temple body, the battery assembly including a battery mounted on a battery carrier, the battery assembly configured to form at least part of a structural framework for the temple body and being rigidly attached to a portion of the articulated joint.

18. The wearable device of claim 17, wherein the temple body is configured with at least a first electronic connector that is configured to electrically connect the battery to onboard electronics components carried by the frame across the articulated joint between the temple body and the frame.

19. The wearable device of claim 17, wherein the articulated joint comprises a hinge assembly that is welded to the battery carrier.

20. The wearable device of claim 17, wherein the temple body comprises at least one of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic material, cellulosic acetate, an eco-plastics material, or a thermoplastics material that is less rigid than a material of the battery carrier, and wherein the battery assembly is generally longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal extent of the temple body.