Custom eyewear manufacturing system

According to some embodiments, a method for manufacturing custom eyewear is disclosed. The method includes receiving, via a processor, a selection of (i) an eyewear front design and (ii) an eyewear bridge design from a user. A plurality of facial measurements is also received from the user. Eyewear specifications are determined, via the processor, based on the received eyewear front design, the eyewear bridge design, and the plurality of facial measurements. The eyewear specifications are converted into a file associated with computer-aided manufacturing and the file is transmitted, via the processor, to a manufacturing and assembly system for creating custom eyewear based on the file.

BACKGROUND

Buying eyewear is often a confusing process as there are a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes of eyewear and for the consumer, it can take a great length of time to find eyewear that both fits your style and fits your face. Often, consumers must compromise to find a size and style they can live with. Therefore, a system that provides more options regarding size and style of eyewear to a consumer would be desirable.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments described herein relate to a system and method for manufacturing custom eyewear. The method and system include receiving, via a processor, a selection of (i) an eyewear front design and (ii) an eyewear bridge design from a user. A plurality of facial measurements is also received from the user. Eyewear specifications are determined, via the processor, based on the received eyewear front design, the eyewear bridge design, and the plurality of facial measurements. The eyewear specifications are converted into a file associated with computer-aided manufacturing and the file is transmitted, via the processor, to a manufacturing and assembly system for creating custom eyewear based on the file.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments.

Now referring toFIG.1, a method100that might be performed by a custom eyewear manufacturing system is illustrated. The method described herein does not imply a fixed order to the steps, and embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in any order that is practicable. Note that any of the methods described herein may be performed by hardware, software, or any combination of these approaches. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in performance according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Method100may relate to a method of creating custom eyewear for a user (e.g., a customer or consumer) where the eyewear is designed by the user and then automatically manufactured. Now referring to102, a selection of (i) an eyewear front design and (ii) an eyewear bridge design may be received from a user. The eyewear front design may comprise a front shape of the eyewear. For example, the front design may be, but is not limited to, a variety of shapes such as, but not limited to, round, square, rectangle, or oval shaped eyewear as known in the art. The eyewear front design may also comprise a variety of designs, colors, or other decorative features. The selection of an eyewear bridge design may comprise a selection of portion of eyewear that sits over the user's nose. The bridge design may vary in thickness, height, width (e.g., for a fat or skinny nose), an angle of the opening, as well a curved, straight, or angled surface that contacts the user's nose.

The selection of the (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design may be made from a digital catalog of eyewear front designs and bridge designs where the user selects predefined (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design that are stored in a database. Based on the selection, specifications of the selected eyewear may be retrieved from the database. In some embodiments, the user may simply enter in ornamental features associated with the (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design and an eyewear selection may be retrieved from the database. The ornamental features may include shapes, ratios of height to length, color, thickness, etc. In some embodiments, the (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design may be selected from an online catalog comprising unique identifiers associated with each (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design. The user may then simply enter in that unique identifier and the specifications associated with the (i) eyewear front design and (ii) eyewear bridge design may be retrieved from the database. In some embodiments, temple designs may also be selected from the online catalog.

In some embodiments, a user may have access to physical samples of eyewear fronts, bridges, and temples so that the user can physically try on a variety of eyewear fronts, bridges, and temples. In some embodiments, a user may be able to combine various eyewear fronts, bridges and temples using temporary flexible connectors (e.g., plastic or rubber) to build a desired eyewear design. This allows a great deal of flexibility and options for a user in creating eyewear. Each front design, bridge and temple may be marked with a unique identifier corresponding to a respective design file stored in the database (e.g., a CAD file) that would be sent to a manufacturing and assembly system for production. Thus, in use, a user may simply try on a variety of eyewear fronts, bridges and temples and then enter the unique identifiers into the user device to have their custom eyewear built. The information for each of the selected eyewear front, bridge and temple may be stored in a file (e.g., DXF file) and sent to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software that can import the file to begin production of the selected eyewear front, bridge, and temple. The manufactured eyewear front, bridge and temple may then be assembled.

For purposes of illustrating features of the present embodiments, an example will now be introduced and referenced throughout the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this example is illustrative and is not limiting and is provided purely for explanatory purposes. Turning now toFIG.2an example of a custom eyewear manufacturing system200is illustrated. The system200may comprise a user device202for a user to enter information about desired custom eyewear. The user device202may comprise a computer or laptop or other network capable device. The user device202may reside remotely from other elements of the system200so that kiosks or other stores may access a same custom eyewear manufacturing system200. The user device202may transmit the information about a custom eyewear selection to a controller204.

Referring back toFIG.1, a plurality of facial measurements associated with the user may be received. The facial measurements may comprise, but is not limited to, a distance between pupils, a desired frame width for the user's face, a bridge size (e.g., width), an ear position, and temple length to ear curve. These measurements may be manually entered by the user or may be received electronically from a wearable measuring device.

Referring back toFIG.2, the user may manually enter a plurality of facial measurements into user device202. In some embodiments, the user may wear an eyewear measuring device208(i.e., a model eyewear device) that comprises movable portions (e.g., moveable arms to determine temple length, movable front portion to determine frame width and an adjustable bridge to determine bridge size) to properly fit the eyewear to the user's face. In some embodiments, the movable portions may be able to lock in place so that the user may be able to read the measurements from the movable portions and enter those measurements manually into the user device202. However, in some embodiments, the eyewear measuring device208may comprise sensors that transmit facial measures to the user device208once the user indicates that the eyewear fits properly (e.g., selects “enter”). Once the user device202receives the information from the eyewear measuring device, or manually entered from the user, the information may be transmitted to the controller204.

Referring back toFIG.1, eyewear specifications based on the received eyewear front design, the eyewear bridge design, and the plurality of facial measurements may be determined at106. The determining may be made by a processor which then combines all of the received data into a storage structure such as, but not limited to a database, file, stack or array. The eyewear specifications stored in the storage structure may then be converted into a file associated with computer-aided manufacturing at108. For example, the information may be formatted in a Drawing Exchange Format or Drawing Interchange Format file (e.g., DXF file). This file, may be transmitted, via the controller/processor, to a manufacturing and assembly system for creating custom eyewear based on the file at110. In some embodiments the user device202and the controller204may comprise a same physical device using a same processor.

Referring toFIG.2, a manufacturing and assembly system206may import/receive the file transmitted from the controller204. The manufacturing and assembly system206may comprise a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine or a digital printer. In some embodiments, the manufacturing and assembly system206may run/execute Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software that can import a DXF file.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented using any number of different hardware configurations or lens manufacturing machines. For example,FIG.3illustrates a controller300associated with a custom eyewear manufacturing system that may be, for example, associated with the method100ofFIG.1. The controller300of the custom eyewear manufacturing system may provide a technical and commercial advantage by being able to create more options for users as well as increase the speed of manufacturing.

The controller300may comprise a processor310(“processor”), such as one or more commercially available Central Processing Units (CPUs) in the form of one-chip microprocessors, coupled to a communication device320configured to communicate via a communication network (not shown inFIG.3). The communication device320may be used to communicate, for example, with one or more machines on a network. The controller300further includes an input device340(e.g., a mouse and/or keyboard to enter information associated with custom eyewear) and an output device330(e.g., to output and display various eyewear designs to a user).

The processor310also communicates with a memory325and storage device350that stores data313. The storage device350may comprise any appropriate information storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard disk drive), optical storage devices, mobile telephones, and/or semiconductor memory devices. The storage device350may store a program312for controlling the processor310. The processor310performs instructions of the program312and thereby operates in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. For example, the processor310may receive information associated with custom eyewear, display the eyewear on a screen (and in some embodiments over an image of the user) and may determine parameters to manufacture the customer eyewear via the instructions of the program312.

The program312may be stored in a compiled, compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format or a combination. The program312may furthermore include other program elements, such as an operating system, a database management system, and/or device drivers used by the processor310to interface with peripheral devices.

Now referring toFIG.4, an embodiment of a wearable eyewear measuring device400is disclosed. The wearable eyewear measuring device400comprises a plurality of moveable and adjustable parts so that a user can try on the wearable eyewear measuring device400and adjust it to fit the user's face. Once a proper fit is obtained, the wearable eyewear measuring device400can indicate to the user the desired measurements by the user reading one or more scale/rulers on the wearable eyewear measuring device400associated with the various required measurements or by having the wearable eyewear measuring device400transmit the measurements either wirelessly or via a wire to a user device.

In the present embodiment, the wearable eyewear measuring device400comprises a plurality of sliders402that move various parts of the wearable eyewear measuring device400. Once the parts of the wearable eyewear measuring device400are in a desired position for the user, the user may lock each of the plurality of sliders402so that each of the plurality of sliders402are fixed in place. Each of the plurality of sliders402may comprise a sensor that reports a position of the slider402and, once locked, each of the plurality of sliders402may transmit its associated position to a user device such as user device202ofFIG.2. In some embodiments, the wearable eyewear measuring device400comprises scales/rulers such that the user can visually read a measurement once a slider402is locked in place. As illustrated inFIG.4, the sliders402may adjust a width of the eyewear. In particular, the sliders402may adjust a right side and a left side of the eyewear, independently, to achieve a desired width. As illustrated, a bridge410may also be adjusted via variable side pieces414to adjust and/or capture a desired width of the bridge. A desired length of a temple404may be adjusted via slider406. The temple will move back and forth and can also be moved using temple rod412which in some embodiments, may also be coupled to a bridge side piece414for proper alignment of the bridge and temple. A second temple rod408may be used to adjust a second temple of the custom eyewear.

It should be noted that any of the methods described herein can include an additional step of providing a system comprising distinct software modules embodied on a computer readable storage medium; the modules can include, for example, any or all of the elements depicted in the block diagrams and/or described herein. The method steps can then be carried out using the distinct software modules and/or sub-modules of the system, as described above, executing on one or more hardware processors. Further, a computer program product can include a computer-readable storage medium with code adapted to be implemented to carry out one or more method steps described herein, including the provision of the system with the distinct software modules.

This written description uses examples to disclose multiple embodiments, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

Those in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the above-described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the claims may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.