Patent ID: 12251003

The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

OVERVIEW

One aspect of the disclosure provides a carry case for an electronics-enabled eyewear device, the case having at least one charging contact that is movable relative to a storage cavity or chamber in which the eyewear device is receivable, the charging contact being connected to a battery carried by the case for charging the eyewear device via contact coupling of the charging contact to a corresponding contact formation on an exterior of the eyewear device.

Contact coupling, contact charging, and associated terms related to contact engagement between two components mean engagement between the components in which electricity transfer occurs via surfaces in contact with one another, without a formation of one of the components being received in a complementary formation in the other component. Thus, contact coupling is to be distinguished from male/female or spigot/socket couplings.

Both the charging contact of the case and the contact formation of the eyewear device can be of a metal material. In some embodiments, a magnetic element may be provided on at least one of the charging contact and the contact formation, to facilitate contact engagement by magnetic action. In some embodiments, each charging contact comprises a magnet with an electrically conductive outer surface, for example provided by a metal plating or coating.

One aspect of the disclosure thus provides a case for an electronics-enabled eyewear device (e.g., smart glasses), the case comprising:a body that defines a storage chamber for holding the eyewear device;a power arrangement (e.g., a battery) configured to provide electrical power for charging an onboard battery of the eyewear device while the eyewear device is held in the storage chamber;a flexible wall (e.g., a wall of flexible sheet material) that forms part of the case body and that at least partially defines the storage chamber; anda charging contact mounted on the flexible wall for engagement with a complementary contact formation on the eyewear device, the charging contact being conductively connected to the power arrangement to enable charging of the eyewear device via the charging contact.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides for a kit comprising an eyewear device and a complementary case such as that described above. Yet a further aspect of the disclosure provides for an eyewear device configured for recharging of an onboard battery via contact coupling with an external power source via contact formations exposed on an exterior of the eyewear device. In some embodiments, the eyewear device comprises:a body comprising a frame configured to hold one or more optical elements (e.g., lenses), and a pair of temples connected to the frame to be hingedly movable between a wearable mode and a collapsed mode;on-board electronics housed by the body and including a rechargeable onboard battery;charging circuitry connected to the onboard battery to enable charging of the onboard battery responsive to coupling of the charging circuitry to an external power source; andone or more contact formations conductively connected to the charging circuitry for coupling the charging circuitry to an external power source by contact engagement with one or more corresponding charging contacts, each contact formation being exposed on an exterior of the body when the pair of temples are in the collapsed mode.

In some embodiments, the contact formations of the eyewear device are inaccessible from the exterior of the device when the eyewear device is in the collapsed mode, being exposed for contact coupling when the eyewear device is disposed to the collapsed mode. In one such embodiment, the contact formations are provided by a pair of hinge assemblies providing articulated coupling of the respective temples to the frame.

In some embodiments, the case comprises a pair of charging contacts mounted on respective flexible walls at opposite extremities of the storage chamber. The charging contact in some embodiments comprises a metal tab or detail piece located on a flexible end wall that abuts or is proximate to a corresponding lateral extremity of the eyewear device when it is placed in the storage chamber.

In some embodiments, the power arrangement comprises a battery housed by the case body, the charging contacts being connected to the power arrangement such as to have opposite polarities during charging of the eyewear device. The battery is in some embodiments connected by respective conductive paths to the charging contacts such as to form an interrupted charging circuit that is closable by insertion of the eyewear device in the storage chamber. When thus inserted in the storage chamber in a charging configuration, each charging contact of the case is coupled with a respective contact formation (e.g., the respective hinges) on the eyewear device at opposite lateral ends thereof.

Instead, or in addition, the power arrangement in some embodiments comprises a charging port housed by the body for connection to an external power source. In some such embodiments, the charging port is conductively coupled to the charging contact to enable charging of the onboard battery of the eyewear device by the external power source. In some such embodiments, the case has no battery and charging is exclusively by means of external power. In other embodiments, however, the charging port is conductively coupled to the battery of the case such as to enable charging of the battery by the external power source via the charging port.

As mentioned, the contact formations of the eyewear device are in some embodiments provided by a pair of hinge assemblies connecting respective temples of the eyewear device to a frame thereof, each charging contact being positioned such as to be in register with a corresponding one of the pair of hinge assemblies when the eyewear device is stored in the storage chamber in the collapsed mode.

In some embodiments, the case body comprises a pair of the opposed rigid sidewalls, with a pair of flexible walls extending transversely between the sidewalls at opposite ends of the body. The flexible walls thus define end walls closing off opposite ends of the storage chamber, each of the flexible end walls having mounted thereon a respective charging contact. In some embodiments, the flexible end walls are of a conductive fabric material, each flexible end wall defining at least part of an electrically conductive path connecting the respective charging contacts with the power arrangement.

In some embodiment, each charging contact includes a magnetic element positioned for magnetic attachment to the contact formation of the eyewear device. As mentioned, the charging contacts are in some embodiments of composite construction, comprising a core magnet with an electrically conductive metal coating or plating layer providing an outer surface of the charging contact. Any suitable metal coating or plating may be applied. Instead, or in addition, each of the contact formations of the eyewear device may include a magnetic element to facilitate contact engagement through magnetic attractive action. In some embodiments, each contact formation of the eyewear device may comprise a magnet having a metallic plating or coating. In such embodiments, the target component of the magnetic element (i.e., the contact formations of the eyewear device in cases where the charging contacts are magnetic, or vice versa) may be of a ferromagnetic material. In other embodiments, both the charging contacts of the case and the contact formations of the eyewear device may comprise magnetic elements with electrically conductive contact surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes devices, systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products that embody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Various aspects of the disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to a specific example embodiment in the form of a smart glasses kit300(FIG.3) that includes an eyewear device100(FIG.1) and a complementary case200(FIG.2) configured to enable charging of the eyewear device100, when received in the case, by contact engagement of a pair of charging contacts on respective flexible walls forming part of the case.

FIG.1shows a front perspective view of an eyewear device in the form of a pair of smart glasses100that is shaped and configured for reception in the complementary case200(FIG.2) such as to enable charging of onboard electronics forming part of the glasses100. The glasses100include a body103comprising a front piece or frame106and a pair of temples109connected to the frame106for supporting the frame106in position on a user's face when the glasses100are worn. The frame106can be made from any suitable material such as plastics or metal, including any suitable shape memory alloy.

The glasses100of a pair of optical elements in the form of a pair of lenses112held by corresponding optical element holders in the form of a pair of rims115forming part of the frame106. The rims115are connected by a bridge118. In other embodiments, of one or both of the optical elements can be a display, a display assembly, or a lens and display combination, for example to provide an augmented reality display device.

The frame106includes a pair of end pieces121defining lateral end portions of the frame106. In this example, a variety of electronics components are housed in one or both of the end pieces121, as discussed in more detail below. In some embodiments, the frame106is formed of a single piece of material, so as to have a unitary or monolithic construction. In some embodiments, the whole of the body103(including both the frame106and the temples109) can be of the unitary or monolithic construction.

The temples109are coupled to the respective end pieces121. In this example, the temples109are coupled to the frame106by respective hinges so as to be hingedly movable between a wearable mode (as shown inFIG.1) and a collapsed mode in which the temples109are pivoted towards the frame106to lie substantially flat against it (see, for example,FIGS.3and4). In other embodiments, the temples109can be coupled to the frame106by any suitable means, provided that the glasses100in the collapsed mode provides one or more charging formations on its exterior for contact engagement with respective charging contacts on the case200, as will be described below. Each of the temples109has a front portion of that is coupled to the frame106and has a rear portion for coupling to the ear of the user, such as the curved ends or ear piece illustrated in the example embodiment ofFIG.1.

The glasses100has onboard electronics124including a computing device, such as a computer, which can in different embodiments be of any suitable type so as to be carried by the body103. In some embodiments, various components comprising the onboard electronics124are at least partially housed in one or both of the temples109. In the present embodiment, various components of the onboard electronics124are housed in the lateral end pieces121of the frame106. The onboard electronics124includes one or more processors with memory, wireless communication circuitry, and a power source (this example embodiment being a rechargeable battery, e.g. a lithium-ion battery). The onboard electronics124comprises low-power, high-speed circuitry, and, in some embodiments, a display processor. Various embodiments may include these elements in different configurations or integrated together in different ways.

As mentioned, the onboard electronics124includes a rechargeable battery. In some embodiments, the battery is disposed in one of the temples109. In this example embodiment, however, the battery is housed in one of the end pieces121, being electrically coupled to the remainder of the onboard electronics124. The battery is further conductively connected to metal hinge pieces at both end pieces121, to enable charging of the battery via the hinges. As will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS.3and4, hinge assemblies providing respective articulated connections between the temples109and the end pieces121are shaped and positioned such that when the glasses are in the collapsed mode (FIG.3), at least one metal element of each hinge assembly is exposed on the exterior of the glasses100for contact connection to cooperating charging contacts202.

The glasses100is camera-enabled, in this example comprising a camera130mounted in one of the end pieces121and facing forwards so as to be aligned more or less with the direction of view of a wearer of the glasses100. The camera130is configured to capture digital photographic content as well as digital video content. Operation of the camera130is controlled by a camera controller provided by the onboard electronics124, image data representative of images or video captured by the camera130being temporarily stored on a memory forming part of the onboard electronics124. In some embodiments, the glasses100can have a pair of cameras130, e.g. housed by the respective end pieces121.

The glasses100further include one or more input and output devices permitting communication with and control of the camera130. In particular, the glasses100include one or more input mechanisms for enabling user control of one or more functions of the glasses100. In this embodiment, the input mechanism comprises a button115mounted on the frame106so as to be accessible on top of one of the end pieces121for pressing by the user.

Turning now toFIG.2, therein is shown a portable container in the form of a carry case200for holding and charging the smart glasses100, according to an example embodiment. The case200has a body that defines a containing cavity in form of a storage chamber203shaped to receive and hold the glasses100in the collapsed mode (FIGS.3and4). In this example embodiment, the chamber203is shaped such that the smart glasses100is receivable in the chamber203in either of two orientations in which an upper surface of the frame106is directed outwards from a mouth of chamber203(one of these orientations being shown inFIGS.3and4).

The chamber203is in this example defined by two rigid sidewalls in the form of a generally rectangular front wall206and a corresponding rear wall209that is opposed to and transversely spaced from the front wall206. Flexible end walls212extend transversely between the front wall206the rear wall209at opposite end edges thereof. In the condition shown inFIG.2, the chamber203has an open mouth through which the smart glasses100can be inserted, after which a fold-over lid219can be moved to a closed position to enclose the glasses100in the case200.

Note that, because the end walls212or flaps are flexible, the case200is a flexible container in that (by contraction or expansion of the end walls212) the size of the chamber203is variable to at least some degree even when the case200is closed. In this example, the flexible end walls212are provided by a fabric material, but in other embodiments, the end walls212can be made of leather, flexible polymeric plastics sheet material, or any other suitable webbing material.

To enable hinged movement of the front wall206and the rear wall209relative to a common bottom edge at which they are connected, each end wall212has a preformed fold215that defines a line at which the respective end wall212folds inwards towards the chamber203responsive to movement of the front wall206and the rear wall209towards one another.

Each end wall212has mounted thereon a charging contact202in the form of a metal piece fastened to the flexible sheet material of the end wall212in a central position at a top edge of the end wall212, coinciding with the preformed fold215. The charging contact202thus correspond in position and physical function (e.g., facilitating folding of the flexible end wall212) to analogous metal details often provided on similar end flaps on flexible cases for holding conventional non-smart glasses.

The contacts202in this example embodiment, however, perform the additional function of establishing a charging coupling with the glasses100when the glasses100are received in the chamber203. To this end, each charging contact202is conductively connected to a power arrangement in the form of a portable battery606(FIG.6).

In this example embodiment, the battery606is housed by the rear wall209of the case200such that no part of the battery606is exposed to the exterior of the case200. The battery606is conductively coupled to both of the charging contacts202such that they have opposite polarities, as shown schematically inFIG.6. In this example embodiment, each charging contact202is connected to the battery606by a respective conductive path that is formed at least in part by the fabric material of the corresponding end wall212. To this end, each end wall212is in this example embodiment constructed from metalized conductive fabric material commercially available from Laird PLC. The remainder of each conductive path is formed by a flexible conductive cabling connected between the battery606and the respective end wall212and hidden below an outer leather covering layer of the case200.

In this example embodiment, each charging contact202is of composite construction, comprising a magnetic element for causing magnetic connection of the charging contact202to a metallic contact surface exposed on the exterior of the glasses100when they are in the collapsed mode (e.g.,FIGS.3and4), the charging contact202having an electrically conductive outer layer provided by a conductive metal coating deposited on the core magnetic element. In other embodiments, the charging contacts202may be of a ferromagnetic material (or may include a ferromagnetic element), while a magnetic element may be provided in association with the contact surface of the glasses100(e.g., an exposed portion of the hinge assemblies309are shown inFIG.3). In one such example embodiment, a metal-plated magnet may be provided on the exterior of the glasses100to provide a contact formation for magnetically facilitated contact charging connection with respective charging contacts202. As shown inFIG.5, each charging contact202has an exposed metal contact surface on the inner surface of the end wall212, facing towards the chamber203.

Turning now toFIG.3, therein is shown the kit100in a charging configuration, in which the glasses100are received and held in the storage chamber203, with both charging contacts202being engaged with the glasses100to be in electrically conductive connection with the onboard electronics124in general and, in particular, with the onboard battery of the glasses100. As can be seen inFIG.3, the charging contact surfaces of the glasses100are in this example embodiment provided by hinge assemblies309providing articulated connections between the respective temples109and their corresponding end pieces121on the frame106of the glasses100.

In particular, the hinge assemblies309are shaped and positioned such that when the glasses100are in the collapsed mode, knuckles or loops313of the hinge assemblies309are exposed to the exterior of the glasses100and are located at the lateral extremities of the frame106(see, e.g.,FIG.4) for direct contact engagement access by the respective charging contacts202. The contact formations of the glasses100are thus in this example embodiment provided by the hinge loops313of the glasses' hinge assemblies309. The hinge loops313are moreover conductively connected to the onboard battery of the glasses100, to enable recharging of the onboard battery via the contact connection at hinge assemblies309(see, in this regard,FIG.6).

Moreover, as can most readily seen inFIG.3, the charging contacts202on the end walls212of the case200are positioned such as to be more or less in register with the hinge assemblies309of the glasses100, when the glasses100are located in the chamber203in an upright orientation in which an upper edge of the frame106is outermost. Note that the hinge assembly309is located more or less centrally in the width dimension of the chamber203(see, e.g.,FIG.4), so that the charging contact202would be in register with the hinge assembly309even if the orientation of the glasses100were reversed such that the frame106abuts against the rear wall209instead of against the front wall206(while maintaining the upright orientation ofFIG.3). As a result, insertion of the glasses100in the chamber203in either upright orientation results in virtually automatic contact engagement of the charging contacts202with the respective hinge assemblies309, facilitated by magnetic interaction between them.

Certain aspects of a charging mechanism incorporated in the case200are shown inFIG.6, which illustrates a highly simplified circuit diagram of the kit100during charging of the glasses100. As discussed previously, the battery606of the case200is conductively coupled to both of the charging contacts202. In this example embodiment, the battery606, charging contact202, and the conductive paths between them together form an interrupted charging circuit that can be completed by the glasses100via contact engagement of the respective hinge assemblies309with the corresponding charging contacts202.

As shown schematically inFIG.6in broken lines, the onboard electronics124of the smart glasses100includes charging circuitry connecting both of the hinge assemblies309to the onboard battery629of the smart glasses100. This internal charging circuitry is configured to cause charging of the onboard battery629when a voltage difference with the illustrated polarity is applied over the hinge assemblies309.

As shown schematically inFIG.6, the case battery606is connected to a charging port619incorporated in the case200. The charging port619is in this example embodiment accessible via the exterior of the case200, being located below the bottom edge of the case. The case200thus includes a charging circuit option for the case battery606, in this example embodiment by connection to the mains power via a charging cable625removably connectable to the charging port619. In some embodiments, the charging circuit of the case200is configured such that connection to mains power via the charging port619while the glasses100are connected to the charging circuit (such as inFIG.6) results in charging of the onboard battery of the glasses100by mains power.

In use, the case200can be used for the dual purposes of storing the glasses100protectively and of charging the onboard battery of the glasses100while it is being stored. When the glasses100are to be stored in the case200, the user simply folds the temples109on to the frame106, and then inserts the glasses100into the storage chamber203in either of the possible upright orientations. When thus inserted, the charging contacts202are each in register with and closely spaced from the corresponding exposed hinge assemblies309of the glasses100, by virtue of the physical configuration of the case200and the locations of the charging contacts202thereon.

In many instances, each charging contact202then automatically closes the gap between itself and the corresponding metal hinge assembly309and makes contact engagement therewith through attractive magnetic action of the magnetic element forming part of the charging contact202. In instances where such automatic contact attachment does not occur, the user can really establish a charging connection by gently nudging or biasing the respective end wall212inwards until the corresponding charging contact202snaps into contact with the metal hinge loops313of the registering hinge assembly309. Such ease of docking the glasses100in the case200, and the relatively larger margins for error in establishing the contact connections, is achieved in part by location of the charging contacts202on flexible walls, so that the charging contact202effectively provides a floating contact relative to a rigid base provided by the body of the case200.

When the glasses100are thus located in the case200in a charging configuration in which both charging contacts202are conductively coupled to the respective hinge assemblies309, the onboard battery629of the glasses100is automatically recharged by the battery606of the case200(or, if the case200is connected to mains power by a charging cable625, the glasses battery629is recharged by mains power).

Benefits of the disclosed techniques and mechanisms include that contact coupling between the case200and the smart glasses100avoids limitations on location freedom associated with conventional contact pin charging methods. Thus, charging of the smart glasses100can be achieved simply by dropping the smart glasses100into the case200in either of the upright orientations discussed above.

Note that an eyewear device can be placed into the storage chamber203of the case such as that described with reference to drawing in four different orientations. In this example embodiment, two of these orientations provide for necessary alignment of the charging contact202with the protruding charging geometries of the smart glasses100(e.g., in the described example embodiments, the hinge assemblies309), being those orientations in which an operatively upper surface of the smart glasses100is outermost. In some embodiments, the geometry of the storage chamber203may be such as to allow for proper reception of the smart glasses100in only in those orientations in which the charging contact202and the hinge assemblies309(or, in other embodiments, an analogous contact formation) are in register.

A further benefit of the example case200is that the charging contact202on the end walls212correspond to analogous metal details on existing carry cases for non-smart glasses, so that the charging facilities provided by the case200are nonintrusive and aesthetically pleasing.

Note that, in some embodiments, the charging contacts202can additionally provide the charging interface for connecting the battery606(FIG.6) of the case200to external power. In such cases, the charging cable625is configured for contact engagement with the charging contacts202. Instead or in addition, an additional metal contact pad can in some embodiments be provided on the exterior of the case200for contact coupling with the charging cable625to charge the case battery606.

LANGUAGE

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

Although an overview of the disclosed matter has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single disclosure or inventive concept if more than one is, in fact, disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources, operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate resources in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as represented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.