Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`SPECTACLES
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`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`[0001]
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`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application no. 13/175,633, filed July
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`1, 2011, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application no.
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`61/361,110, filed on July 2, 2010; U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/376,719, filed on
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`August 25, 2010; and U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/415,391, filed on November 19,
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`2010, the entire disclosure of each these applicationsis incorporated herein by referenceforall
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`purposes.
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0002]
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`In today’s world, spectacle eyeglass frames are very fashionable. While the trend for
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`the eyeglass lenses is to make them thinner,lighter, and less visible, at the same time, it is the
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`eyeglass frame that makes the fashion statement for the eyeglass wearer.
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`[0003] Concurrent with these trends is another concerning including electronics into spectacle
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`eyewear. Thetrend ofutilizing electronics in eyewear appearsto be accelerating and the
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`applications being developed by others are expanding. Asthese trends continue, it is becoming
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`important to find ways to incorporate electronics into eyewear without harmingthe aesthetics
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`and functionality of the eyewear. Some of the challenges may beto not limit the fashion design
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`of the eyeglass frame or limit the materials which the eyeglass frame can be madeof, maintain as
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`few completed eyeglass frames or eyeglass frame components (frame fronts, bridges, temples)
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`stock keeping units (SKUs)as possible, allow for robust placementof the electronics, and in a
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`way that can be manufactured so that it remains affordable, and aesthetically desirable.
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`BRIEF SUMMARY
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`[0004]
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`Embodiments provided herein may provide an electro-active frame that comprises a
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`spring mechanism and a conductive path from a temple of the frame to the lens housing ofthe
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`frame.
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`[0005] A first device is provided that comprises a frame. The frame further comprises a lens
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`housing adapted to support a first lens and a secondlens, a first temple movably coupled to the
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`lens housing, and a second temple movably coupled to the lens housing. Thefirst device further
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`comprises a first spring mechanism coupledto the first temple and the lens housing. A first
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`conductive path is provided from the first temple to the lens housing for at least one position of
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`the first temple relative to the frame.
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`[0006]
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`In some embodiments, the first device as described above further comprises an
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`electronic componentcoupled to the frame. In some embodiments, the conductive path is
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`electrically connected to the electronic componentfor at least one position ofthe first temple
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`relative to the frame.
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`[0007]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above,the first conductive path is
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`provided by the first spring mechanism. In some embodiments,the first spring mechanism
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`comprises a spring that provides the first conductive path.
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`[0008]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above, the first spring mechanism
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`comprises a spring andafirst conductor. The first conductive path may be provided bythe first
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`conductor. In some embodiments, the spring is disposed substantially around the first conductor.
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`In some embodiments, the spring is coupled to the first conductor. In some embodiments, the
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`spring is disposed along a side ofthe first conductor.
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`[0009]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above,the first conductive path
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`further comprises pogo pins. The pogo pins maybe disposed within the first temple. In some
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`embodiments, the first device further comprises a second spring mechanism. The secondspring
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`mechanism maypress the pogo pins againstelectrical contacts on the lens housing for a plurality
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`of positions of the first temple.
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`[0010]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above, the first spring mechanism
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`may include a spring hinge. In some embodiments,in the first device as described above, an
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`electronics module is further provided. The electronics module may be coupledto the first
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`temple andthe first conductive path may beelectrically connected to the electronics module.
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`[0011]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above,the first device comprises
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`full rimmed, semi-rimless, or rimless spectacle frames.
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`[0012]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above,the first conductive path
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`conducts electricity from the first temple to the lens housing whenthefirst templeis inafirst
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`position. The first conductive path does not conductelectricity from the first temple to the lens
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`2
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`

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`housing whenthe first temple is in a second position. In some embodiments, the lens housing
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`comprisesafirst electrical contact, and the first spring mechanism formsan electrical connection
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`with thefirst electrical contact in the first position. In some embodiments, the first spring
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`mechanism does not form an electrical connection with thefirst electrical contact in the second
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`position. In some embodiments,the first spring mechanism is coupledto the first lens, the lens
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`includesa first electrical contact, and the first spring mechanism formsan electrical connection
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`with the first electrical contact when the frameis in the first position. In some embodiments, the
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`first spring mechanism does not form an electrical connection with thefirst electrical contact
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`whenthe frameis in the secondposition. In some embodiments,the first device comprises
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`rimless spectacle frames.
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`[0013]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above, the first spring mechanism
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`is housed within the first temple member. In some embodiments, in the first device as described
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`above,the first spring mechanism is in electrical contact with the electronics module. In some
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`embodiments, the first spring mechanismis in direct electrical contact with the electronics
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`module. In some embodiments, where the first conductive path conducts electricity from the first
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`temple to the lens housing whenthe first temple is in a first position and the first conductive path
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`does not conductelectricity from the first temple to the lens housing whenthefirst temple is in a
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`second position, the first spring mechanism maintains electrical contact with the electronics
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`module in both the first position and the second position.
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`[0014]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as describe above,the first spring mechanism
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`is in a first condition whenthefirst temple is in the first position and a second condition when
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`the first temple is in the second position. In some embodiments, in the first device as described
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`above, the first spring mechanism hasa first length whenthe first templeis in a first position and
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`a second length whenthe first temple is in a secondposition. Thefirst length and the second
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`length may be different.
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`[0015]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above wherethe first conductive
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`path conducts electricity from the first temple to the lens housing whenthefirst temple is in a
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`first position, and the first conductive path does not conduct electricity from the first temple to
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`the lens housing whenthe first temple is in a second position,the first position is an open
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`position. The first position may comprise the first temple and the lens housing being positioned
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`suchthat there is an angle between them of between 60 degrees and 100 degrees. In some
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`embodiments, the angle between the temple and the lens housingin thefirst position is between
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`80 degrees and 90 degrees.
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`[0016]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above wherethe first conductive
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`path conducts electricity from the first temple to the lens housing whenthefirst temple is in a
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`first position, and the first conductive path does not conduct electricity from the first temple to
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`the lens housing whenthe first temple is in a second position, the second position is a closed
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`position. In some embodiments, the second position comprisesthe first temple and the lens
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`housing being positioned such that there is an angle between them of between 0 degrees and 60
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`degrees. In some embodiments, the second position comprisesthefirst temple at an angle
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`between 0 degrees and 45 degrees with the lens housing.
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`[0017]
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`Embodiments provided herein may provide an electro-active frame that comprises a
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`first and second conductive path provided by frame elements from a frame temple to the lens
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`housing
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`[0018] A first device is provided. Thefirst device comprises a frame, where the frame further
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`comprises: a lens housing adapted to support a first lens and a secondlens, a first temple coupled
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`to the lens housing, and a second temple coupled to the lens housing. The first device further
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`comprises a first conductive path provided by one or more frame elements from the first temple
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`to the lens housing and a second conductive path provided by one or more frame elements from
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`the first temple to the lens housing. The first conductive pathis electrically isolated from the
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`second conductive path.
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`[0019]
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`In some embodiments, the first device as described above further comprisesat least one
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`electrical insulator disposed betweenat least a portion of the first conductive path and the second
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`conductive path. In some embodiments, the first device further comprisesa first hinge coupled to
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`the first temple and the lens housing, and the electrical insulator is located at least within thefirst
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`hinge. In some embodiments, the electrical insulator is located at least within the first temple. In
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`some embodiments, the electrical insulator is located at least within the lens housing.
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`[0020]
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`In some embodiments, the first device as described above further comprises an
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`electronics module that is coupledto the first temple of the frame and the first and second
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`conductive pathsare electrically connected to the electronics module.
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`[0021]
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`In some embodiments, the first device as described above further comprisesa first lens
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`having a first electrical contact and a secondlens having a secondelectrical contact. The first
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`conductive path electrically connectsto the first electrical contact of the first lens and the second
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`conductive path electrically connects to the second electrical contact of the second lens. In some
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`embodiments,the first lens further includes a secondelectrical contact and the second lens
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`further includesa first electrical contact. The first conductive path mayelectrically connect to the
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`first electrical contact of the second lens and the second conductive path may electrically connect
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`to the secondelectrical contact of the first lens. In some embodiments, the lens housing
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`comprises a non-conductive material and the frame element providing the first conductive path
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`comprises a conductive material embedded in the lens housing. In some embodiments, the frame
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`element providing the second conductive path comprises a conductive material embeddedin the
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`lens housing. In some embodiments, the lens housing comprises acetate. In some embodiments,
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`the second temple or the second lens does not comprise an electronics module coupled thereto.
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`[0022]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above wherethefirst device
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`comprises a first and second lens havingfirst and secondelectrical contacts, wherethe first
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`conductive path electrically connectsto the first contact of the first and second lens, and where
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`the second conductive path electrically connects to the second contact of the first and the second
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`lens, the lens housing comprises a conductive material anda first portion of the lens housing
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`providesat least a part of the first conductive path. In some embodiments, at least a part of the
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`second conductive path is provided by a second portion of the lens housing. Thefirst portion of
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`the lens housing may beelectrically isolated from the second portion of the lens housing by at
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`least one piece ofelectrically insulating material. In some embodiments,the first device may
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`comprise semi-rimless eyeglass frames. In some embodiments, the first conductive path and the
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`second conductive path are each disposed within the lens housing of the semi-rimless spectacles.
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`In some embodiments,the electrically insulating material that electrically isolates the first
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`portion of the lens housing from the second portion of the lens housing comprises an injection
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`moldable or similarly formed plastic material. In some embodiments, the electrically insulating
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`material comprises nylon.
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`[0023]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above wherethefirst device
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`comprises a first and second lens havingfirst and secondelectrical contacts, wherethe first
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`conductive path electrically connects to the first contact of the first and second lens, where the
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`second conductive path electrically connects to the second contact of the first and the second
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`lens, where the lens housing comprises a conductive material, where a first portion of the lens
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`housing providesat least a part of the first conductive path, and whereat least a part of the
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`second conductive path is provided by a second portion of the lens housing, thefirst portion of
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`the lens housing and the secondportion of the lens housing are separated by an air gap. In some
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`embodiments, the lens housing further comprises a bridge disposed betweenthe first lens and the
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`second lens. The bridge may includethe first portion and the secondportion of the lens housing
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`and the air gap may be disposed betweenthefirst portion and the second portion ofthe lens
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`housing at the bridge. In some embodiments, the air gap has a maximum distance of
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`approximately 10 mm.
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`[0024]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above wherethefirst device
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`comprises a first and second lens havingfirst and secondelectrical contacts, wherethe first
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`conductive path electrically connectsto the first contact of the first and second lens, where the
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`second conductive path electrically connects to the second contact of the first and the second
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`lens, where the lens housing comprises a conductive material, where a first portion of the lens
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`housing providesat least a part of the first conductive path, and whereat least a part of the
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`second conductive path is provided by a second portion of the lens housing, thefirst portion of
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`the lens housing and the secondportion of the lens housing comprise metal.
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`[0025]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above, wherethefirst device
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`further comprisesat least one electrical insulator disposed betweenat least a portion ofthefirst
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`conductive path and the second conductive path, the electrical insulator includesa first
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`component and a second component. The first componentof the electrical insulator disposed
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`between the first conductive path and the second conductive path comprisesthefirst lens and the
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`second lens. In some embodiments, the second componentofthe electrical insulator disposed
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`betweenthe first conductive path and the second conductive path includesat least one of: an air
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`gap and anelectrically insulating material. In some embodiments, the second componentof the
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`electrical insulator is disposed betweenthefirst lens and the secondlens.
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`[0026]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described, the lens housing comprisesfull
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`rimmedspectacle frames.
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`[0027] A first device is further provided that comprises a frame. The frame further comprises a
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`lens housing adapted to support a first lens and a secondlens, a first temple coupled to the lens
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`housing, and a second temple coupled to the lens housing. Thefirst device further includesa first
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`conductive path provided by one or more frame elements from thefirst temple to the lens
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`housing, a second conductive path provided by one or more frame elements from thefirst temple
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`to the lens housing, a third conductive path provided by one or more frame elements from the
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`second temple to the lens housing, and a fourth conductive path provided by one or more frame
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`elements from the second temple to the lens housing. In the first device, each ofthe first, second,
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`third, and fourth conductive paths are electrically isolated from each other.
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`[0028]
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`In some embodiments, in the first device as described above,at least a portion of the
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`first conductive path is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the second conductive path
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`by an electric insulator, and at least a portion of the third conductive path is electrically isolated
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`from at least a portion of the fourth conductive path by an electric insulator. In some
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`embodiments, the first device further includesa first electronics module disposed onthefirst
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`temple and a second electronics module disposed on the second temple. In some embodiments,
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`the first device further includesa first lens havingafirst electrical contact and a secondelectrical
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`contact and a secondlens havinga first electrical contact and a secondelectrical contact. In some
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`embodiments, the first conductive path may electrically connectto the first electrical contact of
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`the first lens, the second conductive path may electrically connect to the secondelectrical contact
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`of the first lens, the third conductive path may electrically connectto thefirst electrical contact
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`of the second lens, and the fourth conductive path mayelectrically connect to the second
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`electrical contact of the second lens. In some embodiments, the first and second conductive paths
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`electrically connectto the first electronics module and the third and fourth conductive paths
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`electrically connect to the second electronics module.
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`[0029]
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`It should be understood that, after reading the disclosure provided herein, a person of
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`ordinary skill in the art may understand that various combination of the devices described above
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`may be madesuchthat someorall of the features described with regards to one device may be
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`combined with someorall of the features of another device.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0030]
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`Fig. 1 is anillustration of spectacle frames.
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`[0031]
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`Figs. 2(a) and (b) are cross sectional diagrams of devices in accordance with some
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`embodiments.
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`[0032]
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`Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of components of a portion of an exemplary device in
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`accordance with some embodiments.
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`[0033]
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`Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of components of a portion of an exemplary device in
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`accordance with some embodiments.
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`[0034]
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`Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of components of a portion of an exemplary device in
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`accordance with some embodiments.
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`[0035]
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`Fig. 6 showsa portion of an exemplary device in accordance with some embodiments.
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`[0036]
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`Fig. 7 shows components of an exemplary device in accordance with some
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`embodiments.
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`[0037]
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`Fig. 8 shows an exemplary portion of an exemplary device with components coupled
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`therein.
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`[0038]
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`Fig. 9 shows an exemplary portion of an exemplary device with components coupled
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`therein from a different angle.
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`[0039]
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`Fig. 10 showsa close-up view of an exemplary portion of an exemplary device with
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`components coupled therein.
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`[0040]
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`Fig. 11 shows an exemplary embodimentof a device in accordance with some
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`embodiments.
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`[0041]
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`Fig. 12 shows an exemplary design mask in accordance with some embodiments.
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`[0042]
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`Fig. 13 shows an exemplary temple of an electro-active spectacle frame in accordance
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`with some embodiments.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0043]
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`The following disclosure provides exemplary devices comprising electro-active
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`spectacles. Before discussing specific embodiments, somedescriptions of some specific terms
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`are provided below.
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`[0044] As used herein, a “frame” may refer to a complete wearable housing that secures both
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`spectacle lenses and aligns them in the proper place relative to the wearer’s eyes when being
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`worn. The frame may comprise elements such asa first and second temple, as well as the lens
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`housing that is configured to support the spectacle lenses.
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`[0045] As used herein, a “hinged temple” mayrefer to a side piece of a frame that connects to
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`the lens housing (or directly to the lens) by way of a hinge attachment mechanism, and further
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`providesstability by resting on the wearer’s ears when worn.
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`[0046] As used herein, a “hinge-less temple” mayrefer to a side piece of a frame that connects
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`to the lens housing (or directly to the lens) without a hinge attachment mechanism,and further
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`providesstability by resting on the wearer’s ears when worn.
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`[0047] As used herein, a “temple end piece” mayrefer to a part of the temple that is found
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`farthest away from the lens housing. The temple end piece usually begins behindthe ear of the
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`wearer and endsat the end of the temple that is located farthest away from the lens housing, but
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`this is not required.
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`[0048] As used herein, a “lens housing end piece” mayrefer to a part of the lens housing
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`farthest away from the bridge and spatial to the bridge. Each frame typically has two lens
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`housing end pieces: one on the spatial side of the right lens and one on the spatial side ofthe left
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`lens.
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`[0049] As used herein, a “bridge” mayrefer to a part of the frame that fits over/superior to the
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`wearer’s nose. The bridge is usually found between the portion of the lens housing that supports
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`the right lens and the portion of the lens housing that supports the left lens, or is between the
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`right and left lenses themselves. In some embodiments, the bridge may comprise a portion of the
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`lens housing.
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`[0050] As used herein, a “hinge” mayrefer to the part of the frame that allows for connecting
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`the lens housing and the temples in such a waythat the lens housing and the temple can open and
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`close against the lens housing onits posterior side when not being worn. In some embodiments,
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`the hinge may connect directly to the lens.
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`[0051] As used herein,“eye-wire” mayrefer to the rim that surrounds the lens of a spectacle
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`frame. Eye-wire may comprise a portion of the lens housing that holds one lens(a rightor a left)
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`in a full rimmed or semi-rimless frame. There may be two eye-wires to each lens housing.
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`Howeverin a completely rimless frame there are no eye wires.
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`[0052] As used herein, a “lens housing” mayrefer to a part of the frame that is configured or
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`adapted to support or hold the first and the second lenses in place (preferably firmly in place).
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`The lens housing may also comprise the part of the frame to which the temples attach. The lens
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`housing may comprise any componentor material adapted to support the lenses, including, for
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`example, screws, nylon monofilament, eye-wire, etc. or any combination thereof. The lens
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`housing may comprise any material, including metal or plastic. A lens housing may be included
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`in any type of frame design, including fully rimmed, semi-rimless, and rimless. In some
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`embodiments, the lens housing may also include the bridge, such as when the lens housing
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`comprising a single component or two components that support both the first and the second
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`lens.
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`[0053] As used herein, an “electronics module” may refer to a housing or container that
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`comprises a plurality of electrical components. For instance, an electronics module may
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`comprise a power source (suchas a battery), a sensing mechanism (such as a capacitance switch,
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`which mayactivate or deactivate the electronics) and/or a controller (such as a microprocessor).
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`[0054]
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`As used herein, an “electronic component” mayrefer to any electronic device,
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`including a powersource, a controller (such as a microprocessor), a sensing mechanism (such as
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`a touch switch), etc. that may be coupled to an electro-active frame.
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`[0055] As used herein, a “rimless frame” mayrefer to a frame that is designed having a lens
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`housing that does not comprise eye-wires. That is, for instance, the lens housing does not
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`comprise eye wires but may comprise, for instance, nylon monofilament wire, screws, or other
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`material to hold the lenses in place.
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`[0056] As used herein, a “semi-rimless frame” mayrefer to a frame that has a lens housing that
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`comprises partial rim (i.e. eye-wire that does not completely encapsulate or encircle the lens)
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`and/or may have a nylon monofilament wire or similar feature that secures the lenses to the
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`frame.
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`[0057] As used herein,a “full rimmed frame” or “fully rimmed” mayrefer to a frame that
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`comprises a lens housing having a complete rim that encapsulates or encircles the first and
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`secondlens(i.e. the lens housing comprises full eye-wires).
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`[0058] As used herein, a “Zyle frame” may refer to a frame that comprises mostly plastic
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`[0059] As used herein, a “metal frame” may refer to a frame that comprises mostly metal
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`[0060] As used herein, a “right spatial void” may refer to the space created where the right
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`portion of the lens housing that is within the plane of the front of the wearers face turns back to
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`meetthe right temple. The angle formed between the right portion of the lens housing and the
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`right temple is approximately (but not always) 90 degrees. This space is further defined as that
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`whichis bounded onthree sides: Ona first side by an imaginary line that is provided on the
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`inside back surface ofthe right lensorinside right portion of the lens housing, on a secondside
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`by that of an imaginary line that is located in the middle of the right temple not including any
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`electronics affixed thereto, and on a third side which is bounded bythe right side of the face
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`and/or head of the wearer.
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`[0061] As used herein, a “left spatial void” may refer to the space created wherethe left
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`portion of the lens housing framefront that is within the plane of the front of the wearers face
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`turns back to meet the left temple. The angle formed between the left portion of the lens housing
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`and the left temple is approximately 90 degrees. This spaceis further defined as that whichis
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`bounded on three sides: On a first side by an imaginary line that is provided on the inside back
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`surface of the left lens or inside left portion of the lens housing, on a secondside bythat of an
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`imaginary line that is located in the middle of the left temple not including any electronics
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`affixed thereto, and on a third side which is boundedbythe left side of the face and/or head of
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`the wearer.
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`[0062] As used herein, “coupled” may refer to any manner of connecting two components
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`together in any suitable manner, such as by way of example only: attaching (e.g. attached to a
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`surface), disposing on, disposing within, disposing substantially within, embedding within,
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`embedded substantially within ,etc.. “Coupled” may further comprise fixedly attaching two
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`components (such as by using a screw or embedding a first component into a second component
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`during a manufacturing process), but does not so require. That is, two components may be
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`coupled temporarily simply by being in physical contact with one another. Two components are
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`“electrically coupled” or “electrically connected” if current can flow from one componentto
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`another. That is, the two components do not haveto be in direct contact such that current flows
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`from the one componentdirectly to the other component. There may be any numberofother
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`conductive materials and components disposed electrically between two components
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`“electrically coupled” so long as current can flow there between.
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`[0063] As used herein, a “conductive path” refers to a continuous path for whichelectrons(i.e.
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`current) may flow from one point to another. The conductive path may comprise one component,
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`or more than one component. For instance, a conductive path may comprise portions of a lens
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`housing, a temple, a hinge, a lens, and/or conductive material disposed between someorall of
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`the components.
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`[0064] As used herein,“electro-active spectacles,”
`99 66
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`“electro-active spectacle frames,”
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`“electro-
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`active eyeglasses,”
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`“electro-active eyeglass frames,”
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`“electro-active frames,”
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`“electro-active
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`lenses” or any permutation of “electro-active” may broadly refer to any eyeglass frame or lens
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`that comprises an electronic component or components. The electrical components can be
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`coupled to any part of the electro-active frames or lenses. This may comprise, for instance, any
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`and all uses where by the eyeglass frames houses some, most, or all of the electronics and the
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`lens comprises a component or components that may be activated and or deactivated by an
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`electrical current, such as by way of example only, electronic focusing eyeglasses, electro-
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`chromic eyeglasses, electronic tinted eyeglasses, eyeglasses comprising a micro-display allowing
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`for viewing a digital image in space, eyeglasses comprising an electronic heads up display,
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`eyeglasses that comprise an antistatic element to keep the eyeglass lenses clean, electronic
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`shutter eyeglasses for viewing 3D, electronic eyeglasses that comprise an occlusion control for
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`vision training; electronic eyeglasses for myopia control, eyeglasses that comprise a component
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`of a telescope or the complete telescope, eyeglasses that comprise a microscope, eyeglasses that
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`comprise a camera, eyeglasses that comprise a directional microphone, eyeglasses that comprise
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`a rangefinder, eyeglasses that comprise an imageintensifier, eyeglasses that comprise a night
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`vision enhancement feature, occupation eyeglasses, gaming eyeglasses. Additional functionality
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`and electrical components that may comprise portions of electro-active spectacles are discussed
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`in more detail below.
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`[0065] As used herein, referenceto a “first” or a “second” doesnot limit the referenced
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`componentto a particular location unless expressly stated. For instance, reference to a “first
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`temple” may comprise the temple located on either the left side or the right side of a wearer’s
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`head.
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`[0066] Electro-Active Frames Comprising a Spring Mechanism
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`[0067]
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`Some embodimentsof electro-active spectacle frames provided herein may include a
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`spring mechanism. The spring mechanism may, for instance, be disposed on the frame of the
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`Attorney Docket No.: 3373.0510004
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`spectacles (such as on the temple, embedded within the temple, coupled to the temple and the
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`lens housing, etc.) and may provide a force that causes the temple memberto apply pressure in a
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`direction substantially perpendicular to, and in the direction of, a wearer’s head. In this manner,
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`the spectacle frames mayfit tightly on a person’s head, regardless of the size or shape. This may
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`provide for a more comfortable fit and reduce the risk that the eyeglasses could become
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`dislodgedor accidentally fall off of the wearer’s head. Moreover, the use of a spring mechanism
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`for an electro-active frame may provide the additional benefit of conserving power when the
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`frames are not in use by severing an electrical connection between electronics located on the lens
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`housing (or in the lens) and a powersource located on the temple. Thatis, for instance, the
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`spring mechanism may, by moving the temple of the frame away from the lens housing, separate
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`two conductors such that current cannot flow from the temple to the lens housing (or any other
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`separation).
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`[0068]
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`The use of springs(e.g. spring hinges) for non-electro-active lenses is well known in
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`the art. Examples of such spring hinges are provided in the following references, which are
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`hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties:
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`USS. Pat. No.: 6,336,250 to Takedaentitled “Spring hinge for Eyeglasses.”
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`USS. Pat. No. 5,760,869 to Mitamuraentitled “Eyeglasses Frame with Spring Hinges.”
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`U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,107 to Wagneret al. entitled “Spring Hinge for Eyewear”
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`USS. Pat. No. 4,991,258 to Drlik entitled “Eyeglass Spring Hinges.”
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`[0069]
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`To date, there has not been a similar approach used for electro-active eyeglasses. In
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`addition to some of the benefits provided by a spring mechanism (including those noted above,
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`suchasa tighter fit and the ability to conserve power by disconnecting components), there are
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`additional considerations that the inventors have identified related to the use of such devices in
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`electro-active frames. For instance, electro-active eyeglass frames may require that an electrical
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`path be provided from a temple to the lens housing, whichis not utilized on traditional (i.e. non-
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`electro-active frames) frames. However, the use of spring dev