Electro-active spectacles and associated electronics

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide electronics for controlling and synchronizing operation of electro-active lenses regardless of frame type, size or style. The controlling electronics can be contained within one or more electronic modules positioned within the frame temples and can be removable and reprogrammable and can include inductive charge regions. Conductive links between electronic modules and/or between left and right sides of the electro-active spectacles can include left and right upper and lower rim portions of the frame, the bridge, conductive layers of the electro-active lenses, the upper and lower grooves of the electro-active lenses, and/or wires embedded within any portion of the frame. Aspects of the present invention also provide chargers for recharging electro-active spectacles of any size, shape or style using adjustable inductive charging cradles to inductively charge electro-active spectacles of the present invention.

1 . Electro-active spectacles, comprising:
 a first electro-active lens;   a second electro-active lens;   a bridge connected to the first and second electro-active lenses;   a frame comprising a first temple portion adjacent to the first electro-active lens and a second temple portion adjacent to the second electro-active lens; and   a removable electronic module positioned within the first temple portion,   wherein the electronic module comprises an inductive charge area,   wherein the electronic module provides a first driver signal to activate the first electro-active lens.   
   
   
       2 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 1 , wherein the first driver signal activates the second electro-active lens. 
   
   
       3 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second lenses are activated at substantially the same time by the first driver signal. 
   
   
       4 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 1 , further comprising a second removable electronic module having an inductive charge area and positioned within the second temple portion. 
   
   
       5 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the first electronic module transmits a synchronization signal to the second electronic module. 
   
   
       6 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 5 , wherein the second electronic module provides a second driver signal to activate the second electro-activate lens based on receipt of the synchronization signal. 
   
   
       7 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second lenses are activated at substantially the same time by the first and second driver signals, respectively. 
   
   
       8 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the first electronic module is electrically coupled to the second electronic module over a single conductive link. 
   
   
       9 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is a fully-rimmed frame and the first electronic module is electrically coupled to the second module over a conductive link comprising a first upper rim portion of the frame supporting the first electro-active lens, a second upper rim portion of the frame supporting the second electro-active lens, and the bridge. 
   
   
       10 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 9 , wherein the conductive link further comprises a first lower rim portion of the frame supporting the first electro-active lens and a second lower rim portion of the frame supporting the second electro-active lens. 
   
   
       11 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is a partially-rimmed frame and the first electronic module is electrically coupled to the second module over a conductive link comprising a first upper rim portion of the frame supporting the first electro-active lens, a second upper rim portion of the frame supporting the second electro-active lens, and the bridge. 
   
   
       12 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is a rimless frame and the first electronic module is electrically coupled to the second module over a conductive link comprising a first conductive layer of the first electro-active lens and a first conductive layer of the second electro-active lens, and the bridge. 
   
   
       13 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive link further comprises a second conductive layer of the first electro-active lens and a second conductive layer of the second electro-active lens. 
   
   
       14 . The electro-active spectacles of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is a rimless frame and the first electronic module is electrically coupled to the second module over a conductive link comprising a first conductive wire positioned in a first groove of the first electro-active lens and a second conductive wire positioned in a first groove of the second electro-active lens, and the bridge. 
   
   
       15 . A charger for electro-active spectacles, comprising:
 a base member to support a front portion of the electro-active spectacles,   a first movable arm connected to the base member to support a portion of a first frame temple of the electro-active spectacles;   a second movable arm connected to the base member to support a portion of a second frame temple of the electro-active spectacles; and   a first inductive charging cradle connected to the first movable arm.   
   
   
       16 . The charger of  claim 15 , further comprising a second inductive charging cradle connected second movable arm. 
   
   
       17 . The charger of  claim 16 , further comprising a power source for charging the electro-active spectacles inductively using the first and second inductive charging cradles. 
   
   
       18 . The charger of  claim 17 , wherein the power source is rechargeable. 
   
   
       19 . The charger of  claim 16 , wherein a positioning of the first inductive charging cradle is adjustable along the first movable arm and a positioning of the second inductive charging cradle is adjustable along the second movable arm. 
   
   
       20 . The charger of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) to indicate a charging status of the electro-active spectacles. 
   
   
       21 . The charger of  claim 15 , wherein the first movable arm can be rotated to be in a locked position parallel and adjacent to the base member and the second movable arm can be rotated to be in a locked position parallel and adjacent to the base member. 
   
   
       22 . The charger of  claim 21 , further comprising one of a button and a knob to release both the first and second movable arms from their locked positions. 
   
   
       23 . Electro-active spectacle frames, comprising:
 a first temple;   a second temple;   a frame front attached to the first temple and the second temple, the frame front comprising a first rim to house a first electro-active lens and a second rim to house a second electro-active lens;   an electronic module positioned within the first temple; and   a conductive link embedded within the frame front coupled to the electronic module,   wherein the electronic module comprises an inductive charge area.   
   
   
       24 . Electro-active spectacle frames, comprising:
 a first temple;   a second temple;   a frame front attached to the first temple and the second temple, the frame front comprising a first rim to house a first electro-active lens and a second rim to house a second electro-active lens;   an electronic module positioned within the first temple; and   a conductive link embedded within the frame front coupled to the electronic module,   wherein the electronic module comprises a capacitive switch for toggling between operational modes of the first and second electro-active lenses.   
   
   
       25 . A method for controlling electro-active spectacles, comprising:
 receiving a first input;   transitioning the electro-active spectacles from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation based on receipt of the first input;   receiving a second input; and   transitioning the electro-active spectacles from the second mode of operation to a third mode of operation based on receipt of the second input.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving a third input; and   transitioning the electro-active spectacles from the third mode of operation to the first mode of operation based on receipt of the third input.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first mode of operation is a standby mode of operation, the second mode of operation is an active mode of operation, and the third mode of operation is an inactive or off mode of operation. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user touching a capacitive switch. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user touching a button switch. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user speaking a voice command or instruction. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user opening a frame of the electro-active spectacles. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user closing a frame of the electro-active spectacles. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user positioning the electro-active spectacles upside down. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of receiving the first input, receiving the second input, and receiving the third input comprises a user positioning the electro-active spectacles right-side up.