FIELD

The present systems and devices relate generally to systems and devices for connecting parts of a glasses frame, and particularly to systems and devices for connecting parts of a smart glasses frame.

BACKGROUND

Glasses frames may be assembled from multiple parts, such as a front frame and one or more temple arms. Smart glasses may comprise glasses that provide functionality other than or in addition to using a lens to modify light entering a user's eye. For example, smart glasses may receive, process, or communicate to the user information in different forms, such as light, sound, or touch.

In some examples, smart glasses may comprise a head-mounted display. A head-mounted display is an electronic device that is worn on a user's head and, when so worn, secures at least one electronic display within a viewable field of at least one of the user's eyes, regardless of the position or orientation of the user's head. A wearable heads-up display (WHUD), in turn, is a head-mounted display that enables the user to see displayed content but also does not prevent the user from being able to see their external environment. The “display” component of a WHUD is either transparent or at a periphery of the user's field of view so that it does not completely block the user from being able to see their external environment. Examples of WHUDs include: the Google Glass®, the Optinvent Ora®, the Epson Moverio®, and the Sony Glasstron®, just to name a few.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present systems and devices, there is provided a glasses frame comprising: a front frame having a first end piece to connect to a first temple arm and a first electrical contact physically coupled to the front frame at the first end piece. The glasses frame also comprises the first temple arm having a first end connector to connect to the first end piece. The first end connector is slideably mateable with the first end piece along a first slide path. The first end connector has a second electrical contact disposed along at least a portion of a first connection surface of the first end connector. The second electrical contact is to electrically connect with the first electrical contact when the first end connector is slideably mated with the first end piece.

The second electrical contact may comprise an elongated strip of conductive material oriented longitudinally along the first slide path.

The glasses frame may further comprise a third electrical contact physically coupled to the front frame at the first end piece, the third electrical contact electrically insulated from the first electrical contact. The first end connector may further comprise a fourth electrical contact comprising a respective elongated strip of conductive material extending along at least a respective portion of the first connection surface and oriented longitudinally along the first slide path. The fourth electrical contact may be electrically insulated from the second electrical contact. The fourth electrical contact may be to electrically connect with the third electrical contact when the first end connector is slideably mated with the first end piece. The first connection surface may define a plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the first temple arm.

The glasses frame may further comprise a bridge to extend across a nose of a wearer. The first end connector may be mateable with the first end piece by sliding the first end connector relative to the first end piece along the first slide path in a first slide direction extending away from the bridge and towards the first end piece.

The first end piece may comprise a wall extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the first end piece, the wall having a groove in an inner side of the wall. The first end connector may comprise a rib protruding from an outer side surface of the first end connector, the rib being slideably receivable in the groove to allow the first end connector to mate with the first end piece.

The first electrical contact may be physically coupled to a casing; and the first end piece may comprise a depression shaped to receive the casing to secure the first electrical contact to the front frame.

The front frame may further comprise a second end piece to connect to a second temple arm. The glasses frame may further comprise: a fifth electrical contact physically coupled to the front frame at the second end piece; and the second temple arm having a second end connector to connect to the second end piece. The second end connector may be slideably mateable with the second end piece along a second slide path. The second end connector may have a sixth electrical contact disposed along at least a respective portion of a second connection surface of the second end connector. Moreover, the sixth electrical contact may be to electrically connect with the fifth electrical contact when the second end connector is slideably mated with the second end piece.

The sixth electrical contact may comprise an elongated strip of conductive material oriented longitudinally along the second slide path.

The second connection surface may define a plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the second temple arm.

One or more of: the first end connector may be mateable with the first end piece by sliding the first end connector relative to the first end piece along the first slide path in a respective first slide direction extending away from the second end piece and towards the first end piece; and the second end connector may be mateable with the second end piece by sliding the second end connector relative to the second end piece along the second slide path in a second slide direction extending away from the first end piece and towards the second end piece.

The glasses frame may further comprise an electrical connector electrically connecting the first electrical contact to the fifth electrical contact.

The glasses frame may further comprise a portable power supply physically coupled to the second temple arm and electrically connected to the sixth electrical contact.

The portable power supply may be housed inside the second temple arm.

The glasses frame may further comprise a projector physically coupled to the first temple arm, the projector to project an image onto an optical element physically coupleable to the front frame.

The projector may be housed inside the first temple arm, and the first temple arm may comprise a projection window to allow the projector to project light outside the first temple arm.

The glasses frame may further comprise the optical element, the optical element comprising a glasses lens physically coupled to the front frame proximate the first temple arm.

The portion of the first connection surface may comprise an adaptor connection surface of an adaptor, the adaptor to electrically connect a printed circuit board (PCB) receivable inside the first temple arm to the first electrical contact. The adaptor may comprise the second electrical contact and a PCB contact electrically connected to the second electrical contact. The PCB contact may be to electrically connect to at least one conductive trace carried by the PCB.

The PCB contact may be oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the first temple arm and the adaptor connection surface may define a plane intersecting the longitudinal axis.

The adaptor may further comprise a support member protruding from the adaptor connection surface in a same direction as the PCB contact, the support member to mechanically connect to the PCB to mechanically strengthen a connection of the PCB to the adaptor.

