Electronic eyewear and display

• US 10,042,186 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Chao, David, Howell, Thomas A., Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Wen
• Application Number:
  US14/211,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 345 7- 8, 3482071, 348 62, 348 64
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

Novel eyewear apparatuses including a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a frame. The frame includes a side region that includes an extendable arm. The first end of the extendable arm is attached to the frame and a second end of the extendable arm is attached to the display. The side region includes a cavity, where the extendable arm is adapted to retract back. The extendable arm is further adapted to extend out of the cavity and orient the display to be visually observable by a user of the eyewear apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a concave reflective and an image source. The image source and the concave reflective surface are oriented to enable a user of the eyewear apparatus to view at least an image from the image source as reflected by the concave reflective surface.

Claims

1. An eyewear apparatus, comprising:

a frame with a front and at least a side; and

a display;

wherein the side couples to an extendable arm,

wherein the side comprises a cavity,

wherein the extendable arm comprises at least a first piece and a second piece, with one end of the first piece connected to the side via a first hinge, with the display connected to the second piece, the two pieces being connected by at least a rotatable joint to at least allow adjustment of an orientation of the display relative to the front of the frame,

wherein the extendable arm is adapted to retract back to the cavity, and when retracted, the extendable arm fits substantially in the cavity and the display is also substantially in the cavity,

wherein the extendable arm is further adapted to extend out of the cavity and orient the display to be visually observable by a user of the eyewear apparatus,

wherein the front is connected to the side via a second hinge,

wherein the first hinge includes a first rotating axis,

wherein the second hinge includes a second rotating axis, and

wherein the first rotating axis of the first hinge is configured not to be collinear with the second rotating axis of the second hinge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable arm is caused to extend out of the cavity by a user-activated action, allowing the extendable arm to be user-adjusted.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one conductor extends through the extendable arm, electrically connecting at least an electrical component in the display to a controller located within the frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the display comprises a screen, and

wherein the apparatus comprises a projector for at least displaying images on the screen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least a light-guide optical element operative to enable at least viewing of images on the display.

6. An eyewear apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the extendable arm cannot telescope.

7. An eyewear apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the display comprises a screen.

8. An eyewear apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a projector for at least displaying the images on the screen.