Eyewear with radiation detection system

• US 10,060,790 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREECE, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US15/343,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351 44, 351158, 250372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0238 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor or optical parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/0257 portable
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses

Abstract

Eyewear having radiation monitoring capability is disclosed. Radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared (IR) radiation or light, can be measured by a detector. The measured radiation can then be used in providing radiation-related information to a user of the eyewear. Advantageously, the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their exposure to radiation.

Claims

1. Eyewear, comprising:

a supporting structure for the eyewear;

a radiation detector to sense radiation;

an electronic circuit provided at or within the supporting structure and electrically connected to the radiation detector, the electronic circuit configured to determine data based at least in part on at least the radiation sensed by the radiation detector;

a controller operatively connected to the electronic circuit, the controller configured to process the determined data to control an operation of the eyewear based at least in part on the processed data;

a wireless communication module operable to support transmission of data to or from the eyewear in a wireless manner; and

a circuit substrate provided internal to the supporting structure of the eyewear,

wherein the radiation detector is electrically connected to the circuit substrate and provided on or in the supporting structure,

wherein the controller and the wireless communication module are provided in the supporting structure, and

wherein the electronic circuit is coupled to the circuit substrate.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the at least one auxiliary sensor, the controller configured to receive the auxiliary sensor data and to process the auxiliary sensor data to impact operation of the eyewear based at least in part on the processed auxiliary sensor data.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one auxiliary sensor comprises a sensor for one or more of temperature, pressure or humidity.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one auxiliary sensor comprises a sensor for location.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 3, wherein the eyewear further comprises:

a memory device for storage of at least a portion of the auxiliary sensor data.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the eyewear further comprises:

a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to facilitate user interaction.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear further comprises:

a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to facilitate user interaction.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear further comprises:

an output device to inform a user of the eyewear of output information, and

wherein the electronic circuit is further operatively connected to the output device to at least in part direct the output device to present the output information to the user.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 9, wherein the output device comprises a display device.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 9, wherein the output device comprises a speaker.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear comprises a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to at least control supply of power or a reset operation,

wherein the eyewear further comprises a display device to inform a user of the eyewear of output information,

wherein the electronic circuit is operatively connected to the display device to at least in part direct the display device to present the output information to the user, and

wherein the eyewear further comprises a battery.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the eyewear further comprises:

another switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to facilitate user interaction.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear further comprises a battery, and

wherein the circuit substrate is an electronic circuit board.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 14, wherein the eyewear comprises a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to control supply of power or a reset operation.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear comprises:

an attenuation material for reducing passage of radiation therethrough, and

wherein the radiation detector is configured to sense at least a portion of radiation sensed via the attenuation material.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 16, wherein the determined data includes or is derived from at least a portion of the radiation sensed by the radiation detector.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitted data includes at least configuration data.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitted data includes at least user preference data.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data;

a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to at least control an operation via a user action;

a memory device for storage of at least a portion of the auxiliary sensor data; and

a speaker device to inform a user of the eyewear of output information,

wherein the electronic circuit is operatively connected to the speaker device to at least in part direct the speaker device to output the output information, and

wherein the eyewear comprises a battery.

21. Eyewear as recited in claim 20, wherein the radiation detector comprises a photodetector.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the radiation detector comprises a photodetector.

23. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear is a goggle.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein the eyewear comprises a mechanism to secure the eyewear to a user'"'"'s head.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 23,

wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data;

a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to at least control an operation via a user action;

a memory device for storage of at least a portion of the auxiliary sensor data; and

a battery.

26. A goggle, comprising:

a supporting structure for the goggle;

an optical detector to sense radiation;

an electronic circuit provided at or within the supporting structure and electrically connected to the optical detector, the electronic circuit configured to determine data based at least in part on at least the radiation sensed by the optical detector;

an auxiliary sensor to obtain auxiliary sensor data;

a controller operatively connected to the electronic circuit and the auxiliary sensor, the controller configured to produce output graphic content based at least in part on the determined data and the auxiliary sensor data;

an output device operatively connected to the controller, the output device configured to present the output graphical content for a user of the goggle;

a communication module operable to support transmission of data to or from the goggle; and

a circuit substrate provided in the supporting structure of the goggle,

wherein the optical detector is coupled to the circuit substrate and provided on or in the supporting structure, and

wherein the controller and the communication module are provided in the supporting structure.

27. A goggle as recited in claim 26, wherein the auxiliary sensor data pertains to location of the goggle.

28. A goggle as recited in claim 27, wherein the goggle comprises a connector that facilitates physical attachment to an external computing device.

29. A goggle as recited in claim 28, wherein the goggle comprises:

a switch operatively connected to the electronic circuit to at least control an operation via a user action;

a memory device for storage of at least a portion of the auxiliary sensor data; and

a battery.

30. A goggle as recited in claim 29, wherein the goggle is configured to be secured about the user'"'"'s head.

31. A goggle as recited in claim 26, wherein the goggle comprises a connector that facilitates tethering an external computing device to the goggle.

32. A goggle as recited in claim 31, wherein the goggle is configured to be bound to the user'"'"'s head.

33. A goggle as recited in claim 26, wherein the auxiliary sensor data pertains to speed of the goggle.