Eyewear supporting embedded electronic components

• US 10,061,144 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• 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): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US15/375,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351 41, 351159
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Claims

1. Eyewear, comprising:

a front structure;

first and second side structures coupled to opposite sides of the front structure;

a battery embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a circuit board at least partially embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a controller connected to the circuit board and electrically connectable to the battery;

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

at least one sensor embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

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

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one of the first and second side structures includes a charging interface that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera electrically connects to the controller at least via the circuit board.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a wireless receiver embedded within said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is mounted on the circuit board.

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

a plurality of electrical components, including at least a wireless transmitter and/or receiver, and a microphone.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear comprises an audio output device, and wherein the audio output device is at least partially embedded in said eyewear.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 10, wherein the audio output device includes at least a bone conducting element.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the first side structure or the second side structure.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 12,

wherein the additional electronic device comprises an additional sensor, and

wherein the additional sensor is electrically connected to the controller.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises at least one conductor to at least partially interconnect the controller to the additional electronic device.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear comprises:

wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear; and

at least one radiation detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one radiation detector is electrically connected to the controller at least via the circuit board or another circuit board at least partially embedded in one of the first and second side structures.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 15, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an audio pick-up electrical component.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a visual indicator configured to signal, to a person, information concerning at least an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 18, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second side sections include a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

21. Eyewear, comprising:

a front structure;

first and second side structures coupled to opposite sides of the front structure;

a battery embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a circuit board at least partially embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a controller connected to the circuit board and electrically connectable to the battery;

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

at least one sensor embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;

wireless communication circuitry at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;

a memory device configured to store data, the memory device embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

a visual indicator configured to signal to a person information concerning at least an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 21, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an electrical switch electrically connected to the controller.

23. Eyewear as recited in claim 21, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an audio pick-up electrical component electrically connected to the controller.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery; and

a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein said eyewear comprises:

at least one light detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

26. Eyewear, comprising:

a front structure;

at least one side structure coupled to the front structure;

a circuit board at least partially embedded in the at least one side structure;

a controller coupled to the circuit board;

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;

a plurality of sensors embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller, at least one of the plurality of sensors including at least an accelerometer;

communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

a memory device configured to store data, the memory device embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

27. Eyewear as recited in claim 26,

wherein the front structure supports a pair of lenses, and wherein the front structure includes a bridge provided between the lenses of the pair of lenses, and

wherein the camera is at the bridge of the front structure.

28. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein said eyewear comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the at least one side structure.

29. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein the communication circuitry comprises a wireless transmitter and/or receiver.

30. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein the plurality of sensors are operable to sense location, distance traveled and speed.

31. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein the controller and at least one of the plurality of sensors are mounted on the circuit board.

32. Eyewear as recited in claim 31, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

33. Eyewear as recited in claim 32, wherein the camera electrically connects to the controller at least via the circuit board.

34. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein said eyewear is a goggle.

35. Eyewear as recited in claim 34, wherein said eyewear includes a mechanism to secure said eyewear to a user'"'"'s head.

36. Eyewear as recited in claim 35,

wherein the front structure includes at least one lens holder configured to support at least one lens, and

wherein the camera is at or adjacent to an outer side of the lens holder of the front structure.

37. Eyewear as recited in claim 36, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery; and

a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

38. Eyewear as recited in claim 26,

wherein said eyewear comprises a plurality of speakers at least partially embedded in said eyewear,

wherein said eyewear is a goggle, and

wherein said eyewear includes a mechanism to secure said eyewear to a user'"'"'s head.

39. Eyewear as recited in claim 38,

wherein the front structure includes lens holders configured to support a pair of lenses, and

wherein the camera is at or adjacent to an outer side of one of the lens holders of the front structure.

40. Eyewear as recited in claim 39, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is used in determining distance.

41. Eyewear as recited in claim 26,

wherein the front structure includes at least one lens holder configured to support at least one lens, and

wherein the camera is at or adjacent to an outer side of the lens holder of the front structure.

42. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is used in determining distance.

43. Eyewear as recited in claim 26,

wherein said eyewear comprises a plurality of speakers at least partially embedded in said eyewear,

wherein said eyewear is a goggle,

wherein said eyewear includes a mechanism to secure said eyewear to a user'"'"'s head,

wherein the front structure supports a pair of lenses, and wherein the front structure includes a bridge provided between the lenses of the pair of lenses, and

wherein the camera is at the bridge of the front structure.

44. Eyewear, comprising:

a front structure;

first and second side structures coupled to opposite sides of the front structure;

a battery embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a plurality of microphones at least partially embedded in said eyewear;

a circuit board at least partially embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;

a controller coupled to the circuit board and electrically connectable to the battery;

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

a plurality of sensors embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller, at least one of the plurality of sensors includes at least an accelerometer;

wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and

a memory device configured to store data, the memory device embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

45. Eyewear as recited in claim 44, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least a humidity sensor.

46. Eyewear as recited in claim 44,

wherein the front structure supports a pair of lenses, and wherein the front structure includes a bridge provided between the lenses of the pair of lenses, and

wherein the camera is at the bridge of the front structure.

47. Eyewear as recited in claim 44, wherein said eyewear comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the first side structure or the second side structure.

48. Eyewear as recited in claim 44, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.