Eyewear docking station and electronic module

• US 10,114,235 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald, Wang, Yongping, Graham, Mark, Kokonaski, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Application Number:
  US14/808,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20150378180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351 41, 351121, 351111, 381381
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/061 with movable shutters, e.g. filter discs; Actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• 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 7/081 Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00

Abstract

An eyewear system including an eyewear frame and an application module. The eyewear frame including a docking station, and an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points. The application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, and including an electronic device configured to perform a function, and a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points. The second set of preconfigured application connection points including at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.

Claims

1. Eyewear comprising:

an eyewear frame having a first temple and a second temple;

a first docking station coupled to a first side of the eyewear frame and having at least one electrical connection;

a first application module mounted to the first docking station and in electrical communication with the at least one electrical connection, the first application module comprising a first electronic device with a first wireless receiver so as to allow wireless communication with an external device, the first application module receiving operating power via the at least one electrical connection;

a second docking station coupled to a second side of the eyewear frame; and

a second application module mounted to the second docking station, the second application module comprising at least one other electronic device to supply the operating power to the first electronic device.

2. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first docking station is configured to support adjustment of the first application module.

3. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first docking station is configured to receive a plurality of first application modules.

4. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver is configured to receive power from the external device.

5. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver is configured to receive a control signal from the external device, the control signal controlling at least one function of the first electronic device.

6. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip configured to receive power and a control signal from the external device, the control signal controlling at least one function of the first electronic device.

7. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a wireless transceiver configured to provide a control signal to control the external device.

8. The eyewear of claim 7, wherein the external device comprises at least one of a home appliance, a computer, and an automobile.

9. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

a release mechanism to release the first application module from the first docking station.

10. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first docking station comprises a first mounting track and further comprising:

a moveable cover removably disposed over at least a portion of the first mounting track; and

a release mechanism to actuate the moveable cover.

11. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electronic module, coupled to the eyewear frame, to communicate with the first electronic device.

12. The eyewear of claim 11, wherein the first electronic module comprises a processor to provide a command signal and/or programming to the first electronic device.

13. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connection comprises a plurality of electrical connections.

14. Eyewear comprising:

an eyewear frame having a first temple and a second temple;

a first docking station disposed on a first side of the eyewear frame, wherein the first docking station comprises;

a first electrical connection to receive a first application module, the first application module comprising;

a first electronic device; and

a first wireless communication component to allow wireless communication between the first electronic device and an external device when the first application module is connected to the first electrical connection; and

a second docking station disposed on a second side of the eyewear frame and configured to receive a second application module, the second application module configured to provide operating to the first application module via the first electrical connection.

15. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first docking station is configured to support adjustment of the first application module.

16. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first docking station is configured to receive a plurality of application modules.

17. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication component is configured to receive power from the external device.

18. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication component is configured to receive a control signal from the external device, the control signal controlling at least one function of the first electronic device.

19. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication component comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip configured to receive power and a control signal from the external device, the control signal controlling at least one function of the first electronic device.

20. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication component comprises at least one of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, or an infrared transceiver.

21. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication component comprises a wireless transceiver configured to provide a control signal to control the external device.

22. The eyewear of claim 14, further comprising:

a first electronic module, coupled to the eyewear frame, to communicate with the first electronic device.

23. The eyewear of claim 22, wherein the first electronic module comprises a processor to provide a command signal and/or programming to the first electronic device.

24. The eyewear of claim 14, further comprising:

a release mechanism to release the first application module from the first docking station.

25. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein the first docking station comprises a first mounting track and further comprising:

a moveable cover removably disposed over at least a portion of the first mounting track; and

a release mechanism to actuate the moveable cover.

26. The eyewear of claim 25, wherein the second docking station comprises:

a second mounting track, disposed along a length of the second temple, to receive the second application module, the second application module comprising a second electronic device.