Wearable camera systems and apparatus and method for attaching camera systems or other electronic devices to wearable articles

• US 10,185,163 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Clompus, Richard, Dannhardt, Walter, Gupta, Amitava, Arnold, Bobi, Pinazza, Massimo, Longa, Claudio Dalla
• Primary Examiner(s): Aggarwal, Yogesh K
• Application Number:
  US15/863,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20180143458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 3482221, 345 8
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/16 Frame or frame portions made from rubber
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

Wearable electronic devices, for example wearable camera systems, and methods for attaching electronic devices such as camera systems to eyewear or other wearable articles are described.

Claims

1. A wearable camera system, wherein the wearable camera system includes a wearable camera configured to be coupled to a remote device, wherein the camera has a camera body having a width or a height that is smaller than a length of the camera body, the length of the camera body being measured along a longitudinal direction extending from a forward portion of the camera body including a lens to an opposite rear end of the camera body, wherein the camera body is devoid of a view finder and is configured to capture an image without reliance on any external component, where-in the camera comprises a light for signaling an individual whose image is being captured but is otherwise devoid of a flash capable of illuminating the individual whose image is being captured, wherein the wearable camera is attachable to and detachable from a plurality of different items including a temple of an eyewear, and wherein the camera body has a volume of 9,450 cubic mm or less or weighs 10 grams or less.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera can capture an image by a tap.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the light for signaling the person whose image is being captured comprise at least one LED.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is attachable magnetically.

5. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a vibrator.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is further configured to connect to the remote device wirelessly.

7. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to be charged wirelessly.

8. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a microphone.

9. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera can also be attached to one of a ring, a bracelet, a watch, a shirt, pants, a belt, a helmet, a tie, a coat, a dashboard, an automobile mirror, an automobile visor, an automobile windshield, an automobile, a hair clip, a hair band, a hat, a necklace, a key ring, a bicycle, a motor bike, or a drone.

10. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is attachable to and detachable from an eyewear temple via a primary attachment mechanism, the camera system further comprising a secondary attachment mechanism.

11. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera, when attached to the temple of the eyewear, is located such that a forward end of the camera body is aligned with a front of the eyewear or is positioned forward of a front most surface of the temple of the eyewear.

12. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is waterproof.

13. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera can be triggered by a sound.

14. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a capacitance switch.

15. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the image being captured by the camera is a still image.

16. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera is waterproof.

17. A mobile camera system, wherein the mobile camera system includes a camera configured to be coupled to a remote device, wherein the camera has a camera body having a width or a height that is smaller than a length of the camera body, the length of the camera body being measured along a longitudinal direction extending from a forward portion of the camera body including a lens to an opposite rear end of the camera body, wherein the camera body is devoid of a view finder and wherein the camera is capable of capturing an image without reliance on any external components for the image capture, wherein the camera is attachable to and detachable from an eyewear frame, wherein the camera comprises a light for signaling that an image is being captured but is otherwise devoid of a flash capable of illuminating the image being captured, and wherein the camera body has a volume of 9,450 cubic mm or less or weighs 10 grams or less.

18. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera can capture an image by a tap.

19. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera can be triggered by a sound.

20. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera is attachable magnetically.

21. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera further comprises a microphone.

22. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera further comprises a vibrator.

23. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera can connect to the remote device wirelessly.

24. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the remote device is camera charging unit or a smart phone.

25. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the camera can also be attached to one of a ring, a bracelet, a watch, a shirt, pants, a belt, a helmet, a tie, a coat, a dashboard, an automobile mirror, an automobile visor, an automobile windshield, an automobile, a hair clip, a hair band, a hat, a necklace, a key ring, a bicycle, a motor bike, or a drone.

26. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the image captured by the camera is a still image.

27. A wearable camera system, wherein the wearable camera system includes a wearable camera configured to be coupled to a remote device, wherein the camera has a camera body having a width or a height that is smaller than a length of the camera body, the length of the camera body being measured along a longitudinal direction extending from a forward portion of the camera body including a lens to an opposite rear end of the camera body, wherein the camera body is devoid of a view finder and is configured to capture an image without reliance on any external component, wherein the camera comprises a light for signaling an individual whose image is being captured but is otherwise devoid of a flash capable of illuminating the individual whose image is being captured, wherein the wearable camera is attachable to and detachable from a plurality of different items including a temple of an eyewear, wherein the camera, when attached to the temple of the eyewear, is located such that a forward end of the camera body is aligned with a front of the eyewear or is positioned forward of a front most surface of the temple of the eyewear.

28. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera can capture an image by a tap.

29. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the light for signaling the person whose image is being captured comprise at least one LED.

30. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera is attachable magnetically.

31. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera comprises a vibrator.

32. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera is further configured to connect to the remote device wirelessly.

33. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera is configured to be charged wirelessly.

34. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera body includes a microphone.

35. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera can also be attached to one of a ring, a bracelet, a watch, a shirt, pants, a belt, a helmet, a tie, a coat, a dashboard, an automobile mirror, an automobile visor, an automobile windshield, an automobile, a hair clip, a hair band, a hat, a necklace, a key ring, a bicycle, a motor bike, or a drone.

36. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera is attachable to and detachable from an eyewear temple via a primary attachment mechanism, the camera system further comprising a secondary attachment mechanism.

37. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera can be triggered by a sound.

38. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera body includes a capacitance switch.

39. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the image being captured by the camera is a still image.

40. The camera system of claim 27, wherein the camera body has a volume of 9,450 cubic mm or less or weighs 10 grams or less.