Eyewear with printed circuit board

• US 10,310,296 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A, Chao, David, Thoas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky L
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Neill, Gary W
• Application Number:
  US13/831,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41-178
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

In one embodiment, an eyeglass frame includes a lens holder, a first temple with a first end close to the lens holder and a second end, a second temple, an electrical connector and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board with at least one electrical component can be in the first temple. The connector can be close to the first end of the first temple, facing downward, and electrically connected to the at least one electrical component. In another embodiment, an eyeglass frame includes a first printed circuit board, with at least one electrical component. The first printed circuit board can be connected to an electrical component at the frame via a second printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An eyewear frame for a user, comprising:

a front portion;

first and second side portions coupled to opposite sides of the front portion; and

a first printed circuit board provided in the eyewear frame, the first printed circuit board having at least one electrical component attached thereon, the at least one electrical component being a first electrical component, the first electrical component attached on the first printed circuit board and electrically connected to a plurality of other electrical components, each of the plurality of other electrical components being provided at least partially in the eyewear frame,

wherein the first printed circuit board is in the eyewear frame, positioned in the vicinity of the middle area of the front portion of the eyewear frame,

wherein at least one of the plurality of other electrical components is in the front portion of the eyewear frame, and

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a switch and a wireless communication component.

2. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component is at least partially in the eyewear frame to wirelessly couple to a portable electrical device separate from the eyewear frame.

3. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 2, wherein the portable electrical device is operable as a cellular phone.

4. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a sensor configured to sense a physical condition of the user, and the sensor being in the eyewear frame.

5. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

6. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a location sensor that is configured to provide location data.

7. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least an operation indicator configured to provide an indication perceivable external to the eyewear frame by humans regarding a status.

8. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 7, wherein the operation indicator comprises an optical indicator configured to illuminate in a predetermined manner to provide the indication.

9. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to at least one electrical component in the eyewear frame, and the rechargeable battery being in the eyewear frame, and

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise an electrical connector configured to receive a counterpart electrical connector of an electrical device external to the eyewear frame.

10. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear frame comprises a non-mechanical selection mechanism configured to assist the user to set a preference.

11. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear frame comprises a lens holder, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of other electrical components is in or covered by at least a portion of the lens holder.

12. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise a radiation detector for sensing radiation.

13. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise a camera and an output device, and

wherein the output device is configured to present information based on at least an image captured by the camera, to the user.

14. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a part of the information is wirelessly received by the eyewear frame via the wireless communication component.

15. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise an output device, and

wherein the output device is configured to present information related to a location of the eyewear frame.

16. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 15, wherein at least in view of the location of the eyewear frame indicating the eyewear frame being located at a store, the information related to the location configured to be presented is related to a product in the store.

17. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise (i) a location sensor to provide location data regarding the eyewear frame and (ii) an output device, and

wherein based on the location data regarding the eyewear frame from the location sensor, the output device is configured to present to the user information related to where the eyewear frame is located.

18. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a microphone, a memory device, and an output device, and

wherein the memory device comprises at least a portion of computer code configured for voice recognition to recognize voice input received by the eyewear frame via the microphone, and to allow data to be searched through voice via the microphone to produce searched results to be presented by the output device.

19. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 18,

wherein the output device comprises a speaker,

wherein the eyewear frame is configured to ask the user via the speaker if the searched results are appropriate after the searched results are presented by the output device, and

wherein in view of a response from the user that the searched results are not appropriate, the eyewear frame is configured to have the output device ask the user to verbalize the search again.

20. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a camera, and

wherein as images are captured by the camera, the wireless communication component is configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of the images captured by the camera to another electrical device separate from the eyewear frame, to allow at least an observation to be shared with another user through the at least one of the images.

21. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear frame is configured to establish a wireless connection via the wireless communication component to enable at least voice over IP connection via the eyewear frame.

22. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 21, wherein the wireless connection comprises cellular connection.

23. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a speaker at least partially in one of the side portions.

24. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

a flexible printed circuit board in the eyewear frame that is connected to an electrical component in the eyewear frame via the first printed circuit board, wherein at least one electrical component is secured to the flexible printed circuit board;

a light source at least partially in the eyewear frame;

an electrical component, at least partially in the eyewear frame, configured to help display information to the user; and

a microphone at least partially in the eyewear frame.

25. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 24 further comprising:

a memory device with at least a portion of voice recognition computer code for recognizing voice input via the microphone; and

a camera with at least a lens to at least capture images of an environment of the eyewear frame, wherein the lens is configured to face forward when the eyewear frame is worn,

wherein the eyewear frame is configured to present data to the user based on at least an image captured by the eyewear frame.

26. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 25,

wherein the eyewear frame is part of a portable electrical system, and

wherein the portable electrical system comprises:

a handheld device separate from the eyewear frame, the handheld device being configured to be wirelessly coupled to the wireless communication component; and

a wearable device, which is configured to be electrically tethered to the eyewear frame via a cord, wherein the wearable device includes at least a rechargeable battery, a processor, a memory and an electrical connector.

27. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 26 further comprising:

a first sensor configured to measure distance; and

a second sensor to track an attribute regarding at least an eye of the user.

28. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flexible printed circuit board in the eyewear frame that is connected to an electrical component in the eyewear frame via the first printed circuit board, wherein at least one electrical component is secured to the flexible printed circuit board.

29. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a light source at least partially in the eyewear frame.

30. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising an electrical component, at least partially in the eyewear frame, configured to help display information to the user.

31. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a microphone at least partially in the eyewear frame.

32. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 31 further comprising a memory device with at least a portion of voice recognition computer code for recognizing voice input via the microphone.

33. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear frame is part of a portable electrical system, and

wherein the portable electrical system comprises a handheld device separate from the eyewear frame, the handheld device being configured to be wirelessly coupled to the wireless communication component.

34. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear frame is configured to present data via an output device to the user based on at least an image captured by a camera at least partially in the eyewear frame, wherein the data is configured to be received by the wireless communication component.

35. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a camera with at least a lens positioned in the vicinity of the middle area of the front portion of the eyewear frame, to at least capture images of an environment of the eyewear frame, wherein the lens is configured to face forward when the eyewear frame is worn.

36. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a sensor to track an attribute regarding at least an eye of the user.

37. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to measure distance.

38. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear frame is part of an electrical system, and

wherein the electrical system comprises a wearable device configured to be electrically tethered to the eyewear frame via a cord.

39. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 38, wherein the wearable device includes at least a rechargeable battery, a processor, a memory and an electrical connector.

40. A portable electrical system comprising an eyewear frame for a user, wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a front portion;

first and second side portions coupled to opposite sides of the front portion;

a printed circuit board provided in the eyewear frame, the printed circuit board having at least one electrical component attached thereon, the at least one electrical component being a first electrical component, the first electrical component attached on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to a plurality of other electrical components, each of the plurality of other electrical components being provided at least partially in the eyewear frame; and

at least one lens that allow the user to view, without requiring any electrical components, at least a part of its physical environment through at least a portion of the at least one lens when the eyewear frame is worn,

wherein the printed circuit board is in the eyewear frame, positioned in the vicinity of the middle area of the front portion of the eyewear frame,

wherein at least one of the plurality of other electrical components is in the front portion of the eyewear frame,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a wireless communication component, a camera, a microphone, a memory device, and an output device,

wherein the eyewear frame is configured to present information to the user via the output device, with the information based on at least an image captured by the camera,

wherein the memory device comprises at least a portion of computer code configured for voice recognition to recognize voice input received by the eyewear frame via the microphone to perform a function via the eyewear frame, and

wherein the eyewear frame is configured to present to the user data wirelessly received by the eyewear frame via the wireless communication component.

41. A portable electrical system as recited in claim 40 further comprising a wearable electrical device configured to be electrically tethered to the eyewear frame via a cord.

42. An eyewear frame for a user comprising:

a front portion;

first and second side portions coupled to opposite sides of the front portion; and

a printed circuit board provided in the eyewear frame, the printed circuit board having at least one electrical component attached thereon, the at least one electrical component being a first electrical component, the first electrical component attached on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to a plurality of other electrical components, each of the plurality of other electrical components being provided at least partially in the eyewear frame; and

at least one lens that allow the user to view, without requiring any electrical components, at least a part of its physical environment through at least a portion of the at least one lens when the eyewear frame is worn,

wherein the printed circuit board is in the eyewear frame, positioned in the vicinity of the middle area of the front portion of the eyewear frame,

wherein at least one of the plurality of other electrical components is in the front portion of the eyewear frame,

wherein the plurality of other electrical components comprise at least a wireless communication component, an accelerometer, a location sensor, and an output device,

wherein the location sensor is configured to provide location data regarding the eyewear frame,

wherein based on the location data regarding the eyewear frame from the location sensor, the eyewear frame is configured to present to the user via the output device, information related to where the eyewear frame is located,

wherein the accelerometer is configured to provide data regarding movement of the user, with the user wearing the eyewear, and

wherein the eyewear frame is configured to present to the user data received via the wireless communication component.