Eyewear systems

• US 10,353,429 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• 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, Kokonaski, William, Duston, Dwight
• Primary Examiner(s): Tallman, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US15/920,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20180221137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351 51- 52, 351 57- 58, 351 59, 359 13- 14, 359618, 359629-633
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/061 with movable shutters, e.g. filter discs; Actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

Eyewear is provided including a frame, and a camera connected with the frame, in which the camera is configured to be controlled by a remote controller. The camera may be configured to capture video and/or a photo. The eyewear may include data storage, and the camera may be connected to the data storage. A wrist watch may be configured to act both as a time piece and a controller of the camera. The eyewear may also include a heads up display and/or a video file player. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens.

Claims

1. An eyewear system comprising:

an eyewear assembly comprising;

a first temple piece;

at least one electronic lens configured to present a virtual image that appears to a wearer of the eyewear assembly as if the virtual image is floating in space in front of the wearer;

a first conductor that is affixed to or travels through the first temple piece, and electrically delivers power for the electronic lens, wherein the power delivered by the first conductor affects one or more optical characteristics of the electronic lens; and

a first controller configured to adjust the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one electronic lens.

2. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source that provides power for the electronic lens.

3. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source that provides power for the electronic lens, wherein the power source is configured to be attached to clothing of the wearer.

4. The eyewear system of claim 2, wherein:

the power source is contained within a tether.

5. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first controller is contained within a tether.

6. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a range finder, a view finder, a photo-detector, and a tilt switch configured to cause a change in focus of the electronic lens.

7. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote controller configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one of the first controller and the power source.

8. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hand-held remote controller configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one of the first controller and the power source.

9. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic wristwatch configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one of the first controller and the power source.

10. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the eyewear assembly comprises a visor.

11. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the eyewear assembly is configured as spectacles.

12. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the eyewear assembly is configured as goggles.

13. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the eyewear assembly is configured to be separated to facilitate placing the eyewear assembly over and around a head of the wearer.

14. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first temple piece is configured to provide an electrical connection to a front frame of the eyewear assembly without running wires through a frame hinge.

15. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic lens comprises at least one of;

an electro-chromic tinted lens, electro-active-lens, electro-fluid lens, electro-pressure lens, electromechanically moving lens, micro-optical display, spectacle lens, conventional lens, fixed/static lens, and a dynamic focusing lens.

16. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the virtual image is a 3D image.

17. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first conductor extends within the first temple piece.

18. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first conductor extends along the first temple piece.

19. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first conductor is adhered to the first temple piece.

20. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the first conductor is sufficiently flexible to avoid damage when connected to a tether.

21. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductor that is affixed to or travels through the first temple piece.

22. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the eyewear assembly is configured to provide strain-relief to the first conductor.

23. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein:

the power source is a battery or a fuel cell.

24. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to connect to the first temple piece.

25. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to connect the first temple piece to a second temple piece.

26. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to connect to the eyewear assembly to a front of the eyewear assembly, at an end of the temple piece, or along the temple piece.

27. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to magnetically connect to the eyewear assembly.

28. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to extend behind a head of a wearer of the eyewear system and configured to be operatively coupled to at least one of the first controller and the power source.

29. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to extend behind a head of the wearer of the eyewear system and configured to operatively house at least one of the first controller and the power source.

30. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether configured to extend behind a head of the wearer of the eyewear system and configured to non-destructively releaseably electrically connect at least one of the first controller and the power source to the eyewear assembly.

31. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises an electro-chromic tinted lens.

32. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises an electro-active-lens.

33. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises an electro-fluid lens.

34. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises an electro-pressure lens.

35. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises electromechanically moving lens.

36. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises an micro-optical display.

37. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises a spectacle lens.

38. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises a conventional lens.

39. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises a fixed/static lens.

40. The eyewear system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lens comprises a dynamic focusing lens.