Eyewear with radiation detection system

• US 10,359,311 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• 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): Greece, James R
• Application Number:
  US16/102,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20180348050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351 44, 351158, 250372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0238 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor or optical parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/0257 portable
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

Eyewear having radiation monitoring capability is disclosed. Radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared (IR) radiation or light, can be measured by a detector. The measured radiation can then be used in providing radiation-related information to a user of the eyewear. Advantageously, the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their exposure to radiation.

Claims

1. Eyewear, comprising:

a supporting frame for the eyewear;

at least one lens coupled to the supporting frame, the at least one lens being non-correctable;

an optical sensor to capture data, the optical sensor being an electrical component that is separate and distinct from the at least one lens;

an electronic circuit provided at or within the supporting frame and electrically connected to the optical sensor, the electronic circuit configured to determine data based at least in part on at least the data captured by the optical sensor;

a communication module operable to transmit data to or from the eyewear, at least some of the data transmitted including or being dependent on the determined data by the electronic circuit;

a controller operatively connected to the electronic circuit and the communication module, the controller configured to control an operation of the eyewear; and

a circuit substrate provided internal to the supporting frame of the eyewear,

wherein the electronic circuit is coupled to the circuit substrate,

wherein the optical sensor is at least partially in the supporting frame, and

wherein the controller and the communication module are provided in the supporting frame.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data;

a microphone; and

an audio output to inform a user of the eyewear of output information, and

wherein the microphone and the audio output device are each at least partially embedded in the supporting frame of the eyewear.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2, wherein the eyewear is a goggle, and wherein the goggle comprises a connector that facilitates wired connection with an external computing device.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 3, wherein the front section of the supporting frame includes one or more lens holders to hold one or more lenses, the one or more lenses permit a user whom wears the eyewear to view its physical environment through the one or more lenses.

5. Eyewear, comprising:

a supporting frame for the eyewear;

at least one lens coupled to the supporting frame;

an infrared radiation detector to capture data, the infrared radiation detector being an electrical component that is separate and distinct from the at least one lens;

an electronic circuit provided at or within the supporting frame and electrically connected to the infrared radiation detector, the electronic circuit configured to determine data based at least in part on at least the data captured by the infrared radiation detector;

a communication module operable to transmit data to or from the eyewear in a wired or wireless manner, at least some of the data transmitted including or being dependent on the determined data by the electronic circuit;

a controller integrated circuit operatively connected to the electronic circuit and the communication module, the controller integrated circuit configured to control an operation of the eyewear; and

a circuit substrate provided internal to the supporting frame of the eyewear,

wherein the electronic circuit is coupled to the circuit substrate,

wherein the infrared radiation detector is provided on or at least partially in the supporting frame, and

wherein the controller integrated circuit and the communication module are provided in the supporting frame.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 5, wherein the eyewear is a goggle.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the eyewear comprises a mechanism to secure the eyewear to a user'"'"'s head.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 8, wherein the auxiliary sensor data pertains to location of the eyewear.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 8, wherein the auxiliary sensor data pertains to movement of the eyewear.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 8, wherein the eyewear is configured to be secured about a user'"'"'s head.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the eyewear comprises a connector that facilitates electrical connection to an external computing device via a least one wire.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the eyewear is configured to be bound to a user'"'"'s head.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 9,

wherein the eyewear further comprises:

an output device to inform a user of the eyewear of output information, and

wherein the electronic circuit is further operatively connected to the output device to at least in part direct the output device to present the output information to the user.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the at least one auxiliary sensor, the controller configured to receive the auxiliary sensor data and to process the auxiliary sensor data to impact operation of the eyewear based at least in part on the processed auxiliary sensor data.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one auxiliary sensor comprises a sensor for one or more of temperature, pressure or humidity.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one auxiliary sensor comprises a sensor for location.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one auxiliary sensor comprises an accelerometer.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein a front section of the supporting frame includes one or more lens holders to hold one or more lenses, the one or more lenses permit a user whom wears the eyewear to view its physical environment through the one or more lenses.

21. Eyewear as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more lenses are non-corrective.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more lenses are vision corrective.

23. Eyewear as recited in claim 5,

wherein the eyewear comprises:

an attenuation material for limiting passage of radiation therethrough, and

wherein the infrared radiation detector is configured to sense at least a portion of radiation that passed through the attenuation material.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 5, wherein the eyewear comprises:

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to provide auxiliary sensor data;

a speaker device to inform a user of the eyewear of output information; and

an infrared emitter, the infrared emitter being provided on or at least partially in the supporting frame, the infrared emitter being electrically connected to the electronic circuit.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 24,

wherein the supporting frame has a front portion,

wherein the infrared emitter is provided on or at least partially in the front portion of the supporting frame, and

wherein the infrared radiation detector is provided on or at least partially in the front portion of the supporting frame.

26. Eyewear as recited in claim 5, wherein the eyewear comprises:

a microphone; and

an audio output device,

wherein the microphone and the audio output device are each at least partially embedded in the supporting frame of the eyewear.

27. Eyewear as recited in claim 26, wherein a front section of the supporting frame includes one or more lens holders to hold one or more lenses, the one or more lenses permit a user whom wears the eyewear to view its physical environment through the one or more lenses.

28. Eyewear as recited in claim 27, wherein the eyewear is a goggle, and wherein the goggle comprises a connector that facilitates wired connection with an external computing device.

29. Eyewear as recited in claim 28,

wherein the eyewear comprises:

an attenuation material for reducing passage of radiation therethrough, and

wherein the infrared radiation detector is configured to sense at least a portion of radiation that passed through the attenuation material.