Electronic eyewear with hands-free operation

• US 20040156012A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos, Baden, Colin, Jannard, James, Saderholm, Davin
• Granted Patent: US 7,494,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable audio interface includes a support for positioning the plurality of speakers juxtaposed to and spaced from the ears of a wearer. The audio device can include wireless networking electronics so as to allow the device to interact with other wireless network devices.

Claims

1. An interactive audio device comprising:

a support configured to be supported on a head of a human;

a least one audio output device configured to output sound audible to a wearer of the audio device; and

means for allowing a wearer of the audio device to browse an aural menu.

2. An audio device as in claim 1, wherein the aural menu comprises a plurality of stored humanoid voice sounds corresponding to functions supported by a source device which sends audio signals to the audio output device.

3. An interactive audio device comprising:

a support configured to be supported on a head of a human;

at least one audio output device supported by the support and configured to output sound audible to a wearer of the audio device;

at least one input device supported by the support and configured to accept inputs from a wearer of the audio device; and

an interface device supported by the support, the interface device being configured to transmit aural menu options to the audio output device and to allow a user select a menu option through actuation of the input device.

4. An audio device as in claim 3, wherein the aural menu options comprise a plurality of stored humanoid voice sounds corresponding to functions supported by a source device which sends audio signals to the audio output device.

5. An audio device as in claim 3, wherein input device is a microphone.

6. An audio device as in claim 3, wherein input device is a button.

7. An audio device as in claim 3, wherein the interface device is configured to transmit first signals corresponding to outputs of the input device to a second audio device, to receive second signals from the second audio device corresponding to aural menu options, and to transmit third signals to the audio output device corresponding to the second signals.

8. A method of browsing through a menu comprising the steps of:

wearing a wireless audio interface carried by an eyeglass frame, the eyeglass frame comprising at least a first speaker, a first input device, and a short range transceiver for communicating with a source device which is electronically paired with the transceiver;

actuating the first input device;

transmitting a first signal from the transceiver to the source device, the first signal corresponding to the actuation of the first input device;

receiving a second signal from the source device in response to the first signal;

transmitting a third signal corresponding to the second signal, from the transceiver to the first speaker, the third signal corresponding to a first aural menu option.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising transmitting a fourth signal from the transceiver to the source device, the fourth signal corresponding to a further actuation of the first input device, receiving a fifth signal from the source device in response to the fourth signal, and transmitting a sixth signal corresponding to the fifth signal, from the transceiver to the first speaker, the sixth signal corresponding to a second aural menu option.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein the source device is a cellular telephone.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein the source device is a personal computer.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the source device is a laptop computer.

13. A method as in claim 8, wherein the source device is a palmtop computer.

14. An eyeglass includes a frame, at least one interactive electronic device supported by the frame, and at least one lens configured to have variable light attenuation.

15. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 14, wherein the interactive electronics device comprises an audio interface for a cellular phone.

16. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 14, wherein the interactive electronics device comprises a user operable switch supported by the frame and electronic device controlled by the switch.

17. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 14, wherein the least one lens comprises a plurality of spaced substrates, a dichroic dye disposed between the substrates, and a first power source configured to alter an orientation of the dichroic dye.

18. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 17, wherein the frame comprises at least a first ear stem, the power source being disposed in the ear stem.

19. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 18 additionally comprising a second ear stem, at least a portion of the interactive electronic device being disposed in the second ear stem.

20. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 19 additionally comprising a second power source for powering the interactive electronic device disposed in the second ear stem, the first power source being disposed in the first ear stem.

21. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 20 additionally comprising a first user operable switch disposed in the first ear stem and configured to control the first power source and the second user operable switch disposed in the second ear stem and configured to control the interactive electronic device.