Tethered electrical components for eyeglasses

• US 20080151179A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: C. Douglass Thomas, David Chao, Peter P. Tong, Thomas A. Howell
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Chao, David, Howell, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence

Abstract

Tethered electrical components coupled to electrical components in or attached to a pair of eyeglasses are disclosed. Tethered electrical components, alone or in combination with eyeglass electrical components, can be used for a variety of different applications and uses. As examples, the tethered electrical components can support signal capturing, signal processing, signal transmission, data acquisition, data processing, and/or data storage.

Claims

1. An eyewear system for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame including a first and a second temple, at least one electrical component and at least one electrical connector;

a cord; and

a base device having at least one sensor,

wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the cord is configured to provide electrical connection between the sensor of the base device to the at least one electrical component of the eyeglass frame via the electrical connector, and

wherein the eyeglass frame can be separately worn by the user without the cord and the base device.

2. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame includes an indicator configured to provide an indication related to data obtained by the sensor.

3. An eyewear system as recited in claim 2, wherein the indicator is a speaker.

4. An eyewear system as recited in claim 2, wherein the indicator is a display.

5. An eyewear system as recited in claim 2 wherein the sensor is configured to sense a physical condition of the user.

6. An eyewear system as recited in claim 5, wherein the base device includes fitness monitoring circuitry operatively connected to the sensor.

7. An eyewear system as recited in claim 5, wherein the base device includes health monitoring circuitry operatively connected to the sensor.

8. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the base device includes radiation monitoring circuitry operatively connected to the sensor.

9. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

10. An eyewear system as recited in claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the user.

11. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an emotional condition of the user.

12. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a position sensor configured to sense the position of the base device.

13. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame includes a microphone.

14. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the base device includes a power source to at least provide power for the electrical component of the eyeglass frame.

15. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the base device includes a connector configured to connect to a portable electronic device, which is not the eyeglass frame.

16. An eyewear system as recited in claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable memory device.

17. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the base device includes wireless communication circuitry.

18. An eyewear system as recited in claim 17, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to connect to a portable electronic device.

19. An eyewear system as recited in claim 17, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to operate in a Bluetooth network.

20. An eyewear system as recited in claim 17, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to operate in a WiFi network.

21. An eyewear system for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame including a first temple, a second temple, at least a first electrical circuit, and at least one electrical connector;

a cord including at least one electrical conductor; and

a base device having at least a second electrical circuit,

wherein the base device is not a cellular phone, and

wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the electrical conductor of the cord is configured to provide electrical connection between the second electrical circuit of the base device and the first electrical circuit of the eyeglass frame via the electrical connector.

22. An eyewear system for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame including a first temple, a second temple, at least a first electrical circuit, and at least one electrical connector;

a cord including at least one electrical conductor; and

a base device having at least a second electrical circuit,

wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the electrical conductor of the cord is configured to provide electrical connection between the second electrical circuit of the base device and the first electrical circuit of the eyeglass frame via the electrical connector, and

wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the cord couples to the base as well as to both the first temple and the second temple.