Eyewear with monitoring capability

• US 20090141233A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• 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 7,771,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• 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

In one embodiment, eyewear having a monitoring capability, such as an activity monitoring capability, is disclosed. Activity, such as motion, steps or distance, can be measured by an activity detector. The measured activity can then be used in providing activity-related information to a user of the eyewear. Advantageously, the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their degree of activity.

Claims

1. Eyewear that can be worn by a user, said eyewear comprising:

an eyewear body configured to be worn proximate to the eyes of the user; and

a monitoring system at least partially embedded in said eyewear body and operable to monitor and store monitored data,

wherein said monitoring system includes at least one sensor.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned within said eyewear body.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitored data is data associated with activity of the user of said eyewear.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said monitoring system includes a display configured to display at least a portion of the monitored data.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 4, wherein the monitored data being displayed on the display is viewable while said eyewear is being worn by the user.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an altimeter, and

wherein the monitored data includes altitude data.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the altitude data includes a vertical distance traversed by the user the user wearing said eyewear.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 9, wherein the altimeter is positioned within said eyewear body.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an environmental sensor configured to sense environmental conditions, and

wherein the monitored data includes environmental data associated with the environmental conditions.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 9, wherein the environmental sensor is positioned within said eyewear body.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a physical sensor configured to sense at least one physical condition of the user, and

wherein the monitored data includes data associated with the at least one physical condition.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 11, wherein the physical sensor is positioned within said eyewear body.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitored data includes speed information associated with the user of said eyewear.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear is a pair of glasses.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear is a pair of goggles.