EYEWEAR DOCKING STATION AND ELECTRONIC MODULE

• US 20130215374A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pixeloptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald, Wang, Yongping, Graham, Mark, Kokonaski, William, Clompus, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,122,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/061 with movable shutters, e.g. filter discs; Actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• 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: G02C 7/081 Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00

Abstract

An eyewear system including an eyewear frame and an application module. The eyewear frame including a docking station, and an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points. The application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, and including an electronic device configured to perform a function, and a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points. The second set of preconfigured application connection points including at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An application module adapted to be mounted to an eyewear docking station, said application module comprising:

an electronic device configured to perform a function;

an attachment mechanism configured to secure the application module to the docking station in a substantially fixed position;

a plurality of preconfigured application connection points,

wherein said plurality of preconfigured application connection points include at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.

2. The application module of claim 1 wherein said at least two different sub-function connections include at least two of power supply, audio out, audio in, audio ground, video out, video in, data output, data input, control signal output, and control signal input.

3. The application module of claim 1 wherein said different sub-function connections include a power supply, an audio out, and control input.

4. The application module of claim 1 wherein said different sub-function connections include a data input and a control signal output.

5. The application module of claim 4 wherein said data input includes sensor data, and said application module is configured to control a lens function of the eyewear via the control signal output based on the data input.

6. The application module of claim 1 wherein said different sub-function connections include a power supply configured for the application module to receive at least one of operating power and recharging power from the eyewear.

7. The application module of claim 1 wherein said function includes at least one of audio playback, audio recording, acoustic amplification, acoustic canceling, hearing aid, video playback, video recording, photography, fall detection, alertness monitoring, pedometer, geo-location, pulse detector, wireless communication, virtual reality, augmented reality, gaming, eye tracking, pupil monitoring, lens control, automated reminder, lighting, lasing, and alarm.

8. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes a camera.

9. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes a music player.

10. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes a wireless transceiver.

11. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes a hearing aid.

12. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes an alarm.

13. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes at least one of a visible or non-visible lighting device.

14. The application module of claim 1 wherein said electronic device is configured to provide at least one of virtual reality and augmented reality to a user via the eyewear.

15. The application module of claim 1 wherein said application module is substantially water resistant.

16. An eyewear system comprising:

an eyewear frame including;

a docking station, and

an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points; and

an application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, said application module including;

an electronic device configured to perform a function, and

a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points,

wherein said second set of preconfigured application connection points include at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said at least two different sub-function connections include at least two of power supply, audio out, audio in, audio ground, video out, video in, data output, data input, control signal output, and control signal input.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said different sub-function connections include a power supply configured for the application module to receive at least one of operating power and recharging power from the eyewear frame.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said function includes at least one of audio playback, audio recording, acoustic amplification, acoustic canceling, hearing aid, video playback, video recording, photography, fall detection, alertness monitoring, pedometer, geo-location, pulse detector, wireless communication, virtual reality, augmented reality, gaming, eye tracking, pupil monitoring, lens control, automated reminder, lighting, lasing, and alarm.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said eyewear frame further includes a lens, and said electronic device is configured to at least partially control said lens.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein said eyewear frame further includes a speaker, and said electronic device is configured to provide an audio signal to said speaker.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said eyewear frame further includes at least one of a speaker and a lens, and said electronic device is configured to provide at least one of virtual reality and augmented reality to a user via at least one of a speaker and a lens.