WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY

• US 20170108714A1
• Filed: 10/04/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Halpin, Declan, Kuczewski, Lee A., Villalpando, Ernesto Carlos Martinez
• Granted Patent: US 10,379,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/02 Bridges; Browbars; Intermediate bars nose engaging-surfaces G02C5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00

Abstract

A wearable electronic display includes an eyewear frame having a front frame portion including a brow bar with lens frame rims extending from and below the brow bar. A display module can be mounted to the eyewear frame and have a microdisplay for generating images. The display module can have an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user'"'"'s eye. The display module can be positioned within a cavity in the front frame portion. A brow bar bracket can be mounted to a rear side of the brow bar. The brow bar bracket can have a shroud for covering the display module. The shroud can have a pupil aperture aligned with the exit window of the display module through which the user can view the viewable images.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic display comprising:

an eyewear frame having a front frame portion including a brow bar with lens frame rims extending from and below the brow bar;

a display module mounted to the eyewear frame having a microdisplay for generating images, the display module having an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user'"'"'s eye, the display module being positioned within a cavity in the front frame portion; and

a brow bar bracket mounted to a rear side of the brow bar, the brow bar bracket having a shroud for covering the display module, the shroud having a pupil aperture aligned with the exit window of the display module through which the user can view the viewable images.

2. The wearable electronic display of claim 1 in which the cavity in the front frame portion is shaped for allowing tilting of the exit window of the display module downwardly.

3. The wearable electronic display of claim 1 in which the eyewear frame includes left and right temple portions rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the brow bar bracket by respective hinges.

4. The wearable electronic display of claim 3 in which electronic components are included with at least one of the temple portions, and with the brow bar and/or the brow bar bracket, the brow bar and/or the brow bar bracket having at least one electrical contact point with the at least one of the temple portions, whereby the at least one electrical contact point is engaged when the at least one of the temple portions is in the open position for engaging power and/or data transfer, and disengaged when the at least one of the temple portions is in the closed position for disengaging power and/or data transfer.

5. The wearable electronic display of claim 1 in which the brow bar bracket includes a rear wall and a top wall, the top wall forming an upper front ledge extending forwardly from the rear wall across a front portion of the brow bar bracket, forming a recess for accepting an upper region of the front frame portion for securement thereto.

6. The wearable electronic display of claim 5 further comprising a flexible electronic circuit positioned under the front ledge of the brow bar bracket.

7. The wearable electronic display of claim 4 further comprising flexible electronics extending between the brow bar and/or brow bar bracket, and the at least one of the temple portions, for providing steady uninterrupted power and/or data transfer.

8. The wearable electronic display of claim 7 further comprising a sheath extending between the brow bar and/or brow bar bracket, and the at least one of the temple portions, for protectively housing the flexible electronics extending therebetween.

9. A wearable electronic display comprising:

an eyewear frame having a front frame portion including a brow bar with lens frame rims extending from and below the brow bar;

a display module mounted to the eyewear frame having a microdisplay for generating images, the display module having an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user'"'"'s eye, the display module being positioned within a cavity in the front frame portion; and

a brow bar bracket mounted to a rear side of the brow bar, the brow bar bracket having a shroud for covering the display module, the shroud having a pupil aperture aligned with the exit window of the display module through which the user can view the viewable images, the brow bar bracket including a rear wall and a top wall, the top wall forming an upper front ledge extending forwardly from the rear wall across a front portion of the brow bar bracket that forms a recess for accepting an upper region of the front frame portion for securement thereto, thereby containing the display module within the brow bar bracket and the front frame portion assembly.

10. A method of using a wearable electronic display comprising:

wearing an eyewear frame having a front frame portion including a brow bar with lens frame rims extending from and below the brow bar;

using a display module mounted to the eyewear frame, the display module having a microdisplay for generating images, the display module having an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user'"'"'s eye, the display module being positioned within a cavity in the front frame portion;

using a brow bar bracket mounted to a rear side of the brow bar, the brow bar bracket having a shroud for covering the display module, the shroud having a pupil aperture aligned with the exit window of the display module; and

looking upwardly with the user'"'"'s eye to the pupil aperture for viewing the viewable images passing through the pupil aperture.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising using the cavity in the front frame portion for allowing tilting of the exit window of the display module downwardly.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising wearing left and right temple portions rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the brow bar bracket by respective hinges.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising using electronic components with at least one of the temple portions, and with the brow bar and/or the brow bar bracket, the brow bar and/or the brow bar bracket having at least one electrical contact point with the at least one of the temple portions, whereby the at least one electrical contact point is engaged when the at least one of the temple portions is in the open position for engaging power and/or data transfer, and disengaged when the at least one of the temple portions is in the closed position for disengaging power and/or data transfer.

14. The method of claim 10 in which the brow bar bracket includes a rear wall and a top wall, the top wall forming an upper front ledge extending forwardly from the rear wall across a front portion of the brow bar bracket, forming a recess, the method further comprising securing an upper region of the front frame portion within the recess of the brow bar bracket.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising using a flexible electronic circuit positioned under the front ledge of the brow bar bracket.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising using flexible electronics extending between the brow bar and/or brow bar bracket, and the at least one of the temple portions, for providing steady uninterrupted power and/or data transfer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising using a sheath extending between the brow bar and/or brow bar bracket, and the at least one of the temple portions, for protectively housing the flexible electronics extending therebetween.

18. A method of using a wearable electronic display comprising:

wearing an eyewear frame having a front frame portion including a brow bar with lens frame rims extending from and below the brow bar;

using a display module mounted to the eyewear frame, the display module having a microdisplay for generating images, the display module having an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user'"'"'s eye, the display module being positioned within a cavity in the front frame portion;

using a brow bar bracket mounted to a rear side of the brow bar, the brow bar bracket having a shroud for covering the display module, the shroud having a pupil aperture aligned with the exit window of the display module, the brow bar bracket including a rear wall and a top wall, the top wall forming an upper front ledge extending forwardly from the rear wall across a front portion of the brow bar bracket that forms a recess for accepting an upper region of the front frame portion for securement thereto, thereby containing the display module within the brow bar bracket and the front frame portion assembly; and

looking upwardly with the user'"'"'s eye to the pupil aperture for viewing the viewable images passing through the pupil aperture.