Tethered electrical components for eyeglasses

• US 7,192,136 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US10/964,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/158, 351/111, 351/157, 351/156, 351/121, 381/381
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

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;

an eyeglass cord; and

a base device having at least one electrical part,

wherein said eyeglass cord connects said base device to said eyeglass frame,

wherein when said eyewear system is worn by the user, said base device is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user,

wherein said eyeglass frame is a pair of glasses including at least;

a first lens holder for receiving lenses, said first lens holder having a first side and a second side,

a second lens holder for receiving lenses, said second lens holder having a first side and a second side, with the first side of said first lens holder connected to the second side of said second lens holder,

a first temple coupled to the second side of said first lens holder through a first joint, and

a second temple coupled to the first side of said second lens holder through a second joint,

wherein said eyeglass cord includes at least one conductor,

wherein said eyeglass frame has at least one electrical part internal thereto that is electrically connected through an electrical conductor inside at least one temple and through the at least one conductor within said eyeglass cord to the at least one electrical part in said base device to perform an electrical function, and

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

2. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass cord connects to each of the pair of temples of said eyeglass frame.

3. An eyewear system as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one temple includes a temple arrangement, and wherein the at least one electrical part in said eyeglasses is provided in the temple arrangement.

4. An eyewear system as recited in claim 3, wherein the temple arrangement is a temple tip.

5. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cord is made of flexible materials.

6. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical part in said eyeglass frame cooperates with the at least one electrical part in said base device to provide an electronic system, which pertains to one or more of a wireless communication system, a radiation monitoring system, a health monitoring system or a fitness monitoring system.

7. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base device includes at least one electrical circuit on a substrate.

8. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base device includes at least one integrated circuit.

9. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein when said eyewear system is worn by the user, said base device is supported by said eyeglass cord.

10. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear system further comprises:

a clip to attach said base device or said eyeglass cord to an article of clothing worn by the user.

11. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base device is able to be electrically coupled to a portable electronic device.

12. An eyewear system as recited in claim 11, wherein said base device includes a connector for electrically coupling the portable electronic device to said base device via an electrical cable having at least one conductor therethrough.

13. An eyewear system as recited in claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a media player.

14. An eyewear system for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least one electrical component internal thereto;

an eyeglass cord having at least one electrical conductor therethrough; and

a base device having at least one electrical component,

wherein said eyeglass frame is a pair of glasses including at least;

a first lens holder for receiving lenses, said first lens holder having a first side and a second side,

a second lens holder for receiving lenses, said second lens holder having a first side and a second side, with the first side of said first lens holder connected to the second side of said second lens holder,

a first temple coupled to the second side of said first lens holder through a first joint, and

a second temple coupled to the first side of said second lens holder through a second joint,

wherein when said eyewear system is worn by the user, said base device is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user,

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

wherein the at least one electrical component in the eyeglass frame is in one of the temples of the glasses, and

wherein said eyeglass cord connects said base device to said eyeglass frame, and said eyeglass cord electrically connects the at least one electrical component in said base device to the at least one electrical component in said eyeglass frame to perform an electrical function.

15. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14,

wherein each of the temples has an electrical connector,

wherein said eyeglass cord has a pair of ends, and each of the ends has an electrical connector, and

wherein each of the electrical connectors at the cord connects with a corresponding one of the electrical connectors at the temples, thereby electrically connecting said eyeglass cord to said eyeglass frame.

16. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the temples has a temple tip region, and wherein each of the electrical connectors at the temples is provided at the temple tip region of the corresponding temple.

17. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14, wherein said eyewear system further comprises a rechargeable battery, which allows the battery to be charged without removing the battery from said eyewear system.

18. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14, wherein said eyeglass cord has an outer textile cover, and wherein the electrical conductor is internal to the outer textile cover.

19. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14, wherein said eyewear system further comprises a removable memory module.

20. An eyewear system as recited in claim 14, wherein said base device is at least partially physically supported relative to said eyeglass frame by said eyeglass cord.

21. A tethered apparatus for a pair of eyeglasses, said tethered apparatus comprising:

a base containing electrical components; and

at least one cord for attaching said base to the eyeglasses, said cord being attached or attachable to said base, and said cord containing at least one electrical conductor for providing electrical signals from said base through said cord,

wherein said pair of eyeglasses includes at least;

a first lens holder for receiving lenses, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side,

a second lens holder for receiving lenses, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side, with the first side of the first lens holder connected to the second side of the second lens holder,

a first arm coupled to the second side of the first lens holder through a first joint,

a second arm coupled to the first side of the second lens holder through a second joint, and

an electrical component in the eyeglasses, with the component configured to receive the electrical signals from said base through said cord and through an electrical conductor inside at least one arm,

wherein when said base is tethered to the eyeglasses which are being worn by the user, said base is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user,

wherein when said cord couples said base to the eyeglasses, said base is tethered to the eyeglasses, and

wherein said eyeglasses can be separately worn by a user without the at least one cord and the base.

22. A tethered apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said tethered apparatus is configured to have the capability to wirelessly communicate with a portable electronic device of the user to allow information from the portable device to be provided to the user via said tethered apparatus.

23. A tethered apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the eyeglasses includes a speaker that is integral with and configured not to be detachable from the eyeglasses.

24. A tethered apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said cord attaches to said base with one or a pair of connectors.

25. A tethered apparatus as recited in claim 21,

wherein said cord has first and second ends for coupling to the eyeglasses, and

wherein the first end of said cord couples to one of the arms of the frame and the second end of said cord couples to the other of the arms of the frame.

26. A tethered apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said tethered apparatus further includes a removable memory module.