Electronic eyewear with hands-free operation

• US 7,494,216 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos, Baden, Colin, Jannard, James, Saderholm, Davin
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/628,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/49, 351/41, 351/44, 381/381
• US Class Current: 351/158
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable audio interface includes a support for positioning the plurality of speakers juxtaposed to and spaced from the ears of a wearer. The audio device can include wireless networking electronics so as to allow the device to interact with other wireless network devices.

Claims

1. An eyeglass, comprising:

a frame, wherein the frame is configured to support at least one lens in a user'"'"'s field of view when worn by the user, the frame comprising;

at least one speaker support, wherein the at least one speaker support is coupled to the frame with a coupling; and

a speaker supported by the at least one speaker support,

wherein the speaker support is configured such that the speaker may be pivoted over a predetermined distance with respect to the frame to position the speaker adjacent the user'"'"'s ear when worn by the user;

at least one audio device supported by the frame;

at least one lens configured to have electronic variable light attenuation supported by the frame and being configured to change its attenuation of visible light in accordance with an electronic control signal;

at least one video unit being supported by the frame, the video unit being in electrical communication with the audio device, the video unit being viewable by the user of the eyeglass with the variable light attenuation of the lens being adjustable to permit a desired amount of visible light to pass through the lens in response to the electronic control signal; and

a power circuit having a power source, the power circuit being supported by the frame and configured to alter the variable light attenuation of the lens and to provide power to the video unit.

2. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises an audio interface for a cellular phone.

3. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a user operable switch supported by the frame and electronic device controlled by the switch.

4. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one lens comprises a plurality of spaced substrates, a dichroic dye disposed between the substrates, and wherein the power source comprises a first power source configured to alter an orientation of the dichroic dye.

5. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 4, wherein the frame comprises at least a first ear stem, the power source being disposed in the ear stem.

6. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 5, additionally comprising a second ear stem, at least a portion of the audio device being disposed in the second ear stem.

7. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 6, the power source additionally comprising a second power source for powering the audio device disposed in the second ear stem, the first power source being disposed in the first ear stem.

8. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 7 additionally comprising a first user operable switch disposed in the first ear stem and configured to control the first power source and the second user operable switch disposed in the second ear stem and configured to control the audio device.

9. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one audio device is positioned within a cavity within the frame.

10. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, wherein said audio device comprises an MP3 player.

11. An eyeglass in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board supported by the frame, wherein an electrical conduit extends from the speaker through the speaker support and frame to the printed circuit board when the eyeglass is worn by the user.

12. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a wireless receiver.

13. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a wireless transceiver.

14. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the video unit comprises a video display unit.

15. The eyeglass of claim 14, wherein the at least one lens comprises the video display unit.

16. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the video unit comprises a display screen.

17. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises electronics for driving the video unit.

18. An eyeglass comprising:

an audio device,

at least a first lens, the first lens comprising a video unit and having variable light attenuation, the video unit being in electrical communication with the audio device, the video unit being viewable by a wearer of the eyeglass with the light attenuation of the lens permitting a desired amount of light to pass through the lens toward an eye of the wearer of the eyeglass;

a frame supporting the audio device, the frame including at least a first lens support supporting the first lens, the first lens support being configured to allow the first lens to pivot relative to the frame between at least first and second positions, wherein the lens provides a first magnitude of light attenuation when the first lens is in a first position and less light attenuation when the first lens is pivoted to the second position for providing selectively variable light attenuation for the first lens;

at least one speaker supported by the frame; and

a power circuit being supported by the frame and configured to provide power to the video unit.

19. The eyeglass according to claim 18 additionally comprising at least one audio transducer supported by the frame in at least a first position in which the audio transducer directs sound energy toward the ear of a wearer wearing the eyeglass.

20. The eyeglass according to claim 19 additionally comprising a boom supporting the audio transducer from the frame, the boom having a forward end supported by the frame and a rearward end connected to the audio transducer.

21. The eyeglass according to claim 20, wherein the forward end of the boom is connected to the frame with a connector that is configured to allow the forward end of the boom to translate forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame.

22. The eyeglass according to claim 21, wherein the forward end of the boom is connected to the frame with a connector that is configured to allow the forward end of the boom to pivot relative to the frame about an axis that is generally parallel to a line of sight of a wearer of the eyeglass.

23. The eyeglass according to claim 18, wherein the first lens support is configured to allow the first lens to be pivoted about an axis generally perpendicular to vertical when a wearer is wearing the eyeglass.

24. The eyeglass according to claim 18 additionally comprising a second polarized lens supported by the frame so as to be stationary relative to and in alignment with the first lens, wherein the first lens is also polarized.

25. The eyeglass according to claim 18, wherein the audio device comprises an MP3 audio player.

26. The eyeglass according to claim 18, wherein the audio device is positioned within a cavity within the frame.

27. The eyeglass according to claim 18, further comprising a printed circuit board supported by the frame, wherein an electrical conduit extends from the speaker through the speaker support and frame to the printed circuit board when the eyeglass is worn by a wearer.

28. The eyeglass of claim 18, wherein the audio device comprises a wireless receiver.

29. The eyeglass of claim 18, wherein the audio device comprises a wireless transceiver.

30. The eyeglass of claim 18, wherein the video unit comprises a video display unit.

31. The eyeglass of claim 30, wherein the at least one lens comprises the video display unit.

32. The eyeglass of claim 18, wherein the video unit comprises a display screen.

33. The eyeglass of claim 18, wherein the audio device comprises electronics for driving the video unit.

34. An eyeglass, comprising:

a frame configured to support at least one lens in a user'"'"'s field of view when worn by the user, the frame having at least a first ear stem and a second ear stem;

at least one lens supported by the frame, the at least one lens comprising at least one variable light attenuation assembly configured to change its attenuation of visible light in accordance with an electronic control signal;

at least first and second speakers supported by the frame such that the first speaker can be positioned adjacent to a first ear of the user and the second speaker can be positioned adjacent to a second ear of the user when worn by the user;

a wireless transceiver supported by the frame, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive a first wireless signal from a source and to wirelessly transmit a second wireless signal, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to output a transceiver output signal based upon the first wireless signal;

an interface supported by the frame, wherein the interface is configured to receive the transceiver output signal and provide a speaker signal to at least the first speaker;

a video unit being supported by the frame and being in communication with the wireless transceiver, the video unit being viewable by the user of the eyeglass with the light attenuation of the lens permitting a desired amount of light to pass through the lens toward an eye of the wearer of the eyeglass; and

a power supply, carried by the frame, wherein the power supply is configured to provide electrical power to the electric light attenuation and the video unit of the eyeglass.

35. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to establish a personal area network with the source.

36. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the source comprises a cellular telephone.

37. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the source comprises a compressed audio file storage device.

38. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the electronic control signal is provided to control variable light attenuation of the lens from the interface.

39. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the first wireless signal represents a caller'"'"'s voice during a phone call from a cellular phone, and wherein the speaker signal provided by the interface corresponds to the first wireless signal.

40. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the first wireless signal represents a stereo audio signal received from a digital music source.

41. The eyeglass of claim 34, further comprising a microphone supported by the frame and in electrical communication with the interface, wherein the microphone is configured to detect the user'"'"'s voice when worn by the user and provide a voice signal to the interface, and wherein the second wireless signal corresponds to the voice signal.

42. The eyeglass of claim 34, further comprising a memory in electrical communication with the interface, wherein the memory is configured to store digital information provided by the interface.

43. The eyeglass of claim 42, wherein the digital information comprises a compressed audio file.

44. The eyeglass of claim 42, wherein the digital information corresponds to the first wireless signal received by the wireless transceiver.

45. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the frame further comprises an internal cavity, and wherein said interface is located within the cavity.

46. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the video unit comprises a video display unit.

47. The eyeglass of claim 46, wherein the at least one lens comprises the video display unit.

48. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the video unit comprises a video display screen.

49. The eyeglass of claim 34, wherein the audio device comprises electronics for driving the video unit.

50. The eyeglass of claim 34, further comprising a carrier detector being configured to cause said wireless transceiver to enter a sleep mode when the transceiver output signal is not being transmitted thereto.