Eyewear display and media device interconnection system

• US 7,663,805 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Myvu Corporation
• Inventors: Zaloum, Thomas, Spitzer, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/973,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/618
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

An eyewear display and media device interconnection system enables a user to connect various media devices and various eyewear or other displays to each other, by using a common interface. The integrated system offers improved ergonomics, lower size, lower power consumption and lower cost.

Claims

1. An eyewear display and media device interconnection system comprising:

an upper part comprising eyewear display interface circuitry comprising circuits for formatting audio and video data to an eyewear display;

a lower part comprising a media device or media device interface;

the upper part and lower part include an electrical interface connection for transmitting video and audio signals between the upper part and the lower part;

a connecting device for connecting and disconnecting the upper part and lower part; and

the circuitry in the upper part includes a display controller for sending drive signals to the eyewear display , and a microcontroller for transmitting input signals from the lower part via an analog-to-digital converter or a digital bus to the display controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical interface connection between the upper part and the lower part further transmits power between the upper part and the lower part.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical interface connection comprises one or more of an audio interface, a video interface, horizontal and vertical strobe lines, a microphone interface, an RGB interface, a digital communication channel, and a clock line.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface connection transmits analog signals, digital signals, or analog and digital signals.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry in the upper part for configuring video processing for compatibility with the media device or media device interface in the lower part.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry in the upper part comprises a display controller for sending drive signals to the eyewear display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display controller comprises a left controller and a right controller for providing stereo video signals to the eyewear display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry in the upper part includes an analog-to-digital converter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry of the upper part comprises a backlight controller for transmitting drive current to a backlight of the eyewear display.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry of the upper part comprises audio circuitry for sending audio signals to earphones in the eyewear display.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper part further supplies power to the eyewear display.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper part further includes a display.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry in the lower part for detecting a type of eyewear display and configuring video data to match the eyewear display.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the media device in the lower part comprises an MP3 player, an MP4 player, a DVD player, a game system, a GPS system, a cellular telephone, a digital television, a camcorder, a camera, electronic book reader, a portable communication device or a portable entertainment device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes a microcontroller for transmitting video data and audio signals to the upper part via the electrical interface connection.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes video data memory.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes a decoder for transmitting uncompressed video data from memory to the upper part via the electrical interface connection.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes audio circuitry for transmitting audio signals to the upper part.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part comprises a power source or a connection to a power source.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes a connection for receiving compressed video data, and a decoder for transmitting uncompressed video data via the interface connection to the upper part.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower part includes a wireless interface for transmitting and receiving video, audio, and control signals.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising user controls disposed on the lower part.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper part and the lower part are mountable to an eyewear frame.