Eyewear supporting electrical components and apparatus therefor

• US 8,109,629 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/462,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/158, 381/327, 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: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Claims

1. Eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second extended endpieces, and first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided on opposite sides of said eyeglass frame, the first and second temples each having a forward end and a rearward end; and

a first electronic system partially or fully embedded in the first extended endpiece,

wherein said first electronic system comprises an integrated circuit device, and

wherein the integrated circuit device is mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being fully embedded in the first extended endpiece.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein, the first extended endpiece has a cavity for receiving at least the integrated circuit device, the circuit board and an output device.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2, wherein a module is provided in and attached to the cavity, and wherein the module includes at least the integrated circuit device, the circuit board and the output device.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said first electronic system comprises a display device and/or a user input device.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 4, wherein the first extended endpiece has a cavity for receiving the first electronic system.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein said eyeglass frame further includes a first lens holder and a second lens holder,

wherein the forward end of the first temple couples to the first extended endpiece by a hinge, the hinge allows the first temple to pivot with respect to the first extended endpiece, and

wherein the hinge is set back from the first lens holder by the first extended endpiece.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the hinge is set back from the first lens holder by about 1-5 centimeters.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame includes first and second lens holders and a bridge region connecting the first and second lens holders, and wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an electronic device embedded in at least one of the first and second lens holders or the bridge region.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyeglass frame.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 9,

wherein said eyeglass frame further includes at least one lens holder,

wherein a wire interconnects the first electronic system to the electronic device, and

wherein at least a portion of the wire is internal to the at least one lens holder.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic system comprises one or more of a data storage device, a sun sensor, a pedometer, a wireless transceiver, a hearing enhancement device and a media player.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an electronic device partially or fully embedded in the forward end of the first temple.

13. Eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second extended endpieces, and first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided on opposite sides of said eyeglass frame; and

a first electronic circuit contained in the first extended endpiece, the first electronic circuit including at least one electronic device mounted on a circuit board,

wherein the circuit board and the at least one electronic device mounted thereon are completely contained within the first extended endpiece.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 13, wherein the first extended endpiece includes a cavity, and wherein the first electronic circuit is contained within the cavity.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 14, wherein the cavity of the first extended endpiece can be accessed via a door provided at the first extended endpiece.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 13,

wherein said eyeglass frame includes first and second lens holders and a bridge region connecting the first and second lens holders, and

wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an additional electronic device embedded in at least one of the first and second lens holders or the bridge region.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 13,

wherein said eyeglass frame includes a bridge region, and

wherein said eyewear further comprises an additional electronic device at least partially embedded in said eyeglass frame at or proximate to the bridge region.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 17,

wherein the additional electronic device is a sensor, and

wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the first electronic circuit by at least one conductive element provided from the first electronic circuit in the first extended endpiece to the sensor.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 18, wherein the first electronic circuit together with the sensor support wireless data transfer.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 18,

wherein said eyewear further comprises at least one lens holder, and

wherein the at least one conductive element is at least partially embedded in the lens holder.

21. Eyewear as recited in claim 13,

wherein said eyewear further comprises a sensor provided at the first extended endpiece or the second extended endpiece, and

wherein the sensor is configured to be electrically connected to the first electronic circuit.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one electronic device includes at least one integrated circuit device.

23. Eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second extended endpieces, a bridge region, and first and second temples, the first temple being coupled to the first extended endpiece, and the second temple being coupled to the second extended endpiece; and

an electronic circuit contained in the first extended endpiece, the electronic circuit including at least one integrated circuit device mounted on a printed circuit board,

wherein the first extended endpiece includes a cavity, wherein the printed circuit board and the at least one integrated circuit device mounted thereon are completely contained within the cavity at the first extended endpiece,

wherein the cavity at the first extended endpiece can be accessed via a removable cover provided at the first extended endpiece,

wherein said eyewear further comprises an electronic device at least partially embedded in said eyeglass frame at or proximate to the bridge region, and

wherein the electronic device is electrically connected to the electronic circuit by at least one conductive element provided from the electronic circuit in the first extended endpiece to the electronic device.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein the electronic device comprises a sensor.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 24, wherein the electronic circuit and the sensor together support wireless data transfer.

26. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless transceiver.