Communication eyewear assembly with zone of safety capability

• US 8,744,113 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energy Telecom Incorporated (PFO Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Energy Telecom Incorporated (PFO Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rickards, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US13/713,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20140169609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 381/327, 381/375, 381/381, 379/430, 455/556.1, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 351/158
• US Class Current: 381/381
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A communication eyewear assembly is configured to identify a zone of safety about a wearer and to notify the wearer and/or others of same. A frame assembly is worn to maintain at least one transparent eye panel in front of the wearer'"'"'s eyes. A processor coupled to the frame assembly receives incoming data from at least one data source. Utilizing the received data, the processor generates zone of safety information in least one spatial dimension relative to a hazardous area. The assembly can also determine existence of extraordinary circumstances based on changes or lack of changes in the data, and notify the wearer and/or others of same, particularly with regard to the status of the wearer. In accordance with the monitoring of the wearer and/or the communication eyewear itself, a unique ID is assigned to the communication eyewear assembly.

Claims

1. A communication eyewear assembly comprising:

a frame assembly;

at least one substantially transparent eye panel coupled to said frame assembly;

said frame assembly structured to be supportably disposed on a wearer so as to maintain said at least one eye panel disposed in front of a wearer'"'"'s eye;

a processor coupled to said frame assembly, said processor structured and disposed to receive an incoming data signal from at least one source of data;

said processor structured to utilize said data to generate zone of safety information corresponding to a physical zone of safety, said physical zone of safety defining a physical boundary in least one spatial dimension relative to a hazardous area;

said processor further structured to communicate said zone of safety information to at least the wearer.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said zone of safety information comprises data pertaining to at least two spatial dimensions.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said zone of safety information comprises data pertaining to at least three spatial dimensions.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said zone of safety information comprises temporal data.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor coupled to said frame assembly is further structured to communicate with a remote processor structured to assist said processor coupled to said frame assembly.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is further structured to determine existence of an extraordinary circumstance based on changes or lack of changes in said data, and further structured to notify the wearer of same.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is further structured to determine existence of an extraordinary circumstance based on changes or lack of changes in said data, and further structured to notify an entity other than the wearer of same.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a unique ID feature structured to communicate with a personal communication device of the wearer and/or remote devices.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 1 comprising at least one earpiece disposed in communication with said processor, and further structured to be disposed in operative proximity to the at least one of the wearer'"'"'s ears, said at least one earpiece comprising a speaker assembly structured and disposed to audibly communicate an incoming audio signal to the wearer.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one earpiece is further structured to substantially muffle ambient noise.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein at least a portion of said at least one earpiece is structured to be inserted into the wearer'"'"'s ear so as to substantially muffle ambient noise.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one earpiece comprises a disposable insert structured to substantially muffle ambient noise.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one data source is selected from a group consisting of a remote source, a local source, a device integrated with said communication eyewear worn by the wearer, a device worn by the wearer but not integrated with said communication eyewear, and a device worn by another individual in the vicinity of the wearer.

14. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said data utilized to generate said zone of safety information is selected from a group consisting of environmental data, locational data of the wearer, locational data of potentially hazardous objects in the vicinity of the wearer, and biometric data of the wearer.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said assembly further comprises at least one display unit disposed in communication with said processor and structured to visually display a representation of said zone of safety to the wearer.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is further structured to communicate said zone of safety information to at least one remote device.

17. A communication eyewear assembly comprising:

a frame assembly;

at least one substantially transparent eye panel coupled to said frame assembly;

said frame assembly structured to be supportably disposed on a wearer so as to maintain said at least one eye panel disposed in front of a wearer'"'"'s eye;

a processor coupled to said frame assembly, said processor structured and disposed to receive an incoming data signal from at least one source of data;

said processor structured to utilize said data to generate zone of safety information corresponding to a physical zone of safety, said physical zone of safety defining a physical boundary in least one spatial dimension relative to a hazardous area;

said processor further structured to communicate said zone of safety information to the wearer and/or at least one remote device;

said processor further structured to determine existence of an extraordinary circumstance based on changes or lack of changes in said data, and further structured to notify the wearer and/or at least one remote device of same; and

a unique ID feature structured to communicate with a personal communication device of the wearer and/or remote devices.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said processor coupled to said frame assembly is structured to comprise said unique ID feature.

19. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said unique ID feature is integrated with a locational sensor coupled to said frame.

20. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said at least one data source is selected from a group consisting of a remote source, a local source, a device integrated with said communication eyewear worn by the wearer, a device worn by the wearer but not integrated with said communication eyewear, and a device worn by another individual in the vicinity of the wearer.

21. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said data utilized to generate said zone of safety information is selected from a group consisting of environmental data, locational data of the wearer, locational data of potentially hazardous objects in the vicinity of the wearer, and biometric data of the wearer.

22. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said assembly further comprises at least one display unit disposed in communication with said processor and structured to visually display a representation of said zone of safety to the wearer.

23. A communication eyewear assembly comprising:

a frame assembly;

at least one substantially transparent eye panel coupled to said frame assembly;

said frame assembly structured to be supportably disposed on a wearer so as to maintain said at least one eye panel disposed in front of a wearer'"'"'s eye;

a processor coupled to said frame assembly, said processor structured and disposed to receive an incoming data signal from at least one source of data;

said processor structured to utilize said data to generate zone of safety information corresponding to a physical zone of safety, said physical zone of safety defining a physical boundary in least one spatial dimension relative to a hazardous area;

said processor further structured to communicate said zone of safety information to the wearer and/or at least one remote device;

at least one display unit disposed in communication with said processor and structured to visually display a representation of said zone of safety to the wearer;

said processor further structured to determine existence of an extraordinary circumstance based on changes or lack of changes in said data, and further structured to notify the wearer and/or at least one remote device of same;

a unique ID feature structured to communicate with a personal communication device of the wearer and/or remote devices; and

at least one earpiece disposed in communication with said processor, and further structured to be disposed in operative proximity to the at least one of the wearer'"'"'s ears, said at least one earpiece comprising a speaker assembly structured and disposed to audibly communicate an incoming audio signal to the wearer, said at least one earpiece further structured to substantially muffle ambient noise, wherein at least a portion of said at least one earpiece is structured to be inserted into the wearer'"'"'s ear so as to substantially muffle ambient noise.

24. An assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said at least one data source is selected from a group consisting of a remote source, a local source, a device integrated with said communication eyewear worn by the wearer, a device worn by the wearer but not integrated with said communication eyewear, and a device worn by another individual in the vicinity of the wearer.

25. An assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said data utilized to generate said zone of safety information is selected from a group consisting of environmental data, locational data of the wearer, locational data of potentially hazardous objects in the vicinity of the wearer, and biometric data of the wearer.

26. An assembly as recited in claim 23, wherein a physical means for communicating said zone of safety information is selected from a group consisting of sounds, audio messages, vibrations, electro-shock, heat, graphic displays, and textual displays.

27. An assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said processor coupled to said frame assembly is further structured to communicate with a remote processor structured to assist said processor coupled to said frame assembly.

28. An assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said processor is further structured to determine said extraordinary circumstance based on a health related data of the wearer.

29. An assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said processor is further structured to determine said extraordinary circumstance based on a safety related data of the wearer.

30. An assembly as recited in claim 23 further structured to detect moving objects, and wherein said processor is further structured to incorporate data pertaining to the moving objects into said zone of safety information.

31. An assembly as recited in claim 30 comprising a motion detection capability coupled to said frame assembly.

32. An assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein said motion detection capability is selected from a group consisting of camera assemblies, microphone assemblies, ultrasonic transducers, magnetic position sensors, and RFID sensors.