Eyewear docking station and electronic module

• US 9,122,083 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald, Wang, Yongping, Graham, Mark, Kokonaski, William, Clompus, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US13/735,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/41, 351/121, 351/111, 381/381
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/061 with movable shutters, e.g. filter discs; Actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• 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 7/081 Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00

Abstract

An eyewear system including an eyewear frame and an application module. The eyewear frame including a docking station, and an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points. The application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, and including an electronic device configured to perform a function, and a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points. The second set of preconfigured application connection points including at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.

Claims

1. Eyewear comprising:

an eyewear frame having a first temple and a second temple;

a first mounting track, disposed along a length of the first temple, to receive at least one first application module, the at least one first application module comprising at least one electronic device; and

a plurality of preconfigured connection points, disposed in the first mounting track, to connect the eyewear to the at least one first application module, the plurality of preconfigured connection points providing at least two different sub-function connections to support a function of the at least one electronic device.

2. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first mounting track is disposed within a majority of the length of the first temple.

3. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first mounting track is disposed along an inner side of the first temple.

4. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first mounting track is configured to support adjustment of the at least one first application module.

5. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first mounting track is configured to receive a plurality of first application modules.

6. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

a release mechanism to release the at least one first application module from the first mounting track.

7. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

a moveable cover removably disposed over at least a portion of the first mounting track; and

a release mechanism to actuate the moveable cover.

8. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

a second mounting track, disposed along a length of the second temple, to receive at least one second application module, the at least one second application module comprising at least one other electronic device.

9. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electro-chromic lens supported by the eyewear frame.

10. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the eyewear is configured to provide augmented reality and/or virtual reality.

11. A method of supporting at least one first application module comprising at least one electronic device with an eyewear frame, the eyewear frame comprising a first temple and a second temple, the method comprising:

attaching the at least one first application module to a plurality of preconfigured connection points disposed in a first mounting track disposed along a length of the first temple; and

supporting at least two different sub-functions of the at least one electronic device with the plurality of preconfigured connection points.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the at least one first application module to the first mounting track comprises mounting a plurality of first application modules to the first mounting track.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting the at least one first application module along a length of the first mounting track.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

releasing the at least one first application module from the first mounting track.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the at least one first application module to the first mounting track comprises removing a moveable cover disposed over at least a portion of the first mounting track.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein removing the moveable comprises actuating a release mechanism.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

attaching at least one second application module to a second mounting track disposed along a length of the second temple.

18. Eyewear comprising:

an eyewear frame having a first temple and a second temple;

a first docking station track disposed along a length of the first temple;

a first plurality of preconfigured connection points disposed within the first docking station track; and

at least one first docking application module mounted to the first mounting track and connected to at least two of the first plurality of preconfigured connection points, the at least one first docking application module comprising at least one first electronic device.

19. The eyewear of claim 18, wherein the at least one first docking application module comprises a plurality of first docking application modules mounted to the first mounting track and to the respective ones of the first plurality of preconfigured connection points.

20. The eyewear of claim 18, comprising:

a second docking station track disposed along a length of the second temple;

a second plurality of preconfigured connection points disposed within the second docking station track; and

at least one second docking application module mounted to the second mounting track and connected to at least two of the second plurality of preconfigured connection points, the at least one second docking application module comprising at least second one electronic device.

21. The eyewear of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one electro-chromic lens supported by the eyewear frame.