Eyewear with exchangeable temples housing a radio frequency transceiver

• US 9,244,292 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Swab, Gregory, Malackowski, James E., Greaves, Mikal, Milesi, Rolf, Ligtenberg, Christiaan, Meier, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US10/884,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.5, 455/556.1, 455/569.1, 455/426.1, 280/735, 264/221, 264/250, 351/41, 351/153, 351/158, 382/104, 706/12, 701/36, 701/45, 340/438, 340/825.72, 359/618
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2015/3895 using light
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 12/02 Spectacle frames constructional form G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/02 Column chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/248 where transmission power control commands are generated based on a path parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless ad hoc pico network is formed by eyewear having a radio frequency transceiver and other devices such as a computer, a bracelet and a telephone having similar transceivers mounted on them. Master slave relationships are configurable. Other devices, such as a radio, a CD player, a hand held global positioning satellite system and a heart rate monitor, having similar transceivers, can also be connected with the transceiver of the eyewear. The transceivers operate on a globally available, unlicensed radio band of 2.45 gigahertz (GHz).

Claims

1. An eyewear comprising:

a frame, comprising at least one temple configured to be detachably attached to the remainder of said frame;

a radio frequency transceiver for short-distance wireless communication, wherein said radio frequency transceiver is embedded in said at least one temple, and wherein said radio frequency transceiver is configured to form an ad hoc wireless network with at least one of a plurality of devices;

a hinge, said hinge connecting said frame and said at least one temple;

a first pad located on said frame; and

a second pad located on said at least one temple;

wherein said first pad and said second pad contact each other when said at least one temple is in open position, thereby establishing an electrical connection.

5. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with said devices within a frequency band of 2.45 gigahertz (GHz).

6. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein any one of said transceiver and said devices is configured to be a master or a slave in a master-slave configuration.

7. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said devices are wireless devices.

8. The eyewear of claim 7, wherein said wireless devices are chosen from a group consisting of a phone, a computer, a radio, a compact disc player, a camera, a distance alarm, a heart rate monitor and a hand held global positioning satellite system.

9. The eyewear of claim 7, wherein said wireless devices are located in a range of one hundred meters or less from the eyewear.

10. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transceiver is configured to automatically change an output power of the transceiver to adjust a range of transmission to exactly a required range.

11. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein each of said radio frequency transceiver and said wireless devices has a respective clock, and wherein said clocks are automatically synchronized with one of said clocks that is a designated master clock.

12. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transceiver can communicate with only those wireless devices that are preset to communicate with said radio frequency transceiver.

13. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transceiver can work in a noisy radio environment.

14. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

an apparatus, said apparatus being attached to said temple.

15. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein said apparatus is selected from a group consisting of an audio device having a speaker and a microphone, a camera, a display device, a distance alarm and an ear bud.

16. The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising:

an apparatus, said apparatus being attached to said frame.

17. The eyewear of claim 16, wherein said apparatus is selected from a group consisting of an audio device having a speaker and a microphone, a camera, a display device, a distance alarm and an ear bud.

18. The eyewear of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said apparatus is embedded in said at least one temple.

19. The eyewear of claim 18, further comprising:

one or more conductors, said one or more conductors being embedded in said at least one temple and said frame, wherein said one or more conductors are configured to establish electrical connection between different components of said apparatus.

2. An eyewear comprising:

a frame, comprising at least one temple configured to be detachably attached to the remainder of said frame;

a radio frequency transceiver for short-distance wireless communication, wherein said radio frequency transceiver is embedded in said at least one temple, and wherein said radio frequency transceiver is configured to form an ad hoc wireless network with at least one of a plurality of devices;

a hinge; and

a connector having a male portion and a female portion,

wherein said hinge is connected to said frame and said female portion, and wherein said at least one temple is connected to said male portion such that when said male portion is engaged with said female portion said at least one temple is attached to said frame substantially hiding from view said connection and said hinge.

4. The eyewear of claim 2, further comprising:

an on/off switch, said switch being located on said at least one temple.

3. An eyewear comprising:

a frame, comprising at least one temple configured to be detachably attached to the remainder of said frame;

a radio frequency transceiver for short-distance wireless communication, wherein said radio frequency transceiver is embedded in said at least one temple, and wherein said radio frequency transceiver is configured to form an ad hoc wireless network with at least one of a plurality of devices;

a hinge; and

a connector having a male portion and a female portion,

wherein said hinge is connected to said frame and said male portion, and wherein said at least one temple is connected to said female portion such that when said male portion is engaged with said female portion said at least one temple is attached to said frame substantially hiding from view said connector and said hinge.