Wearable device with input and output structures

• US 9,285,592 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Olsson, Maj Isabelle, Heinrich, Mitchell Joseph, Kelly, Daniel, Lapetina, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zheng, Xuemei
• Application Number:
  US13/212,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20130044042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0158 with adjustable nose pad
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

An electronic device including a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user is disclosed. The frame can include a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user and a brow portion coupled to and extending away from the bridge and configured to be positioned over a side of a brow of the user. The frame can further include an arm coupled to the brow portion and extending to a free end. The first arm can be positionable over a temple of the user with the free end disposed near an ear of the user. The device can also include a transparent display affixed to the frame adjacent the brow portion and an input affixed to the frame and configured for receiving from the user an input associated with a function. Information related to the function can be presentable on the display.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user, the frame including a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user, a brow portion having a body coupled to and extending away from the bridge to a first end remote therefrom and configured to be positioned over a first side of a brow of the user, and a first arm having a first end coupled to the first end of the brow portion and extending to a free end, the body including a flange along at least a portion thereof, and the first end of the brow portion including a first wall substantially perpendicular to the flange, the flange and the first wall together defining a receiving portion, and the first arm being configured to be positioned over a first temple of the user with the free end disposed near a first ear of the user, wherein the bridge includes a pair of bridge arms that are substantially longitudinal and extend toward a nose of the user, each bridge arm having a nose pad configured to rest on a nose of the user, wherein each of the bridge arms are deformably bendable and repositionable relative to the bridge such that the bridge arms are adapted to move closer together, farther apart, or fore and aft;

a generally transparent display;

means for affixing the display to the frame such that display is moveable with respect to the frame through rotation about a first axis that extends parallel to the first brow portion, the display being positioned adjacent the receiving portion of the brow portion; and

an input device affixed to the frame and configured to receive from the user an input associated with a function, wherein information related to the function is presentable on the display.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the means for affixing is further configured such that the display is moveable with respect to the frame through translation along the first axis.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the means for affixing include a mounting portion affixed to the first brow portion near the first arm, the mounting portion including a post defining the first axis, and wherein the display is configured to receive the post to rotatably affix the display to the frame.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the display is configured to be movable in a transverse direction along the post.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the generally transparent display is a prism of a transparent material configured to make an image projected into a side of the prism visible at a surface of the prism that is at a nonzero angle to the side of the prism.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the projected image is viewable by a wearer of the device in conjunction with an external image viewable through the prism.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display protrudes longitudinally towards the bridge.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user, the frame including a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user, a brow portion coupled to and extending away from the bridge to a first end remote therefrom and configured to be positioned over a first side of a brow of the user, and a first arm having a first end coupled to the first end of the brow portion and extending to a free end, the body including a flange along at least a portion thereof, and the first end of the brow portion including a first wall substantially perpendicular to the flange, the flange and the first wall together defining a receiving portion, and the first arm being configured to be positioned over a first temple of the user with the free end disposed near a first ear of the user;

a display housing affixed to the frame, the display housing having a generally transparent display extending longitudinally from a first end of the display housing towards the bridge, the display housing being affixed within the receiving portion of the brow portion and the display protruding longitudinally from the display housing towards the bridge, the display being positioned below the brow portion of the frame and also above a horizontal center of an eye of the user;

an input device affixed to the frame and configured to receive from the user an input associated with a function, wherein information related to the function is presentable on the display; and

an electronics housing containing control circuitry for the electronic device, the electronics housing being affixed on the free end of the first arm and having a portion that extends away from the arm and is configured to extend around at least a portion of the ear of the user.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronics housing is further configured to contact a portion of a side of the head of the user on the second side of the first ear.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, further including a camera affixed to the frame adjacent to the display and facing a direction opposite the first arm and generally perpendicular to the brow portion.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the display, the camera, and the input device exert a weight force centered over a first side of the ear of the user, and wherein the electronics housing is positioned and configured to provide a balancing weight against the first weight force centered over a second side of the ear.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, further including at least one additional component having a respective weight and affixed to one of the electronics housing and the frame such that an overall weight of the device is distributed among the nose of the user and the first ear of the user such that a majority of the overall weight is applied to the first ear.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronics housing is further configured to enclose a battery to provide power the device, the housing affixed on a portion of the frame.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the brow portion of the frame further extends away from the bridge to a second end opposite the first end thereof and is further configured to be positioned over a second side of the brow of the user, the frame further including a second arm having a first end coupled to the second end of the brow portion and extending to a free end thereof, the second arm being configured to be positioned over a second temple of the user with the free end thereof disposed near a second ear of the user.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user, the frame including;

a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user;

a brow portion having a body coupled to and extending away from the bridge to a first end remote therefrom, the body including a flange along at least a portion thereof, and the first end including a first wall substantially perpendicular to the flange, the flange and the first wall together defining a receiving portion, wherein the brow portion is configured to be positioned over a first side of a brow of the user; and

a first arm having a first end coupled to the first end of the brow portion and extending to a free end, the first arm being configured to be positioned over a first temple of the user with the free end disposed near a first ear of the user;

a display unit including a display housing and a generally transparent display element, the display unit being affixed within the receiving portion of the brow portion and protruding longitudinally from the display housing towards the bridge, and the display element being positioned below the brow portion and also above a horizontal center of an eye of the user; and

an input device affixed to the frame and configured for receiving from the user an input associated with a function, wherein information related to the function is presentable on the display element.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the brow portion further includes a third wall extending perpendicular to the first wall and parallel to the flange, the third wall further defining the receiving portion.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the input is touch input affixed to the first arm and having a touch-sensitive surface that extends flush with the first wall.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the touch-sensitive surface includes a texture along at least a portion thereof.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the receiving portion further includes a camera housing disposed along the display unit, the camera housing having a camera facing in a direction away from the brow portion.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the receiving portion further includes a sensor positioned adjacent to the camera in the camera housing.