Eyeglasses with wireless communication features

• US 20020197961A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/245 Means for mounting audio or communication systems
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, all mounted to an eyeglasses frame, for sending and receiving signals wirelessly to and from a remote cell phone or other electronic device. The microphone and the transmitter can be mounted to extension arms that can be extended, pivoted, or otherwise moved to a position for use, and then moved to a stored position when not in use. Alternatively, the microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, can be mounted onto a clip-on or other attachment member that mounts onto a conventional eyeglasses frame, or to a hat or other article worn on the head.

Claims

1. Eyeglasses for audio communication with a remote electronic device, comprising:

a) an eyeglasses frame;

b) a microphone coupled to the frame;

c) a transmitter coupled to the frame, in communication with the microphone, and adapted to send wireless signals to the remote electronic device;

d) at least one speaker coupled to the frame; and

e) a receiver coupled to the frame, in communication with the speaker, and adapted to receive wireless signals from the remote electronic device.

2. The eyeglasses of claim 1, wherein the eyeglasses frame comprises a lens holder and two support arms, with the microphone coupled to the lens holder or one of the support arms and each speaker coupled to one of the support arms.

3. The eyeglasses of claim 1, wherein the microphone is directional and oriented toward a user'"'"'s mouth when wearing the eyeglasses, and the speaker is disposed adjacent to and oriented toward a user'"'"'s ear when wearing the eyeglasses.

4. The eyeglasses of claim 1, further comprising a first extension arm coupled to the eyeglasses frame, wherein the microphone is coupled to the extension arm.

5. The eyeglasses of claim 4, wherein the first extension arm is pivotal or telescopic.

6. The eyeglasses of claim 1, further comprising a second extension arm coupled to the eyeglasses frame, wherein the speaker is coupled to the extension arm.

7. The eyeglasses of claim 6, wherein the second extension arm is pivotal.

8. Eyeglasses for audio communication with a remote electronic device, comprising:

a) an eyeglasses frame having a lens holder and two support arms;

b) a directional microphone coupled to the lens holder or one of the support arms and oriented toward a user'"'"'s mouth when wearing the eyeglasses;

c) a transmitter coupled to the frame, in communication with the microphone, and adapted to send radio signals to the remote electronic device;

d) at least one speaker coupled to one of the support arms and disposed adjacent to and oriented toward the user'"'"'s ear when wearing the eyeglasses;

e) a receiver coupled to the frame, in communication with the speaker, and adapted to receive radio signals from the remote electronic device; and

f) a power source electrically connected to the transmitter and to the receiver.

9. The eyeglasses of claim 8, further comprising a first extension arm coupled to the eyeglasses frame, wherein the microphone is coupled to the extension arm.

10. The eyeglasses of claim 9, wherein the first extension arm is pivotal or telescopic.

11. The eyeglasses of claim 8, further comprising a second extension arm coupled to the eyeglasses frame, wherein the speaker is coupled to the extension arm.

12. The eyeglasses of claim 11, wherein the second extension arm is pivotal.

13. The eyeglasses of claim 8, wherein the power source comprises at least one screw-in battery.

14. The eyeglasses of claim 8, wherein the speaker is a bone-type speaker.

16. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the member comprises a lens holder and the connector comprises a clip adapted to removably mount the clip-on lens holder onto a lens holder of the eyeglasses frame.

17. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the member comprises a frame or sheet and the connector is formed by a bent section thereof and adapted to removably mount the frame or sheet onto a support arm of the eyeglasses frame.

18. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the microphone is directional and oriented toward a user'"'"'s mouth when wearing the eyeglasses, and the speaker is directional and oriented toward the user'"'"'s ear when wearing the eyeglasses.

19. The wearable device of claim 15, further comprising a first extension arm coupled to the member, wherein the microphone is coupled to the extension arm.

20. The wearable device of claim 19, wherein the first extension arm is pivotal or telescopic.

21. The wearable device of claim 15, further comprising a second extension arm coupled to the member, wherein the speaker is coupled to the extension arm.

22. The wearable device of claim 21, wherein the second extension arm is pivotal.

24. The wearable device of claim 23, wherein the frame is selected from the group consisting of hats, headbands, and eyeglasses.

25. The wearable device of claim 23, wherein the microphone is directional and oriented toward a user'"'"'s mouth when wearing the wearable device, and the speaker is disposed adjacent to and oriented toward a user'"'"'s ear when wearing the eyeglasses.

26. The wearable device of claim 23, further comprising a first extension arm coupled to the frame, wherein the microphone is coupled to the extension arm.

27. The wearable device of claim 23, further comprising a second extension arm coupled to the frame, wherein the speaker is coupled to the extension arm.

15. A wearable device for use with an eyeglasses frame and for audio communication with a remote electronic device, the wearable device comprising:

a) a member having at least one connector adapted to removably mount the member onto the eyeglasses frame;

b) a microphone coupled to the member;

c) a transmitter coupled to the member, in communication with the microphone, and adapted to send wireless signals to the remote electronic device;

d) at least one speaker coupled to the member; and

e) a receiver coupled to the member, in communication with the speaker, and adapted to receive wireless signals from the remote electronic device.

23. A device that is wearable on a user'"'"'s head for audio communication with a remote electronic device, comprising:

a) a wearable article forming a frame;

b) a microphone coupled to the frame;

c) a transmitter coupled to the frame, in communication with the microphone, and adapted to send wireless signals to the remote electronic device;

d) at least one speaker coupled to the frame; and

e) a receiver coupled to the frame, in communication with the speaker, and adapted to receive wireless signals from the remote electronic device.