Eyeglasses having a camera

• US 7,806,525 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/546,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/121, 351/111, 351/119, 351/41, 351/156
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• 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 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces

Abstract

One embodiment pertains to a pair of glasses with a camera. For example, the camera can be partially or fully embedded in the glasses. In another embodiment, the camera can be removably attached to the glasses, such as removably attached to a temple of the glasses. The glasses can also include one or more various other electrical components. These other electrical components can work separately or in conjunction with the camera.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second temples;

a digital camera at least partially embedded in the first temple, the digital camera being configured to acquire at least an individual picture;

a user input device configured to receive a user input to activate aquisition of the individual picture by said camera;

a data storage device configured to store one or more individual pictures acquired by said camera; and

a microphone configured to acquire audio input to be recorded to said data storage device,

wherein the acquired audio input stored in said data storage device is associated with the individual picture acquired by said camera and stored in said data storage device.

2. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame further includes first and second lens holders, with the first lens holder adjacent the first temple and with the second lens holder adjacent the second temple, and wherein said camera is mounted such that the camera does not face forward, but faces at an angle from the perpendicular direction of the plane formed by the lens holder adjacent to the first temple.

3. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the angle is 15-40 degrees.

4. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera is mounted on an angled surface at a forward portion of the first temple.

5. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage device is removably coupled to the glasses.

6. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera can be operated to automatically take at least one picture without any required user interaction after a previous picture is taken.

7. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein, as stored in said data storage device, the acquired audio input is linked to at least the individual picture acquired by said camera.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises a speaker to allow an auditory feedback in picture taking.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input is stored in said data storage device as a separate electronic file from an electronic file storing the individual picture associated thereto.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera or said user input device is configured to initiate storage of the acquired audio input to said data storage device.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input is acquired during a predetermined period of time proximate to when the individual picture is acquired by said camera.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input is acquired during a predetermined period of time before and a predetermined time after the individual picture is acquired by said camera.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input comprises an audio message provided by a user of said pair of eyeglasses.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input comprises an audio recording of audio sounds at the location where the picture was taken.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the acquired audio input comprises an audio recording of environmental sounds at the location where the picture was taken.

16. A pair of eyeglasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage device is removably connectable to the first temple or the second temple.

17. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises

a speaker at least partially embedded in said eyeglass frame;

at least one electrical component for wireless connection, and

wherein said pair of glasses is configurable to be used as a wireless headset.

18. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises:

at least one electronic component for wireless connection,

wherein the pictures taken by said camera can be wirelessly transmitted to another device.

19. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises at least one sensor.

20. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage device is a removable media card.

21. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein said data storage device is a removable memory card, and

wherein said pair of glasses further includes a connector adhered by or to one of the first and second temples, said connector being operatively connected to said camera, and

wherein said removable memory card is configured to operatively connect with said connector to permit storage in said removable memory card of the one or more individual pictures acquired by said camera.

22. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 21, wherein said connector is a USB connector.

23. A pair of glasses for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least one lens holder and first and second temples, with each of the first and second temples being connected to the at least one lens holder at least via a hinge; and

a digital camera at least partially embedded in a forward portion of the first temple,

wherein said camera is coupled to the forward portion of the first temple, such that the camera does not face directly forward but faces outward at an angle of about 15-40 degrees from the directly forward direction so that obstruction of the field of view of said camera by the at least one lens holder and/or the hinge associated with the first temple is significantly reduced.

24. A pair of glasses for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least one lens holder and first and second temples; and

a digital camera at least partially embedded in the first temple,

wherein said camera is coupled to a forward portion of the first temple, such that the camera does not face directly forward but faces outward at an angle of about 15-40 degrees so that the at least one lens holder does not obstruct the field of view of said camera.

25. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 24, wherein said camera is mounted on an angled surface at the forward portion of the first temple.

26. A pair of glasses for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second temples;

a digital camera at least partially embedded in said eyeglass frame, said camera being configured to acquire one or more images;

a user input device configured to receive a user input to activate acquisition of the one or more images by said camera; and

a removable memory card connector provided at one of the first and second temples, said removable memory card connector being electrically connected to said camera.

27. A pair of glasses for a user as recited in claim 26, wherein said removable memory card connector is adhered to or at least partially embedded within the one of the first and second temples.

28. A pair of glasses for a user as recited in claim 26, wherein the one or more images acquired by said camera are able to be stored to a removable memory card that is connected with said removable memory card connector.

29. A pair of glasses for a user, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second temples;

a digital camera at least partially embedded in said eyeglass frame, said camera being configured to acquire one or more images;

a user input device configured to receive a user input to activate acquisition of the one or more images by said camera; and

a removable memory card slot provided at one of the first and second temples, said removable memory card slot being configured to receive a removable memory card, whereby the one or more images acquired by said camera are able to be stored to the removable memory card while the removable memory card is inserted into said removable memory card slot.

30. A pair of glasses for a user as recited in claim 29, wherein said removable memory card slot is provided at a lower portion of the one of the first and second temples.