Wearable device with input and output structures

• US 9,164,284 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• 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:
  US14/037,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 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 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 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 is adjustable for selective positioning of the brow portion relative to an eye of the user;

a display housing including a generally transparent display, the display extending parallel to the brow portion, the display having a surface facing the eye of the user, the display housing being configured to adjust its position relative to the eye of the user, the adjustment of the display housing causing the surface of the display to move relative to a focal center of the eye so that the surface of the display remains perpendicular to the focal center of the eye of the user;

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, and

an outer housing positioned at the free end of the first arm, the outer housing containing electronic components for the electronic device, and the outer housing configured to add weight to a rearward portion of the frame positioned behind the first ear of a user so as to counterbalance a weight of the display housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the bridge includes a pair of projections configured for contacting opposing sides of the nose of the user, and wherein the bridge is adjustable by movement of the projections toward each other and away from each other.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the selective positioning of the brow portion also positions the display over the eye of the user in a first direction toward and away from the brow of the user.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the display includes a planar viewing surface, and wherein the adjustment of the display housing includes a rotation of the display about a first axis such that the viewing surface is positionable normal to a line from the viewing surface to the focal center of the eye of the user within a range of adjustment of the display in the first direction.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display is moveable with respect to the frame through translation along the first axis.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the axis includes a retention component to prevent removal of the display housing from the frame.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes 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.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the generally transparent display is configured to be movable in a transverse direction along the post.

9. 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.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the projected image is viewable by a wearer of the device in conjunction with an external image viewable through the prism.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to add weight to the rearward portion of the frame.

12. 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 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 having a generally transparent display, the display unit being affixed to the frame and positioned adjacent the brow portion thereof;

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 display unit and the input 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 first ear of the user;

wherein the display unit and the input device exert a first weight force centered over a first side of the first ear of the user, and wherein the electronics housing containing the control circuitry is positioned and configured to add weight behind the first ear of the user and provide a predetermined balancing weight force against the first weight force that is centered over a second side of the ear.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the electronics housing is further configured such that the first weight force and the balancing weight force contribute to an overall weight of the device that 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.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, 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.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, 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.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the camera contributes to the first weight force centered over the first side of the ear of the user.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, 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.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, 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.

19. The electronic device of claim 12, 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.

20. 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 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 generally transparent display affixed to the frame and positioned adjacent the brow portion thereof;

an input device affixed to the frame and configured to receive from the user an input associated with a control function during operation of the electronic device, the control function presenting the user with a selection of menu items on the display; and

an electronics housing containing control circuitry for the electronic device rotatably 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 first ear of the user, wherein the electronics housing is configured to add weight to a rearward portion of the frame positioned behind the first ear of the user so as to counterbalance a weight of the display.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, 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.

22. The electronic device of claim 20, 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.