Eyewear supporting embedded electronic components

• US 9,547,184 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US14/557,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/41, 351/159
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Claims

1. An eyewear frame, comprising:

a front section;

at least one side having at least a rearward portion;

a battery embedded in the rearward portion of the at least one side;

a flexible circuit board embedded in or coupled to the at least one side;

an integrated circuit mounted on the flexible circuit board and electrically interconnected with the battery; and

a sensor embedded in the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board.

2. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a motion detector.

3. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 2, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

4. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a “

being worn”

sensor.

5. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a location sensor.

6. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an environmental sensor.

7. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear frame comprises:

a display and a camera.

8. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 7, wherein said eyewear frame comprises at least one electronic device that supports at least the display and the camera.

9. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyewear frame comprises:

a plurality of electrical components, including at least a display, a wireless transmitter and/or receiver, a microphone, and an audio output device.

10. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 9, wherein the audio output device comprises a speaker.

11. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 9, wherein the audio output device comprises a bone conducting element.

12. Eyewear, comprising:

a front section;

at least one side coupled to the front section;

a battery embedded in a portion of the at least one side;

a flexible circuit board embedded in the at least one side or coupled to the battery embedded in the portion of the at least one side;

at least one integrated circuit mounted on the flexible circuit board and electrically interconnected with the battery; and

at least one sensor embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit at least via the flexible circuit board.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit at least via the flexible circuit board.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a display electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit at least via the flexible circuit board; and

a camera electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit at least via the flexible circuit board.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor includes a motion sensor.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a bone conducting element.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 17, wherein the bone conducting element is at least partially embedded in the at least one side.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises a speaker, and wherein the speaker is at least partially embedded in the at least one side.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a being worn sensor.

21. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a user health sensor.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 21, wherein the user health sensor is at least partially embedded in the at least one side.

23. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a plurality of electrical components, including at least a display, a wireless receiver, a microphone, and an audio output device.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein the audio output device comprises a speaker.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 23, wherein the audio output device comprises a bone conducting element.

26. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery, and a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

27. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear further comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the at least one side.

28. Eyewear as recited in claim 27,

wherein the additional electronic device comprises an additional sensor, and

wherein the additional sensor is electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit by at least one conductive element.

29. Eyewear as recited in claim 27, wherein the additional electronic device comprises a wireless receiver and/or wireless transmitter to support wireless data transfer.

30. Eyewear as recited in claim 27, wherein said eyewear comprises at least one conductor to at least partially interconnect the at least one integrated circuit to the additional electronic device.

31. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises a user input device, a controller, a position detector and a wireless transceiver, and wherein the user input device, the controller, the battery, the position detector and the wireless transceiver are provided at the at least one side.

32. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises a user input device, a controller, a position detector and a wireless transceiver, and wherein at least the user input device is provided at the at least one side.

33. Eyewear as recited in claim 12,

wherein said eyewear comprises a controller,

wherein the controller is on another circuit board, and

wherein the another circuit board with the controller thereon is embedded in or coupled to the at least one side.

34. Eyewear as recited in claim 12,

wherein said eyewear comprises a controller, a position detector, a data storage device and a wireless receiver,

wherein the controller, the position detector, the data storage device and the wireless receiver are mounted on another circuit board, and

wherein the another circuit board is in or coupled to the at least one side.

35. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises an RFID tag.

36. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

37. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a condition sensor for sensing at least one condition of a user of said eyewear.

38. Eyewear as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one condition of the user pertains to at least one vital sign of the user.

39. Eyewear as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one condition of the user is an emotional condition of the user.

40. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein data from the sensor is used in determining distance traveled.

41. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein data from the sensor is used in determining speed traveled.

42. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein data from the sensor is used in determining elevation distance traveled.

43. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein data from the sensor is used in determining calories consumed.

44. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

at least one controller embedded in said eyewear;

wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board; and

at least one radiation detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one controller.

45. Eyewear as recited in claim 44, wherein the at least one radiation detector electrically is connected to the at least one controller at least via the flexible circuit board.

46. Eyewear as recited in claim 44, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

47. Eyewear as recited in claim 46, wherein the at least one side includes a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

48. Eyewear as recited in claim 47, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

49. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an indicator configured to signal an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

50. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

at least one controller embedded in said eyewear;

wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board and the battery; and

at least one light detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one controller.

51. Eyewear as recited in claim 50, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a visual indicator configured to signal to a person information concerning an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

52. Eyewear as recited in claim 51, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

53. Eyewear as recited in claim 52, wherein said eyewear includes a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

54. Eyewear as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one light detector is electrically connected to the at least one controller at least via the flexible circuit board.

55. Eyewear as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

56. Eyewear as recited in claim 51, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an audio pick-up electrical component.

57. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an audio pick-up electrical component.

58. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board;

wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board;

a memory configured to store data, the memory embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board; and

a visual indicator configured to signal to a person information concerning an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

59. Eyewear as recited in claim 58, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a switch electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit.

60. Eyewear as recited in claim 59, wherein the at least one integrated circuit comprises a controller.

61. Eyewear as recited in claim 12, wherein said eyewear comprises:

wireless communication circuitry electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board;

a memory configured to store data, the memory electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board; and

a visual indicator configured to signal to a person information concerning an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

62. Eyewear as recited in claim 61, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a camera at least partially electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board.

63. Eyewear as recited in claim 62, wherein said eyewear comprises:

an audio pick-up electrical component electrically connected to the at least one integrated circuit and/or the flexible circuit board.

64. Eyewear as recited in claim 63, wherein said eyewear comprises:

a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery; and

a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.