Eyewear with detachable adjustable electronics module

• US 9,619,201 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Jannard, James H., Reyes, Carlos D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Application Number:
  US14/281,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351348, 351471, 348471, 359477, 359 13
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• 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 9/04 by fitting over or clamping on
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like

Abstract

A detachable adjustable electronics module may be removably or permanently connected to eyewear. The module may include electronics for processing audio and/or video input and/or output signals. The module may be provided with an adjustable arm, for adjustably carrying a speaker. The module and/or the speaker may be adjusted relative to the wearer in any of the anterior-posterior direction, the inferior-superior direction and laterally. Rotation adjustments may also be accomplished. Eyewear may be provided with only a single module, on a single side, or with two modules, one on each side, such as to provide stereo audio or dual mono sound.

Claims

1. A wearable electronically enabled interface system for providing audio and/or video interaction with a wearer, comprising:

an eyewear frame configured to be worn by the wearer;

a module that is removably attachable to the eyewear frame, wherein the module comprises a speaker, an electronics module, and an articulating arm, the electronics module being configured to be in electrical communication with the speaker to provide audio communication to the wearer, wherein the articulating arm comprises the electronics module and further comprises a connector, a rotatable portion, and a rotatable joint coupling the connector and the rotatable portion, the rotatable portion configured to rotate relative to the eyewear frame and the connector via the rotatable joint while the module is attached to the eyewear frame;

a processor and software configured to provide the wearer with visual and/or voice-activated system commands for operating different functions of the electronically enabled interface system;

a GPS device for global position data; and

an accelerometer for detecting movement of the wearable support.

2. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate via a long-range wireless protocol.

3. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receivers configured to allow wireless communication via a first wireless protocol and a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol.

4. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the speaker is a bone conduction speaker.

5. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, further comprising a display device.

6. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 5, wherein the display device comprises a screen.

7. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the module is removably attachable to an earstem of the eyewear frame.

8. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 7, wherein the eyewear frame comprises a lens.

15. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the eyewear frame comprises electronics.

16. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the module is configured to function without being attached to the frame.

21. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion comprises the electronics module.

9. A wearable electronically enabled interface system for providing audio and/or video interaction with a wearer, comprising:

an eyewear frame configured to be worn by the wearer;

an articulating arm separate from and carried by the frame, the articulating arm comprising a connector, a rotatable portion, and a rotatable joint coupling the connector and the rotatable portion, the rotatable portion configured to rotate relative to the eyewear frame and the connector via the rotatable joint while the articulating arm is attached to the eyewear frame, wherein the rotatable portion comprises an electronics module and a speaker;

a processor and software configured for operating different functions of the interface system; and

a voice activated control for controlling audio and/or video functions, wherein the electronics module is configured to be in electrical communication with the voice activated control.

10. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the eyewear frame comprises a lens.

11. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the electronics module is configured to be in wireless communication with a cellular telephone and configured to provide visual caller identification information to the wearer on a display device during an incoming call.

12. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, configured for connectivity to a wireless internet service provider.

13. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, further comprising a noise cancellation capability.

14. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, further comprising text to voice functionality to read incoming textual information to the wearer.

17. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the electronics module comprises at least one of a transmitter and a receiver.

18. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the electronics module comprises a biometric sensor.

19. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the electronics module comprises a sensor configured to measure speed and/or acceleration.

20. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, wherein the articulating arm is configured to function without being attached to the frame.

22. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 9, further comprising a module separate from and carried by the frame, the module being separate from the articulating arm.

23. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 22, wherein the module comprises a transceiver.

24. A wearable electronically enabled interface system for providing audio and/or video interaction with a wearer, comprising:

an eyewear frame configured to be worn by the wearer;

an articulating arm separate from and carried by the frame, the articulating arm comprising a connector, a rotatable portion, and a rotatable joint coupling the connector and the rotatable portion, the rotatable portion configured to rotate relative to the eyewear frame and the connector via the rotatable joint while the articulating arm is attached to the eyewear frame, wherein the rotatable portion comprises an electronics module; and

a processor and software configured for operating different functions of the interface system.

25. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 24, further comprising a speaker attached to one of the eyewear frame and the articulating arm.

26. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 25, wherein the speaker is a bone conduction speaker.

27. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 24, further comprising a voice activated control for controlling audio and/or video functions, wherein the electronics module is configured to be in electrical communication with the voice activated control.

28. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 24 wherein the electronics module comprises a biometric sensor.

29. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 24, wherein the electronics module comprises a sensor configured to measure speed and/or acceleration.