Eyewear supporting one or more electrical components

• US 9,690,121 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P., Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/831,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 351 51, 351158, 351111, 351116, 351121, 381381
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An eyewear product, comprising:

an eyewear frame having at least a first arm;

a bone conducting speaker fully embedded in the first arm;

a first electronic device fully embedded in the first arm;

a rechargeable battery fully embedded in the first arm; and

a connector in the eyewear frame, the connector being electrically connected to at least the rechargeable battery,

wherein the rechargeable battery is able to be recharged via the connector.

2. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear product comprises:

an operation indicator generating device coupled to the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the first electronic device, the operation indicator generating device configured to produce an indication for providing information to a user of the eyewear product.

3. An eyewear product as recited in claim 2, wherein the operation indicator generating device is at least partially embedded in the eyewear frame.

4. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is suitable for electrical connection of the rechargeable battery with an external charger.

5. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

wireless communication circuitry and an antenna fully embedded in the first arm.

6. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the bone conducting speaker is configured to transmit audio sound for a user of the eyewear product,

wherein the eyewear frame has a second arm, and

wherein the eyewear product comprises:

another bone conducting speaker fully embedded in the second arm, the another bone conducting speaker is configured to transmit audio sound for the user of the eyewear product.

7. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

at least one component having a weight provided internal to the eyewear frame and positioned to balance other weight within the eyewear frame.

8. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

a balancing weight provided internal to the eyewear frame.

9. An eyewear product as recited in claim 1, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

an antenna embedded in the eyewear frame.

10. An eyewear product, comprising:

an eyewear frame configured to be worn on the head of a user;

a bone conducting speaker fully contained within in the eyewear frame;

a rechargeable battery fully contained within the eyewear frame;

a first electronic device fully contained within the eyewear frame, the first electronic device being electrically connected to at least the rechargeable battery; and

a connector at least partially contained within the eyewear frame, the connector being electrically connected to at least the rechargeable battery,

wherein the rechargeable battery is able to be recharged via the connector.

11. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product comprises:

an operation indicator device coupled to the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the first electronic device, the operation indicator device configured to produce an indication for providing information to a user of the eyewear product.

12. An eyewear product as recited in claim 11, wherein the operation indicator device is at least partially contained within in the eyewear frame.

13. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the connector is suitable for electrical connection of the rechargeable battery with an external charger.

14. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

wireless communication circuitry and an antenna contained within the eyewear frame.

15. An eyewear product as recited in claim 14, wherein the eyewear product comprises:

an operation indicator coupled to the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the first electronic device, the operation indicator configured to produce an indication for providing information to the user of the eyewear product.

16. An eyewear product as recited in claim 15, wherein the connector is suitable for electrical connection of the rechargeable battery with an external charger.

17. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the bone conducting speaker is configured to enable the user to receive audio sound, and

wherein the eyewear product comprises:

another bone conducting speaker fully contained with the eyewear frame, the another bone conducting speaker is configured to enable the user to to receive audio sound.

18. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

at least one component having a weight provided internal to the eyewear frame and positioned to balance other weight within the eyewear frame.

19. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

a balancing weight provided internal to the eyewear frame.

20. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

an antenna contained within in the eyewear frame.

21. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product comprises at least one sensor.

22. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21,

wherein the eyewear product is configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor,

wherein the eyewear product comprises:

an operation indicator device coupled to the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the first electronic device, and

wherein the operation indicator device is configured to produce an indication for providing information to the user of the eyewear product.

23. An eyewear product as recited in claim 22, wherein the eyewear product is configured to control the operation indicator device based on the sensor information.

24. An eyewear product as recited in claim 23, wherein the operation indicator device is a light source.

25. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor is contained within the eyewear product.

26. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to the eyewear product.

27. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21,

wherein the at least one sensor is remote from the eyewear product,

wherein the eyewear product comprises wireless communication circuitry, and

wherein the at least one sensor is operatively coupled to the wireless communication circuitry so as to supply sensor information from the at least one sensor to the eyewear product in a wireless manner.

28. An eyewear product as recited in claim 27, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is contained within the eyewear product.

29. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein sensor information obtained from the at least one sensor pertains to a condition of the user of the eyewear product.

30. An eyewear product as recited in claim 29, wherein the condition of the user pertains to the user'"'"'s mood or physical condition.

31. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein sensor information obtained from the at least one sensor pertains to a position associated with the eyewear product.

32. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein sensor information obtained from the at least one sensor is used at least in part to determine whether the user is wearing the eyewear product.

33. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer.

34. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

35. An eyewear product as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a humidity sensor.

36. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

a plurality of microphones contained within the eyewear frame.

37. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10,

wherein the eyewear product comprises wireless communication circuitry, and

wherein the eyewear product is configured to wirelessly interact with a base unit via the wireless communication circuitry.

38. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10,

wherein the eyewear product comprises an image generating device coupled to the eyewear product, the image generating device configured to produce an image for providing information to a user of the eyewear product, and

wherein the rechargeable battery is rechargeable via the connector.

39. An eyewear product as recited in claim 38, wherein the image generating device is at least partially contained within the eyewear product.

40. An eyewear product as recited in claim 10, wherein the eyewear product further comprises:

a display to present one or more images to the user.