Electronic ornamentation for eyewear

• US 9,720,258 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US14/850,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 351 51, 351 52, 351111, 351121, 351158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/02 Ornaments, e.g. exchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/04 Systems for the transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by a single carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods of displaying an image on an E-Paper display insert in eyeglasses or other brittle structures are disclosed. E-Paper displays provide a changeable medium where an image such as a logo may be displayed and maintained with little to no energy. The E-Paper display may be changeable by emitting a charge from a source such as a battery or an electrically connected docking system.

Claims

1. An eyewear system configured to electronically interface with a source device that is separate from the eyewear system, the eyewear system comprising:

at least one lens;

a support configured to support the at least one lens in a wearer'"'"'s field of view when worn;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the source device; and

a user-configurable display supported by the support, the user-configurable display configured to function as a visual interface for the source device;

wherein the user-configurable display is positioned outside of the wearer'"'"'s field of view when worn.

2. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display comprises an e-paper display.

3. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display comprises a bistable display.

4. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display comprises an electrochromic display.

5. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display is configured to display an image in response to an electrical image signal.

6. The eyewear system of claim 5, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive the electrical image signal.

7. The eyewear system of claim 6, wherein the eyewear system comprises a micro-USB port.

8. The eyewear system of claim 5, wherein the user-configurable display is configured to erase the image from the user-configurable display when electrical energy is delivered to the user-configurable display.

9. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display is configured to display an image in response to pressure applied to a surface of the user-configurable display.

10. The eyewear system of claim 9, wherein the user-configurable display is configured to create an impression on the user-configurable display corresponding to at least one of the placement or amount of pressure being applied to the user-configurable display.

11. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display is positioned at least partially within a cavity in the support.

12. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display is about 1 mm thick.

13. The eyewear system of claim 1, further comprising a brand name or logo displayed on the user-configurable display.

14. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the source device comprises a cellular phone.

15. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display configured to function as a visual interface for the source device is configured to receive data signals from the source device, and transmit data signals to the source device.

16. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the user-configurable display is configured to be operated at least via pressure applied directly to the user-configurable display.

17. The eyewear system of claim 1, wherein the support comprises one or more contacts and the eyewear system further comprises a docking station comprising one or more complementary contacts configured to engage the one or more contacts of the support.

18. The eyewear system of claim 17, wherein the display is configured to display an image in response to coupling the support to the docking station.

19. An eyewear system configured to interface with a source device that is remote from the eyewear system, the eyewear system comprising:

at least one lens;

a support configured to support the at least one lens in a user'"'"'s field of view when worn;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the source device; and

a display supported by the support, the display configured to be used as a visual interface for the source device;

wherein electrical energy used to create a display image on the display is stored outside of the support.

20. An eyewear system configured to electronically interface with a source device separate from the eyewear system, the eyewear system comprising:

at least one lens;

a support comprising a lens holder configured to support the at least one lens in a user'"'"'s field of view when worn and first and second ear stems extending from the lens holder, the first ear stem comprising an inside surface configured to face towards the user'"'"'s head when worn and an outside surface configured to face away from the user'"'"'s head when worn;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the source device; and

a display supported by the first ear stem, wherein an outside surface of the display is mounted flush with the outside surface of the first ear stem, the display configured to be used as a visual interface for the source device.

21. An eyewear system configured to electronically interface with a source device that is spaced from the eyewear system, the eyewear system comprising:

an eyewear comprising;

at least one lens;

a support configured to support the at least one lens in a wearer'"'"'s field of view when worn;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the source device; and

a user-configurable display supported by the support, the user-configurable display being positioned outside of the wearer'"'"'s field of view when worn and configured to receive data signals from the source device, and transmit data signals to the source device.