Eyewear supporting embedded electronic components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10061144-B2
Application number	US-201615375423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Oct 9, 2003
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Eyewear, comprising:
a front structure;
first and second side structures coupled to opposite sides of the front structure;
a battery embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;
a circuit board at least partially embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;
a controller connected to the circuit board and electrically connectable to the battery;
a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and
at least one sensor embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the first and second side structures includes a charging interface that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein the camera electrically connects to the controller at least via the circuit board.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a wireless receiver embedded within said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller is mounted on the circuit board.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a plurality of electrical components, including at least a wireless transmitter and/or receiver, and a microphone.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises an audio output device, and wherein the audio output device is at least partially embedded in said eyewear.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 10 , wherein the audio output device includes at least a bone conducting element.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the first side structure or the second side structure.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 12 ,
wherein the additional electronic device comprises an additional sensor, and
wherein the additional sensor is electrically connected to the controller.

14. Eyewear as recited in claim 12 , wherein said eyewear comprises at least one conductor to at least partially interconnect the controller to the additional electronic device.

15. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
wireless communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear; and
at least one radiation detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

16. Eyewear as recited in claim 15 , wherein the at least one radiation detector is electrically connected to the controller at least via the circuit board or another circuit board at least partially embedded in one of the first and second side structures.

17. Eyewear as recited in claim 15 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
an audio pick-up electrical component.

18. Eyewear as recited in claim 1 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a visual indicator configured to signal, to a person, information concerning at least an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

19. Eyewear as recited in claim 18 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery.

20. Eyewear as recited in claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second side sections include a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

21. Eyewear, comprising:
a front structure;
first and second side structures coupled to opposite sides of the front structure;
a battery embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;
a circuit board at least partially embedded in at least one of the first and second side structures;
a controller connected to the circuit board and electrically connectable to the battery;
a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and
at least one sensor embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;
wireless communication circuitry at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;
a memory device configured to store data, the memory device embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and
a visual indicator configured to signal to a person information concerning at least an operational status of an electrical component of said eyewear.

22. Eyewear as recited in claim 21 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
an electrical switch electrically connected to the controller.

23. Eyewear as recited in claim 21 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
an audio pick-up electrical component electrically connected to the controller.

24. Eyewear as recited in claim 23 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery; and
a connector port that is electrically connected with the charging circuit.

25. Eyewear as recited in claim 23 , wherein said eyewear comprises:
at least one light detector at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

26. Eyewear, comprising:
a front structure;
at least one side structure coupled to the front structure;
a circuit board at least partially embedded in the at least one side structure;
a controller coupled to the circuit board;
a camera at least partially embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller;
a plurality of sensors embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller, at least one of the plurality of sensors including at least an accelerometer;
communication circuitry embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller; and
a memory device configured to store data, the memory device embedded in said eyewear and electrically connected to the controller.

27. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 ,
wherein the front structure supports a pair of lenses, and wherein the front structure includes a bridge provided between the lenses of the pair of lenses, and
wherein the camera is at the bridge of the front structure.

28. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 , wherein said eyewear comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyewear but not within the at least one side structure.

29. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises a wireless transmitter and/or receiver.

30. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 , wherein the plurality of sensors are operable to sense location, distance traveled and speed.

31. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 , wherein the controller and at least one of the plurality of sensors are mounted on the circuit board.

32. Eyewear as recited in claim 31 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

33. Eyewear as recited in claim 32 , wherein the camera electrically connects to the controller at least via the circuit board.

34. Eyewear as recited in claim 26 , wherein said eyewear i

Assignees

• Ingeniospec Llc

Inventors

• Howell Thomas A
• Chao David
• Thomas C Douglass
• Tong Peter P

Classifications

• G02C5/14

  Side-members · CPC title

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C5/001

  specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses · CPC title

• G02C11/06

  Hearing aids (construction of electric hearing aids H04R25/00) · CPC title