Eyewear device input mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12160657-B2
Application number	US-202318383113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2023
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

An electronics-enabled eyewear device provides a primary command channel and a secondary command channel for receiving user input during untethered wear, one of the command channels providing for tap input detected by motion sensor(s) incorporated in a body of the eyewear device. A predefined tap sequence or pattern can be applied to frame of the device to trigger as device function. In one example, a double tap of the device's frame causes charge level display indicating a battery charge level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An eyewear device comprising:
an eyewear frame;
a camera integrated in the eyewear frame, a field of view of the camera being directed forwards from the eyewear frame in a direction away from a user when the eyewear device is worn;
an array of light emitters positioned on the eyewear frame and oriented to illuminate away from the user when the eyewear device is worn;
a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
detecting a video capture mode of the camera;
in response to detecting the video capture mode, controlling the array of light emitters to provide a visual indication of active video capture;
while the camera is in a mode other than the video capture mode, detecting a command to capture a photograph using the camera; and
in response to detecting the command to capture the photograph, controlling the array of light emitters to provide flash illumination for the photograph.

2. The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the array of light emitters is positioned adjacent a camera lens of the camera.

3. The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the array of light emitters is positioned peripherally around the camera lens.

4. The eyewear device of claim 3 , wherein the array of light emitters forms a continuous ring around the camera lens.

5. The eyewear device of claim 1 , comprising a pair of arrays of light emitters positioned at different locations on the eyewear frame and oriented to illuminate away from the user.

6. The eyewear device of claim 5 , wherein the pair of light emitter arrays are located at opposite lateral ends of the eyewear frame.

7. The eyewear device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pair of arrays is arranged in a ring around a camera lens located at the respective lateral end of the frame.

8. The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the visual indication of active video capture comprises an animated illumination pattern.

9. The eyewear device of claim 8 , wherein the animated illumination pattern comprises circulating illumination of the array of light emitters.

10. A method comprising:
using one or more computer processing devices incorporated in an eyewear device, monitoring user-controlled image-capture activity via a camera housed by an eyewear frame of the eyewear device;
during any detected instance of operation of the camera in a video capture mode, displaying a visual video capture alert via an array of light emitters that is positioned on the eyewear frame and that illuminates away from a wearer of the eyewear device
while the camera is in a mode other than the video capture mode, detecting a command to capture a photograph using the camera; and
in response to detecting the command to capture the photograph, controlling the array of light emitters to provide flash illumination for the photograph.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the array of light emitters is positioned adjacent a camera lens of the camera.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the array of light emitters is positioned peripherally around the camera lens.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the array of light emitters forms a continuous ring around the camera lens.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the eyewear device comprises a pair of arrays of light emitters positioned at different locations on the eyewear frame.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pair of light emitter arrays are located at opposite lateral ends of the eyewear frame.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the pair of arrays is arranged in a ring around a camera lens located at a lateral end of the frame.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the visual video capture alert comprises an animated illumination pattern.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the animated illumination pattern comprises circulating illumination of the array of light emitters.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a controller incorporated in an eyewear device having a frame and an integrated camera mounted therein, cause the controller to perform operations including:
using one or more computer processing devices incorporated in an eyewear device, monitoring user-controlled image-capture activity via a camera housed by an eyewear frame of the eyewear device;
during any detected instance of operation of the camera in a video capture mode, displaying a visual video capture alert via an array of light emitters that is positioned on the eyewear frame and that illuminates away from a wearer of the eyewear device
while the camera is in a mode other than the video capture mode, detecting a command to capture a photograph using the camera; and
in response to detecting the command to capture the photograph, controlling the array of light emitters to provide flash illumination for the photograph.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Hanover Matthew

Classifications

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• H04N23/667

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title