Eyewear with IR transparent frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535697-B1
Application number	US-202318216711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2023
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

An eyewear device having a frame formed of an infrared (IR) transmissive material in a continuous piece without discrete openings. IR cameras are placed behind areas of the frame designated as optical surfaces. In an example, the optical surfaces are positioned at lower corners of the frame and are angled inwardly to prevent obstructions, e.g., due to scratches and smudges. The optical surfaces have uniform thickness, are smooth, and are angled such that IR light communicated to the cameras pass at an angle through the optical surfaces. The IR cameras are angled downwardly to view objects forward and below a user wearing the eyewear device, e.g., to detect hand gestures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An eyewear device comprising:
an infrared (IR) camera; a display; and a frame supporting the IR camera and the display, the frame including an IR transparent surface portion covering the IR camera, wherein at least 50% of the frame is comprised of an IR transparent material.

2 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is entirely comprised of the IR transparent material.

3 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the IR transparent surface portion comprises a resin.

4 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the IR transparent surface portion comprises an optical surface configured to permit IR transmission of IR light to the IR camera.

5 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , wherein the IR transparent surface portion has a uniform thickness.

6 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , wherein the IR camera faces the IR transparent surface portion at an angle that is less than 90 degrees.

7 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , wherein the frame has a frame face and wherein the optical surface is angled with respect to the frame face.

8 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , wherein IR light is configured to be directed through the optical surface at an angle.

9 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , further comprising a cavity disposed between the IR camera and the IR transparent surface portion.

10 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , further comprising an IR light source configured to emit IR light, wherein the IR camera is configured to detect reflections of the IR light.

11 . The eyewear device of claim 4 , wherein the frame comprises a rim configured to support the display and a bridge adjacent the rim and wherein the optical surface forms a portion of the rim.

12 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , further comprising an IR sensor disposed in the frame and configured to sense IR signals passing through the frame.

13 . An eyewear device, comprising:
an infrared (IR) camera; a display; and a frame supporting the IR camera and the display, the frame including a frame face and an IR transparent surface portion covering the IR camera and configured to permit IR transmission of IR light to the IR camera, wherein the IR transparent surface portion is angled with respect to the frame face, and the IR camera faces the IR transparent surface portion at an angle A that is less than 90 degrees, wherein at least 50% of the frame is comprised of an IR transparent material.

14 . A method of using an eyewear device comprising an infrared (IR) camera, a display, and a frame supporting the IR camera and the display, the frame including an IR transparent surface portion covering the IR camera, wherein at least 50% of the frame is comprised of an IR transparent material, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting, by the IR transparent surface portion, IR light from a source; receiving, by the IR camera, the IR light transmitted through the IR transparent surface portion; and processing received IR light to detect images.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the IR camera detects hand gestures.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the eyewear device comprises an IR light source, further comprising:
the IR light source generating IR light; and the IR camera sensing reflections of the IR light.

17 . The eyewear device of claim 14 , wherein the frame is entirely comprised of the IR transparent material.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the IR transparent surface portion has a uniform thickness.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the IR camera faces the IR transparent surface portion at an angle A that is less than 90 degrees.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the frame has a frame face, wherein the IR transparent surface portion is angled with respect to the frame face.

Assignees

• Hintermann Mathias
• Streets Nicholas
• You Choonshin
• Zhang Bo Ya
• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Hintermann Mathias
• Streets Nicholas
• You Choonshin
• Zhang Bo Ya

Classifications

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N23/20

  for generating image signals from infrared radiation only · CPC title

• G06V40/28 Primary

  Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language (static hand signs G06V40/113) · 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

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title