IP Library Granted Patent US 8,905,542
Granted Patent B2
US 8,905,542 · App. 13/955,336 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Eyewear supporting bone conducting speaker

Inventors: Thomas A. Howell (Palo Alto, CA); David Chao (Saratoga, CA); C. Douglass Thomas (Saratoga, CA); Peter P. Tong (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: IngenioSpec, LLC
G02C11/10G02C5/001G02C11/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,905,542
App. No.
13/955,336
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (58)

1. An eyewear frame, comprising:

a front section;

at least one side section having at least a rearward portion;

a battery embedded in the rearward portion;

a bone conducting element at least partially embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section;

a motion detector embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section; and

an electronic device physically embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section, and electrically interconnected with the battery that is embedded in the rearward portion of the at least one side section.

2. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is electrically interconnected with the battery, the bone conducting element and the motion detector.

3. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the electronic device comprises an integrated circuit device, and

wherein said eyewear frame comprises a microphone provided at the at least one side section.

4. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the electronic device is a controller,

wherein the controller is mounted on a circuit board, and

wherein the circuit board with the controller mounted thereon is embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section.

5. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one side section comprises a temple.

6. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least a plurality of electrical components, and wherein at least one of the electrical components comprises an indicator to indicate an operational status.

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

a condition sensor to sense one or more conditions associated with a user of the eyewear frame.

8. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditions are selected from the group of: distance traveled, location, speed, calories consumed, temperature and vital signs.

9. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises an environmental sensor to sense one or more environmental conditions proximate to the eyewear frame.

10. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 9 , wherein the one or more environmental conditions are selected from the group of: radiation, temperature, pressure, humidity and toxins.

11. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises wireless communication circuitry.

12. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a thermal sensor to sense whether the eyewear frame is being worn by a user.

13. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a stress sensor to sense whether the eyewear frame is being worn by a user.

14. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is electrically coupled to the electronic device and used to provide motion data to the electronic device so that the electronic device is able to react to the motion data.

15. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a condition sensor to sense an emotional condition associated with a user of the eyewear frame.

16. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

at least one electrical connector provided at the at least one side section, the at least one electrical connector being accessible to receive a counterpart electrical connector externally provided to the eyewear frame.

17. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 16 , wherein the at least one electrical connector is at least partially embedded in the at least one side section.

18. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least a plurality of electrical components, and wherein at least one of the electrical components comprises an indicator to indicate an operational status of at least another of the electrical components.

19. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bone conducting element is at least partially embedded in the at least one side section and is positioned just forward of the battery.

20. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bone conducting element is at least partially embedded in the at least one side section at or proximate to the rearward portion.

21. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 20 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a first microphone embedded in the at least one side section, the first microphone being spaced apart from the bone conducting element by at least one inch.

22. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 21 , wherein the eyewear frame comprises:

a second microphone embedded in the eyewear frame spaced apart from the first microphone.

23. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 22 , wherein the electronic device comprises a flexible circuit board.

24. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the electronic device comprises at least a plurality of electrical components,

wherein at least one of the electrical components comprises an indicator to indicate an operational status, and

wherein the indicator provides an audio output via the bone conducting element.

25. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 24 , wherein the audio output is in a natural language.

26. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is electrically coupled to the electronic device.

27. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is electrically coupled to at least an electrical component on a circuit board embedded in the at least one side section.

28. An eyewear frame, comprising:

a front section;

at least one side section having at least a rearward portion;

a battery embedded in the rearward portion;

a bone conducting element at least partially embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section;

a circuit board embedded in or coupled to the at least one side section;

a controller mounted on the circuit board and electrically interconnected with the battery that is embedded in the rearward portion of the at least one side section; and

a motion detector embedded in the eyewear frame and electrically connected to the circuit board.

29. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 28 , wherein the bone conducting element is provided in the vicinity of an ear of a user when the eyewear frame is being worn by the user.

30. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 28 , wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible circuit board.

Continuity (16)
Continuation 13085402 · Apr 12, 2011
Continuation 11183269 · Jul 15, 2005
Continuation In Part 10964011 · Oct 12, 2004
Provisional Application 60509631 · Oct 9, 2003
Provisional Application 60527565 · Dec 8, 2003
Provisional Application 60562798 · Apr 15, 2004
Provisional Application 60583169 · Jun 26, 2004
Provisional Application 60592045 · Jul 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60605191 · Aug 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60592045 · Jul 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60605191 · Aug 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60618107 · Oct 12, 2004
Provisional Application 60620238 · Oct 18, 2004
Provisional Application 60647836 · Jan 31, 2005
Provisional Application 60647826 · Jan 31, 2005
Related Publication 20130308089A1 · Nov 21, 2013