Abstract:
An eyewear display and media device interconnection system enables a user to connect various media devices and various eyewear or other displays to each other, by using a common interface. The integrated system offers improved ergonomics, lower size, lower power consumption and lower cost.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable personal media players and other media device products are reaching the market. These products deliver audio, video, email, web surfing, games, photography, GPS, communication, and other functions. As personal media devices become smaller, the flat panel displays integral to their surfaces become small and more difficult to use. Eyewear displays can solve the problems of the small display and obviate the need for a video display mounted on board the media device. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,886,822 and 6,879,443. 
     Even with eyewear displays, the user may still be faced with a range of cables, connectors, battery chargers, and interfaces which require plug converters and other circuits and hardware necessary so that non-integral or remote displays and other accessories can be used with a wide range of media device products. Since these media devices are envisioned for on-the-go applications, carrying a lot of gear interferes with the portability of both the eyewear displays and the media devices. What is needed is a simplified way to connect media devices and eyewear, without cumbersome gear. This simplification should also reduce the number of cables and connectors in the system. It is an object of this invention to simplify interconnection of a range of media devices with a range of eyewear displays and accessories. 
     A second issue related to portable media devices is miniaturization. Once the media device no longer requires an integral video display, its size is no longer dominated by the display. Therefore, a further objective of this invention is the use of an eyewear display to miniaturize a range of media products. This miniaturization is made possible by a high level of integration of the eyewear display drive electronics and the media device electronics. The result of simplified electronics is not only a smaller electronic printed circuit board size, but also lower power consumption, meaning that the size of the battery may be reduced, leading to cost reduction, and a further size reduction in the overall package. Thus this invention includes a new type of media device that has been designed for simplified integration with display eyewear. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system for interconnecting media devices to eyewear devices in a power-efficient and ergonomic manner. This system enables a range of media devices, existing and new, to be interconnected with eyewear in a visually appealing and ergonomic manner with a minimum of cables. Also, the system provides a reduction of cost of the media device and the display eyewear. 
     In one embodiment, the eyewear display and media device interconnection system includes an upper part including eyewear display interface circuitry comprising circuits for formatting audio and video data to an eyewear display. A lower part includes a media device or media device interface. The upper and lower parts include an electrical interface connection for transmitting video and audio signals between the upper and the lower parts. A connecting device mechanically connects and disconnects the upper part and lower part. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an eyewear display and media device interface system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration showing upper and lower parts of the interface system separated; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the eyewear display interface circuitry of the upper part; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a further embodiment of the eyewear display interface circuitry employing a stereo video drive scheme; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of media device circuitry of the lower part; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a charging device for connection with the lower part; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of media device circuitry of the lower part operative as an interface to a media device; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a wireless media device interface of the lower part; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating an integrated display in the upper part. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an eyewear display system  100  in association with an eyewear display and media device interconnection system  150 . The eyewear display system  100  comprises left and right audio transducers  120 ,  121 , left and right display systems  110 ,  111 , and left and right lenses  130 ,  131  that are capable of providing images to the eyes and sounds to the ears. The eyewear system  100  is connected by one or more cables  140 ,  141  via the interconnection system  150  to a media device (or media device interface). The interconnection system is formed from two parts: an upper part  200  which formats and provides signals to the eyewear  100 , and a lower part  300  that is the media device, or alternatively comprises the media device interface. The upper and lower parts are joined at an interface  250  where signals and power are passed between the upper part  200  and the lower part  300 . This interface uses a remountable connector so that the upper  200  part and lower part  300  may be separated. Part  300  may be created in various forms to provide various functions, as will be described. Embodiments of part  300  which are intended to function with the eyewear system  100  are designed with a common interface  250 , so that such devices in the range of products that comprise a part  300  are able to function with the eyewear system  100 . Additionally, embodiments of eyewear system  100  attached to upper part  200  are designed with the common interface  250  so that they function with a plurality of media devices in the various embodiments of part  300 . 
     The system is able to provide the user with several different media devices (constituting several lower parts  300 ), each with a different function, that are designed to fit to the upper part  200  so that upper and lower parts clip together and function seamlessly. The user may also have several types of eyewear  100  that offer different functions, resolutions, or image formats. For example, the image format of one eyewear device may be 4:3 and another may be 16:9. The pixel format of one eyewear device may be 320 pixels by 240 pixels, and another may be 640 pixels by 480 pixels, or some other pixel format. The media device may detect which type of eyewear is attached and configure the video data accordingly. The upper part  200  associated with a particular eyewear system  100  may configure the video processing for best compatibility with the media device in lower part  300 . To this end, each upper part  200  and lower part  300  may supply digital or analog data to the other identifying the type of device, by various methods known in the art. 
     It should be noted that not every part  300  will be compatible with every part  200 , nor is such complete compatibility always attainable or desirable, owing to the introduction of improved products, firmware revisions, and other factors. A lower part  300  which works with some but not all embodiments of upper part  200  is within the scope of this invention. An upper part  200  that works with some but not all embodiments of lower part  300  is also within the scope of this invention. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it is noted that the cables  140 ,  141  may be made long enough so that the cables pass around the head and the upper and lower parts are positioned in front of the user. In this way the user has convenient on-the-go access to the controls of the media device. Alternatively, the cables may be arranged so that the upper and lower parts are behind the back or behind the head. Upper part  200  may be embedded within the eyewear frame, and lower part  300  may attach to the frame or be placed within a portion of the frame. In such a case, cables  140  and  141  may be internal to the eyewear frame. A single cable may be used to deliver power and signals to the eyewear system. In such a case, signals and power may be passed across the eyewear bridge as has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,443, or by some other manner (such as in a cable placed within a strap across the back or over the top of the head). 
     The media device  300  may be an MP3 or MP4 player, game system, GPS system, cellular telephone, digital television, electronic book reader, or any manner of portable communication or entertainment device. The media device  300  may be an ultra-mobile personal computer or personal digital assistant. The media device  300  may have pushbuttons  301  and switches  302  on its surfaces for user control of operation of the device. 
     The audio and video circuits that are generally specific to the eyewear are placed in the upper part  200 . In general, the lower part  300  has the circuits specific to the media device. Common circuits may be placed in either upper part  200  or lower part  300 , or may be redundantly placed in both parts. 
       FIG. 2  shows the media device (lower part  300 ) separated from the eyewear interface circuit (upper part  200 ). The upper  200  and lower  300  parts are provided with an upper connector  201  that inserts into the lower connector  310  so that the upper and lower circuits are in electrical contact. A connecting device is provided to hold the upper and lower portions together mechanically. The connecting device may be made as part of housings for the upper and lower parts. The connecting device may be made from latches, magnets, spring clips, a friction fit mechanism, or in any other remountable manner known in the art. 
     Table 1 indicates one possible interface connector pin assignment. In addition to power and ground, this interface provides audio lines, an 8 bit digital interface using the BT656 standard, analog stereo audio connections, mic interface, analog RGB interface, universal serial bus (USB) and other digital communications channels. Any number of pins and pin assignments may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PIN 
                 ASSIGNMENT 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 2 
                 3.3 V in 
               
               
                 3 
                 L Audio 
               
               
                 4 
                 Common audio return 
               
               
                 5 
                 R Audio 
               
               
                 6 
                 MIC 
               
               
                 7 
                 MIC GND 
               
               
                 8 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 9 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 10 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 11 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 12 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 13 
                 BT656 
               
               
                 14 
                 BT656 (or H Strobe if no DCLOCK) 
               
               
                 15 
                 BT656 (or V Strobe if no DCLOCK) 
               
               
                 16 
                 BT656 DCLOCK 
               
               
                 17 
                 RED 
               
               
                 18 
                 RED return 
               
               
                 19 
                 GREEN 
               
               
                 20 
                 GREEN return 
               
               
                 21 
                 BLUE 
               
               
                 22 
                 BLUE return 
               
               
                 23 
                 USB 5 V 
               
               
                 24 
                 USB D+ 
               
               
                 25 
                 USB D− 
               
               
                 26 
                 RX 
               
               
                 27 
                 TX 
               
               
                 28 
                 12C SDA 
               
               
                 29 
                 12C SCL 
               
               
                 30 
                 RESET 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Note that in Table 1 pins  14  and  15  are shown as sharing two functions. In the case where a valid DCLOCK is present, the circuitry uses BT656 (pins  8 - 16 ) as the input. In the case where a valid DCLOCK is not present, the system uses pins  14  and  15  for horizontal and vertical strobes for the red, green, blue analog input on pins  17 - 22 . The sensing of a valid DCLOCK is made by logic in a microprocessor, gate array, or other logical device. 
     Table 1 is illustrative of one set of pin assignments. An alternative would be a fully analog interface, or a fully digital interface. A second alternative is an interface that provides for separate left and right video data so as to permit stereo or three dimensional images. Many other combinations of these functions are possible. One of the aspects is an interface in which the functions are partitioned so that the eyewear specific functions are mainly on one side of the interface and the functions specific to the media device are mainly on the other. Some level of redundancy of functionality may be desirable for the convenience of the user and for wide interchangeability of eyewear and media devices. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of the functions of the eyewear electronics in upper part  200 . It should be noted that the connections in the block diagram indicate data, signal or logical paths that may consist of a single wire, or a multi-wire bus, or shielded conductor or conductors. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the upper part  200  is in electrical communication with the lower part  300  through upper connector  201 . Power is connected to power supply  205  which conditions the power and supplies it to other circuits. BT656 (and/or H and V Strobes) are sent to gate array  214  by a parallel digital bus  207 . Signals present at the USB pins are provided to a USB UART or other device  206 . These digital signals are interpreted and provided to the microcontroller  230 . Analog signals, if present, are provided to a decoder circuit  210  by lines  208 . If analog signals are present, the decoder  210  provides digital data to a gate array  214  which is in communication with the LCD control circuit  220 . The microprocessor logic determines whether the LCD controller  220  should utilize input from the decoder  210  or the BT656 bus  207  and sets the gates in gate array  214  accordingly. The microprocessor also provides commands to the backlight controller  240 . 
     The output of the backlight controller  240 , LCD controller  220 , audio from amplifiers  215  and power are provided to the eyewear headset  100  through cables  140 ,  141 , or alternatively through a single cable. In this way, LEDs  122 ,  123  receive drive current from backlight controller  240 , LCDs  110  and  111  receive drive signals from LCD controller  220 , and earphones  120  and  121  receive audio from amplifiers  215 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of an upper portion  200  which includes a stereo video drive scheme, with two-channel analog (RGB) input. The number of pins has been increased from those in Table 1 to allow stereo analog data. 
       FIG. 5  shows a block diagram of a media device  300  comprising an MP4 player. In this example, MP4 compressed video data is provided to the device through a USB UART  335  and is stored in memory  330 . On playback, the data is passed to an MP4 decoder which provides audio to pre-amps  315  which are connected to audio output jack  345 . Uncompressed video data is provided by BT656 bus  307  to the connector  301 . Audio and power are also provided to the connector  301 . A micro-controller  320  governs the functions of the various circuits. A user interface  310  is provided for user controls. In order to load data into media device  300 , and to charge the battery, media device  300  is connected to a charging device  400  which has a  30  pin connector  410 , charging circuit  415  and USB pass-through  416 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The charging circuit may be connected to AC power through a line cord  425 , or power may be obtained from the USB connector. The USB may be connected to a personal computer through cable  420 , or to a wall plug adaptor (which provides only power to the USB cable). 
     Interfaces to media devices may be included. In previous U.S. patents, interface electronics and power may be located in a housing that is connected to the eyewear by a cable (see for example U.S Pat. No. 6,091,546). Such interfaces may be located in the lower portion  300  of the electronics.  FIG. 7  shows a block diagram of an electronic circuit that permits the interface electronics to be connected by a cable to a remote media device, through an input jack  341 . In this example, the input signal may be composite video plus line-level audio. The audio circuit is amplified by amplifiers  315  so that audio output is present on connector  301 . The composite video is provided to a composite video decoder which provides digital video on the BT656 bus  307 . The operation of the device is controlled by microcontroller  320  and user controls are provided by user interface  310 , which may comprise buttons or switches on the surfaces of the lower part  300 . 
     An alternative interface to an external media device is a wireless interface, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this case signals are received by radio  510  through antenna  520 . These signals may be analog or digital, but preferably are digital. Radio  510  may be a bluetooth radio, or a WiFi radio, or a WiMax radio, or use some other digital standard. The radio receives audio and video data, preferably in compressed form (such as MP4), and these data are stored in memory  330 . The micro-controller  320  controls and synchronizes the radio  510 , memory  330 , and MP4 decoder. For the case where the images are in MP4 format, the compressed images are decoded and provided to the BT656 bus  307 , or to a digital bus of another type. Decoded audio is provided to the amplifiers  315 . 
     The use of cameras and microphones have been described in U.S Pat. No. 6,091,546. The electronics may be configured to return audio and images to the media device that are captured by microphones and cameras in the eyewear. 
     The media device (whether remote or installed in lower part  300 ) may comprise an MP4 player, a cellular telephone handset, a DVD player, a portable television, a camcorder or a camera. 
     Alternatives to eyewear system  100  are possible. The upper part  200  may include an integrated display  900  shown in  FIG. 9  which is mechanically and electrically connected to a stand  950 . Stand  950  and lower part  960  include connectors designed to provide an electrical interconnect as has been described, as well as a mechanical support. Any type of display including flat panel displays, or projection displays may be integrated in upper part  200 . 
     The invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.