Patent Publication Number: US-2023152579-A1

Title: Eyewear use detection

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/475,090 filed on Sep. 14, 2021, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/215,785 filed Dec. 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,163,155, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/611,111, filed Dec. 28, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to detecting when eyewear is being worn by a user and controlling eyewear functionality based on the detection. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many portable devices designed to be worn by a user utilize electronic components to perform various functions. The electronic components are typically powered by a battery. As the electronic components consume power, charge on the battery quickly diminishes. Thus, the user must frequently recharge the battery in order to continue using the portable device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1 A  is a perspective view of an eyewear example including electronic components and a support structure supporting the electronic components, the support structure defining a region for receiving a portion of a head of a user. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a top view of the eyewear of  FIG.  1 A  illustrating another region defined by the eyewear for receiving at least a portion of the head of the user wearing the eyewear. 
         FIG.  1 C  is another perspective view of the eyewear in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 D  is a block diagram of an example of the electronic components supported by the eyewear of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  2    is a close-up partial view of the frame of the eyewear in  FIG.  1 C  depicting a flexible printed circuit board routed through the frame. 
         FIG.  3 A  is another close-up partial view of the eyewear in  FIG.  1 C  depicting a flexible printed circuit board routed to a capacitive probe in a nose pad. 
         FIG.  3 B  is series of illustrations depicting an example of steps for manufacturing the eyewear depicted in  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  is another close-up partial view of the eyewear in  FIG.  1 C  depicting a flexible printed circuit board routed to resistive probes in the nose pads. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a series of illustrations depicting an example of steps for manufacturing the eyewear with the resistive probes in  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  is a perspective view of a known proximity sensor. 
         FIG.  5 B  is an illustration of the proximity sensor in  FIG.  5 A  installed on a frame of example eyewear. 
         FIG.  5 C  is another illustration of the proximity sensor in  FIG.  5 A  installed on a temple of example eyewear. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the eyewear. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of eyewear using resistive probes. 
         FIG.  6 C  is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the eyewear using capacitive probes. 
         FIG.  6 D  is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the eyewear using a proximity sensor. 
         FIG.  6 E  is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the eyewear using a proximity sensor in conjunction with capacitive/resistive probes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings. 
     The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any logical, optical, physical or electrical connection, link or the like by which signals or light produced or supplied by one system element are imparted to another coupled element. Unless described otherwise, coupled elements or devices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediate components, elements or communication media that may modify, manipulate or carry the light or signals. 
     The orientations of the eyewear, associated components and any devices incorporating a use detector such as shown in any of the drawings, are given by way of example only, for illustration and discussion purposes. In operation the eyewear may be oriented in any other direction suitable to the particular application of the eyewear device, for example up, down, sideways, or any other orientation. Also, to the extent used herein, any directional term, such as front, rear, inwards, outwards, towards, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, up, down, upper, lower, top, bottom and side, are used by way of example only, and are not limiting as to direction or orientation. 
     In an example, the eyewear includes an optical element, electronic components having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, a support structure configured to support the optical element and the electronic components, the support structure defining a region for receiving a head of a user, and a use detector electrically connected to the electronic components and supported by the support structure, the use detector attached to the support structure and positioned to monitor when the head of the user is within the region. The electronic components monitor the use detector and transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation when the use detector senses the head of the user within the region. 
     The electronic components may have a relatively low power consumption level when in the first mode of operation (e.g., a low power mode) and may have a higher power consumption level when in the second mode of operation (e.g., a normal mode of operation). By detecting when the eyewear is currently being worn, the electronic components of the eyewear are able to automatically transition between modes, thereby providing the ability to conserve energy and extend battery life. The electronic components may have a third mode of operation (e.g., an off or sleep mode of operation) in which the electronic components consume even less power than the first mode of operation. As used herein, the term “eyewear” refers to any smart optical device having a support structure that is worn by a user including but not limited to smart glasses, smart goggles, and display screens. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts a front perspective view of example eyewear  12 . The illustrated eyewear  12  includes a support structure  13  that has temples  14 A and  14 B and a frame  16 . Eyewear  12  additionally includes articulated joints  18 A and  18 B, electronic components  20 A and  20 B, and core wires  22 A,  22 B and  24 . 
     Support structure  13  is configured to support one or more optical elements within a field of view of a user when worn by the user. For example, frame  16  is configured to support the one or more optical elements. As used herein, the term “optical elements” refers to lenses, transparent pieces of glass or plastic, projectors, screens, displays and other devices for presenting visual images or through which visual images may be perceived by a user. In an embodiment, respective temples  14 A and  14 B connect to frame  16  at respective articulated joints  18 A and  18 B. The illustrated temples  14 A and  14 B are elongate members having core wires  22 A and  22 B extending longitudinally therein. 
     Temple  14 A is illustrated in a wearable condition and temple  14 B is illustrated in the collapsed condition in  FIG.  1 A . As shown in  FIG.  1 A , articulated joint  18 A connects temple  14 A to a right end portion  26 A of frame  16 . Similarly, articulated joint  18 B connects temple  14 B to a left end portion  26 B of frame  16 . The right end portion  26 A of frame  16  includes a housing that carries the electronic components  20 A therein, and left end portion  26 B also includes a housing that carries electronic components  20 B therein. 
     Core wire  22 A is embedded within a plastics material or other material that includes an outer cap of temple  14 A and extends longitudinally from adjacent articulated joint  18 A toward a second longitudinal end of temple  14 A. Similarly, core wire  22 B is embedded within a plastics material or other material that includes an outer cap of temple  14 B and extends longitudinally from adjacent articulated joint  18 B toward a second longitudinal end of temple  14 B. Core wire  24  extends from the right end portion (terminating adjacent electronic components  20 A) to left end portion  26 B (terminating adjacent electronic components  20 B). 
     Electronic components  20 A and  20 B are carried by support structure  13  (e.g., by either or both of temple(s)  14 A,  14 B and/or frame  16 ). Electronic components  20 A and  20 B include a power source, power and communication related circuitry, communication devices, display devices, a computer, a memory, modules, and/or the like (not shown). Electronic components  20 A and  20 B may also include a camera/microphone  10  for capturing images and/or videos, and indicator LEDs  11  indicating the operational state of eyewear  12 . 
     In one example, temples  14 A and  14 B and frame  16  are constructed of a plastics material, cellulosic plastic (e.g., cellulosic acetate), an eco-plastic material, a thermoplastic material, or the like in addition to core wires  22 A,  22 B and  24  embedded therein. Core wires  22 A,  22 B and  24  provide structural integrity to support structure  13  (i.e., temple(s)  14 A,  14 B and/or frame  16 ). Additionally, core wires  22 A,  22 B and/or  24  act as a heat sink to transfer heat generated by electronic components  20 A and  20 B away therefrom so as to reduce the likelihood of localized heating adjacent electronic components  20 A and  20 B. As such, core wires  22 A,  22 B and/or  24  are thermally coupled to the heat source to provide a heat sink for the heat source. Core wires  22 A and  22 B and/or  24  are constructed of a relatively flexible conductive metal or metal alloy material such as one or more of an aluminum, an alloy of aluminum, alloys of nickel-silver, and a stainless steel, for example. 
     The support structure  13  defines a region  50  that receives at least a portion of the head of the user (e.g., the nose) when the eyewear  12  is worn. As illustrated in  FIG.  1 B , the support structure  13  may define other regions (e.g., region  52  defined by the frame  12  and temples  14 A and  14 B) for receiving other portion (e.g., the main portion) of the head of the user. The defined region(s) are one or more regions containing at least a portion of the head of a user that are encompassed by, surrounded by, adjacent, and/or near the support structure when the user is wearing the eyewear  12 . 
       FIG.  1 C  depicts another perspective view of eyewear  12  with a transparent frame  16  for illustration purposes. Eyewear  12  includes onboard electronics  20 A and  20 B (e.g. camera, microphone, LEDs, wireless transceiver, etc.). In addition, eyewear  12  includes sensors installed at one or more locations throughout frame  16  and/or temples  14 A and  14 B. For example, sensors may be installed in at least one of nose pads  34 A and  34 B, the housing of electronics  20 A (see sensor  28 A), temple areas  30 A and  30 B (see sensor  28 B), etc. These sensors may include probes with electrodes, proximity sensors or the like, and may be coupled to electronics  20 A and  20 B, e.g., through one or more flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). 
     FPCBs, as shown in  FIG.  1 C , are routed through various portions of frame  16  and temples  14 A and  14 B to electrically connect these electronics  20 A and  20 B to the sensors. For example, as shown in  FIG.  1 C , FPCB  26 A (primary FPCB) is routed through frame  16  to electrically connect electronics  20 A and  20 B together. Other FPCBs (secondary FPCB) may also be routed through the frame and temples. For example, secondary FPCBs  26 B and  26 C extend from main FPCB  26 A to sensors (e.g. probes) embedded into nose pads  34 A and  34 B. In another example, FPCB  26 D extends from electronics  20 A to sensor  28 B (e.g., a probe) embedded into temple area  30 A. Although not shown, another FPCB extends from electronics  20 B to a sensor embedded into temple area  30 B. The use of secondary FPCBs allow other electronic devices (e.g. sensors and the like) to be embedded at various locations throughout the structure of eyewear  12 . The sensors are positioned to provide a way for detecting when eyewear  12  is being worn by a user. 
     FPCBs  26 A,  26 B,  26 C and  26 D include one or more electrical traces for routing electrical signals between the electronic components and the sensors. These FPCBs may be embedded in the frame and temples of eyewear  12  during the manufacturing process. 
     For example, during a first shot of a two-shot molding process, plastic is injected into a mold to form the front half of frame  16  and/or temple  14 A. After forming the front halves, the FPCBs, along with any electronic components are inserted and positioned within the mold at locations with respect to the front halves. During a second shot of the two-shot molding process, more plastic is injected into the mold to cover the components and form the back half of frame  16  or temple  14 A such that the FPCBs and electronics are embedded between the front and back halves of frame  16  and/or temple  14 A. After the frame and both temples are formed using the molding process, they are mechanically connected together (e.g. with screws) to form the finished eyewear  12 . 
     As described above, embedding sensors into frame  16  and/or temples  14 A and  14 B allow eyewear  12  to detect when they are being worn (e.g. positioned on a user&#39;s head). Various types of sensors can be used and positioned in various locations on frame  16  and/or temples  14 A and  14 B to accomplish this feature. Further details of embodiments of various sensor types/placement and the control of the eyewear based on these sensors are described below. 
     Electronic components  20 A and  20 B, along with sensors (e.g. resistive probes, capacitive probes and/or proximity sensors) are supported by the support structure  13 , e.g., are embedded into frame  16  and/or temples  14 A and  14 B of eyewear  12 . These electronic components and sensors are connected using FPCBs. 
       FIG.  1 D  is a block diagram of example electronic components  20 A and  20 B. The illustrated electronic components  20 A and  20 B include controller  100  (e.g. lower power processor, image processor, etc.) for controlling the various devices in eyewear  12 , wireless module (e.g. Bluetooth™)  102  for facilitating communication between eyewear  12  and a client device (e.g. Smartphone), power circuit  104  (e.g. battery, filter, etc.) for powering eyewear  12 , flash storage  106  for storing data (e.g. images, video, image processing software, etc.), LEDs  108  (e.g. colored LEDs) for providing information to the user, button  110  (e.g. momentary push button) for triggering eyewear  12  to capture images/video, camera/microphone  112  for capturing images/video and sound, and a physical activity sensor  113  (e.g., accelerometer sensing movement, button such as button  110  pressed by user, switch incorporated into a hinge to detect when a respective temple is moved from a collapsed condition to a wearable condition, etc.). 
     Wireless module  102  may connect with a client device such as a smartphone, tablet, phablet, laptop computer, desktop computer, networked appliance, access point device, or any other such device capable of connecting with wireless module  102 . These connections may be implemented, for example, using any combination of Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, a cellular modem, and a near field communication system, as well as multiple instances of any of these systems. Communication may include transferring software updates, images, videos, sound between eyewear  12  and the client device (e.g. images captured by eyewear  12  may be uploaded to a smartphone). 
     Camera/microphone  112  for capturing the images/video may include digital camera elements such as a charge coupled device, a lens, or any other light capturing elements that may be used to capture image data. Camera/microphone  112  includes a microphone having a transducer for converting sound into an electrical signal. 
     Button  110  may be a physical button that, when depressed, sends a user input signal to controller  100 . A depression of button  110  for a predetermined period of time (e.g., three seconds) may be processed by controller  100  as a request to turn on eyewear  12  (e.g., transition eyewear  12  from an off or sleep mode of operation to a low power mode of operation). 
     Controller  100  is a controller that controls the electronic components. For example, controller  100  includes circuitry to receive signals from camera  112  and process those signals into a format suitable for storage in memory  106 . Controller  100  is structured such that it may be powered on and booted to operate in a normal operational mode, or to enter a sleep mode. Depending on various power design elements controller  100  may still consume a small amount of power even when it is in an off state and/or a sleep state. This power will, however, be negligible compared to the power used by controller  100  when it is in an on state and will also have a negligible impact on battery life. 
     In one example embodiment, controller  100  includes a microprocessor integrated circuit (IC) customized for processing sensor data from camera  112 , along with volatile memory used by the microprocessor to operate. The memory may store software code for execution by controller  100 . For example, the software code may instruct controller  100  to control the mode of operation of the electronic components. 
     Each of the electronic components require power to operate. As described above, power circuit  104  that may include a battery (not shown), power converter and distribution circuitry (not shown). The battery may be a rechargeable battery such as lithium-ion or the like. Power converter and distribution circuitry may include electrical components for filtering and/or converting voltages for powering the various electronic components. 
     LEDs  108 , among other uses, may be used as indicators on eyewear  12  to indicate a number of functions. For example, LEDs  108  may illuminate each time the user presses button  110  to indicate that eyewear  12  is recording images and/or video and/or sound. These LEDs may be located at location  20 B as shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
     In addition to the electronic components described above, controller  100  also couples to use detector  101 . Use detector  101  includes one or more sensors such as resistive probes  114 , capacitive probe(s)  116  and/or proximity sensors  118  connected to controller  100  for monitoring the region and sensing when a user&#39;s head is within the region. These sensors receive signals from and transmit signals to controller  100  indicating whether eyewear  12  is being worn by the user. 
     Sensors  114 ,  116  and/or  118  may be placed at locations on support structure  13  for sensing at least a portion of the head of the user (e.g., the user&#39;s head or features thereof). Controller  100  of the eyewear  12  may automatically control the operational mode of eyewear  12  using information obtained from the sensors. For example, eyewear  12  may use these sensors to detect whether or not eyewear  12  is being worn by the user. If the sensors sense the presence of an object (e.g., the user&#39;s head or features thereof), the output of the sensor indicates that the eyewear  12  is being worn. The eyewear  12  then enters or maintains a normal operational mode. If the sensors do not sense the presence of an object (e.g., the user&#39;s head or features thereof), the sensor output indicates the eyewear  12  is not being worn. The eyewear  12  then enters or maintains a low power mode (e.g., a sleep mode) in order to conserve battery power. 
       FIG.  2    is a close-up perspective view of eyewear  12  in  FIG.  1 C  showing an FPCB  26 A routed through the frame. This FPCB  26 A is the primary FPCB in eyewear  12 , and electrically connects electronics  20 A with electronics  20 B. Secondary FPCBs (not shown) may be used to position sensors such as sensors  114 ,  116 , and/or  118  at various locations in support structure  13  of eyewear  12 . 
     For example, sensors  114 ,  116  and/or  118  may be embedded in one or more nose pads of eyewear  12  to sense the user&#39;s nose when eyewear  12  is being worn.  FIG.  3 A  depicts a close-up partial view of eyewear  12  in  FIG.  1 C , where secondary FPCB  26 B extends from main FPCB  26 A and is routed to sensor  300  located in one of the nose pads. In one example, sensor  300  may be a capacitive probe  116  that changes its capacitance when near or in contact with the nose of the user. The capacitance of sensor  300  affects characteristics (e.g., frequency) of an electrical signal (e.g., oscillating signal) applied to capacitive electrodes (not shown). For example, primary FPCB  26 A and secondary FPCB  26 B may pass an electrical signal under control of controller  100  from electronics  20 A to sensor  300 . Controller  100  analyzes this electrical signal to determine whether eyewear  12  is being worn. 
     To reduce power consumption when attempting to detect the user&#39;s nose, control electronics  20 A (e.g., controller  100 ) may periodically send (e.g., every 3 seconds) an oscillating electrical signal to the capacitance probe via the FPCBs rather than continuously applying a signal. Electronic components  20 A then monitor the frequency of this signal. When the user is not wearing eyewear  12 , capacitance sensor  300  has a capacitance value (C 1 ) that electronic components  20 A interpret as eyewear  12  that is not being worn by the user. When the user is wearing eyewear  12 , the user&#39;s nose enters the region defined by the support structure and contacts an electrode (not shown) of capacitance sensor  300 . Due to this interaction, the capacitance of capacitance sensor increases to C 2 , which affects the frequency of the oscillating electrical signal applied thereto. The electronic components  20 A interpret this change in frequency as eyewear  12  that is being worn by the user. 
     Determining when the user is wearing or not wearing eyewear  12  is beneficial for various applications. One such application is power conservation. For example, the determination may be used to control the operational state of eyewear  12  to conserve battery power when the eyewear is not being worn. In accordance with this example, when electronic components  20 A (e.g., via sensors  114 ,  116  and/or  118  and controller  100 ) detect that the user is wearing eyewear  12 , the operational state is set to a normal mode of operation. When electronic components  20 A (e.g., via sensors  114 ,  116  and/or  118  and controller  100 ) detect that the user is not wearing eyewear  12 , however, the operational state is set to a lower power mode (e.g., sleep mode) where battery power is conserved. 
       FIG.  3 B  depicts a series of illustrations depicting steps for manufacturing capacitive nose probe  300  (e.g., capacitive sensor  300  in  FIG.  3 A ). In a first step  310 , capacitive electrodes  300 A and  300 B are mounted (e.g., soldered, adhered, etc.) onto a portion of FPCB  302 . In a second step  311 , the capacitive nose probe is covered with a nose pad  34 B (e.g., elastomer). In a third step  312 , a molding process (e.g., two-shot molding process) embeds nose probe  300  and nose pad  34 B into frame  16 . 
     Although  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  show embedding of a capacitive probe (e.g., capacitive probe  116 ) into frame  16 , other sensors may be used. For example,  FIG.  4 A  depicts a close-up view of eyewear  12  in  FIG.  1 C  with resistive sensors (e.g., resistive probes  114 ) in the nose pads. In  FIG.  4 A , secondary FPCBs  26 B and  26 C both extend from primary FPCB  26 A to resistive sensors  400 A and  400 B (e.g., resistive probes  114 ) located within the nose pads. 
     In this example, resistive sensors  400 A and  400 B sense the resistance through the user&#39;s nose when eyewear  12  is being worn. For example, during operation, control electronics  20 A (e.g., controller  100 ) may periodically apply (e.g., every 3 seconds) an electrical signal, via the FPCBs, to resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B and a sensing resistor (not shown) wired in series with the electrodes. Electronics  20 A (e.g., controller  100 ) then monitors the voltage between resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B or across the sensing resistor. For example, when the user is not wearing eyewear  12 , the voltage between resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B is an open circuit voltage (V 1 ) and the voltage across the sensing resistor is 0 v which is interpreted by electronics  20 A (e.g., controller  100 ) to indicate that eyewear  12  is not being worn by the user. When the user is wearing eyewear  12 , the user&#39;s nose comes into contact with resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B thereby completing the circuit and allowing current to flow. As a small amount of unperceivable current flows through the user&#39;s nose, the voltage divides across resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B and the sensing resistor. Electronic components  20 A (e.g., controller  100 ) interpret this change in voltage between resistive electrodes  400 A and  400 B and across the sensing resistor as eyewear  12  that is being worn by the user. 
       FIG.  4 B  is a series of illustrations depicting example steps for manufacturing resistive nose probes (e.g.,  400 A;  FIG.  4 A ). In a first step  410 , nose probe electrode  404  is mounted (e.g., soldered, adhered, etc.) onto a portion of FPCB  402 . In a second step  411 , nose probe electrode  404  is partially covered with a nose pad  406  (e.g., elastomer). A portion of nose probe electrode  404 , however, is still exposed which allows for contact with the user&#39;s nose. In a third step  412 , nose probe electrode and the nose pad are embedded into frame  16  during the molding (e.g., two-shot molding) process. 
     In another embodiment, a proximity sensor may be used to sense if eyewear  12  is being worn by the user. For example, proximity sensor  500  shown in  FIG.  4 B  is an infrared (IR) transceiver that includes an IR transmitter  504 , IR receiver  502  and electrical terminals  506 / 508 . Proximity sensor  500  emits an IR signal from IR transmitter  504 , senses a reflection of the transmitted IR signal and generates a signal that is responsive to whether a reflection is received (i.e., whether an object such as the user is present). If no object is present in front of IR transmitter  504 , then no reflection is received by IR receiver  502 . If an object is present, however, IR receiver  502  receives a reflection and generates a signal indicating that the user is present. 
     Proximity sensor  500  in  FIG.  5 A  may be positioned at various locations on frame  16  or temples  14 A and  14 B for sensing the presence of the user&#39;s head. For example,  FIG.  5 B  depicts a view of proximity sensor  500  embedded into frame  16  at a location where electronic components  20 A are housed. In this example, proximity sensor  500  is mounted to, and electrically connected to a PCB within electronic components  20 A. Proximity sensor  500  is positioned to direct the IR transmitter/receiver towards where the user&#39;s head would be located when the eyewear is worn. The housing of electronic components  20 A may also include an opening or a transparent section  510  that allows the IR light from proximity sensor  500  to enter and exit the housing. 
     During operation, electronic components  20 A control the IR transmitter of proximity sensor  500  to periodically emit an IR signal. When the user is not wearing eyewear  12 , the IR signal is not reflected back to proximity sensor  500  which therefore does not produce an output electrical signal. Control electronics  20 A interprets the lack of the output electrical signal as an indication (e.g., logic 0) that the user is not wearing eyewear  12 . When the user is wearing eyewear  12 , however, the IR signal is reflected off of the user&#39;s head and received by the IR receiver of proximity sensor  500 . This action changes the conductivity of IR receiver (e.g., photo resistor) to produce an output electrical signal from proximity sensor  500 . Control electronics  20 A receives this output electrical signal and interprets it as an indication (e.g., logic 1) that the user is wearing eyewear  12 . 
     Although  FIG.  5 B  depicts proximity sensor  500  embedded into frame  16  with electronic components  20 A, other installation locations are possible. In one example (not shown), proximity sensor  500  may be embedded in the nose pad of eyewear  12  similar to the capacitive probe shown in  FIG.  3 A . In this example, proximity sensor  500  senses the presence of absence of the user&#39;s nose to indicate whether eyewear  12  is being worn or not. In yet another example, shown in  FIG.  5 C , proximity sensor  500  is embedded in the temple of eyewear  12 . FPCB  26 D extends from electronic components  20 A to proximity sensor  500  located on a portion of temple  14 A. Although  FIG.  5 C  depicts proximity sensor  500  mounted to the end of temple  14 A, it is also possible to mount proximity sensor  500  to any portion along temple  14 A or on temple  14 B not shown, as long as proximity sensor  500  is aimed in a direction to sense the user&#39;s head when eyewear  12  is worn. 
     The various connections between controller  100  and the other electronic components including the sensors shown in  FIG.  1 D  are accomplished through wires, PCBs and FPCBs. These electrical connections are routed through various portions of frame  16  and/or temples  14 A and  14 B during the manufacturing (e.g., two-shot molding) process. Once eyewear  12  is manufactured, these electrical connections are fully embedded in the eyewear and may or may not be visible to the user based on the opacity of the manufacturing material. 
     The overall structure and operation of eyewear  12  has been described above. Further details regarding the operation of eyewear  12  will now be described with respect to various flowcharts. 
     In a first example,  FIG.  6 A  depicts a flow chart of the operation of eyewear such as eyewear  12  ( FIG.  1   ) in which electronic components transition between modes of operation when at least a portion of a head of a user is within a region defined by a support structure of the eyewear. At step  601 , the region is monitored. Use detector  101  may monitor the defined region with a sensor positioned on the support structure. At step  602 , at least a portion of a head of a user is detected in the region defined by the support structure of the eyewear. Controller  100  may detect when the at least the portion of the head is sensed within the region based on output from the use detector  101 . At step  603 , the eyewear transitions from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation when the at least the portion of the head of the user is detected within the region. Controller  100  may transition electronic components of eyewear  12  to the second mode of operation when the user&#39;s head is detected. The process may be repeated (e.g., every three seconds). 
     In a second example,  FIG.  6 B  depicts a flowchart of the operation of eyewear  12  using resistive probes  114  to detect if the eyewear is being worn by the user. In step  604 , controller  100  periodically applies a voltage across resistive probes  114  and measures the voltage across a sensing resistor (not shown) wired in series with resistive probes  114 . Then, in step  605 , controller  100  compares the measured voltage to a threshold. The threshold may be set at a value based on the expected voltage division between the sensing resistor and the resistance of a user&#39;s nose (i.e., the sensing resistor and the resistance of a user&#39;s nose are a series circuit). If the voltage across the sensing resistor is not above the threshold, controller  100  determines that there is an open circuit between resistive probes  114  due to the absence of the user&#39;s nose (i.e., no current is flowing between the resistive probes). Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a sleep mode in step  606 . If, however, the voltage across the sensing resistor is above the threshold, controller  100  determines that there is a closed circuit between resistive probes  114  due to contact with the user&#39;s nose (i.e., current is flowing between the resistive probes). Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a normal operational mode in step  607 . 
     In a third example,  FIG.  6 C  depicts a flowchart of the operation of eyewear  12  using a capacitive probe  116  to detect if the eyewear is being worn by the user. In step  608  controller  100  periodically applies an oscillating voltage across capacitive electrodes of capacitive probe  116  and measures the frequency of the oscillating voltage or the charge time of the capacitor which corresponds to the capacitance of the probe. Then in step  610 , controller  100  compares the measured value to a threshold. The threshold may be set at a frequency and/or time value based on the expected frequency of the oscillating voltage or time of charge due to the presence of a user&#39;s nose. If the frequency of the oscillating voltage or the charge time is not above the threshold, controller  100  determines that the capacitance of capacitive probe is not altered due to the absence of the user&#39;s nose (i.e., the capacitance is due to the probes). Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a sleep mode in step  612 . If, however, the frequency of the oscillating voltage or the charge time of the capacitor is above the threshold, controller  100  determines that the capacitance of capacitive probe has been altered (increased) due to the presence of the user&#39;s nose in the region defined by the support structure (i.e., the capacitance increase is due to the combination of the probes and the user&#39;s nose). Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a normal operational mode in step  614 . 
     In a fourth example,  FIG.  6 D  depicts a flowchart of the operation of eyewear  12  using a proximity sensor  118  to detect if the eyewear is being worn by the user. In step  616 , controller  100  periodically controls proximity sensor  118  to transmit an IR signal. Then in step  618 , controller  100  determines when proximity sensor  118  receives a reflection of the IR signal. If a reflection is not received, controller  100  determines that the lack of reflection is due to the absence of the user&#39;s head (e.g., nose) in the region defined by the support structure for receiving the head of the user. Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a sleep mode in step  620 . If, however, a reflection is received, controller  100  determines that the reflection is due to the presence of the user&#39;s head (e.g., nose). Thus, controller  100  enters or maintains a normal operational mode in step  622 . 
     In a fifth example,  FIG.  6 E  depicts a flowchart of the operation of eyewear  12  using a proximity sensor  118  in conjunction with resistive probes  114  or capacitive probe  116  to detect if the eyewear is being worn by the user. In step  624  controller  100  periodically controls proximity sensor  118  to transmit an IR signal, and periodically applies an oscillating voltage across capacitive electrodes of capacitive probe  116  and measures the frequency of the oscillating voltage or charge time of the probe which corresponds to the capacitance of the probe. Then in step  626 , controller  100  determines if a reflection of the IR signal is received by proximity sensor  118  and compares the measured frequency of the oscillating voltage or the charge time to a threshold. If the reflection is received and the frequency or charge time is above the threshold, controller  100  determines that a user is wearing the eyewear and enters or maintains a normal operational mode in step  630 . If, however, the reflection is not received and/or the frequency or charge time is not above the threshold, controller determines that the user is not wearing the eyewear and enters or maintains a sleep mode in step  628 . 
     The steps in  FIGS.  6 A- 6 E  may be performed by the controller  100  of the electronic components upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the controller described herein, such as the steps in  FIGS.  6 A- 6 E , may be implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller, the controller may perform any of the functionality of the controller described herein, including the steps in  FIGS.  6 A- 6 E  described herein. 
     It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises or includes a list of elements or steps does not include only those elements or steps but may include other elements or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. Such amounts are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain. For example, unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like may vary by as much as ±10% from the stated amount. 
     In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examples require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected lies in less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter. 
     While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present concepts.