Patent Publication Number: US-2021165975-A1

Title: Language translation with head-worn computing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Ser. No. 16/149,405, filed Oct. 2, 2018 (now U.S. Publication No. 2019-0266247A1), which is a continuation of Ser. No. 15/494,827, filed Apr. 24, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,146,772 issued Dec. 4, 2018), which is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/659,815, filed Mar. 17, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,672,210 issued Jun. 6, 2017), which is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent applications: 
     Ser. No. 14/490,586 filed Sep. 18, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,423,842 issued Aug. 23, 2016); Ser. No. 14/307,465 filed Jun. 17, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,651,787 issued May 16, 2017); Ser. No. 14/323,123 filed Jul. 3, 2014 (now abandoned); Ser. No. 14/262,615 filed Apr. 25, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,158,116 issued Oct. 13, 2015). 
     All of the above-identified applications and patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to head worn computing. More particularly, this invention relates to language translation systems for head-worn computers. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Wearable computing systems have been developed and are beginning to be commercialized. Many problems persist in the wearable computing field that need to be resolved to make them meet the demands of the market. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to language translation systems for head-worn computers. 
     These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbers may be used throughout to reference like features and components that are shown in the Figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a head worn computing system in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a head worn computing system with optical system in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C  illustrate three views of a head worn computer in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a temple and ear horn in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5C ,  FIG. 5D ,  FIG. 5E  and  FIG. 5F  illustrate a temple and ear horn assembly in various states in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an adjustable nose bridge assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an adjustable nose bridge assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates speaker assemblies for head-worn computers in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a stiff ear horn with a touch pad for a head-worn computer in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top plate in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates temperature test results of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art and are encompassed herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to head-worn computing (“HWC”) systems. HWC involves, in some instances, a system that mimics the appearance of head-worn glasses or sunglasses. The glasses may be a fully developed computing platform, such as including computer displays presented in each of the lenses of the glasses to the eyes of the user. In embodiments, the lenses and displays may be configured to allow a person wearing the glasses to see the environment through the lenses while also seeing, simultaneously, digital imagery, which forms an overlaid image that is perceived by the person as a digitally augmented image of the environment, or augmented reality (“AR”). 
     HWC involves more than just placing a computing system on a person&#39;s head. The system may need to be designed as a lightweight, compact and fully functional computer display, such as wherein the computer display includes a high resolution digital display that provides a high level of emersion comprised of the displayed digital content and the see-through view of the environmental surroundings. User interfaces and control systems suited to the HWC device may be required that are unlike those used for a more conventional computer such as a laptop. For the HWC and associated systems to be most effective, the glasses may be equipped with sensors to determine environmental conditions, geographic location, relative positioning to other points of interest, objects identified by imaging and movement by the user or other users in a connected group, and the like. The HWC may then change the mode of operation to match the conditions, location, positioning, movements, and the like, in a method generally referred to as a contextually aware HWC. The glasses also may need to be connected, wirelessly or otherwise, to other systems either locally or through a network. Controlling the glasses may be achieved through the use of an external device, automatically through contextually gathered information, through user gestures captured by the glasses sensors, and the like. Each technique may be further refined depending on the software application being used in the glasses. The glasses may further be used to control or coordinate with external devices that are associated with the glasses. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an overview of the HWC system  100  is presented. As shown, the HWC system  100  comprises a HWC  102 , which in this instance is configured as glasses to be worn on the head with sensors such that the HWC  102  is aware of the objects and conditions in the environment  114 . In this instance, the HWC  102  also receives and interprets control inputs such as gestures and movements  116  of body parts of a user. The HWC  102  may communicate with external user interfaces  104 . The external user interfaces  104  may provide a physical user interface to take control instructions from a user of the HWC  102  and the external user interfaces  104  and the HWC  102  may communicate bi-directionally to affect the user&#39;s command and provide feedback to the external device  108 . The HWC  102  may also communicate bi-directionally with externally controlled or coordinated local devices  108 . For example, an external user interface  104  may be used in connection with the HWC  102  to control an externally controlled or coordinated local device  108 . The externally controlled or coordinated local device  108  may provide feedback to the HWC  102  and a customized GUI may be presented in the HWC  102  based on the type of device or specifically identified device  108 . The HWC  102  may also interact with remote devices and information sources  112  through a network connection  110 . Again, the external user interface  104  may be used in connection with the HWC  102  to control or otherwise interact with any of the remote devices  108  and information sources  112  in a similar way as when the external user interfaces  104  are used to control or otherwise interact with the externally controlled or coordinated local devices  108 . Similarly, HWC  102  may interpret gestures  116  (e.g captured from forward, downward, upward, rearward facing sensors such as camera(s), range finders, IR sensors, etc.) or environmental conditions sensed in the environment  114  to control either local or remote devices  108  or  112 . 
     We will now describe each of the main elements depicted on  FIG. 1  in more detail; however, these descriptions are intended to provide general guidance and should not be construed as limiting. Additional description of each element may also be further described herein. 
     The HWC  102  is a computing platform intended to be worn on a person&#39;s head. The HWC  102  may take many different forms to fit many different functional requirements. In some situations, the HWC  102  will be designed in the form of conventional glasses. The glasses may or may not have active computer graphics displays. In situations where the HWC  102  has integrated computer displays the displays may be configured as see-through displays such that the digital imagery can be overlaid with respect to the user&#39;s view of the environment  114 . There are a number of see-through optical designs that may be used, including ones that have a reflective display (e.g. LCoS, DLP), emissive displays (e.g. OLED, LED), hologram, TIR waveguides, and the like. In embodiments, lighting systems used in connection with the display optics may be solid state lighting systems, such as LED, OLED, quantum dot, quantum dot LED, etc. In addition, the optical configuration may be monocular or binocular. It may also include vision corrective optical components. In embodiments, the optics may be packaged as contact lenses. In other embodiments, the HWC  102  may be in the form of a helmet with a see-through shield, sunglasses, safety glasses, goggles, a mask, fire helmet with see-through shield, police helmet with see through shield, military helmet with see-through shield, utility form customized to a certain work task (e.g. inventory control, logistics, repair, maintenance, etc.), and the like. 
     The HWC  102  may also have a number of integrated computing facilities, such as an integrated processor, integrated power management, communication structures (e.g. cell net, WiFi, Bluetooth, local area connections, mesh connections, remote connections (e.g. client server, etc.)), and the like. The HWC  102  may also have a number of positional awareness sensors, such as GPS, electronic compass, altimeter, tilt sensor, IMU, and the like. It may also have other sensors such as a camera, rangefinder, hyper-spectral camera, Geiger counter, microphone, spectral illumination detector, temperature sensor, chemical sensor, biologic sensor, moisture sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and the like. 
     The HWC  102  may also have integrated control technologies. The integrated control technologies may be contextual based control, passive control, active control, user control, and the like. For example, the HWC  102  may have an integrated sensor (e.g. camera) that captures user hand or body gestures  116  such that the integrated processing system can interpret the gestures and generate control commands for the HWC  102 . In another example, the HWC  102  may have sensors that detect movement (e.g. a nod, head shake, and the like) including accelerometers, gyros and other inertial measurements, where the integrated processor may interpret the movement and generate a control command in response. The HWC  102  may also automatically control itself based on measured or perceived environmental conditions. For example, if it is bright in the environment the HWC  102  may increase the brightness or contrast of the displayed image. In embodiments, the integrated control technologies may be mounted on the HWC  102  such that a user can interact with it directly. For example, the HWC  102  may have a button(s), touch capacitive interface, and the like. 
     As described herein, the HWC  102  may be in communication with external user interfaces  104 . The external user interfaces may come in many different forms. For example, a cell phone screen may be adapted to take user input for control of an aspect of the HWC  102 . The external user interface may be a dedicated UI, such as a keyboard, touch surface, button(s), joy stick, and the like. In embodiments, the external controller may be integrated into another device such as a ring, watch, bike, car, and the like. In each case, the external user interface  104  may include sensors (e.g. IMU, accelerometers, compass, altimeter, and the like) to provide additional input for controlling the HWD  104 . 
     As described herein, the HWC  102  may control or coordinate with other local devices  108 . The external devices  108  may be an audio device, visual device, vehicle, cell phone, computer, and the like. For instance, the local external device  108  may be another HWC  102 , where information may then be exchanged between the separate HWCs  108 . 
     Similar to the way the HWC  102  may control or coordinate with local devices  106 , the HWC  102  may control or coordinate with remote devices  112 , such as the HWC  102  communicating with the remote devices  112  through a network  110 . Again, the form of the remote device  112  may have many forms. Included in these forms is another HWC  102 . For example, each HWC  102  may communicate its GPS position such that all the HWCs  102  know where all of HWC  102  are located. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a HWC  102  with an optical system that includes an upper optical module  202  and a lower optical module  204 . While the upper and lower optical modules  202  and  204  will generally be described as separate modules, it should be understood that this is illustrative only and the present invention includes other physical configurations, such as that when the two modules are combined into a single module or where the elements making up the two modules are configured into more than two modules. In embodiments, the upper module  202  includes a computer controlled display (e.g. LCoS, DLP, OLED, etc.) and image light delivery optics. In embodiments, the lower module includes eye delivery optics that are configured to receive the upper module&#39;s image light and deliver the image light to the eye of a wearer of the HWC. In  FIG. 2 , it should be noted that while the upper and lower optical modules  202  and  204  are illustrated in one side of the HWC such that image light can be delivered to one eye of the wearer, that it is envisioned by the present invention that embodiments will contain two image light delivery systems, one for each eye. It should also be noted that while many embodiments refer to the optical modules as “upper” and “lower” it should be understood that this convention is being used to make it easier for the reader and that the modules are not necessarily located in an upper-lower relationship. For example, the image generation module may be located above the eye delivery optics, below the eye delivery optics, on a side of the eye delivery optics, or otherwise positioned to satisfy the needs of the situation and/or the HWC  102  mechanical and optical requirements. 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to the mechanical and electrical construction of a side arm of a head worn computer. In general, when a head worn computer takes the form of glasses, sun-glasses, certain goggles, or other such forms, two side arms are included for mounting and securing the had worn computer on the ears of a person wearing the head worn computer. In embodiments, the side arms may also contain electronics, batteries, wires, antennas, computer processors, computer boards, etc. In embodiments, the side arm may include two or more sub assemblies. For example, as will be discussed in more detail below, the side arm may include a temple section and an ear horn section. The two sections may, for example, be mechanically arranged to allow an ear horn section to move such that both side arms can fold into a closed position. 
       FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 3C  illustrate three separate views of a head worn computer  102  according to the principles of the present invention. Turning to the head worn computer illustrated as  FIG. 3A , one side arm of the HWC  102  is folded into its closed position. The ear horn section  308  of the side arm is rotated relative to its temple section  304  to create space relative to the other side arm  310  so when the other side arm is moved into its closed position it can fully close. In a situation where the ear horn did not rotate to create the space (not illustrated) the ear horn would physically interfere with the other side arm  310 , when the side arm was in the closed position, and prevent the other side arm  310  from fully closing. The HWC  FIG. 3B  view illustrates the HWC  FIG. 3B  with both side arms folded into a fully closed position. Note that the ear horn  308  is in the rotated position with respect to its temple section  304  such that the other arm  310  closed without interfering with the ear horn  308 . The HWC  FIG. 3C  view also illustrates both arms in closed positions with the ear horn  308  rotated to create the space for the other arm  310  to fully close.  FIG. 3C  also illustrates a portion of the HWC  102  where electronics may be housed in a top mount  312 . The top mount may contain electronics, sensors, optics, processors, memory, radios, antennas, etc. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side arm configuration in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, the side arm includes two sub assemblies: the temple section  304  and the ear horn  308 .  FIG. 4  illustrates two views of the side arm assembly, one from an outer perspective and one from a sectioned perspective. The ear horn includes a pin  402  that is designed to fit into a hole  404  and to be secured by connector  408 . The connector  408  is rotatable and in one position locks the pin  402  in place and in another position unsecures the pin  402  such that the ear horn  308  can be removed and re-attached to the temple section  304 . This allows the detachment and re-attachment of the ear horn  308  from the temple section  304 . This also allows for the sale of different ear horns  308  for replacement, of which a variety of colors and patterns may be offered. In embodiments, the temple section  304  may include a battery compartment  410  and other electronics, wires, sensors, processors, etc. 
       FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5C ,  FIG. 5D ,  FIG. 5E  and  FIG. 5F  illustrate several views of a HWC side arm with temple  304  and ear horn  308  sections. The views include outer perspectives and cross sections as well as various states of the security of the ear horn  308  with the temple section  304 . One embodiment of an outer perspective and cross-section of a temple assembly and earhorn assembly is shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , respectively, including connector and pin assembly  510 A, wherein the ear horn is in its final secured position and ready to be put on the head of a user  FIG. 5C  and  FIG. 5D  illustrate the ear horn  308  and the temple section  304  in a secure, but separated and un-rotated position. The same pin  402  and connector  408  system described in connection with  FIG. 4  is illustrated in the cross sections of  FIG. 5E  and  FIG. 5F  at connector and pin assembly  512 . In the secured un-rotated position the pin is pulled internally within the temple section firmly such that it stays in place.  FIG. 5C  and  FIG. 5D  illustrate a state where the ear horn  308  is separated from the temple section  304 . This state is achieved when pressure is used to pull on the ear horn  308 . In embodiments, the pressure is exerted by a user pulling on the ear horn  308 , which compresses a spring in the connector and pin assembly  510 B that is mechanically associated with the pin  402  in the ear horn  308 . The mechanism uses the spring to maintain pressure on the pin  402  to maintain connection with the connector  408  when the connector  408  is in a position to lock the pin  402  in position.  FIG. 5E  and  FIG. 5F  illustrates a state where, after the ear horn  308  has been pulled into the state described in connection with  FIG. 5C  and  FIG. 5D , the ear horn  308  is rotated about the pin  402 . This puts the ear horn  308  in a rotated position as described herein such that the first arm, with this rotated ear horn  308 , does not interfere with the closure of the other arm  310  when the two arms are folded into the closed position.  FIG. 5E  and  FIG. 5F  illustrates the connector and pin assembly as continuing to secure the ear horn  308  to the temple  304  in the rotated position. 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to an adjustable nose bridge. An adjustable nose bridge may be important with head worn computers, especially those with computer displays, to ensure comfort and alignment of the displays and/or other portions of the head worn computer.  FIG. 6  illustrates a HWC  102  with an adjustable nose bridge  602 . The nose bridge is adjustable through a mechanism in the HWC  102 . In embodiments, the mechanism includes a fixed notched attachment  604 , a movable pin  608  adapted to fit into the notches of the notched attachment  604 , and a selection device  610  that is attached to the movable pin  608 . The movable pin  608  and nose bridge  602  are connected such that the as the movable pin  608  shifts in position the nose bridge  602  moves in position as well. The selection device  610  causes the movable pin  608  to engage and disengage with the fixed notched attachment  604  when presses and allowed to retract. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the selection device  610  is not in a pressed position so the movable pin  608  is engaged with the notched attachment  604  such that the nose bridge is securely attached in a stable position.  FIG. 7  illustrates a scenario where the selection device is pressed, or activated, such that the moveable pin  608  is no longer engaged with the fixed notched attachment  604 . This allows the nose bridge  602  to move up and down with respect to the rest of the HWC  102 . Once the movable pin  608  aligns with a notch of the notched attachment  604 , the two parts may engage to re-secure the nose bridge in the HWC  102 . 
     In embodiments, a side arm of the HWC  102  may include an audio jack (not shown) and the audio jack may be magnetically attachable to the side arm. For example, the temple section  304  or ear horn section  308  may have a magnetically attachable audio jack with audio signal wires associated with an audio system in the HWC  102 . The magnetic attachment may include one or more magnets on one end (e.g. on the head phone end or the side arm end) and magnetically conductive material on the other end. In other embodiments, both ends of the attachment may have magnets, of opposite polarization, to create a stronger magnetic bond for the headphone). In embodiments, the audio signal wires or magnetic connection may include a sensor circuit to detect when the headphone is detached from the HWC  102 . This may be useful in situations where the wearer is wearing the headphones during a period when there is not constant audio processing (e.g. listening for people to talk with periods of silence). In embodiments, the other side&#39;s headphone may play a tone, sound, signal, etc. in the event a headphone is detached. In embodiments, an indication of the detachment may be displayed in the computer display. 
     In embodiments, the HWC  102  may have a vibration system that vibrates to alert the wearer of certain sensed conditions. In embodiments, the vibration system (e.g. an actuator that moves quickly to cause vibration in the HWC  102 ) may be mounted in a side arm (e.g. the temple section  304 , or ear horn  308 ), in the top mount  312 , etc. In embodiments, the vibration system may be capable of causing different vibration modes that may be indicative of different conditions. For example, the vibration system may include a multi-mode vibration system, piezo-electric vibration system, variable motor, etc., that can be regulated through computer input and a processor in the HWC  102  may send control signals to the vibration system to generate an appropriate vibration mode. In embodiments, the HWC  102  may be associated with other devices (e.g. through Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.) and the vibratory control signals may be associated with sensors associated with the other device. For example, the HWC  102  may be connected to a car through Bluetooth such that sensor(s) in the car can cause activation of a vibration mode for the vibration system. The car, for example, may determine that a risk of accident is present (e.g. risk of the driver falling asleep, car going out of its lane, a car in front of the wearer is stopped or slowing, radar in the car indicates a risk, etc.) and the car&#39;s system may then send a command, via the Bluetooth connection, to the HWC  102  to cause a vibratory tone to be initiated in the HWC 102 . 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a removable and replaceable speaker assembly for a HWC  102 . There are times when different speaker types are desired or when a speaker may malfunction. It is therefore desirable to have a speaker assembly that is removable and replaceable by the user. To facilitate the removal and reattachment of the speaker assembly a magnetic or magnetic attachment system may be included. For example, the speaker assembly and head-worn computer may include magnetic elements such that the speaker can be removed by exerting pressure and replaced by getting the two sections close to one another. In another example, the speaker or head-worn computer may have a button, slider, etc. that can be interacted with to remove the speaker. In embodiments, the speaker assembly may have a form factor of an ear bud, ear phone, head phone, head set, external ear speaker, etc. In embodiments, the speaker assembly may include a vibratory system to provide haptic feedback to the user. In embodiments, such a removable and replaceable speaker system may be provided to both of the user&#39;s ears. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates several embodiments where HWC  102 &#39;s are associated with speaker systems. Earbud  802  may be removably attached to the HWC  102  with a magnetic system or mechanical system or combination thereof. Speaker  804  may also be removably attached to the HWC 102  in a similar way. The speaker  804  may be positioned to emit sound towards the user&#39;s ear but not actually be positioned in the ear. This configuration may provide for greater environmental hearing for the user as the ear would not be blocked by an ear bud, head phone, etc. The speaker  804  may generate audio waves and/or ultrasonic waves that are converted into audio when they are emitted through the air. When ultrasonic transducers are used, more than one frequency transducer may be included. See http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound from ultrasound and http://www.holosonics.com for references on generating sound from ultrasound. The speaker and/or piezo vibratory system  808  is depicted as integrated into the temple. In embodiments, this module may be integrated such that it can be removed and replaced and it may also be adapted such that it does not hang below the temple piece. Each of the removable and replaceable speaker systems described herein may include a vibratory system (e.g. piezo electric circuit that is controlled by the HWC  102 . 
     In embodiments, a head-worn computer may include a temple portion mechanically secured to a computer display and adapted to position the computer display in front of an eye of a user, and the temple portion including a speaker attachment, wherein the speaker attachment is adapted to securely position a speaker assembly and electrically associate the speaker assembly with electronics internal to the head-worn computer and facilitate the user&#39;s release and re-securing of the speaker assembly with the temple portion. The speaker attachment may include a magnetic element, moveable mechanical element, etc. or combination thereof to secure and unsecure the speaker system from the HWC  102 . The speaker assembly may have a form factor adapted to be inserted into an outer ear of the user, cover at least a portion of an outer ear of the user, cover substantially all of an outer ear of the user, to position the speaker under the temple assembly and above an ear of the user, to position a speaker under the temple assembly and in front of an ear of the user, angle the speaker towards the ear, etc. The speaker system may further have a vibratory system to provide haptic feedback to the user. The haptic feedback may be coordinated with a game being presented in the computer display, an application running on the HWC  102 , etc. In embodiments, a vibratory system is provided in both speaker systems to provide controllable haptic feedback in stereo and/or on both or either side of the user&#39;s head. 
     In embodiments, the connection between the speaker system and the HWC  102  may be positioned other than under the temple section. It may be positioned on a side, top, bottom, end of a section of the side arm, for example. It may be positioned on the front bridge, for example. In embodiments, the speaker system may be connected to a top or side portion and the speaker may be further positioned to face forward, away from the user&#39;s ear. This may be a useful configuration for providing sound to others. For example, such a configuration may be used when the user wants to provide translations to a person nearby. The user may speak in a language, have the language translated, and then spoken through the forward facing speakers. 
     The removable nature of the speaker systems may be desirable for breakaway situations so a snag does not tear the glasses from the user or pull hard on the user&#39;s ear. The removable nature may also be useful for modularity configurations where the user wants to interchange speaker types or attach other accessories. For example, the user may want ear buds at one point and an open ear speaker configuration at another point and the user may be able to make the swap with ease given this configuration. The port on the HWC  102  may also be adapted for other accessories that include lights or sensors for example. The accessory may have an ambient light sensor to assist with the control of the lighting and contrast systems used in the HWC  102  displays, for example. In embodiments, the speaker port may be used as a charging port for the HWC  102  or data port for the HWC  102 . 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to a language translation system with a head-worn computer. In embodiments, the head-worn computer includes a microphone and an audio communication system. The microphone is associated with a processor and is used to record a spoken utterance of a person wearing the head-worn computer. The microphone is positioned in the head-worn computer such that the person wearing the head-worn computer can speak in a normal tone and volume and the microphone will record the user&#39;s utterances. The head-worn system is further adapted to convert the spoken utterance into a language other than a first spoken language represented by the spoken utterance, forming translated language. For example, if the user is speaking in English, the recorded English spoken words will be recognized and converted into a second language (e.g. Spanish). The converted language can then be played in an audio system such that the converted language is played through an associated speaker system. 
     The speaker in the language translation system may be wired or wirelessly connected to the head-worn computer. The speaker also will be of sufficient size and power to produce sound intensity such that a person at a conversational distance can hear the sound at a conversational level. For example, the speaker may produce sound in a range of approximately 30 to 40 db at a distance of 5 feet from the speaker. This is a relatively quiet conversational sound intensity and may be used in a quiet sound level environment. The speaker may produce sound in a range of approximately 40 to 60 db at a distance of 5 feet from the speaker. This is a moderate sound level and may be used in a moderate sound level environment. The speaker may produce sound in a range of approximately 60 to 80 db at a distance from 5 feet of the speaker. This is a relatively loud sound level and may be used in a loud environment. The speaker may be powerful enough for a maximum level (e.g. 80 db) and the audio system may be controllable to a lower level (e.g. 30 db). In embodiments, the sound level from the speaker may be automatically regulated depending on the sound in the environment. In embodiments, the sound level may be manually regulated. A manually regulated system may be regulated through gesture control, an external user interface adapted to regulate aspects of the head-worn computer, a control mounted on the head-worn computer, etc. The manually regulated system may be regulated by a control on the speaker itself. 
     In embodiments, the speaker is adapted to be positioned separately from the head-worn computer at a spot where it can be secured mechanically but to cause the sound to emanate from a direction similar to the direction of the user&#39;s speech. For example, the speaker may be mechanically adapted to fit into a shirt pocket of the user. This at least partially conceals the speaker and secures it such that the sound comes from a similar direction as the user&#39;s speech. The speaker may be mechanically adapted to clip onto a shirt of the user or otherwise adapted to be properly positioned. 
     The head-worn computer may be further adapted to communicate the translated language to the speaker and display, in a see-through head-worn display mechanically supported by the head-worn computer, a visual representation of the first or second language. For example, the visual representation may be a representation of the original language converted based on the utterances such that the person wearing the head-worn computer can see, as a confirmation, the language that was the output of the conversion process. This can help to avoid miscommunications. In the event that the conversion process improperly converted the spoken language, the user would be able to correct the system because the visual representations would give him the indication of improper conversion. As another example, the visual display may represent the converted language. This may help the person wearing the head-worn computer learn the second language. It may also be useful in a situation where the user is trying to speak the second language and just wants help from the head-worn system from time to time. For example, the user may have the language conversion system off, and then turn it on when he finds himself lacking an understanding of how to say something in the second language. Once on, the conversion system can assist him by speaking the converted language to the other person and/or displaying the words or other representations in the see-through display. 
     In embodiments, the user may be able to turn the visual representation of the first or second language off. This user control may be helpful in a number of situations. For example, the user may want to rely on the conversion system and not want the additional distraction of the visual representations of the language presented in his field of view. This may be the case when the user needs to provide greater attention to the other person, situation or environment. The user control may be controlled by a gesture, external user interface, head-worn computer mounted user interface, etc. The user interface may also provide a visual representation of the user interface and/or the state of the user interface in the see-through display. 
     Another aspect of the language conversion system in the head-worn computer relates to the control of the audible tone of the second language produced through the speaker system. There may be situations where the use of a custom or predetermined audible tone may be useful. For example, if the audible tone from the speaker approximates the audible tone of the user himself than the system may produce a more personal situation between the user and the listener. For example, the translated language may have an audible spectrum based on the user&#39;s spoken utterances. The audible spectrum may be determined through an analysis of the spoken utterance&#39;s spectrum. The analysis may result in one of a plurality of pre-determined tones to be used when communicating the translated language to the speaker. For example, selected tone may be a high male tone, mid-tone male, low male tone, high female tone, mid-tone female, low female tone, etc. In embodiments, the user may manually select the tone. 
     In embodiments, the audible tone of the spoken utterances is analyzed and categorized by a signature, wherein the signature defines power within spectral ranges. The signature can then be used to modify the tone of the speaker system. For example, the signature may indicate that a high frequency range in the person&#39;s voice is not powerful so a spectral filter with a suppression of the range may be applied to the tone produced by the speaker system. A technique generally referred to as voice morphing may be used to approximate the user&#39;s voice. See the following published paper for additional information on voice morphing: Eng. Dept., Cambridge Univ., UK, DOI: 10.1109/ICASSP.2004.1325909 Conference: Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, 2004. Proceedings. (ICASSP &#39;04). IEEE International Conference on, Volume: 1. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to securing the head-worn computer  102  to the user&#39;s head in a way that the computer does not slip down the nose of the user, due to the extra front weight of the HWC  102 , but does not create discomfort for the user. While some have designed systems that use lateral force between the two side arms to squeeze the HWC arms on the sides of the user&#39;s head, this solution tends to cause comfort problems. The squeeze on the user&#39;s head has to be relatively high, as compared to non-computer glasses, to maintain enough pressure to overcome the additional weight in the front of the glasses and this high pressure tends to cause comfort issues. In embodiments of the present invention, a substantially stiff ear horn is provided and the back end of the ear horn wraps around the user&#39;s head and touches the user&#39;s head. The touch point is towards the back of the user&#39;s head such that it provides a point or area of counteracting force for the HWC  102  if it tries to pull forward or down the user&#39;s nose due to the front weight of the HWC  102 . In embodiments, the end of the ear horn, or a section near the end, has a touch pad. The touch pad may be made of soft material so it is comfortable on the back of the user&#39;s head. In embodiments, the touch pad may be mounted such that it has angular flexibility. The angular flexibility allows the touch pad to better align with the touch point on the user&#39;s head so it can provide the counteractive force but spread the force over an area for greater comfort. 
     In embodiments, a head-worn computer is provided and has a see-through computer display configured to be mounted on the head of a user; a side arm configured to secure the see-through computer display to the user&#39;s head, the side arm further configured to be positioned to lay against the user&#39;s head proximate an ear of the user; and the side arm including a stiff member extending behind the ear of the user, contoured to substantially follow a curvature of the user&#39;s head behind the ear of the user, and to touch a portion of the user&#39;s head towards the rear of the user&#39;s head such that the see-through computer display remains substantially secure in a position in front of an eye of the user. 
     In embodiments, the stiff member is removeably secured to a temple portion of the side arm (as described herein elsewhere). The stiff member may be telescopically adjustable to fit the user&#39;s head. The stiff member may be provided with a ratchet style securing mechanism for adjusting the telescopic adjustment. The stiff member may be provided with a rotatable style securing mechanism for adjusting the telescopic adjustment, or another style securing mechanism may be provided. The stiff member may touch a portion of the user&#39;s head at a rear end of the stiff member. The rear end of the stiff member may include a touch pad. The touch pad may be made of a soft material to increase the comfort and surface area of the touch area. The touch pad may be attached such that it has angular flexibility such that the touch pad changes position to increase a touch surface in contact with the rear of the user&#39;s head. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a HWC  102  mounted on the head of a user. The HWC  102  has a see-through optics module  204 , a temple portion  304 , a stiff ear horn  904  and a head-touch pad  902 . As described herein elsewhere, the stiff ear horn  904  may be removable and replaceable. This can be useful when the exchange of ear horns from one type to another or one size to another is desired, for example. The stiff ear horn  904  may be made of aluminum, aluminum tubing, carbon fiber, or other material that is relatively stiff. The stiffness should be of a level that provides for lateral inflexibility such that the touch pad  902  can exert counteracting force with a high rear facing vector. Too much flexibility in the stiff ear horn  904  can detract from the rear-facing vector of force when the weight of the HWC  102  is pulling forward/down the nose. In embodiments, several different lengths, shapes, stiffnesses, etc. of stiff ear horn  904  may be provided so the user can select the set that best serves his purpose. The head-touch pad  902  may be made of a soft material, malleable material, etc. to provide comfort to the user and to increase the head touch surface. The head-touch pad  902  may also be mounted in such a way that the head-touch pad  902  can flex and/or change angle as it is pressed upon. The head-touch pad  902  may, for example, be mounted on the stiff ear horn  904  with a hinge or pivot mechanism such that the head-touch pad  902  self aligns with the user&#39;s head when the HWC  102  is put on the user&#39;s head. This configuration may increase the touch surface area between the head-touch pad  902  and the user&#39;s head and generate a larger counteracting force to prevent the slipping or moving of the HWC  102 . 
     In embodiments, the side arms of the HWC  102  are designed to exert inward lateral pressure on the user&#39;s head, but the lateral pressure is reduced so it is not uncomfortable, along with having stiff side arms  904  and head-touch pads  902 . In these embodiments, the ear horns  904  and head touch pads  902  cause significant counteracting forces in addition to the counteracting forces applied through the inward lateral forces applied by the side arms. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to the thermal management of the head-worn computer. In embodiments, the head-worn computer is a high functioning self-contained computer with wireless connectivity where the electronics are compacted to fit into a glasses style form factor. In embodiments, the main heat producing electronics are in an upper portion of a bridge section over the top of the lenses of the head-worn computer (e.g. as described in connection with  FIG. 3B ). The thermal management technologies described herein manage the heat such that the system can operate in high temperature environments (e.g. 55 degrees C. ambient) and maintain a comfortable temperature for the user (e.g. below 70 degrees C. along the forehead section). 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an embodiment of a head-worn computer wherein the electronics are housed in an upper bridge section above the lenses of the glasses form factor. This has been referred to as the top mount  312 . The top mount  312  may include the majority of the electronics that are used to form the fully functional computer. This may include the processor, memory, sensors, cameras, optical drive system, etc. In this embodiment, the batteries are housed in the temple portions of the side arms. The top mount  312  may include a cavity where the circuit board(s) are housed and secured. The top mount may also include a top plate  1000  designed to be mounted on the top of the cavity such that it forms a portion of the enclosure. In embodiments, the top plate  1000  is designed to receive heat from the circuit board and/or components mounted on the circuit board and then dissipate the heat into the environment surrounding the head-worn computer. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates several perspective views of an embodiment top plate  1000 . The top plate outside view  1002  illustrates the heat dissipating fins on the top of the top plate  1002 . The heat dissipating fins are on the outside of the completed head-worn computer assembly and dissipate the heat into the surrounding environment. The top plate front view  1004  illustrates a front perspective of the top plate. The top plate inside view  1008  illustrates a bottom view of the top plate. The bottom is the portion that is on the inside of the circuit board cavity in the fully assembled head-worn computer. The bottom of the top plate  1000  may have features to facilitate the mechanical and thermal connection with the circuit board and/or components on the circuit board. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10  the top plate  1000  includes an internal component thermal connection pad  1010 . The thermal connection pad  1010  may be adapted to mechanically and thermally connect with the internal circuit board and/or a component on the circuit board (e.g. the processor, memory, or other heat producing component). The assembly may have intervening material between the top plate  1000  and the circuit board and/or circuit board component (e.g. a heat spreader plate designed to receive heat from a component or set of components and then spread the heat over an area, thermally conductive paste, glue, pad, or other facilitating material). In embodiments, a thermally conductive material is placed between the circuit board and/or circuit board component(s) and the thermal connection pad  1010  of the top plate  1000  to eliminate any air gap that might otherwise develop as a result of the mechanical mismatch of the components in the assembly. This can further facilitate the transfer of heat from the heat producing component(s) (e.g. the processor) to the thermal connection pad  1010  and out to the surrounding environment through the heat dissipating fins. The inventors used a thermally conductive material from Fujupoly in the thermally tested devices. This material has an advertised thermal conductivity of 11 Watt/m-k. Watt/m-k is a unit of measurement of thermal efficiency for thermal interface material. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates some test results relating to a head-worn computer with a top plate  1000  assembly as described herein. The head-worn computer was placed in an environmental chamber at 55 degrees Celsius. The head-worn computer was then turned on and the top plate  1000  temperature was observed. Operation of the processor was also observed. As can be seen, the maximum temperature of the top plate  1000  remained below 70 degrees Celsius. While 70 degrees Celsius is still a fairly hot maximum temperature, the heat dissipating fins caused the assembly to be comfortable to the human touch. In addition to maintaining an acceptable outside assembly temperature, the processor continued to operate throughout the testing, which is a significant advantage over the state of the art. 
     Although embodiments of HWC have been described in language specific to features, systems, computer processes and/or methods, the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features, systems, computer processes and/or methods described. Rather, the specific features, systems, computer processes and/or and methods are disclosed as non-limited example implementations of HWC. 
     All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference.