Source: http://patents.com/us-7438410.html
Timestamp: 2018-10-17 08:15:32
Document Index: 787889889

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

US Patent # 7,438,410. Tethered electrical components for eyeglasses - Patents.com
United States Patent 7,438,410
Howell , et al. October 21, 2008
Inventors: Howell; Thomas A. (Palo Alto, CA), Chao; David (Saratoga, CA), Thomas; C. Douglass (Campbell, CA), Tong; Peter P. (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Ip Venture, Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/521,256
10964011 Oct., 2004 7192136
60509631 Oct., 2003
60527565 Dec., 2003
60562798 Apr., 2004
60583169 Jun., 2004
60592045 Jul., 2004
60605191 Aug., 2004
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/964,011, filed Oct. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,136 entitled "TETHERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR EYEGLASSES", which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and which application claims priority to: (i) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/509,631, filed Oct. 9, 2003, and entitled "TETHERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR EYEGLASSES," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (ii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/527,565, filed Dec. 8, 2003, and entitled "ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (iii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/562,798, filed Apr. 15, 2004, entitled "EYEWEAR WITH ULTRAVIOLET DETECTION SYSTEM," and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (iv) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/583,169, filed Jun. 26, 2004, entitled "ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR USE WITH EYEWEAR, AND METHODS THEREFOR," and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (v) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/592,045, filed Jul. 28, 2004, entitled "EYEGLASSES WITH A CLOCK OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT," and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and (vi) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/605,191, filed Aug. 28, 2004, entitled "ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR USE WITH EYEWEAR, AND METHODS THEREFOR," and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, this application is related to: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/822,218, filed Apr. 12, 2004, and entitled "EYEGLASSES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (ii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/462,591, filed Apr. 15, 2003, and entitled "EYEGLASSES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and (iii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/618,107, filed Oct. 12, 2004, and entitled "TETHERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR EYEGLASSES," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
1. An eyewear system for a user, comprising: an eyeglass frame including: a first lens holder for receiving lenses, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side, a second lens holder for receiving lenses, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side, with the first side of the first lens holder connected to the second side of the second lens holder, a first temple connected to the second side of the first lens holder, and a second temple connected to the first side of the second lens holder; a cord; and a base device having at least one electrical component, wherein at least a portion of a speaker is internal to the eyeglass frame, wherein the eyeglass frame includes an electrical connector; wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the base device is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user, and the cord provides electrical connection between the at least one electrical component in the base device to the speaker in the eyeglass frame through the electrical connector to perform an electrical function, and wherein the eyeglass frame can be separately worn by the user without the cord and the base device.
5. An eyewear system as recited in claim 2, wherein each temple includes a temple tip, and wherein the at least a portion of the speaker is internal to one of the temple tips, which includes the electrical connector.
15. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a microphone is internal to the eyeglass frame, and wherein the electrical function is related to the eyewear system being operable as a mobile phone.
18. An eyewear system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cord is a strap, and wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the strap snugly attaches the eyeglass frame about the head of the user.
19. An eyewear system for a user, comprising: an eyeglass frame including: a first lens holder for receiving lenses, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side, a second lens holder for receiving lenses, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side, with the first side of the first lens holder connected to the second side of the second lens holder, a first temple connected to the second side of the first lens holder, a second temple connected to the first side of the second lens holder, and at least a portion of a speaker internal to the eyeglass frame, a cord; and a base device including wireless interface electronics, which are configured to wirelessly receive signals from a portable electronic device worn or carried by the user to generate audio signals to be heard by the user via the speaker, wherein the eyeglass frame includes an electrical connector, wherein when the eyewear system is worn by the user, the base device is positioned at the upper region of the user, and the cord provides electrical connection between the base device and the speaker in the eyeglass frame through the electrical connector, and wherein the eyeglass frame can be separately worn by the user without the cord and the base device.
21. A base device for a pair of eyeglasses, the base device comprising: at least one electrical component, which is configured to be electrically connected to the eyeglasses through a cord that is attached or attachable to the base device, the cord having at least one electrical conductor therethrough, wherein the eyeglasses having a frame that includes at least first and second temples, wherein the frame includes an electrical connector, wherein at least a portion of a speaker is internal to the frame, wherein when eyeglasses are being worn by the user with the cord coupling the base device to the eyeglasses, the base is tethered to the eyeglasses, and the base device is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user, and wherein the eyeglasses can be separately worn by a user without the cord and the base device.
24. An eyewear system for a user, comprising: an eyeglass frame having a least one electrical component internal thereto, the frame including first and second temples; a pair of cords, with at least one of said cords having at least one electrical conductor therethrough; and a base device having at least one electrical component, wherein when said eyewear system is worn by the user, said base device is positioned proximate to the neck or upper back region of the user, said cords connect said base device to said eyeglass frame, with one of said cords connecting to said first temple and the other of said cords connecting to said second temple, and at least one of said cords electrically connects the at least one electrical component in said base device to the at least one electrical component in said eyeglass frame to perform an electrical function, and wherein said eyeglass frame can be separately worn by the user without said cords and said base device.
The invention relates to tethered electrical components for eyeglasses. According to a number of embodiments of the invention, an apparatus having one or more external electrical components can be tethered, through a tethering mechanism, to one or more electrical components within or attached to a pair of eyeglasses. The one or more external electrical components being tethered by the tethering mechanism, such as a cable or a cord, may be referred to herein as the `tethered electrical components.` While the one or more electrical components in or attached to the glasses can be referred to herein as `eyeglass electrical components.`
In one embodiment, an attachment device 282 is used to support the base 274, the electrical components in the base 274 and/or the cord 276. For example, the attachment device 282 can be a pin, clip or Velcro.RTM., or other suitable mechanisms. The attachment device 282 attaches at least a part of the base 274 and/or the cord 276 to the user's clothing. Alternatively or additionally, a similar attachment device can also serve to attach the wire 278 to the user's clothing.
The cords 112 as shown in FIG. 1 can couple to the frame 104 of the eyeglasses 102 in a variety of different ways. Additionally, one or more electrical components can be attached to or provided within the frame 104 of the eyeglasses 102--the eyeglass electrical components. In one embodiment, the eyeglass electrical components include a speaker and/or a microphone. In another embodiment, the eyeglass electrical components include a display device and/or a sensor.
FIG. 3E is a diagram of an arrangement 370 of a speaker in a base that provides audio output in the vicinity of an arm of a frame of a pair of eyeglasses according to another embodiment. In particular, the arrangement 370 illustrates a pair of eyeglasses 372 having at least one lens 374 and at least one arm 376. A base 378 couples to the eyeglasses 372 by way of a cord 380. The cord 380 can be integral with the base 378 or attachable to the base 378. The cord 380 can attach to an end portion 382 of the arm 376. The base 378 includes an audio delivery system 384. The audio delivery system 384 can, for example, pertain to a MP3 player, a RF receiver (e.g., a radio), or a mini-compact disc player. The audio delivery system 384 outputs audio signals to a speaker 386 which provides an audio output. The audio output from the speaker 386 is directed by a funnel 388 into a tube 390 that extends from the funnel 388 through the cord 380. At an end 392 of the tube 390, the audio output is presented--namely, to a user of the eyeglasses 372. Note the tube 390 exits the cord 380 in the vicinity of its end that attached to the eyeglasses 372. As an example, the tube 390 can be a plastic tube. At least the portion of the tube 390 that is external to the cord 380 can be malleable to allow user adjustment relative to the user's ear.
The apparatus 600 having the clip 606, as an example, can be used to hold the base 602 against an article of clothing worn by the user. For instance, the article of clothing can be a shirt, sweater or jacket worn by the user. More specifically, the clip 606 can hold the base 602 to the collar of a shirt, sweater or jacket worn by the user. Alternatively, instead of a clip, the base 602 can be held against an article of clothing by hook and loop technology (e.g., Velcro.RTM.), a pin, tape, a pocket, etc.
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