Abstract:
An article of eyewear includes an eyeglass frame having an integrally formed camera enclosure, an imaging sensor disposed within the camera enclosure, and a single button to control on, off, record on, and record off functions of the article of eyewear. The eyeglass frame may have a camouflage pattern. A system for recording video includes an eyeglass frame having an integrally formed camera enclosure, an imaging sensor disposed within the camera enclosure, and a wireless transceiver disposed within the eyeglass frame, and a single button to control on, off, record on, and record off functions of the article of eyewear. A method of documenting a hunt using an article of eyewear is provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to eyewear configured for recording video imagery. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to eyewear configured for acquiring video imagery, the eyewear being suitable for sports such as hunting or other outdoor activities. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Although the present invention may be used in various applications as will be discussed herein, problems in the art will be discussed in the context of hunting. In hunting, it is at times desirable to record a hunting event. There are various reasons why one may desire a hunting event to be recorded. One reason is to provide a record of the hunting experience so that the hunter may, after the fact, relive the experience or share the experience with others. Another reason to provide a record of the hunting experience is so the hunter may self-evaluate their performance or have their performance evaluated by others so that they may improve their performance in the future. 
         [0003]    Yet, there are difficulties in recording the hunt. Hunting does not lend itself to the use of conventional video cameras as a hunter is focused on their game and is occupied with their weapon. Nor is a hunter able to use complex user interfaces which require more than one hand or significant movement as doing so would distract the hunter from their primary purpose or even alert prey to the presence of the hunter. Although a hunter could rely on others to record their hunt, there may not be others available and having others assist may increase the likelihood of detection by game. In addition, having others record the hunt would not provide a recording from the hunter&#39;s point of view. Therefore, problems remain. What is needed are devices, methods, and system which allow a hunter to record a hunt from their own point-of-view. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
         [0005]    It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a device which has an eyewear frame with an integral camera which is mounted in such a manner that it does not impede performance of the user in hunting or other sports. 
         [0006]    It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a device which may be used to record an event from the point-of-view of a participant in the event. 
         [0007]    It is another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a device which is easy to use. 
         [0008]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a device with an adjustable field of view. 
         [0009]    A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a device that may use one button technology. 
         [0010]    One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become clear from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment of the present invention need exhibit all of these objects, features, or advantages of the present invention. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, an article of eyewear is provided. The article of eyewear includes an eyeglass frame having an integrally formed camera enclosure, and an imaging sensor disposed within the camera enclosure. The eyeglass frame may have a camouflage pattern. The eyeglass frame may include a single button to control on, off, record on, and record off functions of the article of eyewear. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for recording video is provided. The system includes an eyeglass frame having an integrally formed camera enclosure, an imaging sensor disposed within the camera enclosure, and a wireless transceiver disposed within the eyeglass frame. The system may include a single button to control on, off, record on, and record off functions of the system. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of documenting a hunt using an article of eyewear is provided. The method includes providing the article of eyewear, the article of eyewear comprising (a) an eyeglass frame having an integrally formed camera enclosure, (b) an imaging sensor disposed within the camera enclosure, (c) wherein the eyeglass frame having a camouflage pattern; and (d) wherein the eyeglass frame includes a single button to control on, off, record on, and record off functions of the article of eyewear. The method further includes activating a video recording functionality of the article of eyewear during the hunt and video recording the hunt using the article of eyewear. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the eyewear of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment of the eyewear of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the eyewear. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating electronics of the eyewear. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates an image sensor. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the eyewear where multiple imaging devices are present. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the eyewear where a single camera is present. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram associated with another embodiment of the eyewear where the eyewear is configured for wireless communication with a remote recording device and/or a remote control. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention where the field of view of an imaging device may be adjusted. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  illustrates one example of a methodology for a single button controlled device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  illustrates exemplary eyewear making use of the one button technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a device  10 . The device  10  includes an eyewear frame  14 . Here, the eyewear frame  14  is patterned with camouflage as may be appropriate for certain uses of the device  10 , such as by an individual who is recording a hunt. Although potentially advantageous, the eyewear frame  14  need not be patterned with camouflage and may be a solid color or otherwise patterned. The frame  14  supports a pair of lenses  16 . The lenses  16  may be prescription lenses, polycarbonate shooting lenses, polarized lenses, non-polarized lenses, or other type of lenses. A pair of temples  18 ,  20  are pivotally connected to the frame  14  at hinges  22 ,  24 . 
         [0026]    The device  10  includes an image sensor  12  with an associated housing  26 . The image sensor  12  allows for acquiring video imagery. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image sensor  12  is positioned on the side of the eyewear frame  14 . The housing  26  is located between an outer lateral edge  17  of one of the lenses  16  and an outer lateral edge  15  of the frame. Although shown on the side of the eyewear frame  14 , the image sensor may be otherwise positioned. Placing the image sensor  12  on the side of the frame  14  may be advantageous over placement in the center of the frame as this placement may be less likely to interfere with the use of a scope on a weapon. 
         [0027]    Electronics  32  may be located within one or both of the temples  18 ,  20  of the eyeglasses  10  or within the frame  14 . The electronics  32  may include hardware for storing imagery such on removable media (such as SD cards or other memory cards). 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  provides an exploded view of the device  10  where electronics  32  are located in compartments  34  in the temples  18 ,  20  of the eyeglasses. Cover portions  36  are used to enclose the compartments  34 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the same device  10  as in  FIG. 2 , but in  FIG. 3  the device  10  is fully assembled. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , one or more image sensors  12  acquire(s) images which are communicated to an image processor  42  associated with a controller  44 . The controller  44  is also operatively connected to user inputs  46  which may take the form of control buttons. The controller  44  is also operatively connected to indicator lights  48 . The user inputs  46  and indicator lights  48  provide a user interface by which a user of the eyewear may interact with the eyewear in order to acquire imagery and record the imagery. An input/output interface  52  is also shown. This I/O interface is electrically connected to the controller  44 . The I/O interface  52  may be a wired interface (such as a USB connector) or may be a wireless interface, such as a Bluetooth transceiver or a WiFi transceiver. Of course, other types of wired or wireless interfaces may be used. The controller  44  may also be in operative communication with storage media  50 . The storage media may take different forms, examples including an SD card or micro SD card. 
         [0030]    The user inputs  46  can take the form a single button. Where a single button is used, the same button may be used to both turn on the device and then start recording after a set delay such as 8 seconds. The button may be pressed again to stop recording. Pressing the button for an extended time period will shut off the device. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment which allows adjustment of the aim and/or field of view. In order to allow adjustment of the aim and/or field of view of the lens  30 , the lens  30  may be associated with known mechanical, optical, or digital means (not shown) for adjusting the aim/field of view of the lens  30 . For example, the image sensor  12  and the lens  30  may be pivotally mounted within the camera enclosure  26  to allow left and right adjustment of the aim of the lens  30 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the image sensor  12  and the lens  30  are mounted on a pivot  60 . A first adjustment button  62  and a second adjustment button  64  are located on the exterior of the camera enclosure  26 . The first and second adjustment buttons are connected to a mechanical adjustment mechanism  66 . The adjustment mechanism  66  is operable to change the position of the image sensor  12  and the lens  30  in response to actuation of the first and second adjustment buttons  62 ,  64 , where each button  62 ,  64  corresponds to a different direction of adjustment. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment in which multiple imaging devices are present. As shown in  FIG. 6 , an article of eyewear  110  is provided. There are camera enclosures  126  on each side of the eyewear and three imaging devices  112  are present. The imaging devices include a centrally located imaging device on the bridge of the eyeglass frame as well as imaging devices forward of the temple on each side of the eyewear frame. The present invention allows for video to be recorded from all imaging devices simultaneously. The present invention contemplates that imagery acquired from the imaging devices may be combined in various ways. For example, a panoramic view may be created by combining the different video streams. Alternatively, a composite view may be created which is picture-in-picture, or other types of composite views may be created. Alternatively, views may be combined to create or simulate a 3-D representation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 7 , eyeglasses  110  are shown. The eyeglasses  10  have a single imaging device  112  within camera enclosure  126 . The imaging device  112  is located forward of the temple, between the lens and the temple of the eyeglass frame  14 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram according to one aspect of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , an imaging device  110  is electrically connected to an intelligent control  102 . The intelligent control  102  may be a processor or other type of intelligent control. The intelligent control  102  is operatively connected to a transceiver  104 . The transceiver  104  may be a Bluetooth or a Wifi transceiver or other type of transceiver. In this embodiment the eyewear wirelessly communicates such as with a remote recording device  106 . The remote recording device  108  includes a transceiver  108  which may operatively communicate with the transceiver  104 . The transceiver  108  is operatively connected to a storage medium  110 . Thus, video imagery acquired with the imaging device  100  within an article of eyewear may be streamed to a remote device  106  for recording. The remote device  106  may be a computer, a mobile device such as a cell phone, or other type of device. Software stored on a computer readable storage medium associated with the remote device  106  may provide functionality for recording the video, combining multiple video streams, editing video or other functionality. 
         [0035]    In addition, a remote control device  112  is shown. The remote control device  112  includes a transceiver which may be in operative communication with the transceiver  104  of the eyewear. The remote control device  112  also includes user controls  116 . The remote control device  112  allows a user to turn on and off video recording functionality remotely. This may be desirably in hunting as a user would not need to reach up to their eyewear to activate recording functionality. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment where adjustment of the angle of the field of view such as may be achieved. In this embodiment, an adjustment mechanism  150  is shown which allows the angle of the imaging device  12  to be adjusted. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of the control methodology for a single button device or “one button technology.” In step  200  a first button press is received to turn the device on. In step  202  a delay occurs for a set time period. One example of such a time period is 8 seconds. In step  204  recoding begins. In step  206  a determination is made as to whether a subsequent button press is received. If it is not, recording continues. If it is, then in step  208  a determination is made as to whether or not the button press is an extended button press such as a button press longer than 2 seconds. If the button press is an extended button press, then in step  210  the device turns off. If it is not, then in step  212  recording stops. Then in step  214  if there is a subsequent button press then recording can resume in step  204  (or alternatively a delay can take place in step  202 ). Although a flow chart is shown to assist in explanation, it is to be understood that numerous variations in the process and implementation may be used to achieve a desired result in a particular application. 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary embodiment of the eyewear  216  using the one button technology. The single button  218  is shown disposed on the left temple  220 . 
         [0039]    The present invention contemplates that the eyewear may be used in a number of different applications. These include, without limitation, archery, shooting (including rifle, shotgun, and pistol), bow hunting, fishing, skiing, recreational sporting activities, as a teaching aid in sports or medicine, as well as animal training 
         [0040]    Therefore, an article eyewear and related systems and methods have been described. Various different embodiments and aspects of the invention have been described. It is to be understood that the present invention contemplates numerous options, variations, and alternatives. These include variations in structure and function. It is to be further understood that different features from the different embodiments shown may be combined with features from other embodiments.