Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to heads up displays. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to heads up display systems for glasses, and glasses adapted for such systems.

Athletes and others engaged in physical activity are sometimes unable to safely use their hands to operate electronic devices and/or take their view away from the focus of their physical activity for very long.

The inventors have determined a need for improved heads up display systems for glasses. <CIT> describes a cell phone display that clips onto eyeglasses.

A heads-up display (HUD) system for a pair of glasses according to the claimed invention is defined in appended claim <NUM>.

Generally, the present disclosure provides heads up display systems, methods and related apparatus configured for mounting on glasses. Example embodiments are described herein in the context of mounting to the lenses of sunglasses, but it is to be understood that other embodiments may be mounted to other types of glasses.

<FIG> show an example heads up display (HUD) system <NUM> mounted on a pair of glasses according to an example, not according to the claimed invention. In the illustrated example, the glasses comprise a frame <NUM> having a cross piece <NUM> and a pair of temple pieces <NUM> and 106R. A lens assembly <NUM> is coupled to cross piece <NUM>. A nose piece <NUM> is coupled to the bottom portion of lens assembly <NUM>. System <NUM> comprises an electronics module <NUM> and a power module <NUM> mounted on opposite sides of lens assembly <NUM>. Electronics module <NUM> houses a processor and a variety of other components as described below for controlling the operation of system <NUM>. Power module <NUM> houses a battery or other power source, and optionally power conditioning circuit elements, for providing electrical power to the various components of system <NUM>. A power button <NUM> is provided for powering electronics module on and off. A communication port <NUM> (such as, for example, a mini USB port) is provided for connecting electronics module <NUM> to other devices. In the illustrated example, electronics module <NUM> is shown coupled to the right side of lens assembly <NUM> and power module <NUM> is shown coupled to the left side of lens assembly <NUM>, but the positions of electronics module <NUM> and a power module <NUM> may be reversed in other examples.

A display arm <NUM> extends forwardly and inwardly from electronics module <NUM> to position a display housing <NUM> within the field of vision of a user wearing the glasses. Display housing <NUM> houses a display unit for displaying images to the user as described below. Display arm <NUM> is preferably adjustable to provide the user with one or more degrees of freedom to adjust the position of display housing <NUM>. A viewing hood <NUM> may be provided on display housing <NUM>. Viewing hood <NUM> may be positioned against lens assembly <NUM>. Viewing hood <NUM> reduces the amount of ambient light which could interfere with the user's viewing of images on the display. In some embodiments, display housing <NUM> and/or viewing hood <NUM> is constructed from an ultraviolet (UV)-blocking material, such as for example a UV-blocking plastic resin, as known in the art. Such embodiments may be particularly advantageous for use with lens assemblies having tinting or other properties which change with exposure to UV radiation (such as, for example, Transitions™ lenses or the like), such that the portion of the lens assembly between the display and the user's eye will not be affected UV exposure, resulting in better transmission and higher brightness/contrast quality of the image when viewed by the user.

In some embodiments, the combined weight of electronics module <NUM>, display arm <NUM> and display housing <NUM> (as well as any other components attached thereto) may be selected to be approximately equal to the weight of power module <NUM>, such that the glasses remain balanced when electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> are attached to lens assembly <NUM>.

A user interface control <NUM> may be provided for interacting with system <NUM>. User interface control <NUM> may be located on display arm <NUM> as in the illustrated example, on electronics module <NUM>, or at any other convenient location. User interface control <NUM> may comprise, for example a directional touch pad for navigating menus of a virtual user interface displayed to the user. User interface control <NUM> may also be operably coupled to an optional camera <NUM> (either directly to a camera driver circuit, or indirectly through, for example, the processor in electronics module <NUM>), and configured such that a user may take a picture with camera <NUM> by clicking inward on user interface control <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a microphone <NUM> for receiving voice commands and other audio information and a speaker <NUM> for playing sounds to the user (e.g., audio cues) may be provided. Microphone <NUM> and speaker <NUM> may be located on electronics module <NUM> as in the illustrated example, on display arm <NUM>, or at any other convenient location.

<FIG> shows lens assembly <NUM> in isolation without the other components of the glasses, with electronics module <NUM> (with display arm <NUM> and display housing <NUM>) and power module <NUM> on opposite sides thereof. As described further below, electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> comprise lens engagement features configured to engage left and right side portions 112R and <NUM> of lens assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, the lens engagement features of electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> are configured such that electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> can rapidly and easily be attached to and removed from lens assembly <NUM> by a user, but are sufficiently strongly coupled to lens assembly <NUM> so as to stay in place while the user is engaged in physical activity. In some embodiments, the structure for coupling electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> to lens assembly <NUM> may be selected based on an expected impact level of the user's physical activity. In some embodiments, the lens engagement features of electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> are configured to form snap-fit connections with features of components of lens assembly <NUM>. As used herein, the term "snap-fit" refers to any releasable connection which is formed at least in part by resilient deformation in one of the connecting components. Such resilient deformation may be relieved once the snap-fit connection is made.

<FIG> show exploded views of example lens assemblies 110A and 110B, respectively. Lens assemblies 110A and 110B each provide electrical connections between the sides thereof, such that contacts of electronics module <NUM> may be connected through lens assembly 110A or 110B to receive electrical power from contacts of power module <NUM> without requiring any additional electrical connections (such as, for example a cable running through cross piece <NUM>).

Lens assembly 110A comprises a transparent lens <NUM> with transparent conductive films (TCFs) 116F and 116R applied to the front and rear sides thereof. In some embodiments, one or more additional layers may be provided atop either or both of TCFs 116F and 116R, such as, for example, insulation layers, protective coating layers, etc. TCFs 116F and 116R may, for example comprise transparent conductive oxides (e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), fluoride doped tin oxide, doped zinc oxide, etc.), organic conductors (e.g., carbon nanotube networks, graphene and materials based thereon, including those described in <NPL> which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, networks of polymers, etc.), metal layer and grids (e.g. printable conductive inks such as, for example, silver nanowire inks or other nanostructure inks) or other structures which conduct electricity while permitting visible light to pass therethrough. TCFs 116F and 116R may be applied to the front and rear sides of lens <NUM> by any of a variety of suitable techniques known in the art.

Lens assembly 110B comprises a flexible printed circuit (FPC) cable <NUM> extending between the sides of lens <NUM> to provide conductive paths. FPC cable <NUM> may or may not be transparent, and when not transparent may be routed around the periphery of lens <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. As an alternative to cable <NUM>, lens assembly 110B could have conductive paths formed by one or more printable conductive inks.

<FIG> are side views and <FIG> are front views illustrating adjustability of display arm <NUM> in first and second degrees of freedom according to one example. Display arm <NUM> comprises a first joint <NUM> pivotally connecting a first segment <NUM> of display arm <NUM> to electronics module <NUM>. First joint <NUM> permits display arm <NUM> (and thus display housing <NUM>) to be moved between a lowered position as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> and a raised position as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. First joint <NUM> may also be slidably coupled to electronics module <NUM> to permit first segment <NUM> to move forward and backward relative to electronics module <NUM> as indicated by double headed arrow <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate adjustability of display arm <NUM> in a third degree of freedom according to one example. A second joint <NUM> pivotally connects display housing <NUM> to first segment <NUM> of display arm <NUM>. Second joint <NUM> permits the angle of display housing <NUM> to be adjusted as indicated by double headed arrow <NUM> to allow the user to change the viewing angle of the display. In examples which include camera <NUM>, camera <NUM> may be positioned on first segment <NUM> in some examples such that the angle of camera <NUM> is not dependent on the angle of display housing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate adjustability of display arm <NUM> in a fourth degree of freedom according to one embodiment. In the embodiment of <FIG>, first joint <NUM> also permits display arm <NUM> (and thus display housing <NUM>) to be pivoted inwardly and outwardly relative to lens assembly <NUM> as indicated by double headed arrow <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example embodiment of an electronic system <NUM> suitable for use with a modular HUD system as described herein. Electronic system <NUM> comprises sensor unit <NUM>, processor unit <NUM>, power unit <NUM> and display unit <NUM>. With reference to the example HUD system <NUM> described above, sensor unit <NUM> and processor unit <NUM> may be substantially contained in electronics module <NUM>, power unit <NUM> may be substantially contained in power module <NUM> and display unit <NUM> may be substantially contained in display housing <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, sensor unit <NUM> comprises a <NUM>-axis accelerometer <NUM>, a <NUM>-axis gyroscope <NUM>, a GPS receiver <NUM>, and a thermometer <NUM>. Accelerometer <NUM> and gyroscope <NUM> are collectively referred to herein as "INS" (inertial navigation system) sensors. The INS sensors <NUM>, <NUM> and GPS receiver <NUM> have complementary strengths and weaknesses such that their combined use provides for improved reliability and accuracy of measurement of position and altitude as compared to each sensor on its own.

Accelerometer <NUM> may comprise, for example, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device which produces digital output signals representative of linear accelerations along three perpendicular axes. In some embodiments, accelerometer <NUM> may comprise a LIS331 DL motion sensor manufactured by STMicroelectronics.

Gyroscope <NUM> may comprise, for example, two MEMS devices, one of which produces analog output signals representative of angular velocities about two perpendicular axes, and one of which produces an analog output signal about a third axis perpendicular to the other two axes. In some embodiments, gyroscope <NUM> may comprise an IDG-<NUM> for measuring angular velocities about an x-axis and a y-axis, and an ISZ-<NUM> for measuring angular velocity about a z-axis, both of which are manufactured by InvenSense, Inc.

GPS receiver <NUM> may comprise, for example a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) enabled GPS receiver with a built-in system clock. GPS receiver <NUM> may, for example, output digital signals using a protocol such as NMEA <NUM> or NMEA <NUM>. Thermometer <NUM> may comprise, for example, a digital thermometer.

In other embodiments, sensor unit <NUM> may comprise one sensor, some combination of sensors described above or other sensors such as <NUM> signal receivers, wireless internet receivers, audio radio receivers, television or video receivers or the like.

Processor unit <NUM> comprises a processor <NUM> which, in the illustrated embodiment, is connected to receive signals from accelerometer <NUM>, gyroscope <NUM>, GPS receiver <NUM> and thermometer <NUM> of sensor unit <NUM>. Processor unit <NUM> may comprise an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) <NUM> connected between processor <NUM> and any of the sensors of sensor unit <NUM> which produce analog signals. In the illustrated embodiment, all sensors of sensor unit <NUM> except gyroscope <NUM> have digital outputs, so ADC <NUM> is connected only between gyroscope <NUM> and processor <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, processor unit <NUM> also comprises a memory <NUM>. Memory <NUM> may comprise volatile and/or non volatile memory such as RAM, ROM, or other types of memory. Memory <NUM> may also comprise a removable media such as a USB drive, SD or miniSD card, etc. Memory <NUM> has stored therein various computer readable instructions for use by processor <NUM>. In other embodiments, memory <NUM> may be integrated into processor <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> may also be coupled to communications port <NUM> and power button <NUM>. Communications port <NUM> may be accessible to a user and comprise one or more interfaces for wired or wireless communication with external devices. Communications port <NUM> may, for example, comprise one or more USB, Firewire, or other interfaces. Power button <NUM> may also be accessible to the user and operable to turn electronic system <NUM> on and off.

Processor unit <NUM> may also send and receive information from other devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, other modular HUD systems, etc. For example, processor <NUM> may receive images or video from a video camera <NUM> (which may either be a camera coupled to the HUD system such as camera <NUM> above, or a separate camera) and send the same via an appropriate communications method. For example, in some embodiments processor <NUM> may control display <NUM> to act as a viewfinder for video camera <NUM> by displaying live images from video camera <NUM>. Display of live images from camera <NUM> on display <NUM> may facilitate users capturing of intended scenes by providing feedback to users as to where camera <NUM> is pointing. Processor <NUM> may also cause display <NUM> to display stored images captured with video camera <NUM>. Video camera <NUM> may be configured to capture both still and moving images in some embodiments. Video camera <NUM> may be physically connected to electronic system <NUM> or may be wirelessly connected through a Bluetooth communication protocol or other suitable communications methods. Processor <NUM> may also receive input commands from a remote control <NUM>. Remote control <NUM> may be wirelessly connected to processor unit <NUM> and may comprise a wireless watch-type remote or be integrated into a user's gloves or mitts for example. Remote control <NUM> may also be integrated into video camera <NUM>.

In some embodiments, remote control <NUM> may include a thermometer <NUM>', and remote control <NUM> may be configured to transmit temperature readings taken by thermometer <NUM>' to processor unit <NUM>. Providing temperature readings taken by thermometer <NUM>' in remote control <NUM> may provide for simplified temperature calibration in some embodiments, since remote control <NUM> may not be susceptible to as many thermal disturbances as thermometer <NUM> of sensor unit <NUM>, which is typically located close to the user's head and may be covered by a hat or other articles. Providing thermometer <NUM>' in remote control <NUM> may thus improve the accuracy of temperature readings in some embodiments. In some embodiments, thermometer <NUM>' may be used in conjunction with thermometer <NUM> of sensor unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, thermometer <NUM> of sensor unit <NUM> may be omitted, and thermometer <NUM>' may provide the only temperature readings to processor unit <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> is configured to transform signals received from sensor unit <NUM> to produce outputs representing various parameters relating to user performance, and other outputs. For example, processor <NUM> may produce outputs relating to one or more of position, orientation, time, speed, direction of travel, altitude, vertical drop, jump airtime, jump distance, spins, etc. Processor <NUM> may store the outputs and/or any other data in memory <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may also produce a video signal to be displayed by display unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the video signal produced by processor <NUM> for displaying on display <NUM> comprises one or more of:.

In this example embodiment, power unit <NUM> comprises a battery <NUM> and a power conditioning circuit <NUM>. Power conditioning circuit <NUM> receives electrical power from battery <NUM> and outputs electrical power at voltages and/or currents suitable for the various components of sensor unit <NUM>, processor unit <NUM>, and display unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, power conditioning circuit <NUM> may comprise temperature control elements and short circuit protection elements contained in power module <NUM>. In some embodiments, power conditioning circuit <NUM> may comprise power management elements contained in power module <NUM>.

Display unit <NUM> may comprise a display driver <NUM> to receive the video signal from processor <NUM>. Display driver <NUM> is configured to generate driving signals based on the video signal, and to provide the driving signals to a display <NUM> as described above. In some embodiments, display driver <NUM> is contained in display housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, display driver <NUM> may be directly connected or connectable to receive video signals from camera <NUM>.

Display <NUM> may comprise, for example, a Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA) having a 320x240 resolution and <NUM> bit colors. In some embodiments, display <NUM> may comprise, a micro LCD illuminated by a suitable backlight. In other embodiments, other types of displays may be used, such as, for example, LED or OLED displays, electroluminescent (EL) displays, or the like. In some embodiments, a projector may be configured to project information to be displayed onto the lens. The projector may, for example, be positioned to project information to be displayed onto a portion of the lens near the edge of the user's field of view.

Display unit <NUM> may also comprise a glance detection unit <NUM> in some embodiments. Glance detection unit <NUM> is configured to detect when a user looks at display <NUM>. Glance detection unit <NUM> may be operatively coupled to display driver <NUM> and configured to provide a signal to display driver <NUM> indicative of whether or not the user is looking at display <NUM>, and display driver <NUM> may be configured to maintain display <NUM> in an off state or a power saving state unless the user is looking at display <NUM>. In some embodiments, glance detection unit <NUM> may comprise an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver operatively coupled to processing elements. The infrared transmitter emits infrared light which reflects off of a user's eye and is received by the infrared receiver. Through appropriate calibration, the processing elements of glance detection unit <NUM> may determine from the reflected infrared light received at the infrared receiver whether or not the user is looking at display <NUM>. In other embodiments, glance detection unit <NUM> may comprise one or more brightness sensors configured to capture ambient light reflecting off of a user's eye to determine whether or not the user is looking at display <NUM>. Further details of example glance detection units are described in <CIT>, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

A microphone <NUM> and speaker <NUM> may also optionally be operably coupled to processor <NUM> in some embodiments. As discussed above, with reference to <FIG>, microphone <NUM> and speaker <NUM> may be located on electronics module <NUM>, on display arm <NUM>, or at any other convenient location.

<FIG> show an example HUD system <NUM> coupled to a pair of glasses according to another embodiment. The glasses and system <NUM> of <FIG> are similar to the glasses and system <NUM> discussed above, and corresponding components thereof are labeled with corresponding reference characters of the form 2xx in place of 1xx.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, display housing <NUM> comprises a viewing hood <NUM> extending rearward from display housing <NUM> which may be positioned against lens assembly <NUM>. Viewing hood <NUM> reduces the amount of ambient light which could interfere with the user's viewing of images on the display. In some embodiments, display housing <NUM> and/or viewing hood <NUM> is constructed from an ultraviolet (UV)-blocking material, such as for example a UV-blocking plastic resin, as known in the art. Such embodiments may be particularly advantageous for use with lens assemblies having tinting or other properties which change with exposure to UV radiation (such as, for example, Transitions™ lenses or the like), such that the portion of the lens assembly between the display and the user's eye will not be affected UV exposure, resulting in better transmission and higher brightness/contrast quality of the image when viewed by the user.

<FIG> shows example structures, not according to the claimed invention, for coupling power module <NUM> to lens assembly <NUM>. It is to be understood that the same or similar structures may be provided on the other side of lens assembly <NUM> for coupling electronics module <NUM> (and thus display arm <NUM> and display housing <NUM>) to lens assembly <NUM>. A plurality of posts <NUM> (two in the illustrated example) extend rearward from the left side of lens assembly <NUM>, and power module <NUM> has a plurality of correspondingly shaped slots <NUM> for receiving posts <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example positioning of an optional camera <NUM> on display arm <NUM>. In some embodiments, camera <NUM> may be provided as a modular unit which is connectable to a camera port on display arm <NUM> or electronics module <NUM>.

<FIG> show an example HUD system <NUM> coupled to a pair of glasses according to another embodiment, and <FIG> show the electronics module <NUM>, display arm <NUM> and display housing <NUM> of system <NUM> in isolation. System <NUM> of <FIG> is similar to system <NUM> discussed above, and corresponding components thereof are labeled with corresponding reference characters of the form 3xx in place of 1xx. System <NUM> differs from system <NUM> in how the position of the display may be adjusted, but may be substantially the same as system <NUM> (or system <NUM> of <FIG>) in other respects. As such only the adjustability of the display of system <NUM> will be discussed in detail, but it is to be understood that system <NUM> may have any or all of the features of systems <NUM> and <NUM> as described above.

Display arm <NUM> of system <NUM> is adjustably coupled to electronics module <NUM> to facilitate adjustment of the position of display housing <NUM>. A display unit <NUM> (which may, for example, include an LCD, backlight and magnifying lens, as well as optionally certain display driving circuitry) is adjustably received in display housing <NUM> as described below with reference to <FIG>, and a viewing hood <NUM> extends rearward from display unit <NUM> for reducing the amount of ambient light which could interfere with the user's viewing of images on the display. In some embodiments, display housing <NUM> and/or viewing hood <NUM> is constructed from an ultraviolet (UV)-blocking material, such as for example a UV-blocking plastic resin, as known in the art. Such embodiments may be particularly advantageous for use with lens assemblies having tinting or other properties which change with exposure to UV radiation (such as, for example, Transitions™ lenses or the like), such that the portion of the lens assembly between the display and the user's eye will not be affected UV exposure, resulting in better transmission and higher brightness/contrast quality of the image when viewed by the user.

Display arm <NUM> is configured to bias display housing <NUM> toward lens assembly <NUM>, such that viewing hood <NUM> is pressed against lens assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, display arm <NUM> is spring loaded such that when display arm <NUM> is pulled away from lens assembly <NUM> and released display arm <NUM> is urged back toward lens assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, display arm <NUM> is flexible and resilient and configured such that when display arm <NUM> is pulled away from lens assembly <NUM> and released display arm <NUM> is urged back toward lens assembly <NUM>.

To adjust the position of display housing <NUM>, a user pulls display housing <NUM> away from lens assembly <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM> in <FIG>. The user may then move display housing <NUM> down (as indicated by arrow 355D in <FIG>) or up (as indicated by arrow 355U in <FIG>), then allow display housing <NUM> to move back toward lens assembly <NUM> such that hood <NUM> presses against lens assembly <NUM>. Biasing provided by display arm <NUM> increases the friction between hood <NUM> and lens assembly <NUM> to hold display housing <NUM> in place.

Fine control over the display position is achieved by providing an adjustable connection between display housing <NUM> and display unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the connection between display housing <NUM> and display unit <NUM> is flexible and resilient such that the relative positions thereof may be adjusted by a user, and display unit <NUM> tends to return to a "default" or "rest" position with respect to display housing <NUM> when movement of display unit <NUM> is unconstrained (e.g., when the user releases display unit <NUM> and hood <NUM> is not pressed up against lens assembly <NUM>). In some embodiments, the connection between display housing <NUM> and display unit <NUM> is malleable such that relative positions thereof may be adjusted by a user and the relative positions of display housing <NUM> and display unit <NUM> are maintained movement of display unit <NUM> is unconstrained (e.g., when the user releases display unit <NUM> and hood <NUM> is not pressed up against lens assembly <NUM>).

<FIG> illustrate lateral adjustability, and <FIG> illustrate vertical adjustability, of display unit <NUM> with respect to display housing <NUM>. To adjust the relative positions of display housing <NUM> and display unit <NUM>, a user first pulls display housing <NUM> away from lens assembly <NUM> as described above. The user may then move display unit <NUM> right (as indicated by arrow 363R in <FIG>), left (as indicated by arrow <NUM> in <FIG>), up (as indicated by arrow 363U in <FIG>), down (as indicated by arrow 363D in <FIG>), or any combination thereof with respect to display housing <NUM>. Once the desired position of display unit <NUM> is achieved, the user may allow display housing <NUM> to move back toward lens assembly <NUM> such that hood <NUM> presses against lens assembly <NUM>. Biasing provided by display arm <NUM> increases the friction between hood <NUM> and lens assembly <NUM> to hold display unit <NUM> in the desired position.

<FIG> show an example HUD system <NUM> and glasses lens assembly <NUM> (sometimes referred to as "glasses lens" for convenience) according to an embodiment of the claimed invention. Display arm <NUM> of HUD system <NUM> extends form electronics module <NUM> to position a display unit <NUM> within the user's field of view. Display arm <NUM> is substantially rigidly attached to electronics compartment <NUM>. Display unit <NUM> is adjustably received in a display bracket <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) attached near the end of display arm <NUM> as described further below. A flexible boot <NUM> made of rubber or some similar material covers the display unit <NUM> and display bracket <NUM>, such that the user may adjust the viewing angle of the display as shown in <FIG>. In particular, the user can adjust the pitch of the display unit <NUM> through the boot <NUM> by moving the boot <NUM> up and down as indicated by arrows 463U and 463D as shown in <FIG>. The user can adjust the yaw of the display unit <NUM> through the boot <NUM> by moving the boot <NUM> left and right as indicated by arrows <NUM> and 463R as shown in <FIG>. A display hood <NUM> extends from the boot <NUM> toward the glasses lens <NUM>. Hood <NUM> may be collapsible to conform to the shape of glasses lens <NUM>. Hood <NUM> may, for example, be constructed from the same material as boot <NUM>, and may be integrally formed with hood <NUM>.

<FIG> show the end portion of display arm <NUM> in isolation. In <FIG>, display arm <NUM>, boot <NUM> and hood <NUM> are depicted transparently with broken lines to illustrate an example configuration of the internal components in the end portion of display arm <NUM>. The example internal components are also shown in <FIG>, which is a sectional view taken along line A-A of <FIG>.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, display unit <NUM> comprises a display an backlight assembly <NUM> and an optical assembly <NUM> which are held in fixed relation to each other by connecting features <NUM>. Optical assembly <NUM> comprises a display lens <NUM> and a reflective surface <NUM> configured to direct light from display and backlight assembly <NUM> through hood <NUM> and toward the user's eye. Display lens <NUM> has a convex spherical surface <NUM> sized and shaped to mate with a concave spherical surface <NUM> of display bracket <NUM>, as described below.

Display bracket <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> attached to display arm <NUM>, for example by a fastener such as a screw <NUM>. An extension <NUM> from body <NUM> defines the concave spherical surface <NUM> that receives the convex spherical surface <NUM> of display lens <NUM>. Concave spherical surface <NUM> has an opening therethrough for allowing light to pass from the optical assembly <NUM> through to the user's eye. The opening through concave spherical surface <NUM> of bracket <NUM> may be generally rectangular in some embodiments. The extension <NUM> may comprise one or more stops <NUM> extending around the edge of concave spherical surface <NUM> to limit the range of movement of optical assembly <NUM>.

<FIG> show an example module connector <NUM> for connecting electronics module to one side of glasses lens assembly <NUM> according to one embodiment. Power module <NUM> is attached to the other side of glasses lens <NUM> by another module connector (not shown), which may be a mirror image of module connector <NUM>. Glasses lens <NUM> may provide a conductive path between the first and second sides as described above. In some embodiments, the electrical connections between electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> and the conductive path(s) glasses lens <NUM> are effected directly (e.g. through contacts in electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> that are in contact with the conductive path(s)). In some embodiments, the electrical connections between electronics module <NUM> and power module <NUM> and the conductive path(s) glasses lens <NUM> are effected through conducting portions formed in the module connectors.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, module connector <NUM> comprises two protrusions 422A and 422B configured to engage holes <NUM> in the side portion of glasses lens <NUM>. In the illustrated example, protrusion 422A is configured to be positioned on the inner face of glasses lens <NUM> and has an outwardly extending tab <NUM> to engage an upper one of the holes <NUM>, and protrusion 422B is configured to be positioned on the outer face of glasses lens <NUM> and has an inwardly extending tab <NUM> to engage an lower one of the holes <NUM>. The holes <NUM> may extend all the way through glasses lens <NUM> as in the illustrated example embodiment, or may only extend part way into glasses lens <NUM> in other embodiments. Module connector <NUM> may be attached to glasses lens <NUM> by pressing protrusions 422A and 422B onto the edge of glasses lens <NUM> such that the tabs <NUM> engage the holes <NUM>. Tabs <NUM> are preferably shaped to facilitate attachment of module connector <NUM> to glasses lens <NUM> and inhibit removal of module connector <NUM> from glasses lens <NUM>.

Module connector <NUM> has a recess <NUM> on the outer face thereof configured to receive a post <NUM> on the inner face of electronics module <NUM>. Electronics module <NUM> also comprises a spring loaded latch <NUM> on the inner face thereof. Latch <NUM> is moveable into and out of engagement with module connector <NUM>, and is biased into engagement with module connector <NUM>. A tab <NUM> on latch <NUM> is configured to be received in a corresponding slot (not shown) in module connector <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a user may couple electronics module <NUM> to glasses lens <NUM> simply by pressing electronics module <NUM> inwardly onto module connector <NUM> as indicated by the arrow in <FIG>. Tab <NUM> is shaped to move latch <NUM> backwards as post <NUM> is inserted into recess <NUM>. A user may remove electronics module <NUM> from glasses lens <NUM> by pulling latch <NUM> backwards and pulling electronics module <NUM> away from module connector <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example HUD system <NUM> mounted to a glasses lens assembly <NUM> (sometimes referred to as "glasses lens" for convenience) of a pair of glasses <NUM> according to another embodiment. HUD system <NUM> of <FIG> is substantially similar to HUD system <NUM> of <FIG>, and corresponding components thereof are labeled with corresponding reference characters of the form 5xx in place of 4xx. HUD system <NUM> of <FIG> includes a user interface component <NUM> on the display arm <NUM>. The user interface component <NUM> may, for example, comprise an optical finger mouse. HUD system <NUM> of <FIG> also includes a camera <NUM> mounted on the display arm <NUM>.

As will be apparent to one of skill in the art from the present disclosure, the features and components of systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be combined with each other in different permuations and subcombinations from those of the example described above. For example, the user interface, camera, microphone and speaker described above in relateion to system <NUM> may be incorporated into any of systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. In other examples, the arm adjustability of system <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be combined with the display unit adjustability of system <NUM> or <NUM>, and/or the module connectors of system <NUM> or <NUM> may be used in any of systems <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>.

Other embodiments may provide HUD systems with variations of the features described above and/or different features from those described above. Such variations and/or different features may be used in the alternative to or in addition to the features described above, or with each other in different combinations and permutations than the example embodiments discussed herein.

In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required. In other instances, well-known electrical structures and circuits are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the understanding. For example, specific details are not provided as to whether the embodiments described herein are implemented as a software routine, hardware circuit, firmware, or a combination thereof.

Embodiments of the disclosure can be represented as a computer program product stored in a machine-readable medium (also referred to as a computer-readable medium, a processor-readable medium, or a computer usable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein). The machine-readable medium can be any suitable tangible, non-transitory medium, including magnetic, optical, or electrical storage medium including a diskette, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), memory device (volatile or non-volatile), or similar storage mechanism. The machine-readable medium can contain various sets of instructions, code sequences, configuration information, or other data, which, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps in a method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other instructions and operations necessary to implement the described implementations can also be stored on the machine-readable medium. The instructions stored on the machine-readable medium can be executed by a processor or other suitable processing device, and can interface with circuitry to perform the described tasks.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. Although example embodiments have been described herein with the reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those exact constructions and operations, and that various other changes and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using specifically designed hardware, configurable hardware, programmable data processors configured by the provision of software (which may optionally comprise 'firmware') capable of executing on the data processors, special purpose computers or data processors that are specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more steps in a method as explained in detail herein and/or combinations of two or more of these. Examples of specifically designed hardware are: logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits ("ASICs"), large scale integrated circuits ("LSIs"), very large scale integrated circuits ("VLSIs") and the like. Examples of configurable hardware are: one or more programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic ("PALs"), programmable logic arrays ("PLAs") and field programmable gate arrays ("FPGAs"). Examples of programmable data processors are: microprocessors, digital signal processors ("DSPs"), embedded processors, graphics processors, math co-processors, general purpose computers, server computers, cloud computers, mainframe computers, computer workstations, and the like. For example, one or more data processors in a control circuit for a device may implement methods as described herein by executing software instructions in a program memory accessible to the processors.

Processing may be centralized or distributed. Where processing is distributed, information including software and/or data may be kept centrally or distributed. Such information may be exchanged between different functional units by way of a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channel.

For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative examples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.

In addition, while elements are at times shown as being performed sequentially, they may instead be performed simultaneously or in different sequences. It is therefore intended that the following claims are interpreted to include all such variations as are within their intended scope.

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention may be implemented in software. For greater clarity, "software" includes any instructions executed on a processor, and may include (but is not limited to) firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Both processing hardware and software may be centralized or distributed (or a combination thereof), in whole or in part, as known to those skilled in the art. For example, software and other modules may be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or other application in a distributed computing context, or via other means suitable for the purposes described above.

Software and other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, tablet computers, data encoders, data decoders, PDAs, mobile phones, media players, and other devices suitable for the purposes described herein. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that aspects of the system can be practiced with any suitable communications, data processing, or computer system configurations, including: Internet appliances, hand-held devices (including personal digital assistants (PDAs)), wearable computers, all manner of cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics (e.g., video projectors, audio-visual receivers, displays, such as televisions, and the like), network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers, and the like.

Where a component (e.g. a software module, processor, controller, assembly, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a "means") should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or steps with equivalent features, elements and/or steps; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or steps from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or steps from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or steps of other technology; and/or omitting features, elements and/or steps from described embodiments.

It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, omissions and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claim 1:
A Heads-Up Display (HUD) system for a pair of glasses comprising:
a glasses lens assembly (<NUM>) comprising a lens and having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
an electronics module (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a power module (<NUM>) configured to provide power to the electronics module; and
a display module (<NUM>) disposed on a display arm (<NUM>, <NUM>), the display arm including a joint (<NUM>) configured to pivot the display module inwardly and outwardly relative to the pair of glasses about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, wherein the display arm is adjustably coupled to the electronics module,
characterized in
comprising first and second module connectors (<NUM>) attached to the first and second sides of the glasses lens assembly (<NUM>); wherein
the electronics module is configured to be releasably attachable to the first module connector;
the power module is configured to be releasably attachable to the second module connector;
the glasses lens assembly has two holes (<NUM>) on each of the first and second sides thereof; and wherein
the first and second module connectors each comprises two protrusions (422A, 422B) configured to engage the two holes (<NUM>).