Patent Document

[0001]    The contents of the following patent applications are incorporated herein by reference: No.JP2014-082796 filed in JP on Apr. 14, 2014 and PCT/JP2015/061383 filed on Apr. 13, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an eyewear. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    A technique to detect an eye potential of a wearer of an eyewear by using an electrode abutting on the glabella of the wearer has been known (please see Patent Document 1, for example). 
       PRIOR ART TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
       [0006]    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-244370 
         [0007]    It is desirable to surely cause the electrode to abut on the glabella so as to prevent deterioration in the detection accuracy of detecting a biosignal indicating an eye potential or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates one example of eyeglasses. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates one example of eyeglasses. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a state where a wearer wears eyeglasses. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates one example of a glabella electrode unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Hereinafter, (some) embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described. The embodiment(s) do(es) not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of the features described in the embodiment(s) are not necessarily essential to means provided by aspects of the invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  schematically illustrate one example of eyeglasses  100 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the eyeglasses  100 .  FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged view of the eyeglasses  100  seen from behind. The eyeglasses  100  may be one example of an eyewear. 
         [0018]    The eyeglasses  100  according to the present embodiment includes a frame  110 , a left lens  124  and a right lens  126 . The frame  110  has a front  120 , a left temple  130  and a right temple  140 . 
         [0019]    The front  120  has: a rim  122  that holds the left lens  124  and the right lens  126 ; a left nose pad  152 ; a right nose pad  154  and a glabella electrode unit  200 . 
         [0020]    The left nose pad  152  is supported by a support member  151  placed in the front  120 . The support member  151  may be a linear member having one end that is placed in the front  120 , and another end that supports the left nose pad  152 . A left electrode  162  is placed on a front surface of the left nose pad  152 . The left electrode  162  abuts on the nose of a wearer  10  when the wearer  10  who is to wear the eyeglasses  100  wears the eyeglasses  100 . 
         [0021]    The right nose pad  154  is supported by a support member  153  placed in the front  120 . The support member  153  may be a linear member having one end that is placed in the front  120 , and another end that supports the right nose pad  154 . A right electrode  164  is placed on a front surface of the right nose pad  154 . The right electrode  164  abuts on the nose of the wearer  10  when the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . 
         [0022]    The glabella electrode unit  200  may be arranged to be positioned in front of the glabella of the wearer  10  when the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . A glabella electrode  166  is placed on a front surface of the glabella electrode unit  200 . The glabella electrode  166  abuts on the glabella of the wearer  10  when the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . The glabella electrode unit  200  may be arranged at any position of the frame  110  as long as such a position can cause the glabella electrode  166  to abut on the glabella of the wearer  10 . The glabella electrode unit  200  is placed for example in the bridge of the frame  110 . The glabella electrode  166  may be one example of a first electrode. 
         [0023]    The left temple  130  has a circuit board  132  and an earth electrode  134 . The earth electrode  134  is electrically connected to the circuit board  132 . The earth electrode  134  may be arranged on a lower surface of the left temple  130 . The earth electrode  134  may be arranged at a position at which it abuts on an upper portion of an ear of the wearer  10  when the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . 
         [0024]    The right temple  140  has a battery  142  and a reference electrode  144 . The battery  142  is electrically connected to the circuit board  132  via the right temple  140 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . A wire that electrically connects the battery  142  and the circuit board  132  is for example embedded in the frame  110 . The battery  142  supplies electrical power to the circuit board  132 . 
         [0025]    The reference electrode  144  may be arranged on a lower surface of the right temple  140 . The reference electrode  144  may be arranged at a position at which it abuts on an upper portion of an ear of the wearer  10  when the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . The reference electrode  144  is electrically connected to the circuit board  132  via the right temple  140 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . A wire that electrically connects the reference electrode  144  and the circuit board  132  is for example embedded in the frame  110 . 
         [0026]    The left electrode  162  is electrically connected with the circuit board  132  via the left nose pad  152 , the support member  151 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . A wire that electrically connects the left electrode  162  and the circuit board  132  is for example embedded in the left nose pad  152 , the support member  151 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . 
         [0027]    The right electrode  164  is electrically connected with the circuit board  132  via the right nose pad  154 , the support member  153 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . A wire that electrically connects the right electrode  164  and the circuit board  132  is for example embedded in the right nose pad  154 , the support member  153 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . The left electrode  162  and the right electrode  164  may be one example of a pair of second electrodes. 
         [0028]    The glabella electrode  166  is electrically connected with the circuit board  132  via the glabella electrode unit  200 , the front  120  and the left temple  130 . The glabella electrode  166  is electrically connected with the glabella electrode unit  200 . A wire that electrically connects the glabella electrode unit  200  and the circuit board  132  may be embedded in the front  120  and the left temple  130 . 
         [0029]    The circuit board  132  according to the present embodiment may detect an eye potential by using the left electrode  162 , the right electrode  164 , the glabella electrode  166 , the earth electrode  134  and the reference electrode  144 . The circuit board  132  may be one example of an eye potential detecting unit. The circuit board  132  may process a detected eye potential. The circuit board  132  may process an eye potential by using electrical power supplied from the battery  142 . 
         [0030]    Processing an eye potential may be performing arithmetic processing on the eye potential. For example, the circuit board  132  performs adding and subtracting processing on an eye potential of the left electrode  162  relative to the glabella electrode  166  as its reference, and an eye potential of the right electrode  164  relative to the glabella electrode  166  as its reference. Also, processing an eye potential may be performing signal amplification processing on the eye potential. Also, processing an eye potential may be performing digitization processing on an eye potential signal. 
         [0031]    Also, processing an eye potential may be transmitting the eye potential. For example, the circuit board  132  transmits an eye potential to an information terminal  300 . The circuit board  132  may transmit an eye potential to the information terminal  300  by wireless communication. For example, the circuit board  132  transmits an eye potential to the information terminal  300  by using a wireless LAN such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like. The information terminal  300  may be a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, PC (Personal Computer) or the like. 
         [0032]    Also, processing an eye potential may be, according to the eye potential, detecting a line of sight of a wearer of the eyeglasses  100 , detecting a blink, detecting sleepiness, or the like. The circuit board  132  may transmit, to the information terminal  300 , a detection result about a line of sight, a detection result about his/her blink, a detection result about his/her sleepiness, or the like. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a state where the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the glabella electrode  166  abuts on the glabella  12  of the wearer  10 . Also, the left electrode  162  abuts on a nose  14  of the wearer  10 . Similarly, the right electrode  164  also abuts on the nose  14  of the wearer  10 . 
         [0034]    The left electrode  162 , the right electrode  164  and the glabella electrode  166  desirably always keep surely abutting on the wearer  10  so as to continuously detect an eye potential of the wearer  10  while the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100 . Also, when an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , desirably the glabella electrode  166  is pushed onto the glabella  12  of the wearer  10 , and thereby application of an excessive impact to the glabella  12  can be prevented. 
         [0035]    In view of this, the glabella electrode unit  200  according to the the present embodiment holds the glabella electrode  166  such that a distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  is changeable. The glabella electrode unit  200  may be one example of an electrode holding unit. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates one example of the glabella electrode unit  200 . The glabella electrode unit  200  may have an elastic member  210  and a wire  212 . The elastic member  210  is placed in the frame  110 , and holds the glabella electrode  166 . The wire  212  electrically connects the glabella electrode  166 , and a wire  150  embedded in the frame  110 . The wire  150  electrically connects the wire  212  and the circuit board  132 . 
         [0037]    By the elastic member  210  holding the glabella electrode  166 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  can be made changeable. For example, if the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100  and the glabella electrode  166  is pushed onto the elastic member  210 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  becomes short. In this manner, by the elastic member  210  holding the glabella electrode  166 , even if relative positions of the wearer  10  and the eyeglasses  100  change, the elastic force of the elastic member  210  allows the glabella electrode  166  and the glabella  12  to remain abutting on each other. Also, if the glabella electrode units  200  are to be placed in respective ones among a plurality of pairs of eyeglasses worn by a plurality of the wearers  10 , by the glabella electrode units  200  making changeable the distances between the frames  110  and the glabella electrodes  166 , differences in distances between the glabellas  12  of the wearers  10  and the frames  110  can be absorbed for each wearer  10  among the plurality of wearers  10  and for each pair of eyeglasses among the plurality of pairs of eyeglasses. Also, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , the impact can be absorbed by the elastic member  210 , and an impact to be applied to the glabella  12  can be reduced. 
         [0038]    The elastic member  210  may be any member as long as it has elasticity. For example, the elastic member  210  is elastomer resin. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit  200 . The glabella electrode unit  200  may have a conductive member  220  and a wire joining unit  222 . The conductive member  220  and the wire joining unit  222  are placed in the frame  110 . The conductive member  220  has elasticity and conductivity. The conductive member  220  holds the glabella electrode  166 . 
         [0000]    The wire joining unit  222  electrically connects the conductive member  220  and the wire  150 . 
         [0040]    By the conductive member  220  holding the glabella electrode  166 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  can be made changeable. For example, if the wearer  10  wears the eyeglasses  100  and the glabella electrode  166  is pushed onto the conductive member  220 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  becomes short. In this manner, by the conductive member  220  holding the glabella electrode  166 , even if relative positions of the wearer  10  and the eyeglasses  100  change, the elastic force of the conductive member  220  allows the glabella electrode  166  and the glabella  12  to remain abutting on each other. Also, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , the impact can be absorbed by the conductive member  220 , and an impact to be applied to the glabella  12  can be reduced. 
         [0041]    The conductive member  220  may be any member as long as it has elasticity and conductivity. For example, the conductive member  220  is conductive sponge. Also, the conductive member  220  may be conductive rubber. Also, the conductive member  220  may be conductive resin having elasticity. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit  200 . The glabella electrode unit  200  may have a connector  230  and a connector  232 . The connector  230  is placed in the frame  110 . The connector  232  holds the glabella electrode  166 . The glabella electrode  166  may be provided on a front surface of the connector  232 . 
         [0043]    The connector  232  is attachable to and detachable from the connector  230 , and electrically connects the glabella electrode  166  to the connector  230 . The connector  230  electrically connects the glabella electrode  166  and the wire  150 . The connector  230  may be one example of a first connector. The connector  232  may be one example of a second connector. 
         [0044]    A connector  234  with a height which is different from the height of the connector  232  may be coupled to the connector  230 . The connector  234  may be one example of a second connector. Due to the connector  232  and the connector  234  with different heights being attachable to and detachable from the connector  230 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  can be made changeable. 
         [0045]    The connector  230  and at least either of the connector  232  and the connector  234  may have elasticity. Thereby, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , the impact can be absorbed by the connector  230  and at least either of the connector  232  and the connector  234 , and an impact to be applied to the glabella  12  can be reduced. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit  200 . The glabella electrode unit  200  may have a first member  240  and a second member  242 . The first member  240  is placed in the frame  110 . The second member  242  holds the glabella electrode  166 . The glabella electrode  166  may be provided on a front surface of the second member  242 . 
         [0047]    The first member  240  holds the second member  242 . The first member  240  and the second member  242  may be electrically connected at a contact portion between the first member  240  and the second member  242 . The first member  240  may have a wire  241 , and the second member  242  and the wire  150  may be electrically connected by the wire  241 . The second member  242  and the glabella electrode  166  may be electrically connected. The glabella electrode  166  may be electrically connected to the wire  150  via the contact portion between the first member  240  and the second member  242 , and the wire  241 . 
         [0048]    The second member  242  moves relative to the first member  240 . For example, the first member  240  holds the second member  242  by a screw structure. Thereby, by rotating the second member  242 , the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  can be changed. 
         [0049]    Also, the first member  240  may hold the second member  242  such that if a certain degree (or higher degrees) of force is applied thereto, the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  changes stepwise. For example, it has a structure in which the first member  240  locks the second member  242  with a plurality of steps, and if a certain degree (or higher degrees) of force is applied, the lock is unlocked. Thereby, the distance between the frame  110  and the glabella electrode  166  can be changed. Also, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , the second member  242  moves stepwise relative to the first member  240 , and so the impact can be absorbed. 
         [0050]    The connector  230  and at least either of the connector  232  and the connector  234  may have elasticity. Thereby, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses  100 , the impact can be absorbed by the connector  230  and at least either of the connector  232  and the connector  234 , and an impact to be applied to the glabella  12  can be reduced. 
         [0051]    The explanation in relation to  FIG. 7  is about an example in which the first member  240  contains the second member  242 , but this is not the only example. The second member  242  may contain the first member  240 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates another example of the glabella electrode unit  200 .  FIG. 8  exemplarily illustrates an example in which the second member  242  contains the first member  240 . 
         [0053]    The explanation in the present embodiment is about an example in which the left temple  130  has the earth electrode  134 , and the right temple  140  has the reference electrode  144 , but the left temple  130  may have the reference electrode  144 , and the right temple  140  may have the earth electrode  134 . Also, the explanation in the present embodiment is about an example in which the left temple  130  has the circuit board  132 , and the right temple  140  has the battery  142 , but the left temple  130  may have the battery  142 , and the right temple  140  may have the circuit board  132 . 
         [0054]    Also, in the present embodiment, the eyeglasses  100  that detect an eye potential is explained as one example of an eyewear, but this is not the only example. The eyewear may be any eyeglasses as long as they use an electrode. For example, the eyewear is eyeglasses that processes a brain wave, eyeglasses that processes images, eyeglasses that processes sound, or the like. 
         [0055]    Also, in the present embodiment, the eyeglasses  100  is explained as an example of an eyewear, but this is not the only example. The eyewear may be sunglasses, a head mount display, or the like. 
         [0056]    The shape of each part of the eyeglasses  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  is exemplary, and the shape is not limited to the one illustrated in the figures. 
         [0057]    While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the invention. 
         [0058]    The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performed by an apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as the order is not indicated by “prior to,” “before,” or the like and as long as the output from a previous process is not used in a later process. Even if the process flow is described using phrases such as “first” or “next” in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarily mean that the process must be performed in this order. 
       EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           10 : wearer;  12 : glabella;  14 : nose;  100 : eyeglasses;  110 : frame;  120 : front;  122 : rim;  124 : left lens;  126 : right lens;  130 : left temple;  132 : circuit board;  134 : earth electrode;  140 : right temple;  142 : battery;  144 : reference electrode;  150 : wire;  151 : support member;  152 : left nose pad;  153 : support member;  154 : right nose pad;  162 : left electrode;  164 : right electrode;  166 : glabella electrode;  200 : glabella electrode unit;  210 : elastic member;  212 : wire;  220 : conductive member;  222 : wire joining unit;  230 : connector;  232 : connector;  234 : connector;  240 : first member;  241 : wire;  242 : second member;  300 : information terminal

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