WO1994009398A1

WO1994009398A1 - Eye screen means with mounted visual display and communication apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1994009398A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000537
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alec Robinson
Original assignee: Alec Robinson
Priority date: 1992-10-20
Filing date: 1993-10-20
Publication date: 1994-04-28

Abstract

Eye screen means with mounted visual display (50) and communication apparatus (60). According to one aspect there is provided eye screen means such as a pair of spectacles (10) incorporating a receiver, an alphanumeric display (50), and means to display an alphanumeric message sensed by the receiver through the medium of the alphanumeric display (50).

Description

TITLE EYE SCREEN MEANS WITH MOUNTED VISUAL DISPLAY

AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

BACKGROUND ART

This invention relates to eye screen means with mounted visual display and communication apparatus. People who are forced to wear eye screen means such as prescription spectacles or sunglasses often also have a need to wear watches, carry communication paging devices o even carry portable telephones. It is an object of this invention to combine the eye screen such as spectacles with one or more of the othe items discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided eye screen means such as a pair of spectacles incorporating a receiver, an alphanumeric display, and means to display an alphanumeric message sensed by the receiver through the medium of the alphanumeric display. The receiver may be directly in the eye screen means such as in the spectacle frames or it may be separate but suitably interconnected therewith, such as by cable. The alphanumeric display may be liquid crystal display and may be positioned on the frame of the spectacles or alternatively may be positioned across a portion of the one or both the lenses of the spectacles. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided wearable eye screen means in the form of a pair of spectacles coupled to a power pack assembly via a detachable flexible lead, the temples of the spectacles inclu **.ding ear phones, a microphone being positioned in the frame of the spectacles whereby the eye screen means operates as a telephone.

Preferably the telephone is a mobile cellular telephone. Alternatively, the telephone may be adapted to receive signals from a base transmittal positioned in the proximity of the wearer of the spectacles. In a preferred embodiment, the eye screen means described above may incorporate solar cells and/or button batteries to provide a source of electricity. Furthermore, the eye screen means may incorporate light or sound emitting devices to warn the user of the presence of a paging message or telephone contact.

It is also envisaged that the paging characteristics be coupled with the telephone characteristics so that the display of the pager can be used as a personal notebook in conjunction with the keyboard.

In a preferred embodiment, the spectacles may incorporate a time chip that can provide indication of time, preferably in hours, minutes, seconds, date, month, day and year as well as elapsed time. Other features may include the addition of temperature sensors, providing a display of surrounding air temperature on the display, and a radio receiver for either AM or FM radio waves.

According yet another aspect of the present invention, eye screen means such as a pair of spectacles includes a display positioned on eye screen means such as on the lenses of the spectacles, with an optical system arranged so that the display can be readily viewed by the wearer of the eye screen means notwithstanding the fact that the lenses of the spectacles are positioned very closed to the eye of the wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF T **»HE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the rear of eye screen means in the form of a pair of spectacles, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front of the spectacles,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the pair of spectacles illustrating a second embodiment.

Figure 4 is a front view of the spectacles shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a view of the rear of a pair of spectacles in a different embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The spectacles or sunglasses illustrated in the accompanying drawings are essentially similar to conventional spectacles that may be used with prescription lenses or sunglasses. The spectacles 10 include a frame 11 comprising a bridge 12 with a pair of downwardly projecting rims 13, 14 separated by a nose bridge 15. The rims 13, 14 support either prescription lenses 20, 21 or shaded glass or plastics for use as sunglasses. An elongate arm 30, 31 or temple is pivotally secured at each side of the frame via a hinge 32, 33. The spectacles 10 are designed to be worn in an entirely conventional manner with the temples 30, 31 resting on the top of the ears and the nose bridge 15 resting on the nose of the wearer with the lenses 20, 21 positioned a short distance in front of the eyes of the wearer.

The spectacles described above have been adapted to carry a wide range of electrical/electronic componentry and thus it is important that the frame 11 and lenses 20, 21 of the spectacles are constructed to be as light as possible so that the overall assembly is not uncomfortably heavy.

The spectacles illustrated in the accompanying drawings are designed to provide a variety of functions. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the spectacles operate as a pager with a liquid crystal or LED display 50 transcribed across the lenses 20, 21 of the spectacles. The spectacles 10 are also designed to be used as a telephone by coupling one temple 30 to a detachable keyboard assembly 60 that it can also operate as a power source. The spectacles are also designed to carry solar panels 70 on the front of the frame 11 to provide an additional source of power. Alternatively, the panels may be on one or both of the arms. As a further power source, the spectacles are designed to carry a plurality of button batteries (not shown) which may be located either along the temples 30, 31 or across the bridge 12 of the frame 11. The display 50 for the pager may also be coupled to a timing device that can provide a digital time piece showing hours, minutes and seconds, a digital calender showing the day, date, month and year and a stop watch showing elapse time. The display is alpha-numerical and has a fifty message memory. A small light 75 coupled to a beeper is positioned centrally at the top of the frame 11 of the spectacles to provide warning of an incoming message or i the case where the timing device may be used as an alarm, an audible or visual indication of activation of the alar Current micro-chip technology allows for an extensive memory facility in keeping with existing beeper standards. The activation of read/stop, index/delete, review/protect, hold/shift, buzzer on/off, and L.E.D. activator can be located on the top rim of the glasses or on one of the temples 30, 31. (A maximum of five buttons are all that necessary for complete beeper operation) . Current beeper features such as full display prompts, variations in aler tones/address indicators, protect function, manual and automatic scroll, low battery alert tones, repeat call detection are all incorporated utilising very little componentry. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the alpha-numerical display 150 is positioned across the brid 12 of the frame 11 of the spectacles. In this embodiment, once the alarm is activated, the spectacles must be slid forwardly or removed to enable the wearer to focus on the recorded message. A small part 151 of the upper portion the lenses 20, 21 of the spectacles is designated to illustrate the time, calender, stop watch and alarm features. This portion 151 is kept discrete so as not to impair the view through the lens of the spectacles. In t embodiment shown in Figure 5, the display can be on one o both arms of the spectacles. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a special optical technique is used to place the message directly onto the lenses 20, 21 of the spectacles in a manner that the message can be interprete by the wearer notwithstanding the fact that the lens is in close proximity to the eyes of the wearer. This imaging technique is known as "a head-up display".

The temples 30, 31 or frame 11 of the spectacles incorporate a small radio receiver that is adapted to receive a paging message. Both temples are provided with a row of neatly disguised touch buttons 65, 66 that in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 are positioned in an array between the mid-span of each temple 30, 31 and its hinged connection 32, 33 to the frame.

The spectacles are also designed to be used either as a cordless telephone or as a cellular telephone.

In either case, -*.the keyboard assembly 60 of the telephone is a separate item that can be either wired to one end 34 of one temple 30 via a detachable lead 61 as shown in

Figure 1 or could be in communication with the spectacles through signalling means such as infrared or radio frequency waves. The keyboard 60 provides a variety of features conventional to telephones but can also include other features such as adjustment of the timing device and use as a calculator. The keyboard may also incorporate a larger power source and houses the electrical/electronic circuitry that would be used with a conventional cellular telephone. The spectacles operate as the "handset" in that each temple 30, 31 is provided with a downwardly pivotable ear piece 35, 36 or speaker. A microphone 45 is positioned adjacent the bridge 12 of the frame of the spectacles so that the wearer of the spectacles can conduct a telephone conversation by simply turning down the ear pieces 35, 36 so that they are positioned adjacent the ear and then speaking normally with the voice being picked up by the . centrally positioned microphone 45 which would be an omni¬ directional highly sensitive "dot" microphone.

It is understood that in a more simplistic format, the spectacles may only operate as a cordless telephone with the signal being received from a receiver station positioned in the immediate proximity of the user of the wearer of the spectacles. The power source carried by the spectacles, namely the button batteries and/or solar panels 70 are us to operate the low power facilities such as the display 5 of the pager and time piece. It is understood that the other componentry requiring greater levels of power would be fed from power carried in the power pack that forms pa of the keyboard assembly 60. This power pack could be rechargeable in the conventional manner. The electrical wiring for the ςager, telephone and other componentry wou be molded within the frame 11 and temples 30, 31 of the spectacles. The temples 30, 31 of the spectacles and the frame 11 or reinforcing wires for the frame could also ac as an aerial for the radio receiver(s) . The keyboard assembly could be provided with a small retractable aeria (not shown) which allows the keyboard assembly 60 to operate as a transmitter. The lead 61 may be wound on a small spring loaded spool (not shown) carried by the keyboard assembly 60. The small switches positioned on t temples 30, 31 of the spectacles operate as mode switches controlling use and operation of the assembly as a whole. Further switching means may be provided as touch sensitiv pads that may be located along the top of the frames, abo the lenses, and even in certain circumstances on the lens themselves. It is further understood that the display 50 may be illuminated by a small light emitting diode so tha the display can be read in darkness. The facility of attachment to a separate keyboard also allows the assembl to operate as a very small personal computer and the keyboard can be used as a storage notebook for telephone numbers, addresses and personal memorandum. This information would then be retrieved for display on the liquid crystal or LED display 50 or 150.

It should be appreciated that the display 50/150 may be provided directly on the lens of the spectacles and may be achieved by the use of fibre optic means or LED means embedded in the lenses in a manner such that the wearer does not perceive the presence of the display until it is activated. Alternatively, instead of embedding the display in the lenses it may be directed onto the lens by suitable optical means from a display carried by the frame itself.

The assembly described above has the advantages that by use of s **.tate of the art, electrical and electronic technology coupled with state of art technology associated with telecommunications, the features of a pager, telephone, timepiece, calculator and personal computer can all be incorporated into a conventional pair of spectacles. Consequently, those who are forced to wear spectacles through poor eyesight or constantly wear sunglasses have a opportunity to combine the conventional features of spectacles and sunglasses with the features usually associated with a watch, a separate handheld pager, and a telephone.

Although the embodiments described above has been restricted to spectacles it is understood that the invention may equally be adapted to use with other eye screen means such as with motorcycle or bicycle helmets which may incorporate a visor. People who have to wear such equipment also frequently have a need to use a pager, consult a watch or use a mobile telephone.

Claims

THE CLAIMS

1. Eye screen means such as a pair of spectacles incorporating a receiver, an alphanumeric display, and means to display an alphanumeric message sensed by the receiver through the medium of the alphanumeric display.

2. Eye screen mean according to claim 1 wherein th receiver is directly in the eye screen means such as in t spectacle frames or separate and suitably interconnected therewith.

3. Eye screen means according to claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric display is a liquid crystal display and positioned on the frame of the spectacles or is positione across a portion of the one or both the lenses of the spectacles.

4. Eye screen means in the form of a pair of spectacles coupled to a power pack assembly via a detachable flexible lead, the temples of the spectacles including ear phones, a microphone being positioned in th frame of the spectacles whereby the eye screen means operates as a telephone.

5. Eye screen means according to claim 4 wherein t telephone is a mobile cellular telephone or adapted to receive signals from a base transmittal positioned in the proximity of the wearer of the spectacles.

6. Eye screen means according to any one of the preceding claims further including solar cells and/or button batteries to provide a source of electricity.

7. Eye screen means according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising light or sound emitti devices to warn the user of the presence of a paging message or telephone contact.

8. Eye screen means according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a time chip that can provide indication of time, preferably in hours, minutes, seconds, date, month, day and year as well as elapsed time.

9. Eye screen means such as a pair of spectacles includes a display positioned on eye screen means such as on the lenses of the spectacles, with an optical system arranged so that the display can be readily viewed by the wearer of the eye screen means notwithstanding the fact that the lenses of the spectacles are positioned very closed to the eye of the wearer.