Electronic glasses

Abstract

The electronic glasses (1) comprise a front (2) and a pair of temples (3) each connected to the front by a hinge (5), and a flexible cable (6) configured to be built into the front (2) for carrying data signals and / or power to the temples (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic glasses. In particular, the present invention relates to electronic glasses incorporating electronic components and sensors.

Background Art

[0002] As is known, electronic glasses are becoming increasingly widespread in the market. Since each manufacturer aims to optimize the efficiency of the electronic devices equipped in the glasses, despite the high performance of the glasses, there is an aim to optimize the consumption to extend the battery life, and there is an aim to make electronic glasses as similar as possible to the "normal" type of glasses, so electronic components and sensors that unduly affect the aesthetic appearance of the glasses are not used. This applies to both lens components and frame components. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt an aesthetic appearance that hides the cables, sensors, and all the electronic devices built into the glasses, not only to make them inaccessible to the user's hand, but also to hide them and perfectly integrate them with the aesthetic appearance of the object.

[0003] Furthermore, particularly to implement the functions of electronic glasses or sensors that detect the user's intention, the electronic glasses can utilize one or more devices configured to detect actions based on the user's intention, and these functions must be appropriately realized. Therefore, it is possible to have one or more of a manual switch (for example, a button) or a sensor (for example, an optical sensor, a motion sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, an ambient sensor, an inertial sensor, etc.).

[0004] In the prior art, there is known an electronic glasses in which a flexible cable passes through a tube provided for this purpose along the entire front between the right lens and the left lens and connecting the temples to each other.

[0005] For this purpose, this flexible cable is hidden by a covering system. This is functional on the one hand, but on the other hand, the aesthetic appearance is not satisfactory.

[0006] There is also a known technical solution with a so-called "touch shift" type capacitance sensor, but this sensor is not completely built into the flexible cable and is generally arranged inside the appliance (for example, inside the temple).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic glasses that can improve the flexibility of the system from the perspective of electronics / software by means of a flexible cable passing through the front, and can incorporate a sensor capable of detecting gestures made by the user.

[0008] Within the scope of this object, the object of the present invention is to provide an electronic glasses in which the flexible cable is hidden as much as possible within the front of the glasses without impairing the aesthetic appearance and / or functionality.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic glasses that can be detected when worn by the user.

[0010] The object of the present invention is, in particular, to provide an electronic glasses with high reliability and relatively easy to provide at a competitive price.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The above-mentioned object, as well as these objects and other objects, which will become clear in detail below, are realized by an electronic glasses including a front and a pair of temples respectively connected to the front by hinges, and the electronic glasses are characterized by including a flexible cable configured to be built into the front for carrying data signals and / or power to the temples, and the flexible cable forms at least one active area configured to operate as a capacitance-type sensor for detecting gestures by the user.

[0012] In particular, the flexible cable is built into the front by an overmolding process or other methods known in the background art.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the preferred (but not exclusive) embodiments of the electronic glasses according to the present invention shown as non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0015] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the electronic glasses according to the present invention generally indicated by reference numeral 1 include a front 2 configured to be respectively connected to a pair of temples 3 by a pair of hinges 5. The glasses 1 are completed by a pair of lenses 4.

[0016] What is convenient here is that the front 2 not only has a signal / data connection part but also incorporates a flexible cable 6 formed by overmolding, which is configured to connect the temples 3 to each other, where the temples 3 have a power source for charging the battery housed within them.

[0017] At the upper part of the front area that houses the lens 4, the flexible cable 6 has capacitance-type sensors 6a, 6b. The capacitance-type sensors 6a, 6b are mainly configured to detect the gestures of the user.

[0018] Alternatively, the capacitance-type sensors can be replaced with accelerometers and / or other electronic devices and / or integrated with accelerometers and / or other electronic devices. Therefore, generally, the area of the flexible cable 6 above the lens is reserved for devices capable of detecting the gestures of the user, such as capacitance-type sensors, accelerometers, and / or other electronic devices. By gestures, for example, the lens can be darkened or brightened according to the user's preference.

[0019] The capacitance-type sensors 6a, 6b can be further configured to perform other functions, such as a function to turn the glasses on and off, a function to detect the wearability by the user, and a function to collect almost all inputs by the user.

[0020] Basically, the flexible cable 6 has active regions 6a, 6b. The active regions 6a, 6b are touch-sensitive and are configured to be used as capacitance-type sensors. In this embodiment, the regions 6a, 6b of the flexible cable 6 are slightly wider than the remaining central part of the cable 6 at the upper part of the lens 4 so as to have the largest possible active region and to improve the sensitivity and ability to detect the touch reaction according to the intention of the user in the active region.

[0021] The flexible cable 6 is overmolded in the rear region of the front 2, and plates 7 are provided at both ends. The plate 7 is configured to be connected to the locking device 8. The locking device 8 is provided on the front 2 of the glasses and is a substantially elliptical component with a locking pin 9 provided inside.

[0022] What is convenient here is that the locking pin 9 is connected to a fixing hole formed in the plate 7. Advantageously, the locking device 8 is made of a material configured to diffuse light so as to collect peripheral light and diffuse it to a peripheral light sensor 10 provided on the plate 7.

[0023] As described above, the temple 3 incorporates a battery and electronic components indicated by reference numeral 11. The electronic components are indicated by reference numeral 12. The battery 11 and the electronic components 12 are inserted into the temple 3 by sliding from the end of the temple 3 that houses the component No. 5 and sliding them toward the rear end of the temple 3.

[0024] The insertion of the battery 11 and the insertion of the electronic device 12 may be replaced by a bayonet connection method and subsequent sealing.

[0025] What is convenient here is that the temple 3 may house a further capacitive sensor 15 that enables detection of the user's gestures, such as the active regions 6a, 6b of the flexible cable 6, in the outermost part inside the main body of the temple 3.

[0026] Furthermore, there may be a further capacitive sensor 16 that enables detection of whether the glasses are being worn by the user.

[0027] The active regions 6a, 6b and the regions corresponding to the capacitive sensor 15 enable detection of the user's gestures.

[0028] The user can touch or tap the sensitivity regions 6a, 6b one or more times, and these touches or taps are detected as sensitive impacts using a given force.

[0029] What is convenient here is that the sensor 16 for detecting whether glasses are worn can be a capacitive sensor as described above, a 3-axis / 6-axis inertial unit may be used (an accelerometer, or an accelerometer combined with a gyroscope), or it can also be an adhesion sensor arranged on the nose pads of the glasses (not shown).

[0030] The electronic glasses according to the present invention may further include a contact-type capacitive sensor that can be arranged at the front part of the temple 3 near the hinge 5. The contact-type capacitive sensor may be replaced with a 3-axis / 6-axis inertial unit (an accelerometer, or an accelerometer combined with a gyroscope) and arranged at the front part of the temple 3. The user can touch or tap the temple 3 one or more times, and these touches or taps are detected as sensitive impacts using a given force.

[0031] Furthermore, the hinge 5 is divided into a hinge component 5a directly connected to the front 2 and a hinge component 5b connected to the temple 3. The hinge enables a flexible cable to pass from the temple to the front.

[0032] An LED emitter 18 is arranged in the region of the hinge component 5a (or 5b) facing the user when the glasses are worn, to provide the user with a visual notification regarding, for example, the battery level or other information.

[0033] Also, in the region of the hinge component 5a or 5b, although merely by way of example and not exhaustively, other sensors and / or emitters such as a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and more generally an ambient sensor may be arranged, and a notification display may be provided to the user via the LED emitter 18 or via an application provided for this purpose.

[0034] For example, by performing a movement of sliding a hand from left to right or from right to left in the active regions 6a, 6b and the capacitive sensor 15, the active regions 6a, 6b and the capacitive sensor 15 can control how much to darken the lens.

[0035] Also, the electronic glasses according to the present invention may include a reset sensor. In this case, at least one of the temples 3 has a printed circuit 11 therein. The printed circuit 11 supports an electronic device that constitutes a Hall sensor 12 capable of detecting the presence (intensity and direction) of a magnetic field. This component makes it possible to define the intensity threshold and the directionality of the magnetic field and its direction, and when these thresholds are exceeded, the sensor is activated.

[0036] When the reset sensor is activated, it becomes possible to cause the electronic glasses to execute various operations programmed in the firmware. For example, one of these operations is a reset of the system.

[0037] For example, it is also possible to provide a Hall sensor configured to trigger an on / off switching function or other functions.

[0038] Here, it is convenient that the reset sensor 12 is built into the temple 3 without being exposed to the external environment, thus maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the temple and the integrity of the sensor.

[0039] In fact, the electronic glasses according to the present invention can accommodate an overmolded flexible cable configured to supply power to the battery of the glasses and carry data signals from one temple to the other temple, so it has been found that the intended aims and purposes can be perfectly realized.

[0040] Furthermore, the flexible cable defines the extent of the active area that functions as a capacitive sensor for detecting user gestures, for example, to change how much the lens darkens after a simple hand movement made by the user.

[0041] This electronically designed glasses has many changes and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

[0042] All details may be further replaced with other technically equivalent elements. In fact, the materials used, and the possible shapes and dimensions can be anything according to requirements and state of the art.

[0043] The disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. 102020000019846, for which this application claims priority, is incorporated herein by reference.

[0044] If technical features described in the appended claims are marked with signs, these signs are included only for the purpose of making the claims clearer, and thus such signs do not limit the interpretation of each element designated by such signs by way of example.

Claims

1. An electronic glasses (1), comprising a front (2) and a pair of temples (3) each connected to the front by a hinge (5), wherein the electronic glasses (1) further comprises a flexible cable (6) configured to be built into the front (2) for carrying a data signal to the temple (3) and / or supplying power to the temple (3), and the flexible cable forms at least one active region (6a, 6b) configured to function as a capacitive sensor for detecting a gesture by a user. The electronic glasses, wherein the capacitive sensor is built into the flexible cable (6).

2. The electronic glasses according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cable (6) has a pair of plates (7) at its ends configured to support at least one ambient light sensor (10).

3. The electronic glasses according to claim 2, further comprising a locking component (8) configured to be inserted into a hole formed in the front for connecting to the plate (7) at the rear of the front.

4. The electronic glasses according to claim 3, wherein the locking component (8) is made of a material configured to diffuse light so as to collect ambient light and diffuse it to the ambient light sensor (10) provided on the plate (7).

5. The electronic glasses according to claim 1, further comprising a battery (11) and an electronic circuit (12) configured to be housed within at least one of the temples (3).

6. The electronic glasses according to claim 1, further comprising an additional capacitive sensor (15) configured to be inserted into at least one of the temples (3) for detecting a gesture by the user.

7. The electronic glasses according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional sensor (16) configured to be housed within at least one of the temples (3) for detecting whether the electronic glasses are worn by the user.

8. The at least one additional sensor (16) housed within at least one of the temples (3) for detecting whether the electronic glasses are worn by the user is a capacitance sensor, an inertial sensor, or an ambient sensor, the electronic glasses according to claim 7.

9. The electronic glasses according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the lenses (4) includes a power cable (20) configured to extend to and be inserted into the battery (11).

10. The temple (5) includes at least one LED (18) positioned internally and configured to be directed towards the user for providing feedback to the user, the electronic glasses according to claim 1.

11. The temple (5) includes an additional sensor configured to be useful to the user and measure data displayed by the LED (18), the electronic glasses according to claim 10.

12. The flexible cable (6) is overmolded at a rear position within the front (2) and configured to be directed towards the user and built into the front (2), the electronic glasses according to claim 1.

13. The electronic glasses according to claim 1, comprising a reset sensor (12) built into at least one of the temples (3).

14. The reset sensor includes a Hall sensor (12) configured to detect the presence of a magnetic field, the electronic glasses according to claim 13.

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