Fashion, function, and the future of frames. The Google Glass patent application reveals details for the high-tech spectacles.
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Originally filed by Google in August 2011, the "Wearable Device with Input and Output Structure" goes into deep detail on how the Google Glass wearable computer could be constructed, with deep technical schematics describing everything from the frames to the mounting and adjustments, as well as touch pad input and the wireless controls.
The video camera is shown positioned on the side arm of the frames. Although the diagram show just one camera, more video cameras may be used and may be configured to capture the same view, or different views.
"The video camera may then be used to generate an augmented reality where computer-generated images appear to interact with the real-world view perceived by the user," the patent states.
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Google Glass
The rear view of the frames holding Google's wearable computer, Google Glass.
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Configured to overlay computer-generated graphics
An illustration showing the system for receiving, transmitting, and displaying data on Google Glass, configured to overlay computer-generated graphics on the user's view of the physical world.
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Frame support
The wearable computing device, known as Google Glass, may include side arms, a center frame support, and a bridge portion with a nose piece.
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Connection to a remote device
This schematic drawing shows Google Glass' computer network infrastructure including a wired or wireless communications link to a remote device. The patent describes these connections as Bluetooth technology, cellular technology, or ZigBee technology, among others.
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Counterweights
The earpiece housing (80), can be configured and positioned to provide a balancing weight to that of touch-based input or display housing, taking some of the pressure off the user's nose.
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A textured, touch-based input
A textured, touch-based trackpad type input which may provide tactile feedback (70) is seen mounted on the side arm of the device and overlays a portion of the user's head
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Expanded view of the computer
The patent shows an expanded view of the hardware of the wearable computer and its components. The wearable computer is said to include the processor and memory and is configured to receive and analyze data from the video camera and a finger-operable touch pad, and possibly from other sensory devices and interfaces.
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Optimal positioning
The patent describes that "in certain structures of the prism (54) it can be beneficial to orient prism such that viewing surface (60) is normal to a line from the image location within prism (54) to the focal center of the user's eye." The prism can then be rotated and positioned at an optimal angle for each user.
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Lateral positioning
The eyepiece prism (54) can also move laterally and be set at an optimal position for each user, shown here moved from P1 to P2.
