Google Glass patent applications: bone conduction, laser-projected keyboard, more
January 29, 2013
Recent patent applications related to Google Glass are providing insight into the hardware behind the Glasses.
Bone conduction for covert audio. This would allow more privacy so that no one can overhear a conversation; a vibration transducer allows the technology to work without a direct connection. U.S. patent application
A laser projector can be used to project an interface on any nearby surface, including the user’s own hand. The virtual input device includes a projector and a camera. The projector projects a pattern onto a surface. The camera captures images that can be interpreted by a processor to determine actions. The projector may be mounted on an arm of a pair of eyeglasses and the camera may be mounted on an opposite arm of the eyeglasses. A pattern for a virtual input device can be projected onto a “display hand” of a user, and the camera may be able to detect when the user uses an opposite hand to select items of the virtual input device. In another example, the camera may detect when the display hand is moving and interpret display hand movements as inputs to the virtual input device, and/or realign the projection onto the moving display hand.— U.S. Patent application
Eye scan ID and augmented imagery. An optical scanning unit that can be used for imaging different aspects of a wearer’s eyes to capture identification information and as a personal viewing device that enables wearers to see overlay images from a connected computer system, augmenting what a viewer sees. U.S. patent
Compact see-through display system. An optical system includes a display panel, an image former, a viewing window, a proximal beam splitter, and a distal beam splitter. U.S. patent application
Real-time visual enhancement. Augmented reality system. U.S. patent application
Dynamic Control of an Active Input Region of a User Interface. A heads-up display might have a touchpad on a sidebar of the device, or might be connected with another computing device such as a phone or laptop, and use a touchpad connected to those devices to run programs through the heads up display. A video camera may be used to capture real time images that could be “used to generate an augmented reality where computer generated images appear to interact with the real-world view perceived by the user.” U.S. patent application
Speech interfaces. Speech input can be received at the wearable computing device. Speech-related text corresponding to the speech input can be generated. A context can be determined based on database(s) and/or a history of accessed documents. U.S. patent application
Google is holding its first developer workshops this week, offering developers the chance to use the devices, so we should get more details this week.
Source for this post: Google Glass Hardware Patents, Part 1 from SEO by the Sea
Comments (29)
by Jim Hang
There are three risks in the commercialization of design concepts. One is battery power for projector and bone conduction transducers. These components are eating more powers. Second is the optics for projecting imaging to retina of users. The vision of eyes are different for each one. Third is narrow audio band of bone conduction devices which can not be used for listening music and songs.
by Alexander Hayes
I’m very interested in the comments in this article. It’s also interesting to see the plethora of discussions spawning across the web regarding #glass – looking forward to your conversations crossing over to http://www.veillance.me – Ray Kurzweil is a keynote speaker at this event.
by Brian M.
I feel we are inventing in the wrong areas. Let’s focus on free/alternative energies, health and super-cleaning environments.
by Niklas
We’re inventing in the wrong area? Like the human spices has one focus someone determines? We’re inventing in all areas.
by John sokol
I’ve had images of my prototype described in the third set of photos down in my Google Picasa and google docs since August of 2009. It’s based on a design I had held private since 1991. In the next few days I will review the patent and publish these images on my blog videotechnology.com with a comparison. I did get a holographic lens working in 2009 exactly as shown in figures 5 and 6.
by Ralph Barnes
A lot of things were supposed to be incredible breakthroughs that would greatly change lives, I remember ‘Virtual Reality’, but what became of it? Also, most of the advances of technology, are only for those that can afford such devices.
by jeff
that’s not quite true. People said that of the car and the internet.
Bad examples that costed far too much came around, then further development was made to make them actually not suck.
Virtual reality is on it’s way back again btw, there are some truly astonishing developments in the field.
by Strangedog55
Good, more things to make me feel like part of the Borg collective.
by Erik
I want to draw the user interface in the air, with my fingers.
For instance, If I want to listen to music I want to draw a note in the air that I can see with my glasses. The note follows me as I walk around and when I’m tired of listening I just destroy the note with my hands.
by bribozo
seems to me, we did that back in the 70′s with acid,..some of those notes are still following me.lol seriously that may not be so far fetched.
by onefeather
Great statement..Made me laugh..what a hoot.
by Erik
Ah, now I finally understand where Jobs got all his ideas from.
by alvaro
Amazing ! it will change education ,medicine , entertainment ,…….
by godot
Isn’t there still a requirement for novelty in the new patent laws? Google has invented bone conduction? Really??? AND reflected light? Wow!
by Mimsyborogove923
Yes, but has anyone ever mounted them to a pair of glasses in a small computer device?
by godot
It was written to death and became cliched in cyberpunk novels 30 years ago. Maybe that’s the new test for a novel idea: “I saw it in a novel.”
“Did you invent that?”
“Yeah, I invented it…Well, I saw it on TV, and then I invented it.”
–Tony Manero to Stephanie in “Saturday Night Fever”: My favorite summation of invention as understood by the masses.
by Atmic
Without the technical application and actual mechanics of it all brought forth into reality, it’s not invented yet — and *that’s* the part that is praiseworthy about actual invention, not the imagining of it: the manifestation
by WLGJR
You should read and be interested in this webpage:
Science Fiction Prototyping: Designing the Future with Science Fiction
http://www.kurzweilai.net/science-fiction-prototyping-designing-the-future-with-science-fiction
BTW Why give up cash when you can have it?
by jmac
Yes, Iron Man has been using this device for years inside his helmet
by WLGJR
Who cares about a patent?
Be bold. Be seditious.
Just like what Samsung (and many following them) had proven, Apple can’t hoard tech forever. At most a few months and other companies will make imitation ones.
The next tyrant to fall is Google (although it looks genile for now).
by Editor
You’re raising the question here as to whether or not prior art invalidates the claims in this patent application (#20130022220). There are no claims in the application that I can see for “bone conduction” per se. There are however claims related to a “head-mounted display that is configured to provide indirect bone-conduction audio.” Patents usually build on prior art (it’s usually “incorporated by reference”), but as long as that prior art is not cited in the claims themselves, it’s legitimate (and usually required as part of disclosure, or teaching how to make the invention — see USPTO MPEP 608.01(c) Background of the Invention, http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s608.html#sect608.01p. Background of the Invention . In other words, in one sense, the novelty is in what the inventor adds to the prior art. I would find it unlikely that Google’s patent attorneys had not done a “novelty search.” Note: I am not a patent attorney (just an inventor and researcher); if any of this is inaccurate, I welcome corrections.
by Bri
So your an inventor! Let me guess, you designed a better mouse trap. A special cat to computer interface, some giant paws, etc.
by melajara
Get rid of the monitor(s), the keyboard, the mouse, then you can work, learn or have fun everywhere including when walking etc. this is so exciting!
by Gorden Russell
Yes it is, melajara. Just think of when this can be joined to the 3D ghost imager described earlier here today. You will be able to take pix on the street and phone them home to your DeltaMaker. On the downside, 13-year-old boys will build dioramas of all the babes at the nude beach from 900 meters away.
by padrepio
Yeah, right, so that when you’re working while walking in the street a truck can run you over and you can learn to watch your step. Jeez.
by Bri
Ahhhh they’ll develope a truck alert app for that!
by WLGJR
Or in a future not very far away, most trucks will be autonomous (computer-driven).
By the way, since this is Augmented Reality, supposedly there should be a function/mode of functions that make you more alert and increase your focus, instead of distract you.
by Commonsense
If you lack the common sense (and basic mental abilty) to look around and be spatially aware of your surroundings, you might as well be hit by a truck. The world is better off without someone that moronic.
by WLGJR
Reminds of me of the (mentioned on this website earlier) Oblong Industry’s products.
Oblong should start incorporate similar “laser projector” techs into their system.