User-Wearable Illumination Assembly

Abstract

In one aspect, a user-wearable illumination assembly 10 includes eyeglass frames 12 and a headlamp 20 removably coupled to the eyeglass frames 12 . Electrical circuitry 58 may be integrated with the eyeglass frames 12 . The headlamp 20 and the eyeglass frames 12 have mounting structure 22, 26 that cooperate to removably support the headlamp 20 thereon. A light source 36 is disposed within the headlamp 20 and electrical communication between the light source 36 and the electrical circuitry 58 of the eyeglass frames 12 is provided by electrical contacts 40, 42 associated with the mounting structures 22, 26 of the headlamp 20 and eyeglass frames 12 . In another aspect, a user-wearable illumination assembly 210 for use with eyeglass frames 212 includes a clip assembly 230 that is selectively removably couplable to a bridge portion 214 of the eyeglass frames 212 , and a headlamp 240 coupled to the clip assembly 230 . The illumination assembly 210 further includes a battery 260, 260 b that is selectively removably couplable to the eyeglass frames 212 and at least one electrical conductor 272 a , 272 b coupling the battery 260 a , 260 b to the headlamp 240.

1 . A user-wearable illumination assembly for use with eyeglass frames, the illumination assembly comprising:
 a clip assembly selectively removably couplable to a bridge portion of the eyeglass frames;   a headlamp coupled to said clip;   at least one battery selectively removably couplable to the eyeglass frames; and   east one electrical conductor operatively coupling said battery to said headlamp.   
     
     
         2 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said headlamp is removably coupled to said clip, and wherein the user-wearable illumination assembly further comprises:
 first mounting structure on said clip for removably supporting said headlamp thereon;   a first electrical contact associated with said first mounting structure;   second mounting structure on said headlamp and cooperating with said first mounting structure on said frames to removably support said headlamp on said clip, and   a second electrical contact associated with said second mounting structure; and   electrical circuitry integrated with said clip and configured to provide electrical communication with said headlamp via said first and second electrical contacts when said second mounting structure is coupled to said first mounting structure to support said headlamp on said clip.   
     
     
         3 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the eyeglass frames include at least one temple arm, and said battery is coupled to the at least one temple arm of the eyeglass frames. 
     
     
         4 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said battery comprises first and second batteries, each coupled to a respective temple arm of the eyeglass frames. 
     
     
         5 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second batteries form at least part of respective side shields that facilitate protecting the eyes of a wearer of the illumination assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second batteries are positioned proximate terminal ends of the temple arms of the eyeglass frames. 
     
     
         7 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each said battery is selectively positionably adjustable relative to said temple arm such that said battery can be selectively adjusted to engage the head of a wearer of the illumination assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the eyeglass frames include at least one temple arm, the illumination assembly further comprising:
 a battery housing positioned proximate a terminal end of the temple arm, said battery removably received within said battery housing.   
     
     
         9 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 user-actuable controls on said clip assembly, said controls operable to turn said headlamp on and off and to selectively adjust an output intensity of said headlamp.   
     
     
         10 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a remote actuable by a wearer of the illumination assembly to turn said headlamp on and off, or to selectively adjust an output intensity of said headlamp.   
     
     
         11 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp comprises at least one light emitting diode, the illumination assembly further comprising:
 a circuit to selectively modify power to said light emitting diode, comprising:
 a selectively variable digital potentiometer in communication with a first input of an operational amplifier; 
 an H-bridge circuit in communication with an output of said operational amplifier and configured to provide a power signal to said light emitting diode; and 
 an output from said light emitting diode in communication with a second input of said operational amplifier. 
   
     
     
         12 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp comprises at least one light emitting diode, the illumination assembly further comprising:
 a circuit to selectively modify power to said light emitting diode, comprising:
 a microcontroller in communication with a first input of an operational amplifier, the microcontroller configured to provide a selectively variable signal to said first input of said operational amplifier; 
 an H-bridge circuit in communication with an output of said operational amplifier and configured to provide a power signal to said light emitting diode; and 
 an output from said light emitting diode in communication with a second input of said operational amplifier. 
   
     
     
         13 . A user-wearable illumination assembly, comprising:
 eyeglass frames supporting a pair of lenses;   first mounting structure on said eyeglass frames for removably supporting a headlamp;   a first electrical contact associated with said first mounting structure;   a headlamp removably coupled to said eyeglass frames, said headlamp comprising:
 a housing, 
 a light source supported within said housing, 
 second mounting structure on said housing cooperating with said first mounting structure on said frames to removably support said headlamp on said frames, and 
 a second electrical contact associated with said second mounting 
   structure; and   electrical circuitry integrated with said eyeglass frames and configured to provide electrical communication with said headlamp via said first and second electrical contacts when said second mounting structure is coupled to said first mounting structure to support said headlamp on said eyeglass frames.   
     
     
         14 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     
     
         15 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a battery removably coupled to said eyeglass frames and electrically coupled to said electrical circuitry for providing power to said light source.   
     
     
         16 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said eyeglass frames include first and second temple arms, and wherein said battery includes first and second batteries each coupled to a respective one of said first and second temple arms, said batteries forming at least part of respective side shields that facilitate protecting the eyes of a wearer of the illumination assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said eyeglass frames include first and second temple arms, and wherein said battery is positioned proximate a terminal end of one of said temple arms. 
     
     
         18 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said battery is coupled proximate said terminal end of said temple arm and is selectively positionably adjustable relative to said temple arm such that said battery can be selectively adjusted to engage the head of a wearer of the illumination assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of any of  claims 15 , further comprising:
 a battery housing positioned proximate said terminal end of said temple arm, said battery removably received within said battery housing.   
     
     
         20 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a pad on said battery housing for engaging the head of the wearer.   
     
     
         21 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said battery is rechargeable and wherein the user-wearable illumination assembly further comprises an indicator associated with said battery and configured to indicate a charge level of said battery. 
     
     
         22 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one optical loupe coupled to said eyeglass frames to provide magnified viewing through said loupe.   
     
     
         23 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 user-actuable controls on said eyeglass frames, said controls operable to turn said light source on and off and to selectively adjust an output intensity of said light source.   
     
     
         24 . The user-wearable illumination assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a remote actuable by a wearer of the illumination assembly to turn said light source on and off, or to selectively adjust an output intensity of said headlamp.