Patent attributes
A head-mounted wearable device (HMWD) incorporates a visual indicator device (VID) that provides a visual cue to a wearer about activity of the HMWD. The VID may be positioned in a frame of the HMWD to be within an upper portion of a wearer's field of view during wear. The VID may provide a diffuse illumination that is visible to the wearer but does not obtrusively illuminate the face of the wearer, resulting in the visual indicator being unobtrusive to bystanders. Activation, intensity, color, blink rate, or other characteristics of the visual indicator may be used to provide the wearer with information. For example, the VID may illuminate with a solid color while a microphone on the HMWD is active, or blink while the microphone is muted. Input from an ambient light sensor may be used to adjust the operation of the VID during operation.