Recessed light-emitting diodes in virtual-reality systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10007116-B2
Application number	US-201514843862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A head-mounted display for a virtual-reality system includes one or more outer surfaces having a plurality of recesses. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are installed in respective recesses of the plurality of recesses. The recesses are covered with covers that are substantially flush with respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
forming recesses in one or more outer surfaces of a head-mounted display;
after forming the recesses, installing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the recesses; and
covering the recesses with a plurality of covers that are distinct from and substantially flush with respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display, each cover of the plurality of covers covering a respective recess of the recesses.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the recesses comprises forming round holes in the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein covering the recesses comprises placing polyester films of stretched polyethylene terephthalate over the recesses, wherein the polyester films as placed over the recesses are flush with the respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein covering the recesses comprises placing urethane panels over the recesses, wherein the urethane panels as placed over the recesses are flush with the respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the covers are transparent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the covers comprise nontransparent material of sufficient thinness to allow a detectable level of light to be emitted from the recesses when the LEDs are turned on.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LEDs comprise infrared LEDs.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after covering the recesses, wrapping the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display in fabric.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the LEDs comprise infrared LEDs; and
the fabric is opaque at visible wavelengths and transparent to infrared light emitted by the LEDs.

10. A head-mounted display, comprising:
one or more outer surfaces having a plurality of recesses;
light-emitting diodes (LEDs) installed in respective recesses of the plurality of recesses; and
a plurality of covers covering the respective recesses, each cover of the plurality of covers covering a respective recess of the plurality of recesses, wherein the covers are distinct from and substantially flush with respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

11. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the recesses comprise round holes in the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

12. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the covers comprise polyester films of stretched polyethylene terephthalate.

13. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the covers comprise urethane panels.

14. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the covers are transparent.

15. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the covers comprise nontransparent material of sufficient thinness to allow a detectable level of light to be emitted from the recesses when the LEDs are turned on.

16. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , wherein the LEDs comprise infrared LEDs.

17. The head-mounted display of claim 10 , further comprising fabric covering the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.

18. The head-mounted display of claim 17 , wherein:
the LEDs comprise infrared LEDs; and
the fabric is opaque at visible wavelengths and transparent to infrared light emitted by the LEDs.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc
• Oculus Vr Llc

Inventors

• Drinkwater Jared I
• Tempel Mark Alan
• Miller Robin Michael
• Bristol Peter Wesley
• Allin Boyd Drew
• Sullivan Joseph Patrick
• Chen Yi-Yaun

Classifications

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G02B27/0093 Primary

  with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking · CPC title