Dynamic seals for adjustable display devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823971-B2
Application number	US-201916294156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a display system (e.g., a wearable HMD) is described that includes an internal housing; a lens that is positioned within the internal housing; a display module including a display panel that is positioned within the internal housing to allow for relative movement between the lens and the display module to adjust focus of the display panel; and a seal that extends between the internal housing and the display module to define an enclosed interior space accommodating the lens and relative movement between the lens and the display module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable display system, comprising:
an internal housing;
a lens positioned within the internal housing;
a display module including a display panel positioned within the internal housing to allow for relative movement between the lens and the display module to adjust focus of the display panel; and
a seal extending between the internal housing and the display module so as to permit relative movement between the lens and the display module, the seal defining an enclosed interior space, wherein the seal includes a generally J-shaped configuration.

2. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a generally linear segment and an arcuate segment extending from the linear segment.

3. The display system of claim 2 , wherein the seal includes first and second generally linear segments, and wherein the arcuate segment is positioned between the generally linear segments.

4. The display system of claim 2 , wherein one of the linear segment and the arcuate segment is connected to the display module and the other of the linear segment and the arcuate segment is connected to the internal housing.

5. The display system of claim 2 , wherein the arcuate segment includes a series of corrugations to facilitate controlled deformation of the seal during relative movement between the lens and the display module.

6. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a first segment having an arcuate configuration and a second segment including a bellows portion.

7. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the bellows portion includes a series of interconnected arcuate wall portions.

8. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the bellows portion includes a series of interconnected linear wall portions, wherein adjacent linear wall portions are connected to define vertices.

9. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the display module is movable in relation to the internal housing.

10. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the lens is movable in relation to the internal housing.

11. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the display module and the lens are each movable in relation to the internal housing.

12. A seal for use in a wearable display system including an internal housing and a display panel supported by a movable display module to adjust focus of the display panel, the seal including:
a first portion connectable to the internal housing; and
a second portion connectable to the display module,
wherein the seal includes a generally U-shaped configuration, and
wherein the seal includes a deformable material to permit relative movement between the display module and the internal housing.

13. The seal of claim 12 , wherein the seal includes first and second segments that are generally linear in configuration and a third segment that is generally arcuate in configuration.

14. The display system of claim 13 , wherein the third segment includes a series of corrugations to facilitate controlled deformation of the seal during relative movement of the display module.

15. The display system of claim 12 , wherein the seal includes a generally arcuate portion and a bellows portion adjacent to the generally arcuate portion.

16. A seal for use in a wearable display system including an internal housing and a display panel supported by a movable display module to adjust focus of the display panel, the seal including:
a first portion connectable to the internal housing, and
a second portion connectable to the display module,
wherein the seal includes a deformable material to permit movement of the display module, and
wherein the seal includes a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a curvature that extends either inwardly away from the internal housing or outwardly towards the internal housing.

17. A method of assembling a wearable display system, comprising:
positioning a display module including a display panel within an internal housing;
positioning a lens within the internal housing to allow for relative movement between the display module and the lens to adjust focus of the display panel; and
positioning a seal within the internal housing to define an enclosed interior space accommodating the display panel,
wherein positioning the seal includes connecting a first segment of the seal to the display module and connecting a second segment of the seal to the internal housing,
wherein the seal includes a deformable material to permit relative movement between the display module and the lens, and
wherein the seal is generally J-shaped.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein one of the first and second segments includes a generally linear configuration and the other of the first and second segments includes a generally arcuate configuration.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the seal includes a bellows portion to permit relative movement between the display module and the lens.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Maric Ivan S
• Ilkorur Onur I
• Tao Jia
• Lonkar Kuldeep P
• Dey Stephen E
• Hobson Phil M
• Franklin Jeremy C

Classifications

• G02B2027/0154

  with movable elements · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• F16J15/16

  between relatively-moving surfaces (F16J15/50, F16J15/52 take precedence; bellows pistons F16J3/06; piston-rings or ring sealings of similar construction F16J9/00) · CPC title

• F16J15/32

  with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings · CPC title