Augmented and/or virtual reality headset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890941-B2
Application number	US-201715720026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Oct 3, 2016
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A headset for experiencing an augmented and/or a virtual reality environment may include a housing defining an interior cavity, with optical components received in the interior cavity of the housing. A front face may be rotatably coupled to a front portion of the housing to selectively enclose the interior of the housing. A computing device including a display may be received in a slot defined between the front portion of the housing and the front face. A face pad may be removably coupled to the housing, opposite the front face, so as to enclose the optical components in the housing. A user may view an augmented/virtual reality environment displayed on the display through the optical components received in the housing. An adjustable head strap assembly may adjustably position the headset on the head of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headset, comprising:
a housing defining an interior cavity;
optical components disposed in the interior cavity of the housing;
a front face rotatably coupled to a front portion of the housing;
a fastening device fastening the front face in a closed position relative to the housing;
a slot defined between the front portion of the housing and the front face in the closed position of the front face relative to the housing, the slot configured to receive a computing device including a display;
a plurality of near field communication (NFC) tags disposed in the front face, which include:
a first NFC tag arranged in the front face, wherein the first NFC strip is elongated such that the first NFC tag extends along a longitudinal direction in the front face, from a first lateral end portion of the front face to a second lateral end portion of the front face opposite the first lateral end portion thereof; and
a second NFC tag arranged in the front face, separated from and aligned parallel to the first NFC tag, wherein the second NFC strip is elongated such that the second NFC tag extends along the longitudinal direction in the front face such that the second NFC tag extends from the first lateral end portion to the second lateral end portion of the front face;

a face pad removably coupled to the housing; and
an adjustable head strap assembly coupled to the housing.

2. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable head strap assembly includes:
a head strap, including:
a first portion having a first end thereof coupled to a first upper lateral side portion of the housing, and a second end thereof coupled to a first clip;
a second portion having a first end thereof coupled to a second upper lateral side portion of the housing, and a second end thereof coupled to a second clip; and
an overlap portion in which the first portion and the second portion of the head strap overlap.

3. The headset of claim 2 , wherein
the first clip is fixedly coupled to the second end of the first portion of the head strap, and the second portion of the head strap is movably coupled to the first clip,
the second clip is fixedly coupled to the second end of the second portion of the head strap, and the first portion of the head strap is movably coupled to the second clip, and
the overlap portion is defined between the first clip and the second clip.

4. The headset of claim 2 , wherein the head strap is made of a flexible, inelastic material.

5. The headset of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling mechanism that removably couples the face pad to the housing, the coupling mechanism including a plurality of hook and loop fasteners selectively engaged between the face pad and the housing, including:
a first hook and loop fastener selectively engaging a top outer peripheral portion of the face pad with a corresponding top inner peripheral portion of the housing;
a second hook and loop fastener selectively engaging a first bottom outer peripheral portion face pad with a corresponding bottom inner peripheral portion of the housing; and
a third hook and loop fastener selectively engaging a second bottom outer peripheral portion face pad with a corresponding bottom inner peripheral portion of the housing.

6. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the face pad includes:
a foam form defining a contour of the face pad; and
a fabric cover positioned on an outer surface of the foam form.

7. The headset of claim 6 , wherein the face pad also includes:
a first opening corresponding to a first optical lens installed in the housing; and
a second opening corresponding to a second optical lens installed in the housing,
wherein a peripheral edge portion of the first opening is sealed, and a peripheral edge portion of the second opening is sealed.

8. The headset of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first optical ring coupled to the first optical lens; and
a second optical ring coupled to the second optical lens,
wherein the sealed peripheral edge portion of the first opening of the face pad is coupled in a recess defined by the first optical ring, and the sealed peripheral edge portion of the second opening of the face pad is coupled in a recess defined by the second optical ring, when the face pad is coupled to the housing.

9. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an opening in a front surface thereof, the opening being in communication with the cavity defined in the interior of the housing, the headset further comprising a plurality of support pads provided on the front surface of the housing, arranged along a periphery of the opening, the plurality of support pads being made of a silicone material.

10. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an opening in a front surface thereof, the opening being in communication with the cavity defined in the interior of the housing, the headset further comprising a plurality of electronic pads provided on the front surface of the housing, including:
a first electronic pad positioned at a top central portion of a periphery of the opening; and
a second electronic pad positioned at a bottom central portion of the periphery of the opening.

11. The headset of claim 10 , wherein the first and second electronic pads are configured to contact the display of the computing device received in the slot, and to index the display so as to define a first portion of the display and a second portion of the display.

12. The headset of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recess formed in an inner surface of the front face; and
a coupling device configured to couple a controller in the recess.

13. The headset of claim 1 , wherein
a gap between each end portion of the first NFC tag and the respective lateral end portion of the front face is less than approximately 15% of an overall length of the front face, and
a gap between each end portion of the second NFC tag and the respective lateral end portion of the front face is less than approximately 15% of the overall length of the front face.

14. The headset of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling a peripheral edge portion of the housing and a corresponding peripheral edge portion of the front face, the hinge mechanism including a spring loaded rod configured to adjust a width of the slot defined between the housing and the front face based on a thickness of the computing device received in the slot.

15. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the fastening device includes:
a strap having a proximal end portion coupled to a peripheral edge portion of the front face;
a tab coupled to a distal end portion of the strap; and
a protrusion provided on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the tab is configured to engage the protrusion so as to fasten the front face in a closed position relative to the housing.

16. The headset of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of NFC tags disposed in the front face is configured to communicate with at least one NFC tag of the computing device disposed in the slot, to trigger the computing device to execute an application, to identify a characteristic of the headset, to configure the headset, or to facilitate communication between the computing device and the optical components of the headset.

17. A headset, comprising:
a housing defining an interior cavity;
an optical component disposed in the interior cavity of the housing;
a front face rotatably coupled to a front portion of the housing;
a fastening device fastening the front face in a closed position relative to the housing;
a slot defined between the fro

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Llc

Inventors

• Raffle Hayes S
• Nartker Andrew
• Waraich Sandeep
• Dang Phan Thao Benno
• Mcginty Jr Gerald Kirk
• Lee Albert
• Oh Byeong Seon
• Odell Dan
• Macintosh Eric Allan
• Goossens Erik Hubert Dolly
• Simonian Michael
• Evers Maaike
• Hu Xinda
• Tao Xiaohui
• Zhu Ronghui

Classifications

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• G06K7/10297

  arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G02B7/026

  using retaining rings or springs (G02B7/027 takes precedence) · CPC title