Adjustable facial-interface systems for head-mounted displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10895751-B1
Application number	US-201715637366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A facial-interface system for a head-mounted display may include a facial interface and a facial-interface adjustment apparatus. The facial-interface adjustment apparatus may include (1) a coupling mount for coupling the facial-interface adjustment apparatus to a head-mounted-display housing, (2) an adjustment protrusion that is movable between a plurality of holding positions relative to the coupling mount, the adjustment protrusion having a facial-interface coupling portion coupled to the facial interface, and (3) a spring that biases the adjustment protrusion in a biasing direction toward the facial interface such that the adjustment protrusion moves between separate holding positions of the plurality of holding positions following application of a compressing force to the adjustment protrusion compressing the spring in a compressing direction opposite the biasing direction. Various other systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A facial-interface system for a head-mounted display comprising:
a facial interface; and
a facial-interface adjustment apparatus comprising:
a coupling mount for coupling the facial-interface adjustment apparatus to a head-mounted-display housing;
an adjustment protrusion that is movable between a plurality of holding positions relative to the coupling mount, the adjustment protrusion having a facial-interface coupling portion coupled to the facial interface;
a holding projection that extends into a recessed path defined in the adjustment protrusion, the recessed path comprising a plurality of holding notches, each of the plurality of holding notches corresponding to a separate holding position of the plurality of holding positions; and
a spring that applies a biasing force to the adjustment protrusion in a biasing direction toward the facial-interface coupling portion, wherein:
application of a compressing force to the adjustment protrusion compresses the spring in a compressing direction opposite the biasing direction;
the compressing of the spring causes the recessed path to move relative to the holding projection as the adjustment protrusion moves from a first holding position where the biasing force secures the holding projection within a first holding notch to a second holding position where the holding projection is within a second holding notch; and
removal of the application of the compressing force to the adjustment protrusion causes further movement of the recessed path relative to the holding projection as the adjustment protrusion moves from the second holding position to a third holding position where the biasing force secures the holding projection within a third holding notch.

2. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a spring holding member attached to the coupling mount; and
the spring is disposed between the spring holding member and a spring abutment surface of the adjustment protrusion.

3. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises an adjustment-apparatus casing surrounding at least a portion of the adjustment protrusion and the spring.

4. The facial-interface system of claim 3 , wherein:
a portion of the facial interface is disposed at a first distance from the adjustment-apparatus casing when the adjustment protrusion is in an extended position;
the portion of facial interface is disposed at a second distance from the adjustment-apparatus casing when the adjustment protrusion is in a contracted position; and
the first distance is greater than the second distance.

5. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the facial interface is disposed at a separate one of a plurality of locations relative to the head-mounted-display housing when the adjustment protrusion is held at each of the plurality of holding positions.

6. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the compressing force is applied to the adjustment protrusion via the facial interface.

7. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a compression spring.

8. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a holding-projection biasing member that biases the holding projection into the recessed path.

9. The facial-interface system of claim 1 , wherein the recessed path comprises a looped path.

10. A head-mounted-display device comprising:
a facial interface;
a head-mounted-display housing; and
a facial-interface adjustment apparatus comprising:
a coupling mount that couples the facial-interface adjustment apparatus to the head-mounted-display housing;
an adjustment protrusion that is movable between a plurality of holding positions relative to the head-mounted-display housing, the adjustment protrusion having a facial-interface coupling portion coupled to the facial interface;
a holding projection that extends into a recessed path defined in the adjustment protrusion, the recessed path comprising a plurality of holding notches, each of the plurality of holding notches corresponding to a separate holding position of the plurality of holding positions; and
a spring that applies a biasing force to the adjustment protrusion in a biasing direction toward the facial-interface coupling portion, wherein:
application of a compressing force to the adjustment protrusion compresses the spring in a compressing direction opposite the biasing direction;
the compressing of the spring causes the recessed path to move relative to the holding projection as the adjustment protrusion moves from a first holding position where the biasing force secures the holding projection within a first holding notch to a second holding position where the holding projection is within a second holding notch; and
removal of the application of the compressing force to the adjustment protrusion causes further movement of the recessed path relative to the holding projection as the adjustment protrusion moves from the second holding position to a third holding position where the biasing force secures the holding projection within a third holding notch.

11. The head-mounted-display device of claim 10 , wherein the coupling mount is disposed adjacent a viewing opening defined in the head-mounted-display housing.

12. The head-mounted-display device of claim 11 , wherein the facial interface is disposed at a separate one of a plurality of locations relative to the head-mounted-display housing when the adjustment protrusion is held at each of the plurality of holding positions.

13. The head-mounted-display device of claim 10 , wherein the compressing force is applied to the adjustment protrusion via the facial interface.

14. The head-mounted-display device of claim 10 , wherein:
the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a spring holding member attached to the coupling mount; and
the spring is disposed between the spring holding member and a spring abutment surface of the adjustment protrusion.

15. The head-mounted-display device of claim 10 , wherein the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a holding-projection biasing member that biases the holding projection into the recessed path.

16. The head-mounted-display device of claim 10 , wherein the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises an adjustment-apparatus casing surrounding at least a portion of the adjustment protrusion and the spring.

17. The head-mounted-display device of claim 16 , wherein:
a portion of the facial interface is disposed at a first distance from the adjustment-apparatus casing when the adjustment protrusion is in an extended position;
the portion of facial interface is disposed at a second distance from the adjustment-apparatus casing when the adjustment protrusion is in a contracted position; and
the first distance is greater than the second distance.

18. A method comprising:
positioning a spring between a spring holding member attached to a coupling mount for coupling to a head-mounted-display housing and a spring abutment surface of an adjustment protrusion that is movable between a plurality of holding positions relative to the coupling mount;
coupling a holding projection to the coupling mount such that:
the holding projection extends into a recessed path defined in the adjustment protrusion; and
the recessed path moves relative to the holding projection when the adjustment protrusion moves between sep

Assignees

• Facebook Tech Llc

Inventors

• Yee Phillip

Classifications

• G02B27/028

  characterised by the supporting structure · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• H04M1/05

  specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast · 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