Head-mounted apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10973459-B2
Application number	US-201816127594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a head-mounted apparatus, including: an optical sensor having a contact face for contacting with the head of a user; a supporting unit disposed around the optical sensor and configured to contact with the head of the user; and a sensor supporting mechanism configured to support the optical sensor so as to permit a movement of the optical sensor in a contact direction that is a direction perpendicular to the contact face.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mounted apparatus, comprising:
an optical sensor having a rigid contact face for contacting with the head of a user;
an expansion and contraction unit surrounding the optical sensor and configured to contact with the head of the user,
wherein the expansion and contraction unit includes bellows; and
a supporting unit comprising a first supporting unit and a second supporting unit;
wherein the first supporting unit is arranged on a first side of the expansion and contraction unit, and
wherein the second supporting unit is arranged on a second side of the expansion and contraction unit opposite the first side,
wherein the expansion and contraction unit permits movement of the optical sensor in a floating manner in a contact direction that is a direction perpendicular to the rigid contact face,
wherein the expansion and contraction unit moves independent of the supporting unit, and
wherein the expansion and contraction unit has a lower elastic modulus than the supporting unit.

2. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the expansion and contraction unit has elasticity that urges the rigid contact face toward the head, and
wherein the supporting unit has elasticity that urges a face of the supporting unit toward the head.

3. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the expansion and contraction unit supports the optical sensor so as to permit tilting of the rigid contact face.

4. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the optical sensor is attached to a rigid sensor board; and
the expansion and contraction unit supports the rigid sensor board such that a right edge and a left edge of the rigid sensor board can move separately from each other in the contact direction.

5. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the optical sensor is attached to a rigid sensor board; and
the expansion and contraction unit supports the rigid sensor board such that an upper edge and a lower edge of the rigid sensor board can move separately from each other in the contact direction.

6. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electroencephalogram sensor surrounded on three sides by the first supporting unit on the first side of the expansion and contraction unit.

7. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor and the electroencephalogram sensor contact a forehead of the user.

8. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electroencephalogram sensor surrounded on three sides by the first supporting unit on the first side of the expansion and contraction unit, and
a second electroencephalogram sensor surrounded on three sides by the second supporting unit on the second side of the expansion and contraction unit.

9. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is a blood flow sensor.

10. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion and contraction unit and the supporting unit are coupled to a top of a main housing of the head-mounted apparatus above a display of the head-mounted apparatus.

11. The head-mounted apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting belt for coupling the head-mounted apparatus to the head of the user.

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Kuronuma Toru
• Kusunoki Toshihiro
• Suzuki Hirohito

Classifications

• A61B5/0205

  Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition · CPC title

• A61B5/0261

  using optical means, e.g. infrared light · CPC title

• A61B2560/0468

  Built-in electrodes · CPC title

• A61B5/6843

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B2560/0462

  Apparatus with built-in sensors · CPC title