Head support for head-mounted display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11181748-B1
Application number	US-201916570516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Sep 26, 2018
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

A head-mounted display unit includes a display assembly and a head support coupled to the display assembly for supporting the head-mounted display unit on a head of a user. The head support includes a band and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the band to lengthen the head support. The adjustment mechanism includes a base and a spool coupled to the base, a tape that extends from the adjustment mechanism through the band, and one or more springs rotatably coupled at first ends to the spool and fixedly coupled at second ends to the tape. The springs apply force to the tape to maintain the tape in tension during expansion and retraction of the band.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mounted display unit, comprising
a display assembly; and
a head support coupled to the display assembly that supports the head-mounted display unit worn on a head of a user, the head support comprising:
a band having three or more castellations formed of a rigid material and having a flexible support material that is different from the rigid material; and

an adjustment mechanism coupled to the band to lengthen the head support and keep the band in tension during extension and retraction of the head support;
wherein the castellations define openings through which a portion of the adjustment mechanism is routed through the band; and
wherein during the extension of the head support, the flexible support material expands and the castellations move apart from each other, and during retraction of the head support, the flexible support material retracts and the castellations move toward each other.

2. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the band includes a power cable routed through at least some of the openings within the castellations and transmitting power from a power source to the display assembly, the castellations reducing friction between the power cable and the band.

3. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a base;
a spool rotatably coupled to the base;
a spring rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the base and fixedly coupled at a second end thereof to the spool; and
a cord that extends through the band and is fixedly coupled at a first end thereof to the spool, wherein the spring applies torque to the spool to maintain the cord in tension.

4. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 3 , wherein the cord is routed through the openings within the castellations along the band and is fixedly coupled at a second end thereof to an attachment mechanism that removably couples the head support to the display assembly.

5. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a base;
a spool coupled to the base;
a tape that extends from the adjustment mechanism through at least some of the openings in the castellations in the band; and
springs rotatably coupled at first ends thereof to the spool and fixedly coupled at second ends thereof to the tape; wherein the springs apply force to the tape to maintain the tape in tension during expansion and retraction of the band.

6. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 5 , wherein the tape is fixedly coupled at one end thereof to the springs and fixedly coupled at another end thereof to an attachment mechanism that removably couples the head support to the display assembly.

7. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 5 , wherein springs act in parallel to apply the force to the tape to maintain the tape in tension.

8. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the head support includes a first attachment mechanism that removably couples a first side of the head support to the display assembly and a second attachment mechanism that removably couples a second side of the head support to the display assembly.

9. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support material surrounds the castellations, and the castellations surround the portion of the adjustment mechanism routed through the band.

10. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the castellations are disposed within the flexible support material, the castellations providing shape and structure to the flexible support material.

11. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 10 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes one or more of a cord or a tape that forms the portion of the adjustment mechanism routed through the band, the castellations reducing friction between the cord and the flexible support material.

12. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the castellations are distributed along the band.

13. A head-mounted display unit comprising:
a display assembly; and
a head support coupled to the display assembly that supports the head-mounted display unit worn on a head of a user with the display assembly extending across a front of the head of the user, the head support comprising:
a band; and
an adjustment mechanism coupled to the band to lengthen the head support, the adjustment mechanism comprising:
a base;
a spool rotatably coupled to the base;
a cord coupled to and wound about the spool; and
a spring rotatably coupled to the base and that transfers torque to the spool to maintain the cord in tension, the spring being positioned rearward of the display assembly and to one of a left side or a tight side of the head of the user when the head-mounted display unit is worn thereon.

14. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 9 , wherein the band is formed from a flexible support material and includes rigid castellations disposed within the flexible support material, the castellations providing shape and structure to the flexible support material.

15. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 14 , wherein the castellations define openings through which the cord is routed along an interior of the band, the castellations reducing friction between the cord and the flexible support material.

16. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 15 , wherein the band includes a power cable routed through the openings within the castellations and transmitting power from a power source to the display assembly, the castellations reducing friction between the power cable and the flexible support material.

17. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 16 , wherein the cord and the power cable are routed through alternating, opposing ones of the openings in successive ones of the castellations disposed along the band, the castellations reducing friction between the cord and the power cable.

18. A head-mounted display unit comprising:
a display assembly; and
a head support coupled to the display assembly that supports the head-mounted display unit worn on a head of a user, the head support comprising:
a band; and
an adjustment mechanism coupled to the band to lengthen the head support, the adjustment mechanism comprising:
a base;
a spool rotatably coupled to the base;
a cord coupled to and wound about the spool; and
a spring rotatably coupled to the base and that transfers torque to the spool to maintain the cord in tension;

wherein a first end of the spring is rotatably coupled to the base and a second end of the spring is fixedly coupled to the spool to transfer the torque thereto, and the spool defines a spring channel that guides winding and unwinding of the spring around the spool.

19. The head-mounted display unit according to claim 18 , wherein the spool defines a cord channel spaced from the spring channel that guides winding and unwinding of the cord around the spool.

20. A head-mounted display unit comprising:
a display assembly; and
a head support coupled to the display assembly that supports the head-mounted display unit worn on a head of a user, the head support comprising:
a band; and
an adjustment mechanism coupled to the band to lengthen the head support, the adjustment mechanism comprising:
a base;
a spool rotatably coupled to the base;
a cord coupled to and wound about the spool; and
a spring rotatably coupled to the base and that transfers torque to the spool t

Assignees

• Williamson Heidi
• Stryker James A
• Gallaher Andrew
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Williamson Heidi
• Stryker James A
• Gallaher Andrew

Classifications

• G02B2027/0161

  characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements · CPC title

• G02B27/0093

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

• G02B2027/0154

  with movable elements · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G06F1/163

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