Head-mounted display assemblies and related methods for interpupillary distance adjustments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11204504-B1
Application number	US-202016914988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 8, 2019
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

The disclosed head-mounted display assemblies may include a first eyecup and a second eyecup that are configured for positioning in front of intended locations of a user's eyes. The first eyecup and the second eyecup may be movable relative to each other to adjust for an interpupillary distance of the user's eyes. The head-mounted display assemblies may also include a single near-eye display screen configured for displaying an image to the user through the first eyecup and the second eyecup. A flexible shroud may be positioned to provide a seal between a first interior volume of the first eyecup, a second interior volume of the second eyecup, and the single near-eye display screen. Various other methods, devices, systems, and assemblies are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mounted display assembly, comprising:
a first eyecup and a second eyecup configured for positioning in front of intended locations of a user's eyes when the head-mounted display assembly is donned by the user, wherein the first eyecup and the second eyecup are movable relative to each other to adjust for an interpupillary distance of the user's eyes;
a single near-eye display screen configured for displaying an image to the user through the first eyecup and the second eyecup; and
a flexible shroud positioned to provide a hermetic seal between a common volume defined by a first interior volume of the first eyecup, a second interior volume of the second eyecup, and the single near-eye display screen, wherein the flexible shroud is positioned at least partially within the first interior volume of the first eyecup and the second interior volume of the second eyecup.

2. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first eyecup or the second eyecup is movable relative to the single near-eye display screen.

3. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible shroud comprises an elastomeric material.

4. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flexible shroud comprises at least one of:
a silicone material;
a thermoplastic polyurethane material;
a thermoplastic elastomer material;
a thermoset elastomer material;
a fluoroelastomer material;
a natural rubber material; or
a synthetic rubber material.

5. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible shroud comprises an extensible shape such that the portion of the flexible shroud is configured to at least one of expand or contract under shear stress.

6. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 5 , wherein the extensible shape comprises a pleated shape.

7. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 5 , wherein the extensible shape comprises bumps separated from each other by valleys.

8. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first optical lens mounted to the first eyecup and a second optical lens mounted to the second eyecup.

9. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first eyecup comprises a first rigid housing at least partially defining the first interior volume; and
the second eyecup comprises a second rigid housing at least partially defining the second interior volume.

10. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flexible shroud is mounted at least partially within the first interior volume of the first eyecup, at least partially within the second interior volume of the second eyecup, at least partially between the first rigid housing and the single near-eye display screen, and at least partially between the second rigid housing and the single near-eye display screen.

11. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a flexible cosmetic covering positioned over and obscuring the flexible shroud.

12. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flexible shroud is mounted to a first exterior surface of the first rigid housing and to a second exterior surface of the second rigid housing.

13. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the single near-eye display screen is configured for displaying respective stereoscopic images to the user through the first eyecup and the second eyecup to create an impression of a three-dimensional image.

14. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an eye bracket positioned at least partially over the flexible shroud, wherein the eye bracket is shaped and positioned for resting against the user's face when the head-mounted display assembly is donned by the user.

15. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism coupled to the first eyecup and to the second eyecup for adjusting a distance between the first eyecup and the second eyecup.

16. The head-mounted display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first eyecup and the second eyecup are movable relative to each other over a distance of up to about 10 mm.

17. A method of fabricating a head-mounted display assembly, comprising:
positioning a first eyecup and a second eyecup over a single near-eye display screen that is configured for displaying an image to a user through the first eyecup and the second eyecup, wherein the first eyecup and the second eyecup are positioned to move relative to each other to adjust for an interpupillary distance of a user's eyes when the head-mounted display assembly is donned by the user;
coupling an outer region of a flexible shroud to the single near-eye display screen; and
coupling an inner region of the flexible shroud to the first eyecup and to the second eyecup, wherein the flexible shroud forms a hermetic seal between a common volume defined by a first interior volume of the first eyecup, a second interior volume of the second eyecup, and the single near-eye display screen, wherein the flexible shroud is positioned at least partially within the first interior volume of the first eyecup and the second interior volume of the second eyecup.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
assembling an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism to the first eyecup and to the second eyecup in a position to move the first eyecup and the second eyecup relative to each other; and
coupling the flexible shroud to a component of the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism to form a seal over at least a portion of the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism.

19. A method of adjusting an interpupillary distance of a head-mounted display assembly, the method comprising:
moving a first eyecup and a second eyecup relative to each other and relative to a single near-eye display screen over which the first eyecup and the second eyecup are mounted; and
maintaining a hermetic seal between a common volume defined by a first interior volume of the first eyecup, a second interior volume of the second eyecup, and the single near-eye display screen with a flexible shroud, wherein the flexible shroud is positioned at least partially within the first interior volume of the first eyecup and the second interior volume of the second eyecup.

Assignees

• Facebook Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jacobs Joel Bernard
• Coons Evan Lawrence
• Stellman Jeffrey Taylor
• Tempel Mark Alan

Classifications

• G02B2027/0154

  with movable elements · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0134

  of stereoscopic type · CPC title

• G02B30/26

  of the autostereoscopic type · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title