Display devices with multimodal audio

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11366325-B2
Application number	US-202017064829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

An audio component for a head-mounted display system includes a first port through which sound is projected to a user during operation in a first audio mode, a second port through which sound is projected to a user during operation in a second audio mode, an insulator positioned along an acoustic path between the first port and the second port, wherein the insulator is configured to inhibit sound projection along the acoustic path by isolating the first port from the second port, and an earpiece configured to engage the audio component to an ear of the a user, to deliver sound from the audio component to the user, and to reduce ambient noise from a surrounding environment during operation of the audio component in the second audio mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio component for a head-mounted display system, comprising:
a first port through which sound is projected to a user during operation in a first audio mode;
a second port through which sound is projected to a user during operation in a second audio mode;
an insulator positioned along an acoustic path between the first port and the second port, wherein the insulator is configured to inhibit sound projection along the acoustic path by isolating the first port from the second port; and
an earpiece configured to engage the audio component to an ear of the user, to deliver sound from the audio component to the user, and to reduce ambient noise from a surrounding environment during operation of the audio component in the second audio mode,
wherein physically disconnecting the earpiece from the audio component transitions the audio component from the second audio mode to the first audio mode.

2. The audio component of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a deformable material that is configured to be expanded or contracted to create a sealing engagement.

3. The audio component of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece is configured to be stowed in a recess defined within a wearable support, and wherein stowing the earpiece within the recess inhibits projection of sound through the earpiece during operation of the audio component in the first audio mode.

4. The audio component of claim 1 , wherein the first port projects sound in a direction away from a temple of the user or a head of the user in the first audio mode, and wherein the first and second ports are axially offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the audio component.

5. The audio component of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gate movable through the insulator between a first position associated with the first audio mode and a second position associated with the second audio mode.

6. A display system that facilitates image and video display, comprising:
a wearable support configured to secure the display system to a user;
an audio component configured to connect to the wearable support, the audio component comprising:
a first port through which sound is projected to the user in a first audio mode; and
a second port through which sound is projected to the user in a second audio mode; and

an accessory configured to connect to the audio component, wherein connecting the accessory to the audio component transitions the audio component from the first audio mode to the second audio mode.

7. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the accessory is configured for in-ear use or on-ear use, and wherein the second port projects sound through the accessory in a direction toward or into an ear of the user in the second audio mode.

8. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the first port projects sound in a direction away from a temple of the user or a head of the user, and wherein the first and second ports are axially offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the audio component.

9. The display system of claim 6 , the audio component further comprising:
a controller configured to detect an identity or a configuration of the accessory and vary an audio profile, a volume, a treble level of sound, or a bass level of sound projected to the user by the accessory in the second audio mode based on the identity or the configuration of the accessory.

10. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the accessory comprises an accessory engagement structure, and wherein the audio component comprises an audio engagement structure.

11. The display system of claim 10 , wherein the audio engagement structure and the accessory engagement structure each comprise:
one or more contacts configured to establish communication between the accessory and the audio component.

12. The display system of claim 10 , wherein the audio engagement structure or the accessory engagement structure comprise:
a magnet configured to encourage an aligned connection of the accessory and the audio component.

13. The display system of claim 6 , wherein disconnecting the accessory from the audio component transitions the audio component from the second audio mode to the first audio mode.

14. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the audio component further comprises:
a seal deflectable from a closed position that blocks projection of sound through the second port to an open position that allows projection of sound through the second port.

15. The display system of claim 14 , wherein the accessory further comprises:
a fitting configured to move the seal from the closed position to the open position when the accessory is connected to the audio component.

16. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the accessory is configured to be stowed in a recess defined within the wearable support, and wherein stowing the accessory within the recess inhibits projection of sound through the accessory during operation of the audio component in the first audio mode.

17. A head-mounted display system that facilitates image and video display, comprising:
a wearable support configured to secure the head-mounted display system to a head of a user;
an audio component configured to connect to the wearable support, operate in a first audio mode where sound projects in a direction away from the head of the user, and operate in a second audio mode where sound projects in a direction toward or into an ear of the user; and
a controller configured to alternate operation of the head-mounted display system between a first visual mode based on operation of the audio component in the first audio mode and a second visual mode based on operation of the audio component in the second audio mode.

18. The head-mounted display system of claim 17 , wherein the audio component includes an anchor configured for insertion into, and removal from, one or more corresponding openings in the wearable support.

19. The head-mounted display system of claim 17 , wherein the first visual mode is one of a virtual reality mode, an augmented reality mode, or a mixed reality mode, and wherein the second visual mode is another of the virtual reality mode, the augmented reality mode, or the mixed reality mode.

20. The head-mounted display system of claim 17 , wherein the audio component includes a magnetic attachment member configured for engagement with one or more corresponding attachment members on the wearable support.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Silfvast Robert D
• Vandyke James W
• Franklin Jeremy C
• Evans Neal D
• Eubank Christopher T

Classifications

• H04R2499/15

  Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops · CPC title

• H04R1/1075

  Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• H04R5/0335

  Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests (for monophonic headphones H04R1/105) · CPC title

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title