Multiple degree of freedom hinge systems and eyewear devices comprising such hinge systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11726347-B2
Application number	US-202117177400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2021
Priority date	Feb 18, 2020
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A multiple degree of freedom hinge system is provided, which is particularly well adapted for eyewear, such as spatial computing headsets. In the context of such spatial computing headsets having an optics assembly supported by opposing temple arms, the hinge system provides protection against over-extension of the temple arms or extreme deflections that may otherwise arise from undesirable torsional loading of the temple arms. The hinge systems also allow the temple arms to splay outwardly to enable proper fit and enhanced user comfort.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optics system, comprising:
an optics assembly for projecting light beams representing virtual contents into at least one eye of a user;
a first temple arm and a second temple arm opposing the first temple arm; and
a first hinge system and a second hinge system, the first and the second hinge systems respectively coupling the first and the second temple arms to the optics assembly, the first hinge system including:
a hinge base fixedly coupled to the optics assembly;
an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base to rotate upward and downward from a neutral position or configuration of the first hinge system about a first axis between an upward pitching limit and a downward pitching limit;
a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member to rotate at least outward from the neutral position or configuration of the first hinge system about a second axis relative to the intermediate hinge member within an outward yawing limit and fixedly coupled to the first temple arm, the first axis different from the second axis; and
a biasing member included in the hinge base, wherein the biasing member provides a spring-loaded restoring force that returns the hinge system to the neutral position or configuration when the hinge system deviates from the neutral position or configuration.

2. The optics system of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge system includes one or more stop mechanisms to limit rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about the first axis, the one or more stop mechanisms comprise the first pitch rotational stop mechanism.

3. The optics system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise the first pitch rotational stop mechanism provided on the hinge base, the first rotation stop mechanism is configured to constrain a first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches up from a neutral configuration or position of the intermediate hinge member to the upward pitch limit and a second pitch rotational stop mechanism provided on the hinge base that is configured to constrain the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches down from the neutral configuration or position of the intermediate hinge member to a downward pitch limit.

4. The optics system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second pitch rotational stop mechanisms are respectively provided by corresponding portions of an opening provided in the hinge base that constrains the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member respectively pitches up or down to the upward pitch limit or the downward pitch limit.

5. The optics system of claim 3 , wherein the upward pitch limit is greater than or equal to one of five (5) degrees and (10) ten degrees upward from the neutral configuration or position, and the downward pitch limit is greater than or equal to one of five (5) degrees and ten (10) degrees upward from the neutral configuration or position.

6. The optics system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge system includes one or more stop mechanisms to constrain rotational travel of the distal hinge member relative to the intermediate hinge member about the second axis, wherein the rotational travel comprises a yawing movement.

7. The optics system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise a first rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member that is configured to impede a second movement of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws from a neutral configuration or position of the first hinge system to an outward limit and a second rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member that is configured to impede the second movement from the neutral configuration or position of the first hinge system of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws to an inward limit.

8. The optics system of claim 7 , wherein the first and second rotational stops are respectively provided by corresponding different portions of a plate structure of the intermediate hinge member that respectively constrains the second movement of the distal hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws from the neutral configuration or position of the first hinge system to the outward yawing limit and the inward yawing limit.

9. The optics system of claim 7 , wherein the outward limit is greater than or equal to one of fifteen (15) degrees and twenty (20) degrees outward from the neutral configuration or position, and the inward limit is greater than or equal to one of fifteen (15) degrees and twenty (20) degrees inward from the neutral configuration or position.

10. The optics system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise a first rotational stop and a second rotational stop, wherein the first rotation stop is provided on the distal hinge member that is configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws from a neutral configuration or position of the first hinge system to an yawing outward limit, and the second rotation stop is provided on the distal hinge member that is configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws from the neutral configuration or position of the first hinge system to an inward yawing limit.

11. The optics system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge base comprises a biasing member that is configured to rotationally bias or torsion the intermediate hinge member about the first axis toward a neutral position or configuration of the first hinge system when the intermediate hinge member deviates from the neutral position or configuration.

12. The optics system of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is positioned between the distal hinge member and the intermediate hinge member, and the biasing member biases the distal hinge member toward a neutral position or configuration in which the first temple arm is biased towards a retracted configuration.

13. The optics system of claim 1 , wherein the optics assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, a first plurality of projection fibers, a second plurality of projection fibers, a first circuit board assembly, and a second circuit board assembly having one or more different circuit components from the first circuit board assembly, wherein the first plurality of projection fibers is configured to project at least one first light beam into the first lens that in turn reflects the first light beam into the at least one eye of the user, and the first and the second circuit board assemblies are respectively, operatively coupled to the first plurality of projection fibers and the second plurality of projection fibers.

14. The optics system of claim 1 , the first hinge system further comprising one or more biasing members which, bias the first temple arm and the second temple arm towards each other into a retracted configuration, wherein
the hinge base includes arcuate guides that guides the intermediate hinge in rotating relative to the hinge base about the first axis,
the intermediate hinge member includes or interacts with corresponding guide pins that ride in the arcuate guides of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis, and
the one or more guide pins extend between the intermediate hinge member and the one or more biasing members.

15. The optics system of claim 14 , wherein
the first hinge system is devised to maintain a circuit passage in at least a joint region comprising a portio

Assignees

• Magic Leap Inc

Inventors

• Lopez Alejandro
• Duenner Andrew C

Classifications

• G02C5/22 Primary

  Hinges (pivotal connection in general F16C11/00) · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02C5/2263 Primary

  Composite hinges, e.g. for varying the inclination of the lenses · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title