Head securement for head-mountable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11768518-B1
Application number	US-202117372336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2021
Priority date	Aug 13, 2020
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

Systems of the present disclosure can provide a head-mountable device with a head securement element that is integrated with a light seal module, which provides effective and comfortable engagement with a face of the user. By providing the head securement element with a light seal module, both head securement and face engagement can be customized or otherwise selected for achieving the desired fit for a given user. Accordingly, the head securement element (e.g., band, arms, and the like) can be primarily or exclusively secured to an HMD module via a light seal module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising:
a frame having a frame inner side and a frame outer side;
a display element supported by the frame;
an HMD module attachment element on the frame inner side; and
extensions extending from the frame comprising engagement pins;

a light seal module comprising:
a chassis having a chassis inner side and a chassis outer side; and
a light seal module attachment element on the chassis outer side, the light seal module attachment element being configured to releasably engage the HMD module attachment element; and

a head securement element extending from the chassis inner side of the light seal module, the head securement element comprising:
a pair of arms, each of the arms comprising a head securement element attachment element coupled to the light seal module, each of the arms defining a channel therein, each of the channels receiving a corresponding one of the engagement pins to guide movement of the head securement element to be toward or away from the HMD module; and
a band having ends coupled to the arms, the band being configured to extend around a head, each of the channels of the arms being positioned between a corresponding head securement element attachment element and a corresponding end of the band.

2. The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the arms is rigid and pivotably coupled to the chassis of the light seal module; and
the band is flexible.

3. The head-mountable device of claim 2 , wherein the ends of the band are coupled to the light seal module by the pair of arms.

4. The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein the light seal module further comprises a cover extending about the chassis.

5. The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein the head securement element comprises an electronic component.

6. The head-mountable device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic component is operatively connected to the HMD module by the light seal module.

7. The head-mountable device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic component is operatively connected to the HMD module by a wireless connection.

8. The head-mountable device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic component is operatively connected to the HMD module by a wired connection that bypasses the light seal module.

9. A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising a display element and extensions comprising engagement pins;
a light seal module coupled to the HMD module, the light seal module being configured to engage a face, provide a view to the display element, and block light from an external environment; and
a head securement element configured hold the HMD module and the light seal module against a head, the head securement element being coupled to the HMD module by only the light seal module, the head securement element comprising:
a pair of arms, each of the arms comprising an electronic component operably connected to the HMD module by the light seal module, each of the arms being rigid and pivotably coupled to the light seal module on an inner side of the light seal module that is opposite the HMD module, each of the arms defining a channel therein, each of the channels receiving a corresponding one of the engagement pins to guide movement of the head securement element to be toward or away from the HMD module; and
a band having ends coupled to the arms, the band being flexible to extend around the head.

10. The head-mountable device of claim 9 , wherein the light seal module is configured to be releasably coupled to the HMD module.

11. The head-mountable device of claim 9 , wherein the head securement element is configured to be releasably coupled to the light seal module.

12. A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising a display element and extensions comprising engagement pins; and
a light seal module comprising:
a chassis; and
a cover extending about the chassis; and

a head securement element comprising:
a pair of arms, each of the arms comprising an electronic component operably connected to the HMD module by the light seal module, each of the arms being rigid and pivotably coupled to the chassis of the light seal module to transition between a deployed configuration, in which the arms extend away from the HMD module, and a collapsed configuration, in which the arms extend towards each other, each of the arms defining a channel therein, each of the channels receiving a corresponding one of the engagement pins to guide movement of the head securement element to be toward or away from the HMD module; and
a band having ends coupled to the arms, the band being flexible to extend around a head.

13. The head-mountable device of claim 12 , wherein:
the HMD module further comprises an HMD module attachment element; and
the light seal module further comprises a light seal module attachment element, the light seal module attachment element being configured to releasably engage the HMD module attachment element.

14. The head-mountable device of claim 12 , wherein:
the light seal module further comprises a light seal module attachment element; and
the head securement element further comprises a head securement element attachment element, the head securement element attachment element being configured to releasably engage the light seal module attachment element.

15. The head-mountable device of claim 12 , wherein the head securement element is coupled to the HMD module by only the light seal module.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Jo Yoonhoo
• Wang Paul X
• Williamson Heidi
• Ness Trevor J

Classifications

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title