Optical module for head-mounted device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12287485-B2
Application number	US-202318380767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2023
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

An optical module for a head-mounted device is configured to present content to a user. The optical module includes an optical module housing assembly, a display assembly, and an eye camera. The optical module housing assembly has a first end and a second end. The lens is connected to the optical module housing assembly and positioned at the first end of the optical module housing assembly. The display assembly is connected to the optical module housing assembly and is positioned at the second end of the optical module housing assembly. The display assembly is configured to cause the content to be displayed to the user through the lens. The eye camera is connected to the optical module housing assembly and is positioned at the second end of the optical module housing assembly. The eye camera is configured to obtain images through the lens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical module for a head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, the optical module comprising:
an optical module housing assembly that includes a first portion that is connected to a second portion; and
a lens that is configured to be connected to the optical module housing assembly between the first portion and the second portion,
wherein the lens is retained by securing a projection of the lens in a channel between an inner surface of the first portion of the optical module housing assembly and an outer surface of the second portion of the optical module housing assembly along an optical axis.

2. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the optical module housing assembly includes a first peripheral wall portion that extends around the optical axis, the second portion of the optical module housing assembly includes a second peripheral wall portion that extends around the optical axis, and the first peripheral wall portion and the second peripheral wall portion engage each other radially and the lens axially with respect to the optical axis such that the lens is restrained from moving relative to the first portion and the second portion of the optical module housing assembly.

3. The optical module of claim 2 , wherein a size and a position of the channel corresponds to a size and a position of the projection such that the projection can be received in the channel to secure the lens and restrain movement of the lens relative to the first portion and the second portion.

4. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the projection extends outward from a body of the lens and the channel is defined on an interior peripheral wall of the first portion of the optical module housing assembly such that the projection is located in the channel and engages the first portion of the optical module housing assembly within the channel to align the lens relative to the optical module housing assembly, to secure the lens relative to the optical module housing assembly, and to restrain movement of the lens relative to the optical module housing assembly.

5. The optical module of claim 4 , wherein a height of the projection is less than a height of the body of the lens.

6. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion extend around an optical pathway opening that is formed through a base portion of the second portion.

7. The optical module of claim 1 , further comprising a display assembly that is connected to the second portion of the optical module housing assembly, wherein the display assembly is configured to cause the content to be displayed to the user through the lens.

8. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the optical module housing assembly defines a sealed internal space along the optical axis.

9. An optical module for a head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, the optical module comprising:
a housing body that defines an outer end;
a retainer that defines an interior channel;
a lens disposed between the housing body and the retainer, wherein the outer end of the housing body and the interior channel of the retainer engage the lens such that the lens is restrained from moving relative to the housing body and the retainer; and
a display assembly connected to the housing body and configured to cause the content to be displayed to the user through the lens.

10. The optical module of claim 9 , wherein the lens includes a lens body and projections that extend outward from the lens body.

11. The optical module of claim 10 , wherein the projections are retained within the interior channel between the housing body and the retainer.

12. The optical module of claim 10 , wherein a height of the projections is less than a height of the lens body.

13. The optical module of claim 10 , wherein the retainer includes a peripheral wall that extends around an optical pathway opening and includes an upper inner periphery portion that borders and extends around the optical pathway opening, and wherein the upper inner periphery portion is configured to receive the lens body.

14. The optical module of claim 13 , wherein the peripheral wall includes a lower inner periphery portion that borders and extends around the optical pathway opening, defines the interior channel, and is configured for connection to the outer end of the housing body.

15. The optical module of claim 14 , wherein the housing body includes a base portion that defines an optical pathway opening that is formed through the base portion and a housing body peripheral wall that extends away from the base portion and around the optical pathway opening to the outer end, wherein the outer end is configured for connection to the lower inner periphery portion of the retainer.

16. The optical module of claim 9 , wherein the lens is connected to the housing body and the retainer in a manner that defines an internal space between the lens and the display assembly.

17. An optical module for a head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, the optical module comprising:
a lens having a lens body and projections that extend outward from the lens body;
a housing body including a base portion that defines an optical pathway opening formed through the base portion and a housing body peripheral wall that extends outward from the base portion, toward the user along an optical axis of the lens to an outer end, and around the optical pathway opening; and
a retainer having a retainer peripheral wall that extends around the optical pathway opening,
wherein the retainer peripheral wall includes an upper inner periphery portion configured to receive the lens body and that defines channels configured to receive the projections and a lower inner periphery portion configured for connection to the outer end of the housing body peripheral wall,
wherein the projections are sandwiched between the outer end of the housing body peripheral wall and the upper inner periphery portion of the retainer peripheral wall.

18. The optical module of claim 17 , wherein a height of the projections is less than a height of the lens body.

19. The optical module of claim 18 , wherein the lens body has an outer surface that is oriented toward the user and an inner surface located opposite the outer surface, wherein the projections extend from the inner surface.

20. The optical module of claim 17 , wherein a size and position of the channels corresponds to a size and position of the projections such that the projections can be received in the channels to secure the lens relative to the housing body and restrain movement of the lens relative to the housing body.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Maric Ivan S
• Quijalvo Jan K
• Mirabella Anna V
• Lin Wey-Jiun
• Franklin Jeremy C
• Wang Forrest C
• Meursing Marinus
• Trekell Blake N
• Zimmerman Aidan N

Classifications

• G02B27/62

  Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title

• G02B2027/0187

  slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye · CPC title

• G02B2027/015

  involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title