Facial interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12326568-B2
Application number	US-202318456457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2023
Priority date	Sep 22, 2022
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A head-mountable display with a light shield that can be modified to reduce the friction against softer more pliable portions of a user's face when the head-mountable display is worn by the user. The head-mountable display can also be configured to capture images of the user's face when it is worn and then create an avatar of the user's face. The avatar can be digitally adjusted to reflect an avatar that more closely aligns with the user's desired configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A facial interface for a head-mountable display, the facial interface, comprising:
a body extending from a surface of a display unit, the body having an upper portion and a lower portion;
the upper portion positioned to engage a user above an eye, the upper portion configured to exert a first frictional force; and
the lower portion positioned to engage a user below the eye, the lower portion configured to exert a second frictional force,
wherein the second frictional force is less than the first frictional force.

2. The facial interface of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pressure elements disposed within the upper portion, each pressure element of the plurality of pressure elements configured to generate the first frictional force.

3. The facial interface of claim 2 , wherein:
the body includes a first material having a first stiffness; and
the plurality of pressure elements includes a second material having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

4. The facial interface of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper portion is formed from a first material; and
the lower portion is formed from a second material.

5. The facial interface of claim 4 , wherein the second material further comprises a surface texture that generates the second frictional force.

6. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
a head-mountable display unit;
a head strap connected to the head-mountable display unit; and
a facial interface extending from the head-mountable display unit, the facial interface comprising:
an upper portion including a plurality of pressure elements configured to generate a first frictional force; and
a lower portion configured to generate a second frictional force different than the first frictional force,
wherein the plurality of pressure generation elements each have a greater stiffness than a general stiffness of the upper portion.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein each pressure generation element of the plurality of pressure generation elements is configured to engage with a user's face to create a frictional datum above an eye of the user.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein:
the lower portion is formed from a first material; and
the upper portion is formed from a second material.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising an auxiliary strap, the auxiliary strap comprising a first end connected to the head-mountable display unit, and a second end connected to the head strap.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary strap is configured to extend over a head.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wang Paul X
• Guy Ian A

Classifications

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

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

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title