Optical module for head-mounted device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12547004-B2
Application number	US-202418944113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2024
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

An optical module for a head-mounted device is configured to present content to a user. The optical module includes a housing, a first optical module disposed in the housing, and a second optical module disposed in the housing. The optical module includes an interpupillary distance adjustment assembly including supports coupled to the housing and configured to guide motion of the first optical module and the second optical module with respect to the housing to allow adjustment of a distance between the first optical module and the second optical module. The optical axes of the first optical module and the second optical module extend generally in a front-to-back direction of the housing. Motion axes of the supports extend generally in a side-to-side direction of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, comprising:
a housing; a first optical module coupled to the housing; a second optical module coupled to the housing; an interpupillary distance adjustment assembly that supports the first optical module and the second optical module with respect to the housing to allow adjustment of a distance between the first optical module and the second optical module, wherein the first optical module and the second optical module move toward the user as the first optical module and the second optical module are moved laterally outward; a first camera that is connected to the first optical module and is movable in unison with the first optical module by the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly; and a second camera that is connected to the second optical module and is movable in unison with the second optical module by the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly, wherein the first camera and the second camera are configured to obtain images of an environment from a point of view that simulates a point of view of the user of the head-mounted device, and wherein adjustment of the distance between the first optical module and the second optical module by the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly also adjusts a distance between the first camera and the second camera.

2 . The head-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes one or more optically-transmissive panels through which the first camera and the second camera obtain images of an environment.

3 . The head-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the first camera is aligned with an optical axis of the first optical module.

4 . The head-mounted device of claim 3 , wherein an optical axis of the second camera is aligned with an optical axis of the second optical module.

5 . The head-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the first camera is connected in a fixed relationship with respect to the first optical module.

6 . The head-mounted device of claim 5 , wherein the second camera is connected in a fixed relationship with respect to the second optical module.

7 . The head-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly maintains a first spacing between an optical axis of the first optical module and an optical axis of the second optical module generally equal to a second spacing between an optical axis of the first camera and an optical axis of the second camera during adjustment of the distance between the first optical module and the second optical module.

8 . A head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, comprising:
a housing; a first optical module disposed in the housing; a second optical module disposed in the housing; and an interpupillary distance adjustment assembly including supports coupled to the housing and configured to guide motion of the first optical module and the second optical module with respect to the housing to allow adjustment of a distance between the first optical module and the second optical module, wherein optical axes of the first optical module and the second optical module extend generally in a front-to-back direction of the housing, wherein motion axes of the supports extend generally in a side-to-side direction of the housing, and wherein the supports are configured to orient the first optical module and the second optical module so that the optical axes of the first optical module and the second optical module are angled downward relative to the front-to-back direction of the housing.

9 . The head-mounted device of claim 8 , wherein the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly includes actuator assemblies configured to move the first optical module and the second optical module along the respective supports in response to a control signal.

10 . The head-mounted device of claim 8 , wherein the supports include support rods angled relative to a lateral dimension of the housing so that the first and second optical modules move toward the user as the first and second optical modules move laterally outward.

11 . The head-mounted device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first camera that is connected to the first optical module and is movable in unison with the first optical module by the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly; and a second camera that is connected to the second optical module and is movable in unison with the second optical module by the interpupillary distance adjustment assembly.

12 . An optical module for a head-mounted device that is configured to present content to a user, the optical module comprising:
a lens positioned at a first end of the optical module; a display assembly positioned at a second end of the optical module, the display assembly configured to display content to the user through the lens; and a camera positioned at the second end of the optical module, the camera configured to obtain images through the lens, wherein the optical module is configured to move toward the user of the head-mounted device as the optical module moves laterally outward in a side-to-side direction of the head-mounted device.

13 . The optical module of claim 12 , wherein an optical axis of the camera is substantially aligned with an optical axis of the optical module.

14 . The optical module of claim 12 , wherein the camera is positioned adjacent to an outer periphery of the lens.

15 . The optical module of claim 12 , wherein the lens and the display assembly are positioned within the optical module in a side-by-side arrangement.

16 . The optical module of claim 12 , wherein the optical module defines an internal space between the lens and the display assembly, the optical module further comprising:
a vent port that allows air to travel between the internal space and an outside environment.

17 . The optical module of claim 16 , further comprising:
a filter element coupled to the vent port and configured to restrain foreign particles from entering the internal space.

18 . The optical module of claim 16 , further comprising:
a dust trap disposed within the internal space and configured to retain foreign particles.

19 . The optical module of claim 12 , further comprising:
a fiducial marker that is formed on the lens and visible in images obtained by the camera for use in calibration.

20 . The optical module of claim 12 , wherein the lens is a catadioptric lens or part of a catadioptric optical system.

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