Fit detection for head-mountable devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12547007-B2
Application number	US-202318122056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2023
Priority date	Sep 15, 2020
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A head-mountable device can include modules that provide fit adjustment capabilities when assembled together. By providing a head-mountable device with modular features, certain modules can provide fit adjustment capabilities without requiring other modules to be custom designed or available in a wide variety of sizes and/or shapes. The head-mountable device and/or other electronic devices can be operated to guide a user to select the optimal light seal module for use with an HMD module. For example, the head-mountable device or another device can include sensors for detecting features of the user's face, forces distributed on the face when worn, and/or entry of light from an external environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising:
an outer side;
an inner side; and
a display element; and
an HMD module attachment element configured to engage a light seal module attachment element of a light seal module to secure the light seal module to the inner side of the HMD module, the light seal module being configured to engage a face of a user and provide a view of the display element;
a sensor configured to measure distances from the sensor to multiple regions of the face of the user; a processor configured to:
based on the distances to the multiple regions of the face, determine a recommended light seal module; and
provide an output to the user, the output comprising an indication of the recommended light seal module.

2 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a head securement element extending from the HMD module and configured to engage a head of the user; a microphone; a speaker; and communications circuitry for communicating with another device.

3 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , further comprising the light seal module having the light seal module attachment element engaged with the HMD module attachment element.

4 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the distances comprise:
a distance to a forehead of the user;
a distance to a nose of the user; and
a distance to a cheek of the user; and
the recommended light seal module comprises:
a forehead portion configured to engage the forehead and having a forehead portion thickness corresponding to the distance to the forehead;
a nose portion configured to engage the nose and having a nose portion thickness corresponding to the distance to the nose; and
a cheek portion configured to engage the cheek and having a cheek portion thickness corresponding to the distance to the cheek.

5 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein the light seal module comprises:
a chassis defining an opening; and a cover extending about the chassis.

6 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
based on the distances to the multiple regions of the face, determine a recommended adjustment to a head securement element securing the HMD module against the face of the user; and provide an additional output to the user, the additional output comprising an indication of the recommended adjustment.

7 . The head-mountable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the recommended adjustment based on an operational mode of the HMD module.

8 . A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising:
a frame; and
a display element supported by the frame;
a light seal module configured to engage the frame of the HMD module and a face of a user, the light seal module comprising force sensors configured to measure forces applied to multiple regions of the face of the user; and a processor configured to:
based on the forces applied to the multiple regions of the face of the user, determine a recommended light seal module; and
provide an output to the user, the output comprising an indication of the recommended light seal module.

9 . The head-mountable device of claim 8 , wherein:
the force sensors comprise:
a first force sensor configured to measure a first force applied to a forehead of the user;
a second force sensor configured to measure a second force applied to a nose of the user; and
a third force sensor configured to measure a third force applied to a cheek of the user; and
the recommended light seal module comprises:
a forehead portion configured to engage the forehead and having a forehead portion thickness corresponding to the first force applied to the forehead;
a nose portion configured to engage the nose and having a nose portion thickness corresponding to the second force applied to the nose; and
a cheek portion configured to engage the cheek and having a cheek portion thickness corresponding to the third force applied to the cheek.

10 . The head-mountable device of claim 8 , wherein:
the HMD module comprises HMD module attachment elements; and the light seal module comprises light seal module attachment elements configured to releasably engage the HMD module attachment elements.

11 . The head-mountable device of claim 8 , wherein the light seal module comprises:
a chassis defining an opening; and a cover extending about the chassis.

12 . The head-mountable device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
based on the forces applied to the multiple regions of the face of the user, determine a recommended adjustment to a head securement element securing the HMD module against the face of the user; and provide an additional output to the user, the additional output comprising an indication of the recommended adjustment.

13 . The head-mountable device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the recommended adjustment based on an operational mode of the HMD module.

14 . A head-mountable device comprising:
an HMD module comprising:
a frame; and
a display element supported by the frame;
a light seal module configured to engage the frame of the HMD module and a face of a user; a light sensor configured to detect light within the light seal module; and a processor configured to:
based on the light detected by the light sensor, determine a recommended light seal module; and
provide an output to the user, the output comprising an indication of the recommended light seal module.

15 . The head-mountable device of claim 14 , wherein:
the light sensor is an ambient light sensor configured to determine an amount of light within the light seal; and the head-mountable device further comprises a camera configured to capture an image of a view within the light seal module.

16 . The head-mountable device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the camera to capture the image based on the amount of light within the light seal.

17 . The head-mountable device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the recommended light seal module based on the image of the view within the light seal module.

18 . The head-mountable device of claim 14 , wherein:
the HMD module further comprises HMD module attachment elements; and the light seal module comprises light seal module attachment elements configured to releasably engage the HMD module attachment elements.

19 . The head-mountable device of claim 14 , wherein the light seal module comprises:
a chassis defining an opening; and a cover extending about the chassis.

20 . The head-mountable device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
based on the light detected by the light sensor, determine a recommended adjustment to a head securement element securing the HMD module against the face of the user; and provide an additional output to the user, the additional output comprising an indication of the recommended adjustment.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Shah Ritu
• Jo Yoonhoo
• Wang Forrest C
• Leinweber Scott M
• Kollgaard Adam Y

Classifications

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

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

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0093

  with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking · CPC title

• G02B2027/0187

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