Head-mounted display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9529194-B2
Application number	US-201414539264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A head-mounted display apparatus including a face plate having a first surface formed to face a user's face, and a support part configured to be coupled with at least a part of the face plate so as to allow the face plate to be fixed on the user's face. A cavity structure may be formed on second surface of the face plate which is opposite to the first surface so as to mount an external electronic device to the head mounted display apparatus. One or more position adjustment units are configured to adjust a position of the external electronic device and may be formed on at least one side surface of the face plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mounted display (HMD) apparatus comprising:
a face plate having a first surface; and
a support part configured to be coupled with at least a part of the face plate, wherein the face plate includes:
a front case having, on the first surface, a curved structure;
a connection case having a first lens and a second lens;
one or more position adjustment units are formed on at least one side surface of the face plate and the one or more position adjustment units are configured to adjust a position of an external electronic device;
a movable case coupled to the connection case and including therein a space or a structure to which the external electronic device is coupled, the movable case being configured to move in correspondence with movement of the external electronic device; and
a gear module configured to move the external electronic device, the gear module being positioned between the front case and the connection case.

2. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the face plate further includes, on the at least one side surface of the face plate, a touch panel configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) to operate a function of the external electronic device, and to receive an input signal from a user.

3. The HMD apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the face plate further includes a lens adjustment unit configured to adjust a distance between the first lens and the second lens.

4. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the face plate has a curved structure corresponding to a shape of a user's face to facilitate being worn by the user,
wherein a cavity structure is formed on a second surface of the face plate which is opposite to the first surface of the face plate so that an external electronic device is mounted on the second surface of the face plate and within the cavity structure, and the second surface of the face plate includes a structure configured to mount the external electronic device therein.

5. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first lens and the second lens are positioned between the front case and the connection case and are configured to transmit light, which are output from the external electronic device and transmitted through the connection case, to a user.

6. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the face plate is configured to be coupled with the external electronic device regardless of a size of the external electronic device.

7. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising, a cover arranged on the face plate and coupled with the movable case to support the external electronic device.

8. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear module comprises:
a horizontal bevel gear connected with the one or more position adjustment units, and the bevel gear configured to transmit a force received to the one or more position adjustment units positioned left and right;
one or more intermediate bevel gears being connected with the one or more position adjustment units and configured to transmit a force in a vertical direction in relation to a frame; and
one or more moving gears configured to transmit the movable case and the external electronic device with the force transmitted from the one or more intermediate bevel gears.

9. The HMD apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more moving gears are configured to move the external electronic device toward or away from a user's face.

10. The HMD apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising one or more rail shafts on which the one or more position adjustment units rotate, and the one or more rail shafts being configured to fixedly support the one or more position adjustment units to the frame and provide a movable range of the external electronic device while coupled to the HMD.

11. The HMD apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more position adjustment units include a gear configured to transmit the force received to the horizontal bevel gear and to the one or more intermediate bevel gears.

12. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear module includes:
a horizontal bevel gear connected with the one or more position adjustment units, and configured to transmit a force received to the one or more position adjustment units positioned left and right; and
a link device connected with the one or more position adjustment units, the link device being configured to convert a rotational movement to a rectilinear movement according to the force transmitted from the one or more position adjustment units to move the external electronic device.

13. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear module includes:
a horizontal bevel gear connected with the one or more position adjustment units, and configured to transmit a force received to the one or more position adjustment units positioned left and right of the horizontal bevel gear;
one or more vertical dual gears configured to transmit a force transmitted from the one or more position adjustment units;
a horizontal dual gear configured to transmit the force transmitted from the one or more vertical dual gears; and
a spur gear configured to move the movable case and the external electronic device with the force transmitted from the horizontal dual gear.

14. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the face plate includes:
a non-transitory memory;
a communication module;
a user input module configured to receive a user input signal; and
a processor,
wherein when the processor is coupled with the external electronic device, the processor is configured to control the communication module to perform communication connection, control a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to control a function of the external electronic device to be displayed on the user input module, and control the communication module to transmit the user input signal to the external electronic device or to transmit a signal based on the user input signal for controlling the external electronic device.

15. The HMD apparatus of claim 14 , wherein when a focus adjustment mode is selected according to the user input signal, the processor is configured to perform a control operation in which a focus adjustment mode is displayed on the external electronic device.

16. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the face plate includes a nose recess on the first surface.

17. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support part is configured to be coupled with at least a part of the face plate to arrange the face plate on a user's face, and comprises one of a goggle band, eyeglass temples, a helmet, and a strap.

18. The HMD apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal bevel gear is positioned at a top end of the face plate.

19. A Head Mounted Device (HMD) apparatus comprising,
a detachable case that is attached to a front side of a mobile electronic device that includes a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a back side, and a front side with an opening;
an elastic band that is connected to a portion of the first side and a portion of the second side of the case;
a first lens and a second lens that is positioned inside the opening of the case;
a cover that is connected to a portion of the HMD to cover at least a portion of the mobile electronic device attached to the case;
a position adjustment unit that is positioned on the top side of the case and adjusts a distance between the first and second lenses and a display of the mobile electronic device attached to the case; and
at least one gear assembly that is connected to the position adjustment unit and can move

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Chungkeun
• Kim Jonghae

Classifications

• G02B27/0149 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0127

  comprising devices increasing the depth of field · CPC title

• G02B27/0101

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