Head-mounted display apparatus for retaining a portable electronic device with display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9749451-B2
Application number	US-201715451230-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2017
Priority date	Sep 30, 2008
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user's head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-mounted device that is operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display and a connector, the head-mounted device comprising:
a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone in a docking area;
first and second lenses through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is in the docking area;
a retention structure configured to secure the cellular telephone within the docking area;
a connector configured to mate with the connector of the cellular telephone;
a button supported by the support structure; and
sensors including at least a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, and a touch sensor.

2. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 , wherein a size of the docking area is adjustable and the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess, the head-mounted device further comprising:
foam coupled to the portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure;
at least one strap coupled to the support structure; and
a control member configured to be rotated.

3. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess, the head-mounted device further comprising:
foam coupled to the portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure; and
at least one strap coupled to the support structure.

4. The head-mounted device defined in claim 3 , further comprising:
a control member configured to be rotated to help focus a user's eyes on the display.

5. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 , wherein a size of the docking area is adjustable.

6. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 , wherein the cellular telephone includes a camera that is configured to capture an image, the cellular telephone is configured to display image based content on the display without displaying the captured image in a first mode, and the cellular telephone is configured to display the captured image on at least a portion of the display in a second mode.

7. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 , wherein the cellular telephone is controlled by input to the button.

8. A head-mounted device operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the head-mounted device comprising:
a support structure having a first portion that defines a nose recess and having a second portion that is configured to support the cellular telephone;
foam coupled to the first portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure;
at least one strap coupled to the support structure; and
first and second lenses supported by the support structure through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is supported by the support structure.

9. The head-mounted device defined in claim 8 , further comprising:
a retention structure configured to secure the cellular telephone to the support structure;
a connector configured to mate with a connector of the cellular telephone;
a button supported by the support structure; and
sensors including at least a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, and a touch sensor.

10. The head-mounted device defined in claim 9 , further comprising:
a control member configured to be rotated to help focus a user's eyes on the display.

11. The head-mounted device defined in claim 8 , wherein the head-mounted device is configured to charge the cellular telephone while the cellular telephone is coupled to the head-mounted device.

12. A system operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the system comprising:
a head-mounted support structure configured to support the cellular telephone;
first and second lenses supported by the head-mounted support structure through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is supported by the head-mounted support structure;
a door coupled to the head-mounted support structure that moves between an open position and a closed position; and
a remote control that is configured to wirelessly control the cellular telephone.

13. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone, wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals, wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone, and wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone, and wherein the head-mounted support structure has a nose cut out, the system further comprising:
foam coupled to the nose cut out and an edge of the head-mounted support structure; and
at least one strap coupled to the head-mounted support structure.

14. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone and wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals, wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone, and wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone.

15. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the head-mounted support structure has a nose cut out, the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone, and the system further comprises:
foam coupled to the nose cut out and an edge of the head-mounted support structure; and
at least one strap coupled to the head-mounted support structure.

16. The system defined in claim 15 , wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a retention structure.

17. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals.

18. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the remote control is configured to wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone.

19. The system defined in claim 12 , wherein the remote control is configured to wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone.

20. A head-mounted apparatus that is operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the head-mounted apparatus comprising:
a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone;
first and second lenses supported by the support structure;
a door that moves between an open position and a closed position that is configured to secure the cellular telephone for viewing the display of the cellular telephone through the first and second lenses; and
a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone.

21. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20 , wherein the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess and wherein the support structure comprises a retention structure, the head-mounted apparatus further comprising:
foam coupled to the support structure; and
at least one strap coupled to the support structure.

22. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20 , wherein the support structure includes a nose recess.

23. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20 , further comprising:
foam coupled to the support structure.

24. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20 , further comprising:
at least one strap coupled to the support structure.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hoellwarth Quin C

Classifications

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/206

  comprising thermal management · CPC title

• G06F1/203

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title

• G06F1/20

  Cooling means · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title