Haptic systems for head-worn computers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9846308-B2
Application number	US-201615047110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2016
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to haptic feedback systems and methods for use in head-worn computing systems. A head worn computer includes a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user's eye, a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display, and a haptic system including a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal.

First claim

I claim:

1. A head-worn computer, comprising:
a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user's eye;
a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display; and
a haptic system comprising a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal, and wherein each of the plurality of haptic segments comprises a different vibration capacity.

2. The head-worn computer of claim 1 , wherein each of the haptic segments comprises a piezo strip activated by the haptic signal to generate a vibration in the frame.

3. The head-worn computer of claim 1 , wherein an intensity of the haptic system is increased by activating more than one of the plurality of haptic segments.

4. The head-worn computer of claim 3 , wherein the intensity is further increased by activating more than two of the plurality of haptic segments.

5. The head-worn computer of claim 1 , wherein an intensity of the haptic system is regulated depending on which of the plurality of haptic segments is activated.

6. The head-worn computer of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of haptic segments are mounted in a linear arrangement and the segments are arranged such that the higher capacity segments are at one end of the linear arrangement.

7. The head-worn computer of claim 6 , wherein the linear arrangement is from back to front on an arm of the head-worn computer.

8. The head-worn computer of claim 7 , wherein the linear arrangement is proximate a temple of the user.

9. The head-worn computer of claim 7 , wherein the linear arrangement is proximate an ear of the user.

10. The head-worn computer of claim 7 , wherein the linear arrangement is proximate a rear portion of the user's head.

11. The head-worn computer of claim 6 , wherein the linear arrangement is from front to back on an arm of the head-worn computer.

12. A head-worn computer, comprising:
a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user's eye;
a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display;

a haptic system comprising a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal, and
a vibration conduit, wherein the vibration conduit is mounted proximate the haptic system and adapted to touch the skin of the user's head to facilitate vibration sensations from the haptic system to the user's head.

13. The head-worn computer of claim 12 , wherein the vibration conduit is mounted on an arm of the head-worn computer.

14. The head-worn computer of claim 12 , wherein the vibration conduit touches the user's head proximate a temple of the user's head.

15. The head-worn computer of claim 12 , wherein the vibration conduit is made of a soft material that deforms to increase contact area with the user's head.

Assignees

• Osterhout Group Inc

Inventors

• Osterhout Ralph F

Classifications

• G02B27/283

  used for beam splitting or combining · CPC title

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · CPC title

• G02B26/0833

  the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0187

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

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title