US20230400697A1 - Sensor For Head-Mounted Display - Google Patents
Sensor For Head-Mounted Display Download PDFInfo
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- US20230400697A1 US20230400697A1 US18/239,378 US202318239378A US2023400697A1 US 20230400697 A1 US20230400697 A1 US 20230400697A1 US 202318239378 A US202318239378 A US 202318239378A US 2023400697 A1 US2023400697 A1 US 2023400697A1
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- head
- support member
- mounted display
- housing
- user
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Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/01—Head-up displays
- G02B27/017—Head mounted
- G02B27/0176—Head mounted characterised by mechanical features
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/01—Head-up displays
- G02B27/0149—Head-up displays characterised by mechanical features
- G02B2027/0169—Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
Definitions
- the application relates generally to sensors for use in head-mounted displays.
- Head-mounted displays are devices that are worn on a user's head and incorporate one or more optical display devices. Some head-mounted displays have an open design in which the user's eyes are not shielded from the outside environment. Other head-mounted displays have a closed design that incorporates a face seal. The face seal is a portion of the head-mounted display that contacts the user's face around their eyes to block exterior light. In some designs, the face seal also helps support the head-mounted display relative to the user's head.
- One typical design for a face seal is a foam structure that contacts the user's forehead and extends around the outer sides of the user's eyes, with a gap or recess present in the area where the user's nose will be positioned.
- the head-mounted display includes a housing, a compressible material, and a support member.
- the compressible material is connected to the housing and is configured for contact with the user.
- the support member is disposed in the compressible material.
- the support member is movably connected to the housing.
- the head-mounted display includes a housing and a support member that is connected to the housing.
- the support member has a front surface.
- a sensor is located on the front surface of the support member.
- a compressible material is connected to the front surface of the support member.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration showing a head-mounted display.
- FIG. 2 A is a side view showing the head-mounted display worn by a user.
- FIG. 2 B is a top view showing the head-mounted display worn by the user.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the head-mounted display taken along line A-A of FIG. 2 B .
- FIG. 4 is a front view of the head-mounted display showing the face seal 104 .
- FIG. 5 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a first hinge assembly in a first angular orientation.
- FIG. 5 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line C-C of FIG. 5 A showing one of the seal support members supported by the first hinge assembly.
- FIG. 6 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a second hinge assembly in a first angular orientation.
- FIG. 6 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member of FIG. 6 A supported by the second hinge assembly in a second angular orientation.
- FIG. 6 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line D-D of FIG. 6 A showing one of the seal support members supported by the second hinge assembly.
- FIG. 7 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a third hinge assembly in a first angular orientation.
- FIG. 8 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member of FIG. 6 A supported by the adjustment assembly in a second angular orientation.
- the disclosure herein is directed to face seals for head-mounted displays, components that can be incorporated in face seals for head-mounted displays, and components that can be used with face seals for head-mounted displays.
- the face seal designs disclosed herein include movable structures that conform the face shape of the user in order to enhance comfort and/or light-blocking, which improves the user experience.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration showing a head-mounted display 100 .
- the head-mounted display includes a housing 102 , a face seal 104 , and a headband 106 .
- the face seal 104 and the headband 106 are connected to the housing 102 .
- the face seal 104 is configured to engage and conform to the user's head in the area around the user's eyes.
- the headband 106 is configured to support the housing 102 relative to the user's head.
- the housing 102 is a generally rectangular structure
- headband 106 is a structure such as a strap or a rigid member that connects to the lateral sides of the housing 102 to extend peripherally around a user's head.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the head-mounted display 100 taken along line A-A of FIG. 2 B .
- the head-mounted display 100 includes the housing 102 , a divider wall 316 , lenses 318 (e.g. two lenses that are each paired with one of the user's eyes), one or more display devices 320 , and electronic components 322 .
- the housing 102 includes an external structure of the head-mounted display 100 and may include parts of an internal structure of the head-mounted display 100 .
- the housing 102 is connected to the headband 106 ( FIGS. 1 - 2 B ) or other support structure. Internal spaces of the head-mounted display 100 are defined by the housing 102 , in order to support and/or enclose portions of the head-mounted display 100 such as the divider wall 316 , the lenses 318 , the display devices 320 , and the electronic components 322 .
- the housing 102 may be a multi-part structure, or may be a single part structure.
- the housing 102 may be rigid or semi rigid, and with respect to multi-part structures for the housing 102 , may include various portions having differing material properties inclusive of rigid portions and flexible portions.
- the divider wall 316 is positioned inside the housing 102 .
- the divider wall 316 has a first side that is exposed the exterior, and is adjacent to an eye chamber 326 , which is defined within the housing 102 between the divider wall 316 and the face seal 104 .
- the eyes of the user 208 are positioned adjacent to the eye chamber 326 .
- the face seal 104 is operable to reduce or eliminate the amount of light from the environment outside the face seal 104 that enters the eye chamber 326 .
- the divider wall 316 may support the lenses 318 , either directly or indirectly.
- the lenses 318 are connected to the divider wall 316 and are located in apertures 328 that are formed in the divider wall 316 .
- Other implementations of the head-mounted display 100 may connect the lenses 318 to the divider wall 316 indirectly.
- the lenses 318 can be supported by an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism that is operable to move the lenses 318 laterally toward or away from each other.
- the lenses 318 can be supported by an eye relief adjustment mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of the lenses 318 in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 102 to change the distance between the eyes of the user 208 and the lenses 318 .
- the lenses 318 focus, redirect, and reshape the images from the display devices 320 to achieve a desired focal length and other optical properties.
- the display devices 320 are located in the housing 102 and are oriented such that they emit light (e.g., in patterns that form images) toward the lenses 318 .
- the display devices 320 may be LED display panels, OLED display panels, or LCD display panels.
- the display devices 320 include two display panels that are each associated with one of the lenses 318 .
- the display devices 320 include a single display panel that is associated with both of the lenses 318 .
- the lenses 318 direct the images emitted by the display devices 320 toward the eyes of the user 208 in a manner that simulates the way the light from a three-dimensional environment reaches the eyes of the user 208 .
- the lenses 318 may be biconvex lenses.
- the lenses 318 may be Fresnel lenses. Focal lengths for the lenses 318 may be, for example, between 25 mm and 50 mm.
- an internal chamber 330 is formed between the divider wall 316 and the housing 102 .
- multiple internal chambers are present.
- the display devices 320 and the electronic components 322 are located in the internal chamber.
- the display devices 320 may be supported by the divider wall 316 (as illustrated), by the housing 102 , or by other structures that are located in the internal chamber 330 .
- the electronic components 322 are located in the internal chamber 330 and may be supported by the housing 102 or by other structures that are present in the internal chamber 330 .
- the electronic components 322 are connected to the display devices 320 and includes components that generate or receive content, in the form or signals or data, that are provided by the display devices to be output for display by the display devices 320 as images defined by emitted light.
- the electronic components 322 may also include sensors that detect conditions that are relevant to operation of the head-mounted display 100 , such as the position and orientation of the head-mounted display 100 .
- FIG. 4 is a front view of the head-mounted display 100 showing the face seal 104 .
- the face seal 104 includes an upper portion 432 a , a left portion 432 b , a right portion 432 c , a lower-left portion 432 d , and a lower-right portion 432 e .
- the upper portion 432 a is located on the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 adjacent to an upper surface of the housing 102 .
- the left portion 432 b is located on the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 adjacent to a left-side surface of the housing 102 .
- the right portion 432 c is located on the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 adjacent to a right-side surface of the housing 102 .
- the lower-left portion 432 d is located on the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 adjacent to a lower surface of the housing 102 and to the left side of a nose-relief area 434 that is formed on the housing 102 to provide space for the nose of the user 208 .
- the lower-right portion 432 e is located on the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 adjacent to a lower surface of the housing 102 and to the right side of the nose-relief area 434 .
- the face seal 104 is supported by one or more seal support members 436 that are each connected to the housing 102 in a manner than allows motion of each seal support member 436 relative to the housing 102 .
- the seal support members 436 are independent elements that are incorporated in the face seal 104 in each of the upper portion 432 a , the left portion 432 b , the right portion 432 c , the lower-left portion 432 d , and the lower-right portion 432 e .
- different numbers of the seal support members 436 are provided and different locations for the seal support members are provided.
- the face seal 104 could incorporate two of the seal support members 436 , such as a first seal support member positioned at the left side of the upper portion 432 a and a second seal support member positioned at the right side of the upper portion 432 a.
- the face seal 104 is formed from a resilient compressible material that compresses in response to engagement with the face of the user 208 , and expands when engagement ceases.
- resilient compressible materials that can be used for the face seal 104 include synthetic rubber, closed cell foam materials, and open cell foam materials.
- the seal support members 436 are embedded in or under the resilient compressible material of the face seal 104 to limit the degree of compression of the face seal 104 .
- the seal support members 436 conform to the geometry of the face of the user 208 relative to the housing 102 by moving, such as by rotation around an axis. Movement of the seal support members 436 disposes a fixed amount of the face seal 104 between the seal support members 436 and the user 208 . Thus, by conforming to the geometry of the face of the user 208 , users having various face shapes and head shapes can comfortably use the head-mounted display 100 .
- FIGS. 5 A- 5 C show one of the seal support members 436 from the upper portion 432 a of the face seal 104 .
- FIG. 5 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 in a first angular orientation
- FIG. 5 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 in a second angular orientation
- FIG. 5 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line C-C of FIG. 5 A showing the seal support member 436 in the first angular orientation.
- the seal support member 436 includes a primary portion 537 that supports a front portion 540 of the face seal 104 .
- the primary portion 537 of the seal support member 436 provides support for the face seal 104 and provides a reaction surface against which the face seal 104 can be compressed.
- the primary portion 537 is not compressible, and may be formed from an incompressible material that is rigid or substantially rigid. As an example, the primary portion 537 may be formed from plastic.
- the face seal 104 is an elongate member, and may extend from a first end 542 a to a second end 542 b .
- the primary portion 537 is elongate in the lateral direction of the housing 102 . If installed in other locations, such as in the right portion 432 c of the face seal 104 , the seal support member 436 would be oriented to conform to that portion of the face seal 104 , and could be vertically elongate.
- the primary portion 537 can be configured to conform to the shape of the face seal 104 and thus can be, as examples, straight or curved.
- the hinge assembly 538 allows rotation on a single axis, such an axis that extends generally in an up-and-down direction relative to the housing 102 .
- This allows for face shape accommodation in the area of the forehead of the user 208 , to allow for differing head widths and differing degrees of roundness, by angling adjacent ones of the seal support members 436 at smaller angles relative to each other to accommodate smaller head sizes, and at larger angles relative to each other to accommodate larger head sizes.
- the hinge assembly 538 would be oriented to allow rotation along an axis that extends generally in a side-to-side direction. Other orientations could be utilized.
- the hinge assembly 538 is a passive component.
- the hinge assembly 538 may include a controllable actuator to actively adjust the seal support member 436 or to apply tactile feedback.
- the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 is located on and covers a front surface 544 of the of the seal support member 436 .
- the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 may be positioned adjacent to the front surface 544 of the seal support member 436 , but without attachment to the seal support member 436 .
- the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 may be connected to the front surface 544 of the seal support member 436 , such as by adhesives or by mechanical fasteners.
- the face seal 104 may also include connecting portions 546 that extend from the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 to the housing 102 .
- the connecting portions 546 can be engaged with and/or connected to the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 .
- the connecting portions 546 function to block ambient light from entering the eye chamber 326 , and can be formed from an opaque material to help block transmission of light.
- the connecting portions 546 may be formed both on an outer periphery of the face seal 104 (i.e., adjacent to the outer surface of the housing 102 ) and on an inner periphery of the face seal 104 (i.e., adjacent to the eye chamber 326 .
- the connecting portions 546 may be formed from a flexible material to allow compression and expansion during movement of the seal support member 436 .
- the connecting portions 546 are formed from the same material as the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 and these portions may be formed as an integral structure.
- the connecting portions 546 are formed from a flexible material that is more flexible and/or more compressible than the material used for the front portion 540 of the face seal 104 .
- the connecting portions 546 are formed from a synthetic rubber material, and may include a bellows configuration.
- the hinge assembly 538 includes a first hinge part 548 that extends outward from a rear surface of the seal support member 436 , and a second hinge part 550 that extends outward from the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 .
- first hinge part 548 and the second hinge part 550 are overlapping and/or interlocking structures (e.g., alternating plates) that are connected by a pin 552 that extends through apertures in the first hinge part 548 and the second hinge part 550 along the rotation axis of the seal support member 436 .
- the pin 552 can be formed separately from the first hinge part 548 and the second hinge part 550 or can be an integrally formed projection located on one of the first hinge part 548 or the second hinge part 550 .
- the hinge assembly 538 can utilize other known designs, such as a linkage (e.g., a four-bar linkage).
- the hinge assembly 538 can incorporate structures that bias the hinge assembly in a direction of rotation or toward a centered position.
- suitable biasing structures include springs and compressible members, (e.g., rubber or foam) that is placed between the seal support member 436 and the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 .
- sensors 554 can be incorporated in the face seal 104 .
- the sensors 554 are located on or adjacent to the front surface 544 of the seal support member 436 , which maintains a consistent distance between the skin of the user 208 and the sensors 554 , to allow information regarding the user to be sensed accurately.
- the sensors 554 can measure skin temperature.
- the sensors 554 can measure heart rate. Other types of sensors that measure other characteristics can be included.
- FIGS. 6 A- 6 C show the seal support member 436 supported by a hinge assembly 638 according to an alternative implementation.
- FIG. 6 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 638 in a first angular orientation
- FIG. 6 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 638 in a second angular orientation
- FIG. 6 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line D-D of FIG. 6 A showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 638 in the first angular orientation.
- FIGS. 7 A- 7 C show the seal support member 436 supported by a hinge assembly 738 according to an alternative implementation.
- FIG. 7 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 738 in a first angular orientation
- FIG. 7 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 738 in a second angular orientation
- FIG. 7 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line E-E of FIG. 7 A showing the seal support member 436 and the hinge assembly 738 in the first angular orientation.
- the hinge assembly 738 includes a ball and socket type joint that allows three-axis rotation, subject to range-of-motion constraints placed on motion of seal support member 436 by engagement with the face seal 104 .
- a ball joint 748 is connected to a rear surface of the primary portion 537 of the seal support member 436
- a socket joint 750 is connected to and extends forward from the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 .
- the positions of the ball joint 748 and the socket joint 750 can be reversed.
- FIGS. 8 A- 8 C show the seal support member 436 supported by an adjustment assembly 838 according to an alternative implementation.
- FIG. 8 A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the adjustment assembly 838 in a first position
- FIG. 8 B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B of FIG. 4 showing the seal support member 436 and the adjustment assembly 838 in a second position
- FIG. 8 C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line F-F of FIG. 8 A showing the seal support member 436 and the adjustment assembly 838 the first position.
- the adjustment assembly 838 includes first portion 848 that is connected to the seal support member 436 and a second portion 850 that is connected to the peripheral portion 324 of the housing 102 .
- the first portion 848 may be an elongate member such as a rod.
- the second portion 850 is connected to the first portion 848 in a manner that allows axial motion of the first portion 848 relative to the second portion 850 .
- the second portion 850 may be a receptacle, such as an opening that the first portion 848 is received in the second portion 850 .
- the adjustment assembly 838 is used in combination with a rotational adjustment mechanism, such as the hinge assembly 538 , the hinge assembly 638 , the hinge assembly 738 , or an active rotation adjustment mechanism that utilizes, for example, motors operable to adjust a rotational orientation in response to a control signal.
- a rotational adjustment mechanism such as the hinge assembly 538 , the hinge assembly 638 , the hinge assembly 738 , or an active rotation adjustment mechanism that utilizes, for example, motors operable to adjust a rotational orientation in response to a control signal.
- the seal support members 436 are not disposed under the face seal 104 , and light is not excluded from the eye chamber 326 . Instead, the seal support members 436 may be spaced from the housing 102 by an air gap, and cushioning pads such as foam or rubber members can be placed on the front surfaces 544 of the seal support members 436 .
- FIG. 9 is a block diagram that shows an example of a hardware configuration for the electronic components 322 of the head-mounted display 100 .
- the electronic components 322 include a processor 902 , memory 904 , storage 906 , input devices 908 , output devices 910 , an external device interface 912 , a motion tracking system 914 , sensors 916 , a camera 918 , and a battery 920 .
- the processor 902 is operable to execute computer program instructions and perform operations described by the computer program instructions.
- the processor 902 may be a conventional device such as a central processing unit.
- the memory 904 may be a volatile, high-speed, short-term information storage device such as a random-access memory module.
- the storage 906 may be a non-volatile information storage device such as a hard drive or a solid-state drive.
- the input devices 908 may include any type of human-machine interface such as buttons, switches, motion sensitive controllers, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen input device, a gestural input device, or an audio input device (e.g., a microphone).
- the output devices 910 may include any type of device operable to provide an indication to a user regarding an operating state, such as the display devices 320 or an audio output device (e.g., speakers).
- the external device interface 912 is a wired or wireless interface using any type of protocol.
- the external device interface 912 may include a wired connection to an external computing device that is utilized to generate content that is displayed by the display devices 320 , such as by rendering content to be shown using the display devices 320 .
- the external device interface 912 can allow wireless connection to internet access to utilize server-based resources during operation of the head-mounted display 100 .
- the motion tracking system 914 can detect three axis rotations and accelerations of the head-mounted display 100 , and provide this information as inputs to the processor 902 or to other systems.
- information output by the motion tracking system 914 can be utilized to implement view tracking in certain software applications, and the information output by the motion tracking system 914 can be used by the software application during generation of content to be output for display by the display devices 320 .
- the motion tracking system 914 can include, for example, an inertial measuring unit that utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to output information that describes motion.
- the motions tracking system can also include other types of motion tracking technologies, such as structured-light stereo devices, depth cameras, LIDAR devices, radar devices, ultrasonic devices, infrared detectors that measure signals from external infrared sources, and infrared beacons that emit signals that can be measured by external infrared detectors.
- motion tracking technologies such as structured-light stereo devices, depth cameras, LIDAR devices, radar devices, ultrasonic devices, infrared detectors that measure signals from external infrared sources, and infrared beacons that emit signals that can be measured by external infrared detectors.
- the sensors 916 various types of sensors in addition to those in the motion tracking system. Examples include biometric sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors and force sensors.
- the camera 918 which can include a single camera or multiple cameras, can be included to capture video of the environment surrounding the head-mounted display 100 or can be used to sense features in the environment or features of the user. As one example, the camera 918 can be mounted in the eye chamber 326 and used for eye tracking.
- the present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users.
- the personal information data can be used to adjust the positions and contours of the face seal based on stored user profiles.
- other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure.
- health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.
- policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.
- HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data.
- the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter.
- the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.
- personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed.
- data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.
- the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, the face deal of the head mounted device can be adjusted using contemporaneously obtained information that is not stored.
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Abstract
A head-mounted display includes a housing. A support member is connected to the housing. A sensor is located on a front surface of the support member and is configured to measure a characteristic of a user. A compressible material is configured to be compressed against the front surface of the support member.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/118,504, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/558,401, filed on Sep. 14, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
- The application relates generally to sensors for use in head-mounted displays.
- Head-mounted displays are devices that are worn on a user's head and incorporate one or more optical display devices. Some head-mounted displays have an open design in which the user's eyes are not shielded from the outside environment. Other head-mounted displays have a closed design that incorporates a face seal. The face seal is a portion of the head-mounted display that contacts the user's face around their eyes to block exterior light. In some designs, the face seal also helps support the head-mounted display relative to the user's head. One typical design for a face seal is a foam structure that contacts the user's forehead and extends around the outer sides of the user's eyes, with a gap or recess present in the area where the user's nose will be positioned.
- One aspect of the disclosure is a head-mounted display to be worn by a user. The head-mounted display includes a housing, a compressible material, and a support member. The compressible material is connected to the housing and is configured for contact with the user. The support member is disposed in the compressible material. The support member is movably connected to the housing.
- Another aspect of the disclosure is a head-mounted display to be worn by a user. The head-mounted display includes a housing that defines an eye chamber and a peripheral portion that extends around the eye chamber. A first seal support member is connected to the peripheral portion of the housing and defines a first adjustable reaction surface. A second seal support member is connected to the peripheral portion of the housing and defines a second adjustable reaction surface. A face seal covers the first seal support member and the second seal support member.
- Another aspect of the disclosure is a head-mounted display to be worn by a user. The head-mounted display includes a housing and a support member that is connected to the housing. The support member has a front surface. A sensor is located on the front surface of the support member. A compressible material is connected to the front surface of the support member.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration showing a head-mounted display. -
FIG. 2A is a side view showing the head-mounted display worn by a user. -
FIG. 2B is a top view showing the head-mounted display worn by the user. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the head-mounted display taken along line A-A ofFIG. 2B . -
FIG. 4 is a front view of the head-mounted display showing theface seal 104. -
FIG. 5A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a first hinge assembly in a first angular orientation. -
FIG. 5B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing the seal support member ofFIG. 5A supported by the first hinge assembly in a second angular orientation. -
FIG. 5C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line C-C ofFIG. 5A showing one of the seal support members supported by the first hinge assembly. -
FIG. 6A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a second hinge assembly in a first angular orientation. -
FIG. 6B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing the seal support member ofFIG. 6A supported by the second hinge assembly in a second angular orientation. -
FIG. 6C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line D-D ofFIG. 6A showing one of the seal support members supported by the second hinge assembly. -
FIG. 7A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by a third hinge assembly in a first angular orientation. -
FIG. 7B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing the seal support member ofFIG. 6A supported by the third hinge assembly in a second angular orientation. -
FIG. 7C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line E-E ofFIG. 7A showing one of the seal support members supported by the third hinge assembly. -
FIG. 8A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing one of the seal support members supported by an adjustment assembly in a first angular orientation. -
FIG. 8B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing the seal support member ofFIG. 6A supported by the adjustment assembly in a second angular orientation. -
FIG. 8C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line F-F ofFIG. 8A showing one of the seal support members supported by the adjustment assembly. -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram that shows an example of a hardware configuration for electronic components of the head-mounted display. - The sizes and shapes of user's faces can vary widely. Some conventional face seal designs incorporate thick foam structures that are highly compressed in some areas by contact with the user's face, while remaining uncompressed or lightly compressed in other areas. For some face shapes and sizes, the foam structure may be unable to conform to the user's face, and ability of the foam structure to block light may be compromised. In implementations in which engagement of the face seal with the user's face is relied upon to support the head-mounted display, some users may experience uncomfortable areas of high pressure.
- The disclosure herein is directed to face seals for head-mounted displays, components that can be incorporated in face seals for head-mounted displays, and components that can be used with face seals for head-mounted displays. The face seal designs disclosed herein include movable structures that conform the face shape of the user in order to enhance comfort and/or light-blocking, which improves the user experience.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration showing a head-mounteddisplay 100. The head-mounted display includes ahousing 102, aface seal 104, and aheadband 106. Theface seal 104 and theheadband 106 are connected to thehousing 102. Theface seal 104 is configured to engage and conform to the user's head in the area around the user's eyes. Theheadband 106 is configured to support thehousing 102 relative to the user's head. In the illustrated example, thehousing 102 is a generally rectangular structure, andheadband 106 is a structure such as a strap or a rigid member that connects to the lateral sides of thehousing 102 to extend peripherally around a user's head. Thehousing 102 may be a single-piece structure or may be a multi-piece structure, and is either rigid or semi-rigid. Theheadband 106 may include adjustment features, such as variable length strap assemblies that are adjusted using fasteners such as buttons, buckles, or hook-and-loop fasteners. Thehousing 102 and theheadband 106 are shown and described to provide context, and it should be understood that the features described herein can be utilized with head-mounted displays that utilize a broad range of configurations. As one example, theheadband 106 could include an additional strap that extends over the center of the user's head. -
FIG. 2A is a side view showing the head-mounteddisplay 100 worn by auser 208, andFIG. 2B is a top view showing the head-mounteddisplay 100 worn by the user. Theface seal 104 contacts an upper part of theface 210 of theuser 208. As an example, theface seal 104 may contact the forehead, the temples, the cheeks, and/or the nose of theuser 208, and extend around theeye area 212 of theuser 208. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the head-mounteddisplay 100 taken along line A-A ofFIG. 2B . The head-mounteddisplay 100 includes thehousing 102, adivider wall 316, lenses 318 (e.g. two lenses that are each paired with one of the user's eyes), one ormore display devices 320, andelectronic components 322. - The
housing 102 includes an external structure of the head-mounteddisplay 100 and may include parts of an internal structure of the head-mounteddisplay 100. Thehousing 102 is connected to the headband 106 (FIGS. 1-2B ) or other support structure. Internal spaces of the head-mounteddisplay 100 are defined by thehousing 102, in order to support and/or enclose portions of the head-mounteddisplay 100 such as thedivider wall 316, thelenses 318, thedisplay devices 320, and theelectronic components 322. Thehousing 102 may be a multi-part structure, or may be a single part structure. Thehousing 102 may be rigid or semi rigid, and with respect to multi-part structures for thehousing 102, may include various portions having differing material properties inclusive of rigid portions and flexible portions. - A front end of the
housing 102 includes aperipheral portion 324, which is adjacent to theuser 208 when worn. Theperipheral portion 324 extends around part or all of thehousing 102 at the front end, and provides a support surface or support structure for theface seal 104. Other components and/or structures may be formed on or supported by theperipheral portion 324, such as sensors. - The
divider wall 316 is positioned inside thehousing 102. Thedivider wall 316 has a first side that is exposed the exterior, and is adjacent to aneye chamber 326, which is defined within thehousing 102 between thedivider wall 316 and theface seal 104. When the head-mounteddisplay 100 is worn by theuser 208, the eyes of theuser 208 are positioned adjacent to theeye chamber 326. By engagement of theface seal 104 with theface 210 of theuser 208, theface seal 104 is operable to reduce or eliminate the amount of light from the environment outside theface seal 104 that enters theeye chamber 326. - The
divider wall 316 may support thelenses 318, either directly or indirectly. In the illustrated example, thelenses 318 are connected to thedivider wall 316 and are located inapertures 328 that are formed in thedivider wall 316. Other implementations of the head-mounteddisplay 100 may connect thelenses 318 to thedivider wall 316 indirectly. As one example, thelenses 318 can be supported by an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism that is operable to move thelenses 318 laterally toward or away from each other. As another example, thelenses 318 can be supported by an eye relief adjustment mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of thelenses 318 in the front-to-rear direction of thehousing 102 to change the distance between the eyes of theuser 208 and thelenses 318. - The
lenses 318 focus, redirect, and reshape the images from thedisplay devices 320 to achieve a desired focal length and other optical properties. Thedisplay devices 320 are located in thehousing 102 and are oriented such that they emit light (e.g., in patterns that form images) toward thelenses 318. As examples, thedisplay devices 320 may be LED display panels, OLED display panels, or LCD display panels. In some implementation, thedisplay devices 320 include two display panels that are each associated with one of thelenses 318. In other implementations, thedisplay devices 320 include a single display panel that is associated with both of thelenses 318. Thelenses 318 direct the images emitted by thedisplay devices 320 toward the eyes of theuser 208 in a manner that simulates the way the light from a three-dimensional environment reaches the eyes of theuser 208. As one example, thelenses 318 may be biconvex lenses. As another example, thelenses 318 may be Fresnel lenses. Focal lengths for thelenses 318 may be, for example, between 25 mm and 50 mm. - On a second side of the
divider wall 316, opposite theeye chamber 326, aninternal chamber 330 is formed between thedivider wall 316 and thehousing 102. In some implementations, multiple internal chambers are present. In the illustrated example, thedisplay devices 320 and theelectronic components 322 are located in the internal chamber. Thedisplay devices 320 may be supported by the divider wall 316 (as illustrated), by thehousing 102, or by other structures that are located in theinternal chamber 330. - The
electronic components 322 are located in theinternal chamber 330 and may be supported by thehousing 102 or by other structures that are present in theinternal chamber 330. Theelectronic components 322 are connected to thedisplay devices 320 and includes components that generate or receive content, in the form or signals or data, that are provided by the display devices to be output for display by thedisplay devices 320 as images defined by emitted light. Theelectronic components 322 may also include sensors that detect conditions that are relevant to operation of the head-mounteddisplay 100, such as the position and orientation of the head-mounteddisplay 100. -
FIG. 4 is a front view of the head-mounteddisplay 100 showing theface seal 104. Theface seal 104 includes anupper portion 432 a, aleft portion 432 b, aright portion 432 c, a lower-leftportion 432 d, and a lower-right portion 432 e. Theupper portion 432 a is located on theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 adjacent to an upper surface of thehousing 102. Theleft portion 432 b is located on theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 adjacent to a left-side surface of thehousing 102. Theright portion 432 c is located on theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 adjacent to a right-side surface of thehousing 102. The lower-leftportion 432 d is located on theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 adjacent to a lower surface of thehousing 102 and to the left side of a nose-relief area 434 that is formed on thehousing 102 to provide space for the nose of theuser 208. The lower-right portion 432 e is located on theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 adjacent to a lower surface of thehousing 102 and to the right side of the nose-relief area 434. - The
face seal 104 is supported by one or moreseal support members 436 that are each connected to thehousing 102 in a manner than allows motion of eachseal support member 436 relative to thehousing 102. In the illustrated example, theseal support members 436 are independent elements that are incorporated in theface seal 104 in each of theupper portion 432 a, theleft portion 432 b, theright portion 432 c, the lower-leftportion 432 d, and the lower-right portion 432 e. In other implementations, different numbers of theseal support members 436 are provided and different locations for the seal support members are provided. For example, theface seal 104 could incorporate two of theseal support members 436, such as a first seal support member positioned at the left side of theupper portion 432 a and a second seal support member positioned at the right side of theupper portion 432 a. - The
face seal 104 is formed from a resilient compressible material that compresses in response to engagement with the face of theuser 208, and expands when engagement ceases. Examples of resilient compressible materials that can be used for theface seal 104 include synthetic rubber, closed cell foam materials, and open cell foam materials. Theseal support members 436 are embedded in or under the resilient compressible material of theface seal 104 to limit the degree of compression of theface seal 104. - The
seal support members 436 conform to the geometry of the face of theuser 208 relative to thehousing 102 by moving, such as by rotation around an axis. Movement of theseal support members 436 disposes a fixed amount of theface seal 104 between theseal support members 436 and theuser 208. Thus, by conforming to the geometry of the face of theuser 208, users having various face shapes and head shapes can comfortably use the head-mounteddisplay 100. -
FIGS. 5A-5C show one of theseal support members 436 from theupper portion 432 a of theface seal 104. In particular,FIG. 5A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 in a first angular orientation,FIG. 5B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 in a second angular orientation, andFIG. 5C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line C-C ofFIG. 5A showing theseal support member 436 in the first angular orientation. - The
seal support member 436 includes aprimary portion 537 that supports afront portion 540 of theface seal 104. Theprimary portion 537 of theseal support member 436 provides support for theface seal 104 and provides a reaction surface against which theface seal 104 can be compressed. Theprimary portion 537 is not compressible, and may be formed from an incompressible material that is rigid or substantially rigid. As an example, theprimary portion 537 may be formed from plastic. - The
face seal 104 is an elongate member, and may extend from afirst end 542 a to asecond end 542 b. As installed in theupper portion 432 a, theprimary portion 537 is elongate in the lateral direction of thehousing 102. If installed in other locations, such as in theright portion 432 c of theface seal 104, theseal support member 436 would be oriented to conform to that portion of theface seal 104, and could be vertically elongate. Theprimary portion 537 can be configured to conform to the shape of theface seal 104 and thus can be, as examples, straight or curved. - The
seal support member 436 is connected to theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102 by ahinge assembly 538. Thehinge assembly 538 allows theseal support member 436 to move and thereby conform to theuser 208. In the illustrated example, thehinge assembly 538 is positioned at or near the lateral center point of theseal support member 436, between thefirst end 542 a and thesecond end 542 b. Other locations can be utilized. As an example, thehinge assembly 538 could be positioned at or near thefirst end 542 a or thesecond end 542 b of theseal support member 436. - In the illustrated example, the
hinge assembly 538 allows rotation on a single axis, such an axis that extends generally in an up-and-down direction relative to thehousing 102. This allows for face shape accommodation in the area of the forehead of theuser 208, to allow for differing head widths and differing degrees of roundness, by angling adjacent ones of theseal support members 436 at smaller angles relative to each other to accommodate smaller head sizes, and at larger angles relative to each other to accommodate larger head sizes. With respect to installation of theseal support member 436 at other locations, such as in theright portion 432 c of theface seal 104, thehinge assembly 538 would be oriented to allow rotation along an axis that extends generally in a side-to-side direction. Other orientations could be utilized. - As described above, the
hinge assembly 538 is a passive component. In an alternative implementation, thehinge assembly 538 may include a controllable actuator to actively adjust theseal support member 436 or to apply tactile feedback. - The
front portion 540 of theface seal 104 is located on and covers afront surface 544 of the of theseal support member 436. Thefront portion 540 of theface seal 104 may be positioned adjacent to thefront surface 544 of theseal support member 436, but without attachment to theseal support member 436. Alternatively, thefront portion 540 of theface seal 104 may be connected to thefront surface 544 of theseal support member 436, such as by adhesives or by mechanical fasteners. - The
face seal 104 may also include connectingportions 546 that extend from thefront portion 540 of theface seal 104 to thehousing 102. The connectingportions 546 can be engaged with and/or connected to theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. The connectingportions 546 function to block ambient light from entering theeye chamber 326, and can be formed from an opaque material to help block transmission of light. The connectingportions 546 may be formed both on an outer periphery of the face seal 104 (i.e., adjacent to the outer surface of the housing 102) and on an inner periphery of the face seal 104 (i.e., adjacent to theeye chamber 326. - The connecting
portions 546 may be formed from a flexible material to allow compression and expansion during movement of theseal support member 436. In one implementation, the connectingportions 546 are formed from the same material as thefront portion 540 of theface seal 104 and these portions may be formed as an integral structure. In another implementation, the connectingportions 546 are formed from a flexible material that is more flexible and/or more compressible than the material used for thefront portion 540 of theface seal 104. In another implementation, the connectingportions 546 are formed from a synthetic rubber material, and may include a bellows configuration. - As best seen in
FIG. 5C , thehinge assembly 538 includes afirst hinge part 548 that extends outward from a rear surface of theseal support member 436, and asecond hinge part 550 that extends outward from theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. In the illustrated example of thefirst hinge part 548 and thesecond hinge part 550 are overlapping and/or interlocking structures (e.g., alternating plates) that are connected by apin 552 that extends through apertures in thefirst hinge part 548 and thesecond hinge part 550 along the rotation axis of theseal support member 436. Thepin 552 can be formed separately from thefirst hinge part 548 and thesecond hinge part 550 or can be an integrally formed projection located on one of thefirst hinge part 548 or thesecond hinge part 550. In other implementations, thehinge assembly 538 can utilize other known designs, such as a linkage (e.g., a four-bar linkage). - The
hinge assembly 538 can incorporate structures that bias the hinge assembly in a direction of rotation or toward a centered position. Examples of suitable biasing structures include springs and compressible members, (e.g., rubber or foam) that is placed between theseal support member 436 and theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. - In some implementations,
sensors 554 can be incorporated in theface seal 104. Thesensors 554 are located on or adjacent to thefront surface 544 of theseal support member 436, which maintains a consistent distance between the skin of theuser 208 and thesensors 554, to allow information regarding the user to be sensed accurately. As one example, thesensors 554 can measure skin temperature. As another example, thesensors 554 can measure heart rate. Other types of sensors that measure other characteristics can be included. -
FIGS. 6A-6C show theseal support member 436 supported by ahinge assembly 638 according to an alternative implementation. In particular,FIG. 6A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 638 in a first angular orientation,FIG. 6B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 638 in a second angular orientation, andFIG. 6C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line D-D ofFIG. 6A showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 638 in the first angular orientation. - The
hinge assembly 638 is a living hinge type connection, which in the illustrated example, allows rotation around an upright axis similar to thehinge assembly 538. Thehinge assembly 638 includes ahinge member 648, which may be formed of the same material and/or may be formed integrally with theseal support member 436. Alternatively, thehinge member 648 may be separately formed from a different more flexible material than theseal support member 436. In the illustrated example,upright grooves 649 are formed on side surfaces of thehinge member 648 to enhance side-to-side bending over a desired angular range. -
FIGS. 7A-7C show theseal support member 436 supported by ahinge assembly 738 according to an alternative implementation. In particular,FIG. 7A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 738 in a first angular orientation,FIG. 7B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 738 in a second angular orientation, andFIG. 7C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line E-E ofFIG. 7A showing theseal support member 436 and thehinge assembly 738 in the first angular orientation. - The
hinge assembly 738 includes a ball and socket type joint that allows three-axis rotation, subject to range-of-motion constraints placed on motion ofseal support member 436 by engagement with theface seal 104. In the illustrated example a ball joint 748 is connected to a rear surface of theprimary portion 537 of theseal support member 436, and asocket joint 750 is connected to and extends forward from theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. Alternatively, the positions of the ball joint 748 and the socket joint 750 can be reversed. -
FIGS. 8A-8C show theseal support member 436 supported by anadjustment assembly 838 according to an alternative implementation. In particular,FIG. 8A is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and theadjustment assembly 838 in a first position,FIG. 8B is a cross-section view illustration taken across line B-B ofFIG. 4 showing theseal support member 436 and theadjustment assembly 838 in a second position, andFIG. 8C is a cross-section view illustration taken across line F-F ofFIG. 8A showing theseal support member 436 and theadjustment assembly 838 the first position. - The
adjustment assembly 838 includesfirst portion 848 that is connected to theseal support member 436 and asecond portion 850 that is connected to theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. Thefirst portion 848 may be an elongate member such as a rod. Thesecond portion 850 is connected to thefirst portion 848 in a manner that allows axial motion of thefirst portion 848 relative to thesecond portion 850. Thesecond portion 850 may be a receptacle, such as an opening that thefirst portion 848 is received in thesecond portion 850. - Movement of the
first portion 848 into and out of thesecond portion 850 changes the distance between theseal support member 436 and theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102, in order to accommodate the face shape of theuser 208 and/or to adjust the fit of the head-mounteddisplay 100 on the head of theuser 208. As in the illustrated example, theadjustment assembly 838 may allow movement linearly (i.e., by translation) between the first position (FIG. 8A) and the second position (FIG. 8B ). The first position may represent a maximum distance of theseal support member 436 from theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102, and the second position may represent a minimum distance of theseal support member 436 from theperipheral portion 324 of thehousing 102. - The
adjustment assembly 838 may include either or both of passive adjustment components and active adjustment components. One example of a passive adjustment mechanism is a spring that is located in thesecond portion 850 to urge thefirst portion 848 outward, and allow inward movement of theseal support member 436 in response to engagement with theuser 208. One example of an active adjustment mechanism is an electromechanical linear actuator (e.g., a lead screw). In implementations of theadjustment assembly 838 that include active adjustment components, adjustment of the fit of theseal support members 436 can be controlled by a computing device, such as by theelectronic components 322, and can be performed using inputs from thesensors 554 and/or other sensors such as temperature sensors or pressure sensors. In some implementations, active adjustment components may also be used to provide tactile feedback to theuser 208, for example, in the form of pressure or vibrations, where the tactile feedback is related to the content that is shown on thedisplay devices 320. In some implementations, active components of theadjustment assembly 838 are utilized to provide eye relief adjustment. - In some implementations, the
adjustment assembly 838 is used in combination with a rotational adjustment mechanism, such as thehinge assembly 538, thehinge assembly 638, thehinge assembly 738, or an active rotation adjustment mechanism that utilizes, for example, motors operable to adjust a rotational orientation in response to a control signal. - The implementations discussed above include the
face seal 104, which is configured to reduce or exclude light from theeye chamber 326. In alternative implementations, theseal support members 436 are not disposed under theface seal 104, and light is not excluded from theeye chamber 326. Instead, theseal support members 436 may be spaced from thehousing 102 by an air gap, and cushioning pads such as foam or rubber members can be placed on thefront surfaces 544 of theseal support members 436. -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram that shows an example of a hardware configuration for theelectronic components 322 of the head-mounteddisplay 100. In the illustrated example, theelectronic components 322 include aprocessor 902,memory 904, storage 906,input devices 908,output devices 910, anexternal device interface 912, amotion tracking system 914, sensors 916, acamera 918, and abattery 920. - The
processor 902 is operable to execute computer program instructions and perform operations described by the computer program instructions. As an example, theprocessor 902 may be a conventional device such as a central processing unit. Thememory 904 may be a volatile, high-speed, short-term information storage device such as a random-access memory module. The storage 906 may be a non-volatile information storage device such as a hard drive or a solid-state drive. Theinput devices 908 may include any type of human-machine interface such as buttons, switches, motion sensitive controllers, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen input device, a gestural input device, or an audio input device (e.g., a microphone). Theoutput devices 910 may include any type of device operable to provide an indication to a user regarding an operating state, such as thedisplay devices 320 or an audio output device (e.g., speakers). - The
external device interface 912 is a wired or wireless interface using any type of protocol. As one example, theexternal device interface 912 may include a wired connection to an external computing device that is utilized to generate content that is displayed by thedisplay devices 320, such as by rendering content to be shown using thedisplay devices 320. As another example, theexternal device interface 912 can allow wireless connection to internet access to utilize server-based resources during operation of the head-mounteddisplay 100. - The
motion tracking system 914 can detect three axis rotations and accelerations of the head-mounteddisplay 100, and provide this information as inputs to theprocessor 902 or to other systems. As an example, information output by themotion tracking system 914 can be utilized to implement view tracking in certain software applications, and the information output by themotion tracking system 914 can be used by the software application during generation of content to be output for display by thedisplay devices 320. Themotion tracking system 914 can include, for example, an inertial measuring unit that utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to output information that describes motion. The motions tracking system can also include other types of motion tracking technologies, such as structured-light stereo devices, depth cameras, LIDAR devices, radar devices, ultrasonic devices, infrared detectors that measure signals from external infrared sources, and infrared beacons that emit signals that can be measured by external infrared detectors. - The sensors 916 various types of sensors in addition to those in the motion tracking system. Examples include biometric sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors and force sensors. The
camera 918, which can include a single camera or multiple cameras, can be included to capture video of the environment surrounding the head-mounteddisplay 100 or can be used to sense features in the environment or features of the user. As one example, thecamera 918 can be mounted in theeye chamber 326 and used for eye tracking. - The
battery 920 supplies electrical power to various components of the head-mounteddisplay 100, including theelectronic components 322. As an example, thebattery 920 can be a rechargeable battery of any suitable type. - As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve fit of the face seal of a head-mounted device. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.
- The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to adjust the positions and contours of the face seal based on stored user profiles. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.
- The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.
- Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the case of head-mounted device adjustment, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.
- Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.
- Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, the face deal of the head mounted device can be adjusted using contemporaneously obtained information that is not stored.
Claims (20)
1. A head-mounted display, comprising:
a housing;
a support member connected to the housing and configured to support a compressible material; and
a sensor located on the support member.
2. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located on a front surface of the support member.
3. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a characteristic of a user.
4. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a skin temperature of the user.
5. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a heart rate of the user.
6. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the support member defines a surface against which the compressible material can be compressed.
7. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the support member is adjustable relative to the housing.
8. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the support member is movable with respect to the housing.
9. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the support is member is connected to the housing by a hinge.
10. The head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the support is member is connected to the housing by a living hinge that is formed integrally with the support member.
11. A head-mounted display, comprising:
a housing;
a support member connected to the housing and configured to move relative to the housing, the support member having a front surface;
a sensor located on the front surface of the support member and configured to measure a characteristic of a user; and
a compressible material configured to be compressed against the front surface of the support member.
12. The head-mounted display of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a skin temperature of the user.
13. The head-mounted display of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a heart rate of the user.
14. The head-mounted display of claim 11 , wherein the support member is formed from an incompressible material.
15. A head-mounted display, comprising:
a housing;
a support member connected to the housing and configured to move relative to the housing, the support member defining a front surface;
a sensor located of the front surface of the support member and configured to measure a characteristic of a user; and
a face seal configured to be disposed between the front surface of the support member and the user.
16. The head-mounted display of claim 15 , further comprising:
a hinge, wherein the support member is connected to the housing by the hinge.
17. The head-mounted display of claim 16 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
18. The head-mounted display of claim 16 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a first hinge part that is connected to a second hinge part by a pin.
19. The head-mounted display of claim 16 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a ball and socket joint.
20. The head-mounted display of claim 15 , further comprising a linear actuator that is controllable to adjust the support member based on the characteristic of the user that is measured by the sensor.
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