Adjustable facial-interface systems for head-mounted displays

• US 10,045,449 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Yee, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burtner, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US15/638,334
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/02 Goggles breathing masks A62B18/00; swimming goggles A63B33/002; diving masks B63C11/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/025 Special attachment of screens, e.g. hinged, removable; Roll-up protective layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/026 Paddings; Cushions; Fittings to the face
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

A facial-interface system for a head-mounted display may include (1) a facial interface having a positioning abutment surface and (2) a facial-interface adjustment apparatus. The facial-interface adjustment apparatus may include a positioning member that is rotatable about a pivot, the positioning member comprising an extending surface and a contracting surface. The facial-interface adjustment apparatus may also include an actuation member that that is movable to rotate the positioning member about the pivot between (1) an extended holding position in which the extending surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface, and (2) a contracted holding position in which the contracting surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface. Various other systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A facial-interface system for a head-mounted display comprising:

a facial interface having a positioning abutment surface; and

a facial-interface adjustment apparatus comprising;

a positioning member that is rotatable about a pivot, the positioning member comprising an extending surface and a contracting surface; and

an actuation member that that is movable to rotate the positioning member about the pivot between;

an extended holding position in which the extending surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at an extended radial distance from the pivot; and

a contracted holding position in which the contracting surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at a contracted radial distance from the pivot that is less than the extended radial distance.

2. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein the contracting surface extends from a region adjacent the extending surface to a portion of the positioning member adjacent the pivot.

3. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein the facial interface is movable between the extended holding position and the contracted holding position in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the positioning member about the pivot.

4. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein:

the positioning member comprises a wedge-shaped member tapering from the extending surface to a pivot region surrounding the pivot; and

the extending surface has a greater width than the pivot region.

5. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the positioning member about the pivot.

6. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein the actuation member comprises a shaft portion that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the positioning member about the pivot.

7. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a spring that is coupled to the actuation member.

8. The facial-interface system of claim 7, wherein the spring is disposed between the actuation member and the facial interface.

9. The facial-interface system of claim 7, wherein:

the spring is relaxed when the positioning member is disposed in the extended holding position; and

the spring is tensioned when the positioning member is disposed in the contracted holding position.

10. The facial-interface system of claim 1, further comprising a restraining protrusion extending from the positioning abutment surface, wherein the contracting surface of the positioning member faces the restraining protrusion when the positioning member is disposed in the extended holding position.

11. The facial-interface system of claim 1, wherein:

the positioning member is a primary positioning member and the pivot is a primary pivot;

the facial-interface adjustment apparatus further comprises a secondary positioning member that is rotatable about a secondary pivot, the secondary positioning member comprising an extending surface and a contracting surface; and

the actuation member is movable to simultaneously rotate the secondary positioning member about the secondary pivot in conjunction with the rotation of the primary positioning member about the primary pivot such that the secondary positioning member rotates between;

an extended holding position in which the extending surface of the secondary positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface; and

a contracted holding position in which the contracting surface of the secondary positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface.

12. The facial-interface system of claim 11, further comprising a positioning-member connector that is connected to the primary positioning member and the secondary positioning member.

13. The facial-interface system of claim 12, wherein the positioning-member connector is connected to the extending surface of the primary positioning member and the extending surface of the secondary positioning member.

14. The facial-interface system of claim 12, wherein the positioning-member connector comprises a flexible material that folds as each of the primary positioning member and the secondary positioning member rotates from the extended holding position to the contracted holding position.

15. The facial-interface system of claim 12, wherein the actuation member is coupled to the positioning-member connector at a location between the primary positioning member and the secondary positioning member.

16. The facial-interface system of claim 11, wherein the actuation member simultaneously rotates the primary positioning member and the secondary positioning member in opposite rotational directions.

17. A head-mounted-display device comprising:

a head-mounted-display housing;

a facial interface having a positioning abutment surface; and

a facial-interface adjustment apparatus that is coupled to the head-mounted-display housing, the facial-interface adjustment apparatus comprising;

a positioning member that is rotatable about a pivot, the positioning member comprising an extending surface and a contracting surface; and

an actuation member that is movable to rotate the positioning member about the pivot between;

an extended holding position in which the extending surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at an extended radial distance from the pivot; and

a contracted holding position in which the contracting surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at a contracted radial distance from the pivot that is less than the extended radial distance.

18. The head-mounted-display device of claim 17, wherein the facial interface is disposed at a separate location relative to the head-mounted-display housing when the positioning member is disposed in each of the extended holding position and the contracted holding position.

19. The head-mounted-display device of claim 17, wherein the contracting surface extends from a region adjacent the extending surface to a portion of the positioning member adjacent the pivot.

20. A method comprising:

positioning a positioning abutment surface of a facial interface adjacent to a facial-interface adjustment apparatus, the facial-interface adjustment apparatus comprising;

a positioning member that is rotatable about a pivot, the positioning member comprising an extending surface and a contracting surface; and

an actuation member that is movable to rotate the positioning member about the pivot between;

an extended holding position in which the extending surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at an extended radial distance from the pivot; and

a contracted holding position in which the contracting surface of the positioning member faces and abuts the positioning abutment surface of the facial interface such that the positioning abutment surface is disposed at a contracted radial distance from the pivot that is less than the extended radial distance.