Virtual reality headset

• US 10,209,769 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Goossens, Erik Hubert Dolly, Henry, Damien, Kauffmann, Alejandro Jose, Costa, Antonio Bernardo Montiero
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Application Number:
  US15/158,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160349836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 359817, 359819, 359477
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/37 Collapsible stereoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

In an implementation, a virtual reality (VR) headset can include a plurality of structural components. Each structural component can be formed from a respective cardboard sheet. The plurality of structural components can include a plurality of flaps that define an opening for placement of the VR headset near or against a face of a user in a first configuration, an internal wall of the VR headset, a bottom wall of the VR headset, a lens frame assembly, a top wall of the VR headset and an enclosure flap hingeably coupled with the bottom wall of the VR headset. The enclosure flap can, in a first configuration, secure an electronic device in the VR headset against the internal wall. In a second configuration, the enclosure flap can enclose the plurality of flaps that define the opening between the internal wall and the enclosure flap.

Claims

1. A virtual reality (VR) headset comprising:

a plurality of structural components, each structural component being formed from a respective cardboard sheet, the plurality of structural components being folded to form the VR headset, the plurality of structural components including;

a plurality of flaps that define an opening for placement of the VR headset near or against a face of a user in a first configuration of the VR headset;

an internal wall of the VR headset;

a bottom wall of the VR headset;

a lens frame assembly, the plurality of flaps at least partially enclosing the lens frame assembly in the first configuration of the VR headset;

a top wall of the VR headset; and

an enclosure flap hingeably coupled with the bottom wall of the VR headset, the enclosure flap being configured, in the first configuration of the VR headset, to secure an electronic device in the VR headset against the internal wall and, in a second configuration of the VR headset, to enclose the plurality of flaps between the internal wall and the enclosure flap.

2. The VR headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structural components further include a top rail hingeably connected to the internal wall, the top rail being disposed within the VR headset and including an input mechanism.

3. The VR headset of claim 2, wherein the input mechanism includes:

an input button disposed on the top rail;

a hammer structure coupled with the top rail, the hammer structure being configured to extend through an opening in the internal wall in response to the input button being depressed; and

a conductive material extending between the input button and the hammer structure, the conductive material electrically coupling the input button to the hammer structure.

4. The VR headset of claim 1, further comprising a pair of aspherical lenses disposed in the lens frame assembly such that images displayed on a display panel of the electronic device disposed in the VR headset against the internal wall of the VR headset are viewable through the pair of aspherical lenses.

5. The VR headset of claim 1, further comprising a silicone pad disposed on an inner surface of the enclosure flap.

6. The VR headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flaps include:

a first side flap;

a second side flap; and

a top flap disposed between the first side flap and the second side flap, the top flap having a curved cutout configured to be place against or near a forehead of a user.

7. The VR headset of claim 6, wherein, in the first configuration of the VR headset:

the first side flap is fastened to a first internal side wall of the VR headset; and

the second side flap is fastened to a second internal side wall of the VR headset.

8. The VR headset of claim 1, wherein in the first configuration of the VR headset and in the second configuration of the VR headset, the enclosure flap is fastened to an internal top wall of the VR headset.

9. A virtual reality (VR) headset comprising:

a first structural component including;

a plurality of flaps that define an opening for placement of the VR headset near or against a face of a user;

a first portion of an internal wall of the VR headset;

a first portion of a bottom wall of the VR headset;

an inner layer of a lens frame assembly; and

a first outer layer of the lens frame assembly;

a second structural component including;

a second portion of the internal wall of the VR headset, the second portion of the internal wall being fixedly attached to the first portion of the internal wall;

a top wall of the VR headset;

a second outer layer of the lens frame assembly;

a second portion of the bottom wall of the VR headset; and

an enclosure flap hingeably coupled with the second portion of the bottom wall of the VR headset, the enclosure flap being configured to secure an electronic device in the VR headset and against the internal wall;

a third structural component including;

a third portion of the internal wall of the VR headset, the third portion of the internal wall being fixedly attached to the second portion of the internal wall; and

a top rail including an input mechanism, the top rail being hingeably connected to the third portion of the internal wall.

10. The VR headset of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flaps include:

a first side flap;

a second side flap; and

a top flap disposed between the first side flap and the second side flap, the top flap having a curved cutout configured to be placed against or near a forehead of a user.

11. The VR headset of claim 10, wherein the first side flap, the second side flap and the top flap are foldable such that they are disposed between the internal wall and the enclosure flap.

12. The VR headset of claim 9, further comprising a pair of aspherical lenses disposed in the lens frame assembly such that images displayed on a display panel of an electronic device disposed in the VR headset between the enclosure flap the internal wall of the VR headset are viewable through the pair of aspherical lenses.

13. The VR headset of claim 12, wherein an aspherical lens of the pair of aspherical lenses is disposed within a lens opening defined in the inner layer of the lens frame assembly and is held in place by a plurality of retention tabs disposed around a perimeter of the aspherical lens, the plurality of retention tabs being disposed between the first outer layer of the lens frame assembly and the second outer layer of the lens frame assembly.

14. The VR headset of claim 13, wherein the plurality of retention tabs are each disposed within a corresponding notch in the inner layer of the lens frame assembly.

15. The VR headset of claim 9, wherein the input mechanism includes:

an input button disposed on the top rail;

a hammer structure coupled with the top rail, the hammer structure being configured to extend through an opening in the internal wall in response to the input button being depressed; and

a conductive material extending between the input button and the hammer structure, the conductive material electrically coupling the input button to the hammer structure.

16. The VR headset of claim 15, wherein the input mechanism further includes a foam button disposed on the hammer structure, the foam button having a conductive outer surface that is electrically coupled with the input button via, at least the conductive material.

17. The VR headset of claim 15, wherein the input button is accessible through a cutout defined in the plurality of flaps.

18. The VR headset of claim 9, further comprising a silicone pad disposed on an inner surface of the enclosure flap.

19. The VR headset of claim 9, wherein:

the first structural component is formed from a first cardboard sheet;

the second structural component is formed from a second cardboard sheet; and

the third structural component is formed from a third cardboard sheet,

the VR headset being formed by folding the first cardboard sheet, the second cardboard sheet and the third cardboard sheet along a plurality of respective score lines formed thereon.

20. The VR headset of claim 9, wherein:

the plurality of flaps form at least a portion of an outer surface of the VR headset in a first configuration of the VR headset; and

the plurality of flaps is disposed within the enclosure flap in a second configuration of the VR headset.