Head-mounted display device with earbud holder

• US 10,459,236 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Haklim, Im, Sanghyuk, Han, Jongbeom
• Primary Examiner(s): Ritchie, Darlene M
• Application Number:
  US15/835,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20180164594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0152 involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/332 Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]

Abstract

A head-mounted display device includes a main body including an opening formed in a rear surface thereof, a band part connected to the main body and fixing the main body to a head of a user, an image output unit disposed inside the main body to face the opening and configured to provide an image to the user, an earbud holder partially depressed into the main body and positioned at a corner between a side surface and a bottom surface of the main body, an earbud mounted on the earbud holder, and a controller configured to control the image output unit and the earbud. The head-mounted display device may be integrated with the audio output unit, thereby improving portability.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display device comprising:

a main body comprising an opening formed in a rear surface thereof;

a band part connected to the main body and fixing the main body to a head of a user;

an image output unit disposed inside the main body to face the opening and configured to provide an image to the user;

an earbud holder partially recessed into the main body and positioned at a corner between a side surface and a bottom surface of the main body;

an earbud mounted on the earbud holder;

a first sensor configured to switch to an OFF state when the earbud is stored in the earbud holder and switch to an ON state when the earbud is separated from the earbud holder;

a second sensor configured to switch to the ON state when the main body is worn by the user on the rear surface thereof; and

a controller configured to control the image output unit to output the image and control the earbud to output sound when both the first sensor and the second sensor are in the ON state.

2. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker mounted on the main body,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the speaker to output sound when the first sensor is in the OFF state.

3. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein, when the first sensor is in the ON state and when the second sensor is in the OFF state, the controller provides a notification alerting to store the earbud in the earbud holder.

4. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the earbud holder has a rear side surface extending downward so as to be inclined toward a rear side of the main body.

5. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of openings formed at the corner between the side surface and bottom surface of the main body,

wherein the earbud holder is inserted into the pair of openings to cover the pair of openings, and comprises;

a data hole formed in the earbud holder; and

a data cable for connecting an external terminal and the controller through the data hole.

6. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1,

wherein, when the first sensor is in the OFF state and when the second sensor is in the ON state, the controller controls the image output unit to output information indicating a storage position of the earbud.

7. The head-mounted display device according to claim 6, wherein, when the first sensor switches from the ON state to the OFF state while the image output unit is outputting the image, the controller stops outputting the image.

8. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an audio cable having one end connected to the earbud and an opposite end disposed inside the main body through a cable hole formed in the earbud holder; and

a rotary module mounted inside the main body, the audio cable being wound on the rotary module.

9. The head-mounted display device according to claim 8, wherein the rotary module comprises:

a cylindrical rotary part allowing the audio cable to be wound or unwound around or from an outer circumferential surface thereof according to a rotation direction; and

a fixing unit comprising a rotating shaft arranged through the rotary part, the fixing unit being fixed to the main body,

wherein the cable hole and a side surface of the rotary part are aligned on a straight line in a vertical direction.

10. The head-mounted display device according to claim 9, wherein an extension direction of the audio cable extending through the cable hole is coincident with an extension direction of a portion of the audio cable extending from the rotary part to the cable hole.

11. The head-mounted display device according to claim 10, wherein the fixing unit comprises:

a first fixing part positioned on one surface of the rotary part;

a second fixing part positioned on an opposite surface of the rotary part; and

a plurality of third fixing parts connecting the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit and spaced apart from a lateral surface of the rotary part,

wherein the third fixing parts are not positioned on a straight line between the rotary part and the cable hole.

12. A head-mounted display device comprising:

a main body comprising an opening formed in a rear surface thereof;

a first band and a second band connected to one end and an opposite end of the main body, respectively, and having ends fastened to each other to form a closed loop surrounding a head of a user;

an image output unit disposed inside the main body to face the opening and configured to provide an image to the user;

a plurality of first magnets arranged at a first area of the first band side by side along a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of second magnets arranged at a second area of the second band side by side along the longitudinal direction; and

a controller configured to control the image output unit,

wherein the first band and the second band are arranged to be fastened to each other such that a first pole of the first magnets and a second pole of the second magnets face each other, and

wherein a length of the first area is greater than a length of the second area.

13. The head-mounted display device according to claim 12, wherein, when the first band and the second band overlap each other, a side surface of each of the first magnets closely contacts a side surface of a corresponding one of the second magnets.

14. The head-mounted display device according to claim 12, wherein the first magnets are disposed such that the first pole faces in a direction opposite to the end of the first band, and

wherein the second magnets are disposed such that the second pole is oriented in a direction in which the second pole does not face the second band.

15. The head-mounted display device according to claim 12, wherein both ends of the main body comprise a light shielding part protruding backward and positioned on left and right sides of a face of the user,

wherein an upper portion of the rear surface of the main body is curved to have a first curvature,

wherein a lower portion of the rear surface of the main body is curved to have a second curvature larger than the first curvature.

16. A head-mounted display device comprising:

a main body comprising an opening formed in a rear surface thereof;

a band part connected to the main body and fixing the main body to a head of a user;

an image output unit disposed inside the main body to face the opening and configured to provide an image to the user;

an earbud opening partially recessed into the main body and positioned at a corner between a side surface and a bottom surface of the main body;

an earbud inserted into the earbud opening; and

a controller configured to control the image output unit and the earbud,

wherein the earbud opening has a rear side surface extending downward so as to be inclined toward a rear side of the main body.