Modular accessory systems for wearable devices

• US 10,642,050 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kothari, Jay, Hoover, Christopher, Gradwohl, Raymond, Robertson, Kenneth, Chua, Melvin, Stivoric, John, Zweber, Zoey, Gagne, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, David D
• Application Number:
  US16/220,735
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable

Abstract

Systems and devices are disclosed herein that provide or relate to modular accessory devices for a wearable device, such as a glasses-style head-mountable device (HMD). Illustrative systems may include a first frame component having an accessory slot accessible via an entry point on a transverse surface of the first frame component, a second frame component movably coupled to the first frame component, and one or more accessory devices that each have a slot-mating feature shaped for insertion into and removal from the accessory slot via the entry point. The second frame component may be movable between a first position in which the second frame component blocks access to the entry point, and a second position in which the second frame component allows access to the entry point.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first frame component of a head-wearable device, wherein the first frame component comprises an outer surface having an accessory slot and a camera port, wherein the accessory slot is accessible via an entry point on a transverse surface of the first frame component;

a second frame component;

a hinge coupling the first frame component to the second frame component; and

an accessory device comprising a slot-mating feature shaped for insertion into and removal from the accessory slot via the entry point, wherein the accessory device comprises a camera cover with the slot-mating feature arranged on an inner surface thereof;

wherein the hinge is operable to move the second frame component between a first position in which the second frame component blocks access to the entry point, and a second position in which the second frame component allows access to the entry point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory slot comprises a T-slot.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first position is an unfolded position and the second position is a folded position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera cover comprises a rigid inner component coupled to a flexible outer component, wherein the rigid inner component comprises the slot-mating feature.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the slot-mating feature, when inserted in the accessory slot, is movable in the accessory slot between a first position that extends the flexible outer component to cover the camera port, and a second position that exposes the camera port.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first frame component comprises a curvature between the accessory slot and the camera port, and wherein a corresponding portion of the flexible outer component is shaped to conform to the curvature when the flexible outer component covers the camera port.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the flexible outer component is molded from a low compression-set elastomer that substantially maintains conformance to the curvature when deforming stress results thereon from movement of the accessory device to reveal the camera port.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the corresponding portion of the flexible outer component has a curvature with a smaller radius than the curvature of the first frame component.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second frame component comprises a side-arm of a head-wearable device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a slot cover coupled to the first frame component and arranged to create a waterproof seal within the accessory slot.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory device comprises a laser scanner.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory device comprises a flash.

13. A system comprising:

a first frame component of a head-wearable device, wherein the first frame component comprises an outer surface having an accessory slot, wherein the accessory slot is accessible via an entry point on a transverse surface of the first frame component, wherein the first frame component comprises a camera housing;

a second frame component;

a hinge coupling the first frame component to the second frame component; and

an accessory device comprising a slot-mating feature shaped for insertion into and removal from the accessory slot via the entry point;

wherein the hinge is operable to move the second frame component between a first position in which the second frame component blocks access to the entry point, and a second position in which the second frame component allows access to the entry point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first frame component is coupled to a graphic display.

15. A system comprising

a first frame component of a head-wearable device, wherein the first frame component comprises an outer surface having an accessory slot, wherein the accessory slot is accessible via an entry point on a transverse surface of the first frame component;

a second frame component;

a hinge coupling the first frame component to the second frame component;

a first camera having a lens arranged in a camera port on the outer surface of the first frame component; and

an accessory device comprising a slot-mating feature shaped for insertion into and removal from the accessory slot via the entry point, wherein the accessory device comprises a second camera;

wherein the hinge is operable to move the second frame component between a first position in which the second frame component blocks access to the entry point, and a second position in which the second frame component allows access to the entry point.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first frame component of a head-wearable device, wherein the first frame component an outer surface having an accessory slot and a camera port, wherein the accessory slot is accessible via an entry point on a transverse surface of the first frame component;

a second frame component movably coupled to the first frame component;

wherein the accessory slot is shaped to allow for insertion of a slot-mating feature arranged on an inner surface of an accessory device comprising a camera cover via the entry point on the transverse surface, such that insertion of the slot mating feature movably couples the accessory device to the first frame component;

wherein the hinge is operable to move the second frame component between a first position in which the second frame component blocks access to the entry point, and a second position in which the second frame component allows access to the entry point.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a hinge that movably couples the first frame component to the second frame component.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first position is an unfolded position and the second position is a folded position.