Head-mounted display apparatus for retaining a portable electronic device with display

• US 10,686,922 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2019
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hoellwarth, Quin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherman, Stephen G
• Application Number:
  US16/430,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20190289107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 345 8
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/028 characterised by the supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 : Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/10 : Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 : Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 : Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 : for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 : Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 : Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 : carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 : for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 : specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 : according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user'"'"'s head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A head-mounted apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a display supported by the support structure;

an optical subassembly through which the display is viewable; and

a processor configured to adjust the optical subassembly based on prescription information.

2. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly includes a first optical interface for a first eye and a second optical interface for a second eye, wherein the first optical interface includes a first coaxial arrangement of lenses, and wherein the second optical interface includes a second coaxial arrangement of lenses.

3. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the first optical interface includes a first dynamic optical component, wherein the second optical interface includes a second dynamic optical component, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the first and second dynamic optical components based on the prescription information.

4. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly comprises at least one dynamic optical component and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the dynamic optical component based on the prescription information.

5. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein the dynamic optical component comprises an optical component selected from the group consisting of:

a lens, a light guide, a light source, a mirror, and a diffuser.

6. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly includes a first optical interface for a first eye and a second optical interface for a second eye, wherein the first optical interface includes a first coaxial arrangement of lenses, wherein the second optical interface includes a second coaxial arrangement of lenses, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the first and second optical interfaces based on the prescription information.

7. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to analyze a viewer'"'"'s eyes and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the optical subassembly based on the analysis.

8. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the prescription information comprises a glasses prescription.

9. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the prescription information comprises a contact lens prescription.

10. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the optical subassembly to correct for a user'"'"'s eyesight based on the prescription information.

11. A head-mounted device that is operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the head-mounted device comprising:

a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone in a docking area; and

an optical subassembly through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is in the docking area, wherein the optical subassembly includes an adjustable optical component that is adjusted based on prescription information.

12. The head-mounted device defined in claim 11, wherein the adjustable optical component comprises an adjustable lens.

13. The head-mounted device defined in claim 11, wherein the adjustable optical component comprises an optical component selected from the group consisting of:

a light guide, a light source, a mirror, and a diffuser.

14. The head-mounted device defined in claim 11, wherein the prescription information comprises a glasses prescription.

15. The head-mounted device defined in claim 11, wherein the prescription information comprises a contact lens prescription.

16. A system comprising:

a cellular telephone having a display; and

a head-mounted device having;

a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone in a docking area;

first and second adjustable lenses through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is in the docking area; and

a processor configured to adjust the first and second adjustable lenses based on prescription information.

17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the first adjustable lens is part of a first coaxial arrangement of lenses and wherein the second adjustable lens is part of a second coaxial arrangement of lenses.

18. The system defined in claim 17, wherein the first and second coaxial arrangements of lenses are configured to modify images from the display to appear to be displayed at a greater distance from a user than the images are actually displayed.

19. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the prescription information comprises a glasses prescription.

20. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the prescription information comprises a contact lens prescription.