MODULAR COMPONENTS FOR A HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY

• US 20180180895A1
• Filed: 12/23/2016
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Inventors: POMBO, STEPHEN A., HINES, GEORGE HENRY, PARKINSON, CHRISTOPHER IAIN, LOWERY, ANDREW MICHAEL, LUSTIG, KENNETH
• Granted Patent: US 10,365,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A head-mounted display that is modular and configured for securement to an item of headwear is provided. The head-mounted display may comprise a selection of components that are desired for a particular application, such as a display boom, camera, microphone, position-tracking component, etc., and may include an attachment mechanism for securing the selection of components to the item of headwear. The head-mounted display may include a display module having a corresponding display characteristic that provides a visual display and/or display functionality that is appropriate for a particular application. The display module may include a micro display that is non-transparent and/or a waveguide optic that is at least partially transparent, and may be configured to provide an augmented reality display for a user.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display, comprising:

a base;

a display boom having a first end and a second end, the display boom movably coupled to the base at the second end;

a display module coupled to the first end of the display boom;

one or more computer processors communicatively coupled to the display module;

a power source; and

an attachment mechanism for releasably securing the display module, the display boom, the one or more computer processors, and the power source to an item of headwear,

the attachment mechanism comprising;

(1) one or more rigid coupling elements, and

(2) one or more securing straps coupled to the one or more rigid coupling elements for securing about the item of headwear.

2. The head-mounted display of claim 1,

wherein the item of headwear is a helmet having one or more edges, and

wherein the one or more rigid coupling elements each include a concave channel for engaging at least one of the one or more edges of the helmet.

3. The head-mounted display of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more rigid coupling elements includes a tensioning mechanism comprising at least one of:

a spring-based tensioning mechanism;

a screw-based tensioning mechanism; and

an elastically deformable tensioning mechanism.

4. The head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the one or more securing straps comprise at least one of:

a rigid strap; and

a non-rigid strap having elastic resilience.

5. The head-mounted display of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and connected to the power source;

a microphone communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and coupled to the display module; and

a communication component communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and connected to the power source, the communication component configured to provide wireless communication.

6. The head-mounted display of claim 5,

wherein the camera is secured to at least one of the display boom, the base, and one of the one or more rigid coupling elements, and

wherein the communication component provides wireless communication over at least one of a cellular network, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a satellite network.

7. The head-mounted display of claim 1,

wherein the display boom is movable between a first position and a second position about a movable coupling attached to the base, and

wherein the display boom is positioned on a side portion or a front portion of the item of headwear.

8. The head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the display module further comprises at least one of:

a micro display comprising at least one of;

a liquid crystal display (LCD),

a light-emitting diode (LED) display,

an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and

a digital light processing (DLP) display; and

a waveguide optic.

9. The head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises a strap-based tensioning mechanism coupled to the one or more securing straps, the strap-based tensioning mechanism configured to move between a first configuration providing a first circumference for the one or more securing straps and a second configuration providing a second circumference for the one or more securing straps.

10. The head-mounted display of claim 1, further comprising a position-tracking component communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and connected to the power source, the position-tracking component configured to track a location of the head-mounted display using at least one of:

a global positioning system (GPS) signal,

wireless communication triangulation over a cellular network; and

wireless communication triangulation over a Wi-Fi network.

11. A head-mounted display, comprising:

a display boom comprising a first end and a second end;

a display module coupled to the display boom between the first end and the second end;

one or more computer processors communicatively coupled to the display module;

a power source connected to the one or more computer processors and to the display module; and

an attachment mechanism for releasably securing the display module, the display boom, the one or more computer processors, and the power source to an item of headwear,

the attachment mechanism comprising;

(1) one or more rigid coupling elements, and

(2) one or more securing straps coupled to the one or more rigid coupling elements for securing about the item of headwear,

wherein the one or more rigid coupling elements comprise at least a first rigid coupling element having a first rotatable coupling secured to the first end of the display boom and a second rigid coupling element having a second rotatable coupling secured to the second end of the display boom.

12. The head-mounted display of claim 11,

wherein the item of headwear is a helmet having one or more edges,

wherein the one or more rigid coupling elements each include a concave channel for engaging at least one of the one or more edges of the helmet, and

wherein at least one of the one or more rigid coupling elements includes a tensioning mechanism comprising at least one of:

(1) a spring-based tensioning mechanism,

(2) a screw-based tensioning mechanism, and

(3) an elastically deformable tensioning mechanism.

13. The head-mounted display of claim 11, further comprising:

a camera coupled to the display boom, the camera communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and connected to the power source;

a microphone communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and positioned on the display module; and

a communication component communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and configured to provide wireless communication.

14. The head-mounted display of claim 11, wherein the display boom is movable between a first position and a second position about the first and second rotatable couplings, and wherein at least one of the first position and the second position is user-configurable.

15. The head-mounted display of claim 11, wherein the display module is movably adjustable relative to the display boom and further comprises a locking mechanism for retaining a position of the display module relative to the display boom.

16. A head-mounted display, comprising:

a display boom comprising a first end and a second end;

a display module coupled to the display boom at the first end;

a sound-dampening ear-cover assembly coupled to the display boom at the second end, the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion that are movably coupled to each other, the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration,

wherein, in the first configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a first position relative to each other, and

wherein, in the second configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a second position relative to each other;

one or more computer processors communicatively coupled to the display module; and

a power source connected to the one or more computer processors and to the display module.

17. The head-mounted display of claim 16, wherein the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly further comprises:

a rotatable coupling attached to the first portion and the second portion; and

a lever for movably adjusting the second portion relative to the first portion,

wherein the second end of the display boom is mounted to at least one of;

(1) a mounting portion extending through the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly, and

(2) the second portion of the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly.

18. The head-mounted display of claim 16, further comprising an attachment mechanism for securing the sound-dampening ear-cover assembly to an item of headwear, the attachment mechanism comprising at least one of:

one or more rigid coupling elements each having a concave channel;

one or more securing straps; and

one or more harness-coupling elements for engaging a harness structure of the item of headwear.

19. The head-mounted display of claim 16, further comprising:

a camera communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and connected to the power source;

a microphone communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and coupled to the display module; and

a communication component communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors and configured to provide wireless communication,

wherein the camera, the communication component, and the one or more computer processors are consolidated in an electronics module.

20. The head-mounted display of claim 16, further comprising a releasable coupling for securing the display module to the display boom, the releasable coupling comprising at least one of:

a mechanical coupling; and

a magnetic coupling.