Head-mounted displayed apparatus

• US 6,914,583 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2000
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Chigira, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/499,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 359/630, 348/115, 351/158, 381/370
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A head-mounted display apparatus includes a front frame on which a display part is mounted and right and left side frames which are connected to the two end parts of the front frame by hinge parts in a foldable manner. An earphone-and-cable fixing part and an earphone fixing part are provided respectively on the lower sides of the right and left side frames. The earphone-and-cable fixing part has its end surface formed in a “3” like shape to allow a cable and the stem part of an earphone to be lightly inserted there. The earphone fixing part has its end surface formed in a “C” like shape to allow an earphone to be lightly inserted there. Elastic members provided at the right and left side frames are arranged to have their fore ends not touching right and left observation windows provided in the body of the display part in a state obtained with the side frames folded on the inner side of the front frame.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display apparatus, comprising:

a front frame on which a display part is mounted through a holding member in a stowable manner and a mount pad is disposed opposite to a forehead of a user, said display part being rotatable in forward and reverse directions; and

side frames which are connected respectively to two end parts of said front frame by hinge parts in a state of being movable to inner stowed positions by turning the hinge parts, said head-mounted display apparatus being capable of being mounted and held on the forehead of the user by pressing the mount pad to the forehead of the user and pressing a back part of the uses head by an elasticity of said side frames,

wherein each of said frames comprises an elastic member and a core member longitudinally inserted in the elastic member and the thickness of the elastic member relative to the core member is preferably arranged to be thicker on the inner side of the core member than on the outer side of the core member.

2. A head-mounted display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said earphone holding members is arranged to further hold a cable connected to said display part.

3. A head-mounted display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when said display part and said side frames are stowed on an inner side of said front frame, a fore end part of each of said side frames is located outside of an observation window provided in said display part.

4. A head-mounted display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said side frames is formed by covering a core member with an elastic member which is provided with an inserting hole for inserting said core member, and a hole communicating with said inserting hole is formed also in said elastic member, in a part on one side thereof not abutting an the head of the user, for supporting a mold used in forming said elastic member by molding.

5. A head-mounted display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said elastic member is formed to have a thickness thereof increased on one side of said inserting hole on which said elastic member abuts on the head of the user and decreased on the other side on which said elastic member does not abut on the head of the user.

6. A head-mounted display apparatus, comprising:

a front frame on which a display part is mounted;

right and left side frames which are connected respectively to two end parts of said front frame by hinge parts in a foldable manner;

elastic members provided in parts of said right and left side frames located opposite to the temple parts of a user and covering core members of said right and left side frames respectively;

a mount pad disposed in a position of said front frame opposite to the forehead of the user and arranged to be urged toward the forehead of the user by elastic forces of said right and left side frames generated toward a back part of the head of the user; and

wherein a thickness of each of said elastic member relative to the member is preferably arranged to be thicker on the inner side of the core member than on the outer side of the core member.

7. A head mounted display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said right and left side frames has a thickness thereof thicker on an inner side thereof which abuts on tile head of the user than on an outer side thereof, and a hole is formed in a part on the outer side of each of said right and left side frames.

8. A head-mounted display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a cable holding part is formed at one of said right and left side frames.