Soft head mounted display goggles for use with mobile computing devices

• US 9,274,340 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merge Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merge Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyons, Franklin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US14/625,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20150234189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/156, 345/161, 345/184, 345/620, 345/625, 345/633, 345/661, 359/630, 359/631, 348/36, 348/77, 348/207, 349/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable 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 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• 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: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 : Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 : with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 : Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

A head mounted display system for use with a mobile computing device, comprises a soft main body made entirely of a soft and compressible material, the main body has a retention pocket entirely formed by the material and configured to accept and secure the mobile computing device and a lens assembly comprising two lenses configured to focus vision on respective areas of a display screen of the mobile computing device, the lens assembly held within one or more apertures formed in the main body entirely by the material, the two lenses mounted for independent movement with respect to each other, such that a split screen image may be viewed through the two lenses on the display screen.

Claims

1. A head mounted display system for use with a mobile computing device, comprising:

a single-piece soft main body made entirely of a homogeneous unitary soft and compressible material without an internal or external structural rigid skeleton, the soft main body configured to be worn on a human head completely covering eyes of the human head and providing a seal around the exterior of the eyes blocking out substantially all exterior illumination, wherein the main body further has a retention pocket disposed in front of the eyes entirely formed by the material and configured to accept and secure the mobile computing device therein; and

a lens assembly comprising two lenses configured to focus vision on respective areas of a display screen of the mobile computing device, the lens assembly held within one or more apertures formed in the main body entirely by the material, the two lenses mounted for independent movement with respect to each other, such that a split screen image may be viewed through the two lenses on the display screen.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the material is a water-resistant foam.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body is formed as goggles with a front face, two side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, each wall extending rearwardly from the front face, a rear face-contacting lip including a nose bridge making up a part of the bottom wall, and an internal cavity including the retention pocket and space for the lens assembly defined within the walls between the front face and the rear face-contacting lip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the retention pocket is defined within the main body just rearward from the front face, and wherein the front face has a window positioned to provide an opening for a camera lens on a backside of the mobile computing device opposite the display screen.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the retention pocket has an upper opening through the top wall of the main body large enough to insert the mobile computing device, and slots are provided in both sidewalls to access top and bottom ends of the mobile computing device when positioned in the retention pocket.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the retention pocket includes at least two projections formed by the material spaced evenly across a central vertical plane through the goggles that contact the top and bottom ends of the mobile computing device and laterally center the mobile computing device when inserted into the retention pocket.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly comprises two separate frames each of which holds one of the two lenses, and wherein the two separate frames are separately movable within the one or more apertures formed in the main body.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more apertures formed in the main body define laterally-oriented channels in which the two separate frames are separately laterally movable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly comprises a stylus having a tip coupled to and movable with each of the two lenses, wherein each stylus has a length sufficient for the stylus tip to contact the display screen of the mobile computing device when positioned within the retention pocket, and each stylus tip is capable of initiating a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display, and further including a button on the exterior of the main body such that a user may touch the button and cause the stylus tip to initiate a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each stylus tip is movable and is retracted from the display screen until a user touches the button which advances the stylus tip into contact with the display screen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body is formed as goggles with a front face, two side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, each wall extending rearwardly from the front face, and an internal cavity defined within the walls between the front face and rear face-contacting lip, and the system further includes a detachable remote control having attachment structure that mates with a corresponding attachment structure provided on one side wall of the goggles, the remote controller incorporating a remote controller processor, at least one motion sensor and control buttons facing outward from the main body when the remote control attachment structure mates with the corresponding attachment structure on the main body to thereby detachably attach the remote control to the corresponding attachment structure on one side wall of the goggles.

12. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of strap inserts formed of a material that is less compressible than the material of the single-piece soft main body, the strap inserts fitting closely into receptacles open to the exterior of the main body and configured to receive and secure free ends of straps for passing around the head of the wearer and hold the main body on the wearer'"'"'s head.

13. A head mounted display system for use with the mobile computing device, comprising:

a single-piece main body made entirely of a homogeneous unitary soft and compressible material formed as goggles with a front face, two side walls, top wall, and a bottom wall each wall extending rearwardly from the front face, a rear-facing contact lip including a nose bridge making up a part of the bottom wall, and an internal cavity defined within the walls, the main body being made of a material that may be molded into the goggle shape and when solidified, is soft and compressible the goggles configured to be worn on a human head,

wherein the internal cavity defines a retention pocket entirely formed by the material and configured to accept and secure a mobile computing device therein, the retention pocket being positioned just rearward from the front face of the main body within the internal cavity and having at least two projections formed by the material spaced evenly across a central vertical plane through the goggles that contact top and bottom ends of the mobile computing device and laterally center the mobile computing device when inserted into the retention pocket; and

two separate lens assemblies movably mounted within the internal cavity each comprising a lens configured to focus vision on a respective area of a display screen of the mobile computing device, such that a split screen image may be viewed through the two lenses on the display screen.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the material is of a water-resistant foam.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the two lens assemblies are each mounted in lateral channels formed by the main body for relative and independent movement with respect to each other, and wherein each of the lens assemblies includes a frame around the lens and upper and lower finger pads that project beyond the top and bottom walls of the main body, respectively, wherein a wearer can laterally displace the lens assemblies by manipulating the finger pads.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the front face has a window open to the retention pocket and positioned to provide an opening for a camera lens on a backside of the mobile computing device opposite the display screen.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the retention pocket has an upper opening through the top wall of the main body large enough to insert the mobile computing device, and slots are provided in both sidewalls to access the top and bottom ends of the mobile computing device when positioned in the retention pocket.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the retention pocket further includes leveling nubs extending inward from the walls of the main body that define the retention pocket, the leveling nubs being formed by the material of the main body.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the lens assemblies each comprise a stylus having a tip coupled to and movable there with, wherein each stylus has a length sufficient for the stylus tip to contact the display screen of the mobile computing device when positioned within the retention pocket, and each stylus tip is capable of initiating a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display, and further including a button on the exterior of the main body such that a user may touch the button and cause the stylus tip to initiate a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each stylus tip is movable and is retracted from the display screen until a user touches the button which advances the stylus tip into contact with the display screen.

21. The system of claim 13, further including a detachable remote control having attachment structure that mates with a corresponding attachment structure provided on one side wall of the goggles, the remote controller incorporating a remote controller processor, at least one motion sensor and control buttons facing outward from the main body when the remote control attachment structure mates with the corresponding attachment structure on the main body to thereby detachably attach the remote control to the attachment structure.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further includes a first rigid skeleton of a less compressible material than the single-piece soft main body that defines inner surfaces of the retention pocket.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the system includes no internal or external structural rigid skeleton for the single-piece soft main body.

24. The system of claim 13, further including a plurality of strap inserts formed of a material that is less compressible than the material of the single-piece soft main body, the strap inserts fitting closely into receptacles open to the exterior of the main body and configured to receive and secure free ends of straps for passing around the head of the wearer and hold the main body on the wearer'"'"'s head.

25. A head mounted display system for use with the mobile computing device, comprising:

a main body made entirely of a homogeneous unitary soft and compressible material formed as goggles with a front face, two side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall extending rearwardly from the front face, and an internal cavity defined within the walls, the goggles configured to be worn on a human head so as to conform to a wearer'"'"'s face a contoured lip that conforms to the temples of the wearer and prevents light from entering the internal cavity of the goggles from the rear;

a retention pocket defined by the main body and made entirely of the material configured to accept and secure a mobile computing device therein, the retention pocket being positioned just rearward from the front face of the main body; and

two separate lens assemblies movably mounted within the internal cavity just rearward from the retention pocket, each lens assembly comprising a lens configured to focus vision of the wearer on respective portions of the display so at to generate a stereoscopic three-dimensional image to the wearer, each lens assembly having portions that extend outward of both the top and bottom walls of the main body enabling the wearer to manually displace the respective lens assemblies.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the material is a compressible water-resistant foam and the system further includes a first frame of a less compressible material than the water-resistant foam that defines inner surfaces of the retention pocket.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the system further includes a second frame of a less compressible material than the water-resistant foam that defines lateral channels for relative and independent movement of the two separate lens assemblies with respect to each other.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the main body is formed as goggles with a rear face-contacting lip including a nose bridge, and the inflatable portion includes the rear face-contacting lip.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens assemblies each comprise a stylus having a tip coupled to and movable there with, wherein each stylus has a length sufficient for the stylus tip to contact the display screen of the mobile computing device when positioned within the retention pocket, and each stylus tip is capable of initiating a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display, and further including a button on the exterior of the main body such that a user may touch the button and cause the stylus tip to initiate a touch response on the capacitive touch screen display.

30. The system of claim 25, further including a detachable remote control having attachment structure that mates with a corresponding attachment structure provided on one side wall of the main body, the remote controller incorporating a remote controller processor, at least one motion sensor and control buttons facing outward from the main body when the remote control attachment structure mates with the corresponding attachment structure on the main body to thereby detachably attach the remote control to the attachment structure.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the system includes no internal or external structural rigid skeleton for the main body.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the system further includes a first rigid skeleton of a less compressible material than the main body that defines inner surfaces of the retention pocket.

33. The system of claim 25, further including a plurality of strap inserts formed of a material that is less compressible than the material of the single-piece soft main body, the strap inserts fitting closely into receptacles open to the exterior of the main body and configured to receive and secure free ends of straps for passing around the head of the wearer and hold the main body on the wearer'"'"'s head.