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

• US 9,482,869 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• 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:
  US14/604,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20150198811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of controlling an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a head-mounted frame, a display supported by the head-mounted frame, a touch sensor, and an eyeglass temple with first and second opposing ends, and wherein the touch sensor extends continuously along the eyeglass temple from the first end towards the second end, the method comprising:

in response to a user sliding a finger along the touch sensor from the first end to the second end, controlling the electronic device by performing an operation.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises first and second lenses interposed between the head-mounted frame and the display, the method further comprising:

with the display, generating first and second image frames corresponding to the first and second lenses.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein generating the first and second image frames comprises generating first and second image frames that give the illusion of viewing media in three dimensions to a user.

4. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the user sliding a finger along the touch sensor from the second end to the first end, controlling the electronic device by performing an additional operation that is different from the operation.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a speaker, and wherein controlling the electronic device comprises adjusting a volume of the speaker.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a transceiver, the method further comprising:

with the transceiver, transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals.

7. A method of controlling an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a head-mounted frame, a display supported by the head-mounted frame, a touch sensor, a speaker, and an eyeglass temple with first and second opposing ends, and wherein the touch sensor extends continuously along the eyeglass temple from the first end towards the second end, the method comprising:

in response to a user sliding a finger along the touch sensor from the first end to the second end, increasing a volume of the speaker; and

in response to a user sliding a finger along the touch sensor from the second end to the first end, decreasing the volume of the speaker.

8. A system comprising:

a head-mounted carrier;

a display supported by the head-mounted carrier, wherein the display is configured to generate a first image frame for a first eye of a user and generate a second image frame for a second eye of the user; and

a touch sensor on the head-mounted carrier, wherein the system is configured to receive a prescription from the user and modify the first and second image frames in response to the prescription and wherein the prescription is selected from a group consisting of;

a glasses prescription and a contact lens prescription.

9. The system defined in claim 8, further comprising a control member configured to be rotated by the user to adjust the system for a distance between the user'"'"'s eyes, wherein the control member is a knob, and wherein the knob is configured to adjust the system for the distance between the user'"'"'s eyes by adjusting a distance between the first image frame and the second image frame.

10. The system defined in claim 9, wherein the first and second image frames give the illusion of viewing media in three dimensions to a user.