Augmented reality system eye relief adjustment mechanism

• US 9,557,569 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fruhauf, Christopher Bramley, Tazbaz, Errol Mark, Riccomini, Roy Joseph, Hodge, Andrew Bert, Steiner, Bradley William, Basha, Michael James, Meyer, Azhar K., Laszlo, Zoltan, Anderson, Perry Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US14/268,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20150316773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed

Abstract

A head mounted display (HMD) may comprise an adjustable crown band, a crown band circumference adjusting mechanism coupled to the adjustable crown band and configured to adjust a crown band circumference to releasably secure the crown band to the user'"'"'s crown, an armature including left and right arms, each of the left and right arms mounted at a respective proximal end to corresponding left and right HMD attachment structures, a display mounted at left and right sides to respective distal ends of the left and right arms, and an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism configured to move the left and right arms in a timed manner toward and away from the crown band along a substantially linear path, to thereby adjust an eye relief distance from the display to an eye of a the user when the crown band is fitted on the crown of the user.

Claims

1. A head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, comprising:

an adjustable crown band;

a crown band circumference adjusting mechanism coupled to the adjustable crown band and configured to adjust a circumference of the crown band to releasably secure the crown band to the crown of the user;

an armature including a left arm and a right arm, each of the left arm and the right arm mounted at a respective proximal end to corresponding left and right attachment structures on the HMD;

a display mounted at left and right sides to respective distal ends of the left and right arms; and

an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprising respective sliding structures on the crown band that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and the right arm can slide in a timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along a substantially linear path when a pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user, to thereby adjust an eye relief distance from the display to an eye of the user when the crown band is fitted on the crown of the user.

2. A head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, comprising:

an adjustable crown band;

a crown band circumference adjusting mechanism coupled to the adjustable crown band and configured to adjust a circumference of the crown band to releasably secure the crown band to the crown of the user, the crown band circumference adjusting mechanism comprising;

a first housing mounted at a posterior end of the HMD, the first housing including a first knob and a first pinion rotatably coupled thereto; and

left and right crown racks mounted at posterior ends of the adjustable crown band, the left and right crown racks passing through the first housing and engaged to the first pinion wherein rotating the first pinion via the first knob adjusts a length of the left and right crown racks passing through the first housing to adjust the circumference of the crown band;

an armature including a left arm and a right arm, each of the left arm and the right arm mounted at a respective proximal end to corresponding left and right attachment structures on the HMD;

a display mounted at left and right sides to respective distal ends of the left and right arms; and

an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism configured to move the left and right arms in a timed manner toward and away from the crown band along a substantially linear path when a pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user, to thereby adjust an eye relief distance from the display to an eye of the user when the crown band is fitted on the crown of the user.

3. The HMD of claim 2, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises:

left and right eye relief bands including the left and right attachment structures, the left and right eye relief bands extending posteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively and passing through the first housing, the left and right eye relief bands each including an eye relief rack engaged to the first pinion, wherein rotating the first pinion via the first knob adjusts a length of the left and right eye relief racks passing through the first housing to move the left and right arms in the timed manner.

4. The HMD of claim 3, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism further comprises respective sliding structures on the crown band that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and right arm can slide in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path, when the pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user.

5. The HMD of claim 2, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises:

a second housing mounted at an anterior end of the HMD, the second housing including a second knob and a second pinion rotatably coupled thereto; and

left and right eye relief bands including the left and right attachment structures, the left right eye relief bands extending anteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively, the left and right eye relief bands each including an anterior eye relief rack engaged to the second pinion mounted, wherein rotating the second pinion via the second knob moves the left and right eye relief bands in the timed manner.

6. The HMD of claim 5, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism further comprises respective sliding structures on the crown band that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and right arm can slide in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path, when the pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user.

7. The HMD of claim 2, wherein:

the first housing further includes a second knob and a second pinion rotatably coupled thereto; and

the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises left and right eye relief bands including the left and right attachment structures, the left and right eye relief bands extending posteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively and passing through the first housing, the left and right eye relief bands each including an eye relief rack engaged to the second pinion, wherein rotating the second pinion via the second knob adjusts a length of the left and right eye relief racks passing through the first housing to move the left and right arms in the timed manner.

8. The HMD of claim 7, wherein the first knob and the second knob are configured in a nested arrangement, and the first pinion and the second pinion are coaxial.

9. The HMD of claim 7, wherein the eye relief adjustment mechanism comprises a non-backdrivable eye relief adjustment mechanism to prevent adjustment of the eye relief distance without rotation of the first knob or the second knob.

10. The HMD of claim 2, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises:

left and right timing bands including the left and right attachment structures, the left and right timing bands extending posteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively and passing through the first housing, the left and right timing bands each including first left and right eye relief racks mounted at posterior ends of the left and right timing bands, the first left and right eye relief racks engaged to the first pinion, wherein rotating the first pinion via the first knob adjusts a length of the first left and first right eye relief racks passing through the first housing to move the left and right arms in the timed manner.

11. The HMD of claim 10, wherein

the left and right attachment structures comprise respective left and right pinions,

the left and right timing bands comprise second left and second right eye relief racks engaged to the left and right pinions and mounted at anterior ends of the left and right timing bands, and

the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism further comprises respective sliding structures mounted on the left and right pinions that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and right arm can slide in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path, when the pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user.

12. The HMD of claim 11, wherein the left and right arms extend horizontally anterior from the left and right attachment structures, and the adjustable crown band is anteriorly angled upwards from the left and right arms.

13. The HMD of claim 2, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises:

a timing band extending anteriorly from left and right pinions positioned at left and right attachment structures respectively, the timing band comprising left and right eye relief racks mounted at posterior ends of the timing band and engaged to the left and right pinions, and

respective sliding structures mounted on the left and right pinions that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and right arm can slide in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path, when the pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user.

14. The HMD of claim 13, wherein the left and right arms extend horizontally anterior from the left and right attachment structures, and the adjustable crown band extends anteriorly angled upwards from the left and right arms.

15. The HMD of claim 2, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises:

left and right eye relief bands including the left and right attachment structures, the left and right eye relief bands extending posteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively and passing through the first housing, the left and right eye relief bands each including an eye relief rack engaged to the first pinion, wherein rotating the first pinion via the first knob adjusts a length of the left and right eye relief racks passing through the first housing to move the left and right arms in the timed manner.

16. The HMD of claim 15, wherein

anterior ends of the left and right eye relief bands extending anteriorly from the left and right attachment structures respectively include ventrally and laterally left and right deformable bands,

respective sliding structures mounted on the left and right deformable bands that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and right arm can slide in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path, when the pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user.

17. The HMD of claim 16, wherein the left and right anterior ends extend horizontally anterior from the left and right attachment structures, and the adjustable crown band extends anteriorly angled upwards from the left and right arms.

18. The HMD of claim 2, further comprising:

a first housing mounted at a posterior end of the HMD, the first housing including a shiftable knob, a static pinion, and a shiftable pinion;

a second housing mounted at an anterior end of the HMD, the second housing including a timing pinion;

first left and first right crown racks mounted at posterior ends of the adjustable crown band, the first left and first right crown racks passing through the first housing and engageable to the static pinion;

second left and second right crown racks mounted at anterior ends of the adjustable crown band, the second left and second right crown racks passing through the second housing and engageable to the timing pinion; and

a timing band including

a posterior crown timing rack and a posterior eye relief timing rack, each mounted at a posterior end of the timing band and engageable to the shiftable pinion;

an anterior crown timing rack and an anterior eye relief timing rack, each mounted at an anterior end of the timing band and engageable to the timing pinion, wherein

the crown band circumference adjusting mechanism comprises the shiftable knob shifted to a first position to

engage the first left and first right crown racks with the static pinion,

engage the second left and second right crown racks with the timing pinion,

engage the anterior crown timing rack and the posterior crown timing rack with the timing pinion, and

adjust the circumference of the crown band while maintaining the eye relief distance.

19. The HMD of claim 18, wherein the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprises the shiftable knob shifted to a second position to

disengage the first left and first right crown racks with the static pinion,

engage the second left and second right crown racks with the timing pinion,

engage the anterior eye relief timing rack and the posterior eye relief timing rack with the timing pinion, and

adjust the eye relief distance while maintaining the circumference of the crown band.

20. A head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, comprising:

an armature including a left arm and a right arm, each of the left arm and the right arm mounted at a respective proximal end to corresponding left and right attachment structures on the HMD;

a display mounted at left and right sides to respective distal ends of the left and right arms; and

an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism configured to move the left and right arms in a timed manner toward and away from an eye of the user along a substantially linear path when a pushing or pulling force is applied to the display by the user, to thereby adjust an eye relief distance from the display to the eye of the user, the eye relief distance adjustment mechanism comprising respective linear motion actuators at the left and right attachment structures that slidingly receive the left arm and the right arm such that the left arm and the right arm can be linearly slid in the timed manner to move the display toward and away from the crown band along the substantially linear path.