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

• US 9,749,451 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• 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:
  US15/451,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20170187855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9
• 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 head-mounted device that is operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display and a connector, the head-mounted device comprising:

a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone in a docking area;

first and second lenses through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is in the docking area;

a retention structure configured to secure the cellular telephone within the docking area;

a connector configured to mate with the connector of the cellular telephone;

a button supported by the support structure; and

sensors including at least a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, and a touch sensor.

2. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1, wherein a size of the docking area is adjustable and the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess, the head-mounted device further comprising:

foam coupled to the portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure;

at least one strap coupled to the support structure; and

a control member configured to be rotated.

3. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1, wherein the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess, the head-mounted device further comprising:

foam coupled to the portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure; and

at least one strap coupled to the support structure.

4. The head-mounted device defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a control member configured to be rotated to help focus a user'"'"'s eyes on the display.

5. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1, wherein a size of the docking area is adjustable.

6. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone includes a camera that is configured to capture an image, the cellular telephone is configured to display image based content on the display without displaying the captured image in a first mode, and the cellular telephone is configured to display the captured image on at least a portion of the display in a second mode.

7. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone is controlled by input to the button.

8. A head-mounted device operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the head-mounted device comprising:

a support structure having a first portion that defines a nose recess and having a second portion that is configured to support the cellular telephone;

foam coupled to the first portion of the support structure and an edge of the support structure;

at least one strap coupled to the support structure; and

first and second lenses supported by the support structure through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is supported by the support structure.

9. The head-mounted device defined in claim 8, further comprising:

a retention structure configured to secure the cellular telephone to the support structure;

a connector configured to mate with a connector of the cellular telephone;

a button supported by the support structure; and

sensors including at least a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, and a touch sensor.

10. The head-mounted device defined in claim 9, further comprising:

a control member configured to be rotated to help focus a user'"'"'s eyes on the display.

11. The head-mounted device defined in claim 8, wherein the head-mounted device is configured to charge the cellular telephone while the cellular telephone is coupled to the head-mounted device.

12. A system operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the system comprising:

a head-mounted support structure configured to support the cellular telephone;

first and second lenses supported by the head-mounted support structure through which the display of the cellular telephone is viewable when the cellular telephone is supported by the head-mounted support structure;

a door coupled to the head-mounted support structure that moves between an open position and a closed position; and

a remote control that is configured to wirelessly control the cellular telephone.

13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone, wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals, wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone, and wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone, and wherein the head-mounted support structure has a nose cut out, the system further comprising:

foam coupled to the nose cut out and an edge of the head-mounted support structure; and

at least one strap coupled to the head-mounted support structure.

14. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone and wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals, wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone, and wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone.

15. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the head-mounted support structure has a nose cut out, the head-mounted support structure comprises a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone, and the system further comprises:

foam coupled to the nose cut out and an edge of the head-mounted support structure; and

at least one strap coupled to the head-mounted support structure.

16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the head-mounted support structure comprises a retention structure.

17. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the remote control is configured to transmit commands to the cellular telephone using Bluetooth signals.

18. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the remote control is configured to wirelessly control a volume of the cellular telephone.

19. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the remote control is configured to wirelessly control the display of the cellular telephone.

20. A head-mounted apparatus that is operable with a removable cellular telephone with a display, the head-mounted apparatus comprising:

a support structure that is configured to support the cellular telephone;

first and second lenses supported by the support structure;

a door that moves between an open position and a closed position that is configured to secure the cellular telephone for viewing the display of the cellular telephone through the first and second lenses; and

a wireless chip that is configured to receive wireless signals from the cellular telephone.

21. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the support structure has a portion that defines a nose recess and wherein the support structure comprises a retention structure, the head-mounted apparatus further comprising:

foam coupled to the support structure; and

at least one strap coupled to the support structure.

22. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the support structure includes a nose recess.

23. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20, further comprising:

foam coupled to the support structure.

24. The head-mounted apparatus defined in claim 20, further comprising:

at least one strap coupled to the support structure.