Haptic systems for head-worn computers

• US 9,846,308 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US15/047,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20160161747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 359630, 345 7- 9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• 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 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to haptic feedback systems and methods for use in head-worn computing systems. A head worn computer includes a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user'"'"'s eye, a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display, and a haptic system including a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal.

Claims

1. A head-worn computer, comprising:

a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user'"'"'s eye;

a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display; and

a haptic system comprising a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal, and wherein each of the plurality of haptic segments comprises a different vibration capacity.

2. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein each of the haptic segments comprises a piezo strip activated by the haptic signal to generate a vibration in the frame.

3. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the haptic system is increased by activating more than one of the plurality of haptic segments.

4. The head-worn computer of claim 3, wherein the intensity is further increased by activating more than two of the plurality of haptic segments.

5. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the haptic system is regulated depending on which of the plurality of haptic segments is activated.

6. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of haptic segments are mounted in a linear arrangement and the segments are arranged such that the higher capacity segments are at one end of the linear arrangement.

7. The head-worn computer of claim 6, wherein the linear arrangement is from back to front on an arm of the head-worn computer.

8. The head-worn computer of claim 7, wherein the linear arrangement is proximate a temple of the user.

9. The head-worn computer of claim 7, wherein the linear arrangement is proximate an ear of the user.

10. The head-worn computer of claim 7, wherein the linear arrangement is proximate a rear portion of the user'"'"'s head.

11. The head-worn computer of claim 6, wherein the linear arrangement is from front to back on an arm of the head-worn computer.

12. A head-worn computer, comprising:

a frame adapted to hold a computer display in front of a user'"'"'s eye;

a processor adapted to present digital content in the computer display and to produce a haptic signal in coordination with the digital content display;

a haptic system comprising a plurality of haptic segments, wherein each of the haptic segments is individually controlled in coordination with the haptic signal, and

a vibration conduit, wherein the vibration conduit is mounted proximate the haptic system and adapted to touch the skin of the user'"'"'s head to facilitate vibration sensations from the haptic system to the user'"'"'s head.

13. The head-worn computer of claim 12, wherein the vibration conduit is mounted on an arm of the head-worn computer.

14. The head-worn computer of claim 12, wherein the vibration conduit touches the user'"'"'s head proximate a temple of the user'"'"'s head.

15. The head-worn computer of claim 12, wherein the vibration conduit is made of a soft material that deforms to increase contact area with the user'"'"'s head.