Mounted display goggles for use with mobile computing devices

• US 10,302,951 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merge Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merge Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyons, Franklin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US15/599,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7, 345 8, 345156, 345161, 345173, 345184, 345620, 345625, 345633, 345634, 345661, 359630, 359631, 348 36, 348 77, 348207, 349 13
• 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 includes a main body configured to be worn on a human head. A lens assembly within the main body includes a first lens configured to focus vision of a wearer on a first area of a display of the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body. A first contact point disposed in a fixed position relative to the first lens is configured to contact a surface of the display when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body. The first contact point is detectable by the mobile computing device and usable by the mobile computing device to derive a position of the display relative to the at least one lens.

Claims

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

a main body of the head mounted display configured to be worn on a human head such that a display of the mobile computing device is visible to a user when the head mounted display is worn on the human head;

a lens assembly within the main body of the head mounted display comprising a first lens configured to focus vision of a wearer on a first area of the display of the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body; and

a first contact point of electrically conductive material attached to the main body in a fixed position relative to the first lens and configured to contact a surface of the display when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body, a location at which the first contact point contacts the surface of the display detectable by the mobile computing device and usable by the mobile computing device to derive a position of the display relative to the first lens without responding to user contact.

2. The head mounted display system of claim 1 wherein the first contact point is brought into contact with the surface of the display in response to securing the mobile computing device to the main body.

3. The head mounted display system of claim 2 wherein the mobile computing device is secured to the main body by insertion of the mobile computing device into a retention pocket.

4. The head mounted display system of claim 1, wherein the first contact point comprises a stylus having a length sufficient for a stylus tip to contact the surface of the display.

5. The head mounted display system of claim 4, wherein the stylus tip is movable and is retracted from the display until a user presses a button which advances the stylus tip into contact with the surface of the display.

6. The head mounted display system of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly further comprises:

a second lens configured to focus vision of the wearer on a second area of the display when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body.

7. The head mounted display system of claim 6, wherein the second lens is disposed in a fixed position relative to the first lens and the first contact point.

8. The head mounted display system of claim 6, wherein

the second lens is movable relative to the first lens and the first contact point, and

the head mounted display system further comprises a second contact point disposed in a fixed position relative to the second lens and configured to contact the surface of the display when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body, a location at which the second contact point contacts the surface of the display detectable by the mobile computing device.

9. The head mounted display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a button accessible to a user'"'"'s finger external to the main body; and

a conductive path from the button to the first contact point.

10. A head mounted display system, comprising:

a main body configured to be worn on a human head designed for use with an independent mobile computing device such that a display of the mobile computing device is visible to a user when the head mounted display is worn on the human head;

the mobile computing device including the display secured to the main body;

a lens assembly within the main body of the head mounted display comprising a first lens configured to focus vision of a wearer on a first area of the display; and

a first contact point of electrically conductive material attached to the main body in a fixed position relative to the first lens and contacting a surface of the display, wherein

the mobile computing device detects a location where the first contact point contacts the surface of the display to determine a position of the display relative to the first lens without responding to user contact.

11. The head mounted display system of claim 10 wherein the mobile computing device controls a position of data displayed on the display based upon the position of the display relative to the at least one lens.

12. The head mounted display system of claim 10 wherein the mobile computing device derives horizontal and vertical positions of the first lens relative to the display based upon the location at which the first contact point contacts the surface of the display.

13. The head mounted display system of claim 10 wherein the first contact point is brought into contact with the surface of the display in response to securing the mobile computing device to the main body.

14. The head mounted display system of claim 13 wherein the mobile computing device is secured to the main body by insertion of the mobile computing device into a retention pocket.

15. The head mounted display system of claim 10, wherein the first contact point comprises a stylus having a length sufficient for a stylus tip to contact the surface of the display.

16. The head mounted display system of claim 15, wherein the stylus tip is movable and is retracted from the display until a user presses a button which advances the stylus tip into contact with the surface of the display.

17. The head mounted display system of claim 10, wherein the lens assembly further comprises:

a second lens configured to focus vision of the wearer on a second area of the display.

18. The head mounted display system of claim 17, wherein the second lens is disposed in a fixed position relative to the first lens and the first contact point.

19. The head mounted display system of claim 17, wherein

the second lens is movable relative to the first lens and the first contact point, and

the head mounted display system further comprises a second contact point disposed in a fixed position relative to the second lens and configured to contact the surface of the display, a location at which the second contact point contacts the surface of the display detectable by the mobile computing device.

20. The head mounted display system of claim 19 wherein the mobile computing device derives an interpupillary distance based upon locations at which the first contact point and the second contact point contact the surface of the display.

21. The head mounted display system of claim 10, further comprising:

a button accessible to a user'"'"'s finger external to the main body; and

a conductive path from the button to the first contact point.

22. A head mounted display system for use with an independent mobile computing device, comprising:

a main body configured to be worn on a human head such that a display of the mobile computing device is visible to a user when the head mounted display is worn on the human head;

a lens assembly within the main body of the head mounted display comprising a set of lenses configured to focus vision of a wearer on respective areas of a display of the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body; and

a contact point of electrically conductive material attached to the main body in a fixed position relative to each of the set of lenses and configured to contact a surface of the display when the mobile computing device is secured to the main body, a location at which the contact point contacts the surface of the display detectable by the mobile computing device and usable by the mobile computing device to derive a position of the display relative to the set of lenses;

wherein

the position is usable by a mobile computing device to adjust a position of an image displayed on the display without responding to user contact.