Modular systems for head-worn computers

• US 10,466,491 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F., Lohse, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez Cruz, Dimary S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Ingrid D
• Application Number:
  US15/170,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20170351098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 36167903
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• 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 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• 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 3/016 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: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to modular expansion systems for use in head-worn computing systems. In an head-worn computer, an electrical connector is adapted to electrically connect with a modular expansion module, wherein the modular expansion module adds a capability to the head-worn computer and is removeably mounted to the head-worn computer, and a mount is adapted to physically secure the modular expansion module to the head-worn computer.

Claims

1. A wearable head device, comprising:

a first see-through display adapted to be positioned in front of a first eye of a wearer of the wearable head device;

a second see-through display adapted to be positioned in front of a second eye of the wearer;

an electrical connector adapted to electrically connect with a modular expansion module, wherein the modular expansion module is adapted to removably mount to the wearable head device and wherein the modular expansion module is associated with a function;

a processor adapted to;

in response to a determination that the modular expansion module is mounted to the wearable head device, identify the function associated with the modular expansion module; and

in response to identifying the function, configure an operation of the modular expansion module; and

a mount adapted to physically secure the modular expansion module to the wearable head device, the mount centered between the first see-through display and the second see-through display.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a magnetic element to physically secure the modular expansion module.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a snap fit element to physically secure the modular expansion module.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises an alignment element to physically align the modular expansion module on the wearable head device.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1, the processor further adapted to, in response to the determination that the modular expansion module is mounted to the wearable head device, identify a schema for the function associated with the modular expansion module, wherein configuring an operation of the modular expansion module comprises configuring the modular expansion module to operate in accordance with the schema identified for the function.

6. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the wearable head device comprises a camera system and the function comprises an optical modification of the camera system.

7. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the modular expansion module comprises one or more of a camera, a depth sensor, a radar unit, a tracking infrared emitting diode, a tracking infrared photodiode, an IMU, a sound transducer, a haptic transducer, a light emitter, a magnetic field sensor, a magnetic field emitter, an EMI tracker, an electrochromic window, a liquid crystal window, a shutter, a wind sensor, or a scent sensor.

8. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to perform the function when not mounted to the wearable head device.

9. The wearable head device of claim 8, wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to capture video of the wearer while not mounted to the wearable head device.

10. The wearable head device of claim 9, wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to present the captured video via a video conferencing application.