Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple relating to adjustable support components for a future head-mounted display device. All of today's VR and mixed reality headsets use a manual headband adjustment system to keep the headset in place. Apple's invention covers a motorized adjustable headband system that could adjust according to the content the user is watching.

Head-mounted displays are worn on a user's head and incorporate an optical display device. Head-mounted displays are typically supported relative to the user's head by a support structure that is connected to the head-mounted display. Examples of support structures include flexible headbands and rigid headbands that extend around or over the user's head.

Apple's invention relates to a future head-mounted display system that includes a device housing with an eye chamber to be positioned adjacent to eyes of the user. A support assembly for the head-mounted display includes a headband and an adjustment mechanism that is operable to change fit of the headband relative to the head of the user in response to a control signal.

The adjustment mechanism includes a feedback component, and the control signal is generated based on output from the feedback component.

Another aspect of the invention is a support assembly which includes a headband and an adjustment mechanism that is operable to change fit of the headband relative to the head of the user, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a variable head volume structure that changes fit of the headband relative to the head of the user by volumetric expansion or volumetric contraction.

Apple's patent FIG. 2A below illustrates a side view of a head-mounted display with an adjustable headband mechanism: FIG. 2 is a top view showing the adjustable headband mechanism is positioned on both sides of the headset; and FIG. 4 illustrates the makeup of components in the adjustable headset.

The figures below illustrate an alternative headset adjustment configuration that includes an extra over-the-head adjustment system to provide even more stability to the headset resting on the users head to keep the eye section sturdier for visual accuracy.

In the illustrated implementation, adjustment of the support assembly is actively controlled, for example, using a control signal based on a feedback signal, and can include a controller and feedback components.

The first band portion (#1161) is connected to the second band portion (#1162) by a first motorized sliding joint (#1165) that defines a controllable sliding connection between the first band portion and the second band portion to constrict and expand in response to a control signal.

The first motorized sliding joint and the second motorized sliding joint (#1166) can each incorporate electric motors and a mechanical interconnection such as a gear rack that causes relative motion of the interconnected parts in response to operation of the electric motor.

To engage the head of the user, the support assembly includes a first cushion pad (#1167), a second cushion pad (#1168), and a third cushion pad (#1169). The first cushion pad is connected to the support assembly near the housing.

Apple's patent FIG. 12 below is a block diagram that shows an example of a hardware configuration for the electronic components of the head-mounted display.

Apple's patent FIG. 16 below is another flowchart showing an example of a process for adjusting a head-mounted display based on the type of content being played by the user.

For instance, that system will make an adjustment to a looser fit when the content is associated with low levels of user motion (e.g., a movie), and to allow adjustment to a tighter fit when the content is associated with high levels of user motion such as a video game.

Apple makes a Weak Case for wanting your Personal Information

Considering that the invention is about an adjustable mechanism for a future mixed reality headset, Apple's patent application seems to go off script a bit by noting that one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve adjustment of head-mounted devices.

More specifically, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.

Providing such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to store settings that allow automatic adjustment of a head-mounted device when it is worn by a user. Further, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

Apple's patent application that was published today by the U.S. Patent Office was originally filed back in Q3 2018. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.

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