Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to a support structure that holds the Head Mounted Device (HMD) in place with respect to the user's head/face. The system will be able to recognize that the user is playing a video game, for instance, and automatically alter the tension of the headset straps so as to keep the HMD firmly in place on the user's head while the user is following the action.  The system is designed to ensure that the headset is kept correctly aligned with user's vision as the user's head thrashes side-to-side or up and down.

Apple's invention covers a head-mounted device that includes a device housing, a support structure that is connected to the device housing to support the device housing with respect to a user, a display device that is connected to the device housing to display content, an optical system that is associated with the display device, and sensors that generate sensor output signals.

The head-mounted device also includes a tension controller that determines a tensioning command based on the sensor output signals, and a tension adjuster that applies tension to the user according to the tension command in order to restrain motion of the device housing with respect to the user.

The support structure may include temple portions that are pivotable with respect to the device housing and the tension adjuster includes an active tensioning component that is configured to cause pivoting of the temple portions with respect to the device housing in accordance with the tensioning command. The active tensioning component may include an electric motor. The tension adjuster may include a passive tensioning component.

The tension adjuster may include a contact pad and an actuator that is connected to the contact pad to apply tension by movement of the contact pad. The contact pad may be a nose pad that is configured to engage a nose of a user.

The tension adjuster may include deployable contact features that are movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

The tension adjuster may include a hook portion that is configured to engage an ear of a user, the hook portion is connected to the support structure by a motorized hinge and the tension adjuster is configured to apply tension by causing movement of the hook portion using the motorized hinge.

The tension adjuster may include an actuator and a mass, and the tension adjuster is configured apply tension by moving the mass using the actuator.

The sensors may include a motion sensor, the sensor output signals include a motion signal, and the tension controller is configured to determine the tensioning command based on part on the motion signal.

The sensors may include an eye tracking camera, the sensor output signals include an eye tracking signal, and the tension controller is configured to determine the tensioning command based on part on the eye tracking signal.

The sensors may include a biometric sensor, the sensor output signals include a biometric signal, and the tension controller is configured to determine the tensioning command based on part on the biometric signal.

The sensors may include a pressure sensor, the sensor output signals include a pressure signal, and the tension controller is configured to determine the tensioning command based on part on the pressure signal. The pressure sensor may include a nose pad that is in engagement with a nose of the user.

The device housing and the support structure may define a goggles-type configuration.

The device housing and the support structure may define a halo-type configuration.

The device housing and the support structure may define an eyeglasses-type configuration.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a block diagram that shows an example of a hardware configuration for a head-mounted device; FIG. 2 is a side view illustration showing a head-mounted device having a goggles-type configuration worn on the head of a user.

Apple's patent FIG. 3 above is a side view illustration showing a head-mounted device having a halo-type configuration worn on the head of a user; FIG. 4 is a side view illustration showing a head-mounted device having an eyeglasses-type configuration worn on the head of a user; FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows a tension controller according to a first example.

The support structure (#106 of FIG. 1) is connected to the device housing (#102). The support structure is a component or collection of components that function to secure the device housing in place with respect to the user's head so that the device housing is restrained from moving with respect to the user's head and maintains a comfortable position during use. The support structure can be implemented using rigid structures, elastic flexible straps, or inelastic flexible straps.

The sensors (#116 of FIG. 1( are components that are incorporated in the head-mounted device 100 to generate sensor output signals to are used as inputs by the processor 108 for use in generating CGR content and controlling tension.

The sensors include components that facilitate motion tracking (e.g., head tracking and optionally handheld controller tracking in six degrees of freedom). The sensors 116 may also include additional sensors that are used by the device to generate and/or enhance the user's experience in any way.

The sensors may include conventional components such as cameras, infrared cameras, infrared emitters, depth cameras, structured-light sensing devices, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers.

The sensors may also include biometric sensors that are operable to physical or physiological features of a person, for example, for use in user identification and authorization. Biometric sensors may include fingerprint scanners, retinal scanners, and face scanners (e.g., two-dimensional and three-dimensional scanning components operable to obtain image and/or three-dimensional surface representations).

An algorithm can be applied to the gaze data to classify the gaze data into a category that corresponds to a particular activity, such as reading, watching a movie, or playing a video game.

Each of these categories can be associated with a tension level or can be associated with a factor that influences tension level when multiple signals are combined to determine tension.

Two of the inventors listed on the patent include:

Grant Mulliken: Innovator, Research Scientist, Manager

Jae Hwang Lee: Product Design Lead