Since January 2024 there have been an influx of 16 new smartglasses patents. That doesn't even cover patent updates to previous patents on this subject matter. Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published yet another  smartglasses patent focused with support arms that can retract and an extend to provide users with a comfortable fit and more.

In Apple's patent background they note that head-mounted devices, such as computer glasses or smartglasses, are worn on a user's head and incorporate an optical display and computing capabilities. Computer glasses are typically supported on the user's head by support arms that are connected to either side of the glasses. With the advent of computer glasses comes an increased demand on the support arms to support the increased weight and movement of the computer glasses. Further, the inclusion of sensitive electronic components enhances the need to prevent drop events that could damage the sensitive components.

Further, head-mounted devices include electrical components, such as speakers and cameras, whose positioning needs to accommodate for a wide variety of variances in users (e.g., facial features, head shape, ear position, and head tilt) and environments.

Adjustable Smartglasses Arm

Headwear, such as head-mounted devices (including computer glasses) should accommodate for various head shapes and sizes. Support arms for computer glasses typically include a robust structure to encase electronics in small form factors, making typical adjustability found in traditional spectacles unfeasible. Furthermore, computer glasses necessitate a more controlled and accurate fit than traditional spectacles due to the need to align the display eye box to the user, and often incorporate clever retention mechanisms due to the heavy weight of the computer glasses. The present disclosure is directed, in part, to computer glasses that incorporate extendable support arm tips. The present disclosure further describes customized electrical components, such as speakers and cameras, individually tailored to the user.

In some examples, a wearable electronic device, such as computer glasses (also referred to as “smart glasses,” “head-mounted device,” or simply “glasses”) includes lenses positioned in front of the user's eyes. The lenses can be integrated with a display unit to display visual information to the user. The lenses and display unit can be supported on the user's head by a securement mechanisms, such as a strap or a band wrapping around the user's head, or support arms positioned on opposing sides of the lenses and configured to rest on or above the user's ears.

In some examples, each support arm includes a static portion. The static portion can be rigid and can generally maintain its overall shape and configuration. In some examples, the static portion defines an internal volume that houses electrical components. The support arm can further include an arm tip having an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can be movable relative to the static portion of the support arm. The adjustment mechanism can shape or reconfigure the support arm in order to better secure the glasses to the user's head. For example, the adjustment mechanism can include an extendable portion that extends out of an end of the support arm and is configured to at least partially wrap around a user's ear and/or head. In some examples, both support arms of the glasses can include an adjustment mechanism. While in other examples, only one of the support arms includes the adjustment mechanism.

The adjustment mechanism can be located at the distal end of the support arm (i.e., opposite the end coupled to the lenses/display). By being positioned at the distal end of the support arm, the adjustment mechanism can partially wrap around the ears or back of the head of the user.

In some examples, the adjustment mechanism is gravity driven. For example, an arm tip can dynamically extend from the support arm solely or partially in response to a change in an orientation of the HMD relative to a gravitational vector. In some examples, the extension of the arm tip occurs only due to gravitational forces (i.e., no other motor or actuators are needed to extend the arm tip. In some examples, the adjustment mechanism includes a mechanical actuator to control the motion of the adjustment mechanism. For example, the mechanical actuator can include one or more of a knob, a dial, a screw, a cam, or any other suitable mechanical actuator. In some examples, the adjustment mechanism includes an electrical actuator to control motion of the adjustment mechanism. For example, the electrical actuator can include one or more of an electrical motor, a piezoelectric motor, a solenoid, an electromagnet, or any other suitable electrical actuator. As described herein, the adjustment mechanism can include a wide variety of components and features.

The adjustment mechanism can controllably enable the arm tip to be in an extended configuration or a retracted configuration. In the extended configuration, an overall length of the support arm is increased from when in the retracted configuration. In some examples, the support arm and the arm tip can define a radius of curvature when in the extended position such that the arm and arm tip can then further secure the computer glasses on the user.

There are a variety of ways that the adjustment mechanism can transition between the retracted state and the extended state. In some examples, user input can activate the transition between states. For example, a user can manually actuate the adjustment mechanism to transition to the extended state by applying a force (e.g., pushing, pressing, rotating, sliding, etc.).

In some examples, an electrical signal can actuate a transition between the retracted and extended states. The signal can be transmitting in response to user input or can occur automatically upon predetermined conditions being met. In some examples, the adjustment mechanism transitions between states in response to receiving a signal from one or more sensors on the computer glasses. For example, the computer glasses can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that detects motion. The adjustment mechanism can activate in response to the IMU detecting motion exceeding a predetermined threshold. In some examples, the computer glasses can include a sensor to detect when the computer glasses are place on a user's head, and the adjustment mechanism can be activated in response to detecting that the user has donned the glasses. In some examples, the act of removing the computing glasses from the user's head naturally actuates the adjustment mechanism to return to the retracted state. In some examples, one or more sensors can determine whether a user intends to remove the computer glasses, and in response, the activation mechanism is not activated in response to detection motion of the computer glasses.

With further reference to speakers incorporated with HMD devices, the performance of a speaker can depend, at least in part, on the position the speaker relative to certain anatomical features of the user. For example, the performance of a speaker of the HMD can be based on the position of the speaker relative to the user's ears. This can be especially true when the speakers are used to create a spatial audio experience as described above.

In some examples, a speaker can be integrated with or on a securement strap of the HMD such that the speaker is positioned close to the user's ear. In such an example, the speaker can be configured to emanate sound in a primary direction towards the user's ear. In some examples, multiple speakers can be positioned and directed toward both ears of the user.

One difficulty in ensuring a proper placement of the speakers of the HMD relative to the user's ears is the anatomical differences between users. Head sizes vary and the distance between a user's ears and other anatomical features, for example the nose or brow where the display portion of the HMD may rest, varies between users. Even on a single user, the distance between the nose or cheekbones and the user's left ear can be different from the distance to the right ear. These anatomical variations make it difficult to manufacture a one-size-fits-all HMD device that would perform the same for all users. In addition, inconsistent donning of HMD devices can result in slightly different positioning of speakers or other electronic components of the HMD anytime the user dons the device.

Accordingly, the HMD can include components that can be adjusted to adapt to inconsistent anatomical features of different users and variations associated with inconsistent donning. Such components can also be adjusted depending on the general position, location, and orientation of the user during use. In this way, components such as speakers, cameras, and other components can be optimally configured for enhanced performance. In some examples, components such as speakers of HMDs described herein can be automatically or manually adjusted or repositioned along a securement mechanism, such as a band, strap, or support arm that secures the HMD to the user's head, at the appropriate position and/or in the appropriate orientation. In some examples, components such as cameras of HMDs described herein can be automatically or manually adjusted or repositioned on a frame or display unit of the HMD, at the appropriate position and/or in the appropriate orientation.

In some examples, one or more components (e.g. speakers, cameras) of an HMD can be secured to the HMD via one or more position adjusting mechanisms. In some examples, once the user has donned the HMD, the components can be moved to reposition or reorient the components based on one or more user characteristics, such as head tilt or ear position. In some examples, the repositioning or adjustment of the components can be accomplished manually. In some examples, the repositioning or adjustment of the components can be accomplished automatically or dynamically using one or more automatic repositioning drive mechanisms of the HMD. In the examples where adjustments are done manually, certain guides or physical datum surfaces, which indicate to the user when the speaker is correctly positioned, can be provided.

Additionally, or alternatively, one or more sensors can be integrated with the HMD and feedback can be given as the user manually adjusts the components to indicate when an optimal position or orientation has been achieved. Such feedback can be given visually through the HMD display portion or tactilely, audibly, or otherwise using the display portion or one or more other modules or components of the HMD. In examples where speaker adjustments are done automatically by the HMD, the one or more sensors, either sensors directly coupled with the speakers or disposed elsewhere on the HMD, can be used to determine where and how each speaker should be positioned relative to the user's ears.

In examples where camera adjustments are done automatically by the HMD, the one or more sensors, either sensors directly coupled with the cameras or disposed elsewhere on the HMD, can be used to determine where and how each camera should be positioned based on a field of view of each camera.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 below shows a top view of computer glasses with adjustment features: FIG. 2A shows a side view of computer glasses in a retracted state; FIG. 2B shows a side view of the computer glasses of FIG. 2A in an extended state.

Apple's patent FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional side view of a support arm in a retracted state; FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a support arm in an extended state.

Apple's patent FIG. 7 below shows a perspective side view of a head-mounted device; FIG. 8A shows a side view of a head-mounted device; FIG. 8B shows a side view of an articulable camera unit; FIG. 8C shows a side view of a customized camera unit.

To review the full details of this invention, check out patent application 20240201515.