In June, Patently Apple posted a patent application titled “Microsoft has filed a patent for an All-New Mixed Reality Headset Form Factor that allows the display to swing away from the user's Eyes.” One of the patent figures from that patent is presented below.

(Click on image to Greatly Enlarge)

Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a patent application from Apple that relates to a similar-styled head-mountable device than Microsoft’s noted above. Apple’s patent relates to an adjustable mount for moving a head-mountable display.

In their patent background, Apple notes that conventional HMD systems can also be difficult to program, develop, and test new software. Doing so often involves extended durations of wear time and use, which can lend to user discomfort. Exacerbating the extended use durations, users of conventional HMD systems may have differing facial structures that the HMD system cannot accommodate. This user-to-user variation can create a poor user experience, causing pressure on a user's face from the conventional HMD system. Therefore, a head-wearable apparatus capable of a more universal fit and optical performance is desired.

Adjustable HMD Head Mount

Apple’s invention relates to a head-wearable apparatus with improved freedom of HMD mobility, which in turn can lend to improved user experiences and user comfort. For example, a head-wearable apparatus of the present disclosure includes an HMD and a wearable mount (e.g., a halo, wreath, or cap) that comfortably distributes the weight of the HMD across a user's head.

Additionally, the wearable mount can be form fitting by way of an adjustment member that can increase or decrease tension (e.g., to comfortably fit different head sizes and head shapes).

Moreover, the head-wearable apparatus of the present patent includes a highly configurable arm that connects the HMD and the wearable mount. In at least some examples, this highly configurable arm can provide HMD movement in at least three degrees of freedom.

For example, the arm can include an HMD tilt adjustment member that can adjust the HMD in an arcuate fashion. For instance, the HMD tilt adjustment member can adjust an angle of the HMD relative to a user's eye (e.g., while maintaining a fixed gaze radius or eye relief distance from the user's eyes to a central portion of the HMD display of the HMD). Additionally or alternatively, the HMD tilt adjustment member can adjust a combination of eye relief distance and HMD gaze level.

In a particular example, the highly configurable arm of the present patent further includes an HMD height adjustment member and an HMD eye relief adjustment member.

The height adjustment member can provide vertical (e.g., up-down) movements for the HMD. By contrast, the HMD eye relief adjustment member can provide horizontal (e.g., in-out or forward-backward) movements for the HMD.

The foregoing HMD adjustment members can be adjusted on the fly during use and/or upon initial setup. As a result, the HMD adjustment members can flexibly provide a desired optical viewing experience regardless of head size and shape.

Additionally, the HMD adjustment members of the present patent allow for comfortable transitions to specific user activities or applications (e.g., surfing the internet versus playing a game). Such optical tailoring can therefore reduce user fatigue and enhance user comfort, particularly during extended durations of use or wear.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 below shows a top view of an example head-wearable apparatus. The HMD includes tension adjustment actuators #112, #114 that can include tension dials (e.g., user-manipulated and/or automated scroll wheels) that wind portions of the webbing. The tension adjustment actuators can actuate (e.g., move) a variety of mechanisms (e.g., worm gears, rack and pinion gears, etc.).

In some examples, the HMD’s arm #108 is cantilevered from the adapter #106 at one end, and suspends the HMD at the other end of the arm #108. That is, the arm can suspend the HMD relative to an optical center (e.g., the eyes of a user) without contacting the head #110.

 For instance, the arm 108 can suspend the HMD at a spaced-apart distance of about one millimeter to about eight centimeters horizontally away from the head or an optical center, which distance can constitute an eye relief distance. The arm can also suspend the HMD at different height configurations and angular (e.g., tilt) configurations.

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 shows another side view of an example head-wearable apparatus.

Apple’s patent FIGS. 9A-9C above each show front and side schematic views of portions of an example head-wearable apparatus relative to an optical center. In particular, each of FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate front and side views of the HMD in unadjusted, raised, and lowered positions, respectively. It will be appreciated, however, that the HMD can rotate to other positions than illustrated, as may be desired.

To review the full details of this invention, check out patent application 20240295900.

Always keep in mind that this isn’t a “design patent.” Meaning, the patent figures, as ugly as they may be, are simply functional for the patent examiners. Apple’s final product, should it come to pass, would provide a high-end design.