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Apple invents another Adjustable Headband System for Future Vision-Pro Headsets

1 cover - Apple headset patent report

Critics and reviewers have pointed to the Apple Vision Pro's headband being an issue. Mark Gurman noted in 2023 that "Apple has developed a second strap that goes over a wearer’s head. But the company is considering selling that strap as an extra accessory rather than including it in the box." Since that time, Patently Apple has posted three distinctly different solutions that Apple engineers have been working on: 01, 02 and 03. Like most Apple projects, there are several different teams assigned to come up with a solution to a given problem.  Apple then uses one or a combination of ideas to come up with a final solution.

Today the U.S. Patent Office published yet another patent application regarding next-gen adjustable headband systems for  future Apple Vision-related headsets. Apple is in search of the ultimate solution that will provide users with the most comfort while wearing a future Vision Pro headset.  

Adjustable HMD Headbands

Apple notes in their patent application that in some embodiments, it may be desirable to incorporate headbands that can contact the user's head in multiple locations while the head-mounted device is worn. The headbands may include a lower headband that is in contact with a portion of the back of the user's head and an upper headband. The upper and/or lower headbands may be adjustable.

For example, the upper and/or lower headbands may pivot so that the upper and lower headbands can contact different portions of the user's head. In an illustrative example, the lower headband may contact a lower rear portion of the user's head, while the upper headband is movable between a front portion of the user's head (e.g., the user's forehead) and an upper rear portion of the user's head. To allow the upper and/or lower headbands to be adjusted in this way, the headbands may be attached to a head-mounted support structure via a pivoting structure, such as a friction hinge.

The friction hinge and/or the adjustable headband(s) may include tooth features or other features to provide mechanical haptics as the headband(s) are adjusted.

Alternatively or additionally, the friction hinge and/or the adjustable headband(s) may include an encoder. The head-mounted device may receive signals from the encoder that reflect the position of the adjustable headband(s). In this way, the position of the adjustable headband(s) may be known when the adjustments are made.

The adjustable headband(s) may also be movable closer and farther from the front of the user's head. In particular, the pivot point around which the adjustable headband(s) rotate may slide forward and backward within the head-mounted support structure. By allowing for the adjustment of one or more headbands, the head-mounted device may be supported against the face of the user, while providing adjustments for user comfort and/or accommodations.

Apple's patent FIGS. 1A-1C below are side views of an illustrative electronic device such as a head-mounted display device with adjustable headbands in different positions on a user's head; FIG. 5 is a front view of an illustrative support member having a rotating member about which a headband may rotate.

2 adjustable headbands

Apple's patent FIG. 8 above is a side view of an illustrative electronic device such as a head-mounted display device with an adjustable headband that is coupled to a sliding portion of a support member; FIG. 10 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device such as a head-mounted display device with headbands that rotate into a compact configuration.

For full details, review Apple's patent application 20250020936. Apple's Paul Wang, Senior Manager, Product Design is noted as the lead inventor.

10.51FX - Patent Application Bar