Yesterday the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to a head mounted display (HMD) device's head adjustment system. The system will allow users to adjust the fit of their HMD sitting on their head for a perfect, snug fit.

Head-mounted displays (HMD) are electronic devices that display graphics to a user wearing the head-mounted display, for example, when participating in activities related to computer-generated, augmented, virtual, and/or mixed realities. The head-mounted display may be worn by users having differing head sizes and facial features, so the ability to adjust a fit of the head-mounted display for a particular user having specific features is a high priority.

Existing head-mounted displays can be adjusted for circumferential fit using features such headbands made from elastic materials and temple-located adjustment mechanisms that change a length of a non-elastic headband between a variety of predetermined lengths.

However, these adjustment options do not address differences in facial features, such as different inter-pupillary distances (IPD) among users.

Apple's invention covers head-mounted display and adjustment mechanisms for optical components within the head-mounted display.

A head-mounted display includes an optical assembly and an actuator. The actuator includes a movement mechanism configured to adjust a position of an optical component within the optical assembly, a locking-release mechanism configured to modify operation of the movement mechanism upon detection of a dynamic event, and a dampening mechanism configured to control positional changes of the optical component during the dynamic event.

A method includes detecting, using a sensor in a head-mounted display, a start of a dynamic event. In accordance with detection of the start of the dynamic event and using a locking-release mechanism, the method includes modifying operation of a movement mechanism.

The movement mechanism is configured to adjust a position of an optical component within an optical assembly of the head-mounted display. The method includes detecting, using the sensor in the head-mounted display, an end of the dynamic event.

In accordance with detection of the end of the dynamic event and using the movement mechanism, the method includes adjusting the position of the optical component within the optical assembly to a pre-dynamic event position.

An actuator includes a movement mechanism configured to adjust a position of an optical component within an optical assembly of a head-mounted display. The movement mechanism includes a lead screw and a threaded component.

The threaded component is configured to translate along the lead screw based on rotation of the lead screw. The actuator also includes a locking-release mechanism configured to modify operation of the movement mechanism upon detection of a dynamic event. The locking-release mechanism includes a spring configured to bias the threaded component against the lead screw.

Modified operation of the movement mechanism includes the threaded component being disengaged from the lead screw. The actuator also includes a dampening mechanism configured to control positional changes of the movement mechanism during the dynamic event.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a top view of a head-mounted display; FIG. 6A is a detail view of a mechanical dampening mechanism for an actuator.

Apple's patent FIG. 6B above is a detail view of another mechanical dampening mechanism for an actuator.  

More specifically, Apple's patent FIG. 6A illustrates the mechanical dampening mechanism can include one or more cables 626 and 628 (two are shown in solid and dotted line) disposed proximate to ends of the lead screw (#604) and the guide rail (#606). In this embodiment, the cables can either wind or unwind during a dynamic event, serving to slow or counteract motion of the nut assembly (#608) to avoid having the nut assembly impact the ends of the lead screw and guide rail (#606) when sliding.

Apple's patent FIG. 7 below is a flowchart depicting a process of operation for an actuator similar to the actuators.

Apple's patent application number 20200355919 that was published today by the U.S. Patent Office was filed back Q2 2020 that supports a provisional patent that was filed in Q2 2019. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.