Head mounting device and support part

Abstract

To provide a head-mounted device that is easy to attach and offers improved stability during wear. [Solution] The head-mounted device comprises a device positioned in front of the eyes and a pair of support parts connected to both ends of the device for mounting the device on the user's head, the support parts comprising a support arm extending to the back of the user's head, a cover positioned between the support arm and the device into which the support arm is inserted, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support parts by moving the support arm relative to the cover, a connecting part that rotatably connects the support parts to the device, and a biasing part that biases the support parts in a direction that rotates them toward the center of the device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a head-mounted device and a support part.

Background Art

[0002] As devices worn on the head of a user (observer), head-mounted display devices (head-mounted displays: HMDs) and glasses are known. An HMD is used as a device capable of experiencing virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR). By using an HMD, a user can easily view images on a large screen and perform stereoscopic viewing.

[0003] In order to improve the comfort of the user, HMDs are required to be small and lightweight. On the other hand, in order to prevent the HMD from shifting and the image from becoming unclear when the user wearing the HMD moves their head, the HMD is required to be stably worn on the head. Also, glasses are used in all scenes of life, and it is required to prevent the glasses from shifting or falling even when the head is vigorously moved during sports or the like. Since the size and shape of the head vary depending on individual differences, HMDs and glasses are required to be stably wearable regardless of the differences in the size and shape of the head.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses an HMD having a ring-shaped head attachment that is positioned around the wearer's head. The user wears the HMD by placing the ring-shaped head attachment over their head from above. In this case, the user adjusts the position after roughly aligning it without looking at the displayed image, which may take time. Also, since the size and shape of the user's head vary from person to person, the overall size of the device may increase if a ring is made to fit various users' heads.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses an HMD (Head-Mounted Display) in which the two temples (arms) of eyeglasses can be moved back and forth relative to an optical device having an optical section. The user can wear the HMD while viewing the displayed image, and the time required for position adjustment can be reduced. In this configuration, the user can move the part that contacts the back of the head back and forth to accommodate individual differences in head size. If the head size is large, the user's head will roughly match the shape of the head mounting part, and the contact area with the head mounting part will be large. On the other hand, if the head size is small, the contact area between the user's head and the head mounting part will be small. If the contact area between the user's head and the head mounting part is small, the stability of the HMD worn by the user may decrease.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a head-mounting device that is easy to attach and offers improved stability during attachment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The head-mounted device according to the present invention comprises a device positioned in front of the eyes and a pair of support parts connected to both ends of the device for mounting the device on the user's head, wherein the support parts are front The device is characterized by comprising: a support arm extending to the back of the user's head; a cover positioned between the support arm and the device into which the support arm is inserted; an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support portion by moving the support arm relative to the cover; a connecting portion for rotatably connecting the support portion to the device; and a biasing portion for biasing the support portion in a direction toward the center of the device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a head-mounting device that is easy to attach and has improved stability when attached. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows the user wearing the head-mounted device on their head. [Figure 2] These are front and rear views of the front section. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the structure of the support part. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the part connecting the front section and the support section. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the support arm. [Figure 6] This diagram compares how the product fits different head sizes on users with varying head sizes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a state in which user H is wearing the head-mounted device 100 on his head. The head-mounted device 100 comprises a front portion 200 and a support portion 300.

[0012] The front section 200 is a device such as a display device positioned in front of the user H's eyes. User H looks into the front section 200 while wearing the head-mounted device 100. The support sections 300 are connected to both ends of the front section 200 to attach it to user H's head. The support sections 300 extend to the back of user H's head like the temples of eyeglasses. A pair of support sections 300 are independently connected to each of the ends of the front section 200. User H can put on the head-mounted device 100 while looking into the front section 200 from the rear.

[0013] When user H is using eyeglasses GR, the head-mounted device 100 can be mounted so that the front portion 200 is close to the front side of the eyeglasses GR. The temples of the eyeglasses GR and the support portion 300 are close to user H's ears. The support portion 300 is positioned towards the top of the head, beyond the prisms 220L and 220R (Figure 2) for projecting images. That is, the support portion 300 is positioned towards the top of user H's head, beyond the optical axis of the prisms 220L and 220R (optical system) of the front portion 200, near user H's ears. Therefore, the support portion 300 can avoid interference with the temples of the eyeglasses GR, and the user can wear the head-mounted device 100 in conjunction with the eyeglasses GR.

[0014] Figure 2(A) is a front view of the front section 200. Figure 2(B) is a rear view of the front section 200. The front section 200 has cameras 210L and 210R on the front side. The front section 200 has prisms 220L and 220R, connecting parts 230L and 230R, and a nose pad 240 on the rear side.

[0015] Cameras 210L and 210R are imaging units that capture images of the real world. The combination of cameras 210L and 210R may be a stereo camera. Based on the real world images captured by cameras 210L and 210R, it is possible to obtain the position and orientation of the head-mounted device 100.

[0016] The prisms 220L and 220R are provided on the back surface of the front portion 200. The prisms 220L and 220R are the eye-piece optical systems that project images onto the left and right eyes of the user H, respectively. The prisms 220L and 220R are, for example, transparent bodies filled with an optical medium such as glass or plastic having a refractive index greater than 1. The prisms 220L and 220R may be thinned by folding the optical path using an eccentric reflecting surface. A display element (not shown) is disposed inside the front portion 200. The image displayed on the display element is projected (light-guided) onto the eyes of the user H through the prisms 220L and 220R. By displaying the real-space image captured by the cameras 210L and 210R on the display element, the user H can visually recognize the real space in front of the eyes.

[0017] The front portion 200 has a thin and horizontally long shape. The connecting portions 230L and 230R that connect the front portion 200 and the support portion 300 are provided at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the front portion 200. Each of the connecting portions 230L and 230R is a rotational connecting portion that is rotatably connected to the cover 310 (FIG. 3).

[0018] The connecting portions 230L and 230R include stopper surfaces 231L and 231R. The stopper surfaces 231L and 231R inhibit the rotation of the cover 310 so that the angle formed by the front portion 200 and the support portion 300 does not exceed a predetermined angle. The cover 310 stops rotating when the stopper surface (for example, the stopper surface 323 shown in FIG. 3) on the cover 310 side abuts against the stopper surfaces 231L and 231R.

[0019] The nose pad 240 is a nose contact portion for supporting the front portion 200 with the nose of the user H. The user H can support the front portion 200 by abutting the nose pad 240 against the nose surface.

[0020] Figures 3(A) and 3(B) show the structure of the support section 300. Figure 3(A) shows the assembled state of the support section 300 located on the right side relative to user H, out of a pair of left and right support sections 300. Figure 3(B) shows the support section 300 shown in Figure 3(A) in a disassembled state. The support section 300 located on the left side relative to user H has a structure that is mirror-symmetric to the support section 300 located on the right side. The support section 300 located on the right side relative to user H will be described below.

[0021] The support section 300 includes a cover 310, a support arm 340, an operating section 350, a holding mechanism (O-ring 360), an adjustment mechanism (rack gear 341, pinion gear 351), a hinge section 321, and a biasing section (convex member 370, biasing spring 380).

[0022] The cover 310 includes an outer cover 320 and an inner cover 330. The cover 310 is positioned between the support arm 340 and the front section 200. One end of the support arm 340 is inserted into the cover 310, and a portion of the support arm 340 is positioned inside the cover 310. The other end of the support arm 340 extends to the back of the user H's head. The support arm 340 is slidable within the cover 310.

[0023] The adjustment mechanism is for adjusting the length of the support portion 300 by moving the support arm 340 relative to the cover 310. The adjustment mechanism adjusts the length of the support portion 300 by changing the length by which the support arm 340 protrudes from the cover 310. The adjustment mechanism includes a rack gear 341 and a pinion gear 351. The rack gear 341 is formed in the portion into which the support arm 340 is inserted into the cover 310. The pinion gear 351 is positioned inside the cover 310 to mesh with the rack gear 341. The length by which the support arm 340 protrudes from the cover 310 is adjusted by rotating the pinion gear 351.

[0024] The operating part 350 is an operating member operated by user H to move the support arm 340, and is formed coaxially with the pinion gear 351. The operating part 350 is formed integrally with the pinion gear 351. The pinion gear 351 rotates when the operating part 350 is rotated. A portion of the operating part 350 is exposed from the cover 310, and user H can rotate the pinion gear 351 by rotating the operating part 350.

[0025] The teeth of the rack gear 341 are oriented opposite to the teeth of the exposed operating part 350. In the example shown in Figure 3(B), a portion of the operating part 350 is exposed through openings in the outer cover 320 and inner cover 330 in the negative Y-axis direction. The user can rotate the operating part 350 by operating the exposed portion. The teeth of the pinion gear 351, which rotates coaxially with the operating part 350, mesh with the teeth of the rack gear 341 formed in the positive Y-axis direction. When user H rotates the operating part 350 in rotation direction A, the support arm 340 moves in a direction that increases the length protruding from the cover 310. When user H rotates the operating part 350 in rotation direction B, the support arm 340 moves in a direction that decreases the length protruding from the cover 310. Since the direction of operation on the operating part 350 and the direction in which the support arm 340 moves are approximately the same, user H can intuitively extend and retract the support arm 340.

[0026] The O-ring 360 functions as a retaining mechanism that fixes the position of the support arm 340 inserted into the cover 310 and maintains the length of the support portion 300 at a predetermined length. The O-ring 360 is an elastic member positioned between the operating portion 350 and the inner cover 330. The O-ring 360 presses the operating portion 350 in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the pinion gear 351. The elastic O-ring 360 generates a frictional force between the pinion gear 351 and the operating portion 350. The generated frictional force suppresses the rotation of the pinion gear 351 by the operating portion 350.

[0027] User H can change the length to which the support arm 340 protrudes from the cover 310 by moving the operating part 350 or the support arm 340 with a force greater than the generated frictional force. On the other hand, if the force required to move the operating part 350 or the support arm 340 is less than the frictional force exerted by the O-ring 360, the O-ring 360 fixes the position of the support arm 340 and maintains the length of the support part 300 at a predetermined length.

[0028] The hinge portion 321 of the outer cover 320 is a connecting portion of the support portion 300, and rotatably connects the support portion 300 to the front portion 200. The hinge portion 321 is rotatably connected to a connecting portion 230R provided on the front portion 200. It is preferable that the hinge portion 321 be positioned between the adjustment mechanism and the front portion 200. The hinge portion 321 is positioned on the front portion 200 side (positive Z-axis direction) of the space inside the cover 310 where the support arm 340 is housed and where the adjustment mechanism is located. With this arrangement, the distance from the hinge portion 321, which is the rotation center of the support portion 300, to the contact point between the support arm 340 and the user H becomes longer, making it possible to reduce the rotation angle of the support portion 300, which varies depending on the size of the user H's head.

[0029] The protruding member 370 is positioned to fit into an opening 322 provided near the hinge portion 321 of the outer cover 320. The biasing spring 380 is positioned between the protruding member 370 and the outer cover 320.

[0030] Referring to Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the biasing force of the support portion 300 by the convex member 370 and the biasing spring 380 will be explained. Figures 4(A) and 4(B) are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the part connecting the front portion 200 and the support portion 300 (cross-sectional views of cross-section C shown in Figure 3(A) viewed from the negative Y-axis direction). The convex member 370 and the biasing spring 380 support the support portion 300 with respect to the front portion 2 The 00 is biased to rotate toward the center. The pair of left and right support parts 300 are biased to move toward each other.

[0031] Figure 4(A) shows the state of the support portion 300 at the position where biasing force generation begins. Figure 4(B) shows the state in which the support portion 300 is fully extended. The hinge portion 321 and the connecting portion 230R are rotatable about the rotation axis 400. When the support portion 300 is opened from the folded state to the state shown in Figure 4(A), the convex member 370 comes into contact with the stopper surface 231R. When the support portions 300 are opened further in the direction away from each other, the biasing spring 380 is pressed against the convex member 370, generating a force that tries to push the convex member 370 back, and generating a force that biases the support portion 300 toward the center of the front portion 200.

[0032] As the support portion 300 is opened, the stopper surface 231R comes into contact with the stopper surface 323 of the outer cover 320. When the stopper surface 231R comes into contact with the stopper surface 323, the rotation of the support portion 300 stops.

[0033] The biasing portion (convex member 370, biasing spring 380) is not limited to being located inside the outer cover 320, but may also be provided on the front portion 200. When the biasing portion is provided on the front portion 200, the same effect as when the biasing portion is provided on the outer cover 320 can be obtained by configuring the convex member 370 to be biased in the opposite direction to the example in Figure 4(B).

[0034] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support arm 340. The support arm 340 includes a region G which includes the portion inserted into the cover 310, and a region F which is outside of region G. Region F includes a tip that contacts the vicinity of the back of the user H's head. Region F of the support arm 340 may be formed so that its thickness decreases towards the tip. In this case, while the thickness of the support arm 340 in region G is T1, the thickness of the tip of region F is T2, which is thinner than T1. Because region F is thinner than region G, it has higher elasticity and is easily elastically deformed. Therefore, the support arm 340 can easily deform to match the shape of the user H's head, and the stability of the head mounting device 100 when mounted is improved.

[0035] Region F is not limited to being formed integrally from the same material as region G; it may also be formed using a material that is more elastically deformable than the material forming region G (e.g., an elastomer) by dividing the support arm 340. By forming it with two different materials, region F can be made more elastically deformable than region G without gradually changing the thickness of the support arm 340 from T1 to T2. By using different materials for region F and region G, the support arm 340 can be formed to a desired thickness, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance. In addition, region F may be made using a different material (an elastically deformable material) than region G, and may also be formed so that its thickness decreases towards the tip.

[0036] A projection 342 may be formed on the tip end of the support arm 340. The projection 342 can part the hair and come into contact with the user H's scalp, thereby increasing the fixing force of the head mounting device 100 to the user H's head.

[0037] Figure 6 shows a comparison of the fit of the device for users H with different head sizes. User H1 has a larger head size than user H2. The biasing portion, which includes the convex member 370 and the biasing spring 380, allows the support portion 300 to contact the side of the head D regardless of the user's head size.

[0038] Furthermore, user H can adjust the length to which the support arm 340 protrudes from the cover 310 by sliding the support arm 340 relative to the cover 310 using the adjustment mechanism. Therefore, the support arm 340 will not come into contact with the back of the head E regardless of the size of the head. This becomes possible.

[0039] Since region F of the support arm 340 is more elastically deformable than region G, user H can adjust the force applied to the contact points by moving the support arm 340 while keeping it in contact with the temporal region D and the occipital region E. For example, if the position of the support arm 340 is adjusted from the state in Figure 6(A) so that the support portion 300 becomes even shorter, region F of the support arm 340 deforms to conform to the shape of user H's head. By shortening the length of the support arm 340 that protrudes from the cover 310, the force applied to the temporal region D is weakened and the force applied to the occipital region E is strengthened while the contact points of the temporal region D and the occipital region E remain in contact.

[0040] If user H's head moves vigorously, they can shorten the length of the protruding support arm 340 to increase stability and enhance the tightening force between the back of the head E and the contact area of ​​the nose pad 240, thereby stably attaching the head-mounting device 100. Furthermore, if user H experiences discomfort at the contact area of ​​the nose pad 240, they can lengthen the protruding support arm 340 to reduce the force applied to the contact area of ​​the nose pad 240. User H can selectively adjust the mounting state according to the situation.

[0041] Furthermore, the spacing W, which is the width between the positions where each of the pair of support parts 300 is connected to the front part 200, is preferably 120 mm or more. This is to suppress interference between the support arm 340 and the glasses when a user H wearing glasses puts the head-mounted device 100 in front of their eyes. By setting the spacing W to 120 mm or more, interference between the temples of the glasses GR and the support part 300 is suppressed, and user H can use the glasses GR and the head-mounted device 100 together. From the viewpoint of miniaturization, a shorter spacing W is preferable, but from the viewpoint of suppressing interference between the support arm 340 and the glasses, it is preferable to have a spacing W of 120 mm or more, and more preferably 140 mm or more.

[0042] According to the above embodiment, the head-mounting device 100 allows for adjustment of the length of a pair of support parts 300, and biases the support parts 300 to rotate toward the center of the front part 200, thereby facilitating attachment and improving stability during attachment.

[0043] Furthermore, the embodiments described above (including modified examples) are merely examples, and configurations obtained by appropriately modifying or changing the above-described configurations within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Configurations obtained by appropriately combining the above-described configurations are also included in the present invention.

[0044] This embodiment includes the following configuration. (Composition 1) The equipment placed in front of you, A pair of support parts are connected to both ends of the device for attaching it to the user's head. It has, The aforementioned support portion is A support arm extending to the back of the user's head, A cover is positioned between the support arm and the device, into which the support arm is inserted. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support portion by moving the support arm relative to the cover, A connecting part that rotatably connects the support part to the aforementioned device, A biasing part that biases the support part in a direction that rotates it toward the center of the device, has A head-mounted device characterized by the following features. (Configuration 2) The aforementioned connection portion is positioned between the adjustment mechanism and the equipment. The head-mounted device according to configuration 1, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 3) The support arm includes a first region which includes a portion which is inserted into the cover, and a second region which is other than the first region. The second region has higher elasticity than the first region. A head-mounted device according to configuration 1 or 2, characterized by the above. (Composition 4) The second region is formed using a material that is more elastically deformable than the material forming the first region. The head-mounted device according to configuration 3, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 5) The second region is formed such that its thickness decreases towards the tip. A head-mounted device according to configuration 3 or 4, characterized by the above. (Composition 6) The support portion further includes a holding mechanism that fixes the position of the support arm inserted into the cover and maintains the length of the support portion at a predetermined length. A head-mounted device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized by the above. (Composition 7) The adjustment mechanism includes a pinion gear rotated by an operating part for moving the support arm, and a rack gear that meshes with the pinion gear formed in the portion of the support arm into which it is inserted into the cover. A head-mounted device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized by the above. (Composition 8) The support portion further includes a holding mechanism that fixes the position of the support arm inserted into the cover and maintains the length of the support portion. The holding mechanism includes an elastic member positioned between the operating part and the cover, which presses the operating part in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the pinion gear, thereby suppressing the rotation of the pinion gear by the operating part. The head-mounted device according to configuration 7, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 9) The width between the positions where each of the pair of support parts is connected to the device is 120 mm or more. A head-mounted device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized by the above. (Composition 10) The support portion is positioned near the user's ear and on the side of the user's head that is closer to the optical axis of the optical system of the device. A head-mounted device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, characterized by the above. (Composition 11) Support parts connected to each end of the device for attaching the device, which is positioned in front of the eyes, to the user's head, A support arm extending to the back of the user's head, The cover into which the support arm is inserted, An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support portion by moving the support arm relative to the cover, A connecting part that rotatably connects the support part to the aforementioned device, A biasing part that biases the support part in a direction that rotates it toward the center of the device, has A support part characterized by the following features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 100: Head-mounted device, 200: Front section, 230L, 230R: Connection section, 300: Support section, 310: Cover, 321: Hinge section, 340: Support arm, 341: Rack gear, 351: Pinion gear, 370: Convex member, 380: Biasing spring

Claims

1. The equipment placed in front of you, A pair of support parts are connected to both ends of the device for attaching it to the user's head. It has, The aforementioned support portion is A support arm extending to the back of the user's head, A cover is positioned between the support arm and the device, into which the support arm is inserted. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support portion by moving the support arm relative to the cover, A connecting part that rotatably connects the support part to the aforementioned device, A biasing part that biases the support part in a direction that rotates it toward the center of the device, has A head-mounted device characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned connection portion is positioned between the adjustment mechanism and the equipment. The head-mounted device according to feature 1.

3. The support arm includes a first region which includes a portion which is inserted into the cover, and a second region which is other than the first region. The second region has higher elasticity than the first region. The head-mounted device according to feature 1 or 2.

4. The second region is formed using a material that is more elastically deformable than the material forming the first region. The head-mounted device according to feature 3.

5. The second region is formed such that its thickness decreases towards the tip. The head-mounted device according to feature 3.

6. The support portion further includes a holding mechanism that fixes the position of the support arm inserted into the cover and maintains the length of the support portion at a predetermined length. The head-mounted device according to feature 1 or 2.

7. The adjustment mechanism includes a pinion gear rotated by an operating part for moving the support arm, and a rack gear that meshes with the pinion gear and is formed in the portion of the support arm into which it is inserted into the cover. The head-mounted device according to feature 1 or 2.

8. The support portion further includes a holding mechanism that fixes the position of the support arm inserted into the cover and maintains the length of the support portion. The holding mechanism includes an elastic member positioned between the operating part and the cover, which presses the operating part in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the pinion gear, thereby suppressing the rotation of the pinion gear by the operating part. The head-mounted device according to feature 7.

9. The distance between the positions where each of the pair of support parts is connected to the device is 120 mm or more. The head-mounted device according to feature 1 or 2.

10. The support portion is positioned near the user's ear and on the side of the user's head that is closer to the optical axis of the optical system of the device. The head-mounted device according to feature 1 or 2.

11. Support parts connected to each end of the device for attaching the device, which is positioned in front of the eyes, to the user's head, A support arm extending to the back of the user's head, The cover into which the support arm is inserted, An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the support portion by moving the support arm relative to the cover, A connecting part that rotatably connects the support part to the aforementioned device, A biasing part that biases the support part in a direction that rotates it toward the center of the device, has A support part characterized by the following features.

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