Head-mounted display

Abstract

Provided is a head-mounted display that can present an even greater sense of presence to a user. A head-mounted display (1) includes: a body (10) having a display panel (11); a front support part (21) that is connected the upper side of the body (10), and that is for coming into contact with the user's forehead; a housing (34c) that is provided to the front support part (21); and an oscillation motor (40) that is accommodated in the housing (34c).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a head-mounted display.

Background Art

[0002] A head-mounted display for presenting moving images such as game images and movies is being used. When using a head-mounted display, a moving image spreads in front of the user's eyes and external light is blocked, so the user can obtain a high sense of immersion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a desire to obtain a higher sense of presence by using a head-mounted display.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The head-mounted display proposed in the present disclosure includes a main body having a display panel, a front support portion connected to the upper side of the main body for contacting the user's forehead, a housing provided on the front support portion, and a vibration motor housed in the housing. According to this head-mounted display, the sense of presence can be improved by the vibration motor. In addition, since the vibration motor is housed by the housing, the vibration motor can be stably driven.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, the head-mounted display proposed in the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, Y1 and Y2 shown in FIG. 1 are defined as the front and the rear respectively, X1 and X2 are defined as the right and the left respectively. Also, Z1 and Z2 are defined as the upper and the lower respectively. Further, in the following description, the head-mounted display is referred to as HMD.

[0008] The HMD1 is connected, for example, wired or wirelessly to an external information processing device. The information processing device is, for example, a game device or an audio-visual device. The information processing device may be a device connected to the HMD1 via a wired or wireless LAN, or may be a server device connected to the HMD1 via the Internet. The information processing device functioning as a game device executes game-related processing and transmits game video to the HMD1 via wired, wireless LAN, and / or the Internet. The audio-visual device plays back video content stored in a storage device and transmits the content data to the HMD1 via wired, wireless LAN, and / or the Internet. In contrast, the HMD1 may incorporate an information processing device functioning as such a game device in the main body 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0009] The main body 10 of the HMD1 has a display panel 11 (see FIG. 2). As the display panel 11, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel can be used. The main body 10 has a main body housing 14. The display panel 11 is housed in the main body housing 14. A light-shielding cushion 13 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the rear edge of the main body housing 14. The light-shielding cushion 13 is formed so as to surround the display panel 11. The light-shielding cushion 13 prevents external light from reaching the user's eyes when the user is wearing the HMD1.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the HMD1 has a wearing band 20. The wearing band 20 has a shape that surrounds the user's head as a whole. That is, the wearing band 20 is annular in plan view. The wearing band 20 has, at its front part, a front support part 21 for abutting against the user's forehead. The front support part 21 is connected to the upper side of the main body 10.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the wearing band 20 has a rear support portion 23 at its rear portion. The wearing band 20 has two extension portions 34b extending rearward from the front support portion 21. The two extension portions 34b extend rearward from the right and left portions of the front support portion 21, respectively. The rear support portion 23 is connected to the rear portions of the left and right extension portions 34b. When the HMD 1 is in use, the front support portion 21 and the rear support portion 23 sandwich the user's head in the front-rear direction. The length of the wearing band 20 is adjusted by the movement of the rear support portion 23 in the front-rear direction. That is, when the rear support portion 23 is moved forward with respect to the extension portion 34b, the size of the wearing band 20 is reduced. When the rear support portion 23 is moved backward with respect to the two extension portions 34b, the size of the wearing band 20 is enlarged.

[0012] The wearing band 20 may have an elastic member for biasing the rear support portion 23 forward. For example, the rear portions of the left and right extension portions 34b may be inserted into the interior of the rear support portion 23. The rear support portion 23 may accommodate a spring that pulls the rear portions of the left and right extension portions 34b, and may be biased forward by the elastic force of this spring. Alternatively, the extension portion 34b may be formed of rubber. And the extension portion 34b may bias the rear support portion 23 forward.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the HMD 1 has a vibration motor 40. The vibration motor 40 is driven (vibrates) in accordance with an instruction received from an external or an information processing device (e.g., a game device) incorporated in the HMD 1. For example, when an object or a game character operated by the user receives an impact, the vibration motor vibrates. Thereby, the sense of immersion in the game can be enhanced.

[0014] The vibration motor 40 is provided on the front support portion 21. The vibration motor 40 is located at the center of the front support portion 21 in the left - right direction. Also, the vibration motor 40 is located at the lower part of the front support portion 21 when viewed from the front of the HMD1 (see Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 1, the mounting band 20 has a band frame 34. The band frame 34 has a housing portion 34c that houses the vibration motor 40. The housing portion 34c suppresses the exposure of the vibration motor 40 to the outside.

[0015] The vibration motor 40 may be arranged such that the direction of its vibration intersects the vertical direction of the display panel 11. Specifically, the vibration motor 40 may be arranged such that the direction of its vibration is substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction of the display panel 11. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the display panel 11 from swaying in the vertical direction and becoming difficult to view when the vibration motor 40 vibrates.

[0016] The vibration motor 40 may be, for example, an eccentric motor. That is, as shown in Fig. 6, the vibration motor 40 may have a rotating shaft 41 and a weight 42 that is attached to the rotating shaft 41 and has a center of gravity at a position away from the rotating shaft 41. The vibration of the vibration motor 40 occurs in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 41. The rotating shaft 41 may be directed in a direction along the display panel 11. That is, the rotating shaft 41 may be arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the display panel 11. Specifically, the rotating shaft 41 is arranged to face the vertical direction of the display panel 11. Due to this arrangement of the rotating shaft 41, the vibration of the vibration motor 40 occurs in a direction substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction of the display panel 11. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the display panel 11 from swaying vertically and becoming difficult to view due to the vibration of the vibration motor 40.

[0017] The vibration motor 40 may be a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor may be arranged such that the direction of its vibration faces a direction perpendicular to the display panel 11. Alternatively, the voice coil motor may be arranged such that the direction of its vibration faces the left - right direction of the display panel 11. According to this arrangement of the voice coil motor, when the voice coil motor vibrates, it is possible to suppress the display panel 11 from vibrating in the up - down direction and becoming difficult to view.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the front support portion 21 has a main frame 31. The main frame 31 is formed of a resin such as plastic. The main frame 31 may be curved to fit the shape of the user's head. More specifically, the main frame 31 may have a central portion 31a and left and right side portions 31c located on the right and left sides of the central portion 31a. Then, the central portion 31a and the side portions 31c may be curved so as to surround the user's forehead.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 6, the front support portion 21 has a cushion 32. The cushion 32 has an inner surface (rear surface) 32a for contacting the user's forehead. The cushion 32 may also be curved so as to surround the forehead, similar to the main frame 31. The cushion 32 is, for example, a sponge, but may also be an elastomer. The front support portion 21 may have a cushion frame 33 to which the cushion 32 is attached. The cushion frame 33 is attached to the inside (rear side) of the main frame 31, and the cushion 32 may be attached to the inside (rear side) of the cushion frame 33.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front support portion 21 has motor frames 36·37 that support the vibration motor 40. The motor frames 36·37 are combined, for example, in the front - rear direction. Then, the vibration motor 40 may be arranged between these two motor frames 36·37.

[0021] The motor frame 36 is attached to the front side of the motor frame 37. For the mutual attachment of the motor frames 36 and 37, fixtures such as screws may be used. Alternatively, a claw portion may be formed on one motor frame, and the other motor frame may be fixed to each other by engaging this claw portion, and the two motor frames 36 and 37 may be fixed to each other.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the front motor frame 36 has a main body support portion 36a at its lower part. The upper part of the main body 10 is connected to this main body support portion 36a. For example, a frame (not shown) of the main body 10 is connected to this main body support portion 36a. In this way, since the structure for supporting the main body 10 and the structure for supporting the vibration motor 40 are realized by a common member (that is, the motor frame 36), the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the vibration of the vibration motor 40 can be effectively transmitted to the main body 10 via the motor frame 36, and a high sense of presence can be provided to the user.

[0023] The motor frame 36 has a column portion 36c at its upper part, which is attached to the motor frame 37. The main body support portion 36a extends forward from the lower part of the column portion 36c. The main body 10 may be movable in the front-rear direction along the main body support portion 36a. Thereby, the relative position between the user's eyes and the display panel 11 can be adjusted.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the motor frame 36 may have left and right column portions 36c. And the vibration motor 40 may be arranged between these left and right column portions 36c. As shown in FIG. 7, in a side view of the HMD1, the vibration motor 40 overlaps the column portion 36c. The vibration motor 40 has a motor main body 43 that supports a rotation shaft 41. The motor main body 43 has a coil and a magnet. The column portion 36c may overlap the rear part of the motor main body 43. With this arrangement of the motor frame 36 and the vibration motor 40, for example, compared with a structure in which the whole vibration motor 40 is located in front of the column portion 36c, the width in the front-rear direction of the frames 36 and 37 and the vibration motor 40 can be reduced. As a result, the swelling of the housing portion 34c that houses the vibration motor 40 toward the front can be reduced.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the motor frame 36 may have a recess 36d formed between the left and right pillar portions 36c. The motor body 43 may be disposed inside this recess 36d and held by the recess 36d. The weight 42 may be exposed above the recess 36d.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the recess 36d may have a front support wall 36e formed so as to surround the cylindrical motor body 43. An opening 36f for exposing the front side of the motor body 43 may be formed in the front support wall 36e. According to this structure of the recess 36d, the width of the motor frame 36 and the vibration motor 40 in the front-rear direction can be reduced by the thickness of the front support wall 36e. As a result, the bulge of the housing portion 34c accommodating the vibration motor 40 forward can be reduced. The recess 36d has an upper wall 36g located above the motor body 43.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, the rear motor frame 37 may be attached to, for example, the main frame 31. Thereby, the vibration of the vibration motor 40 can be transmitted to the user's forehead through the frames 37 and 31 and the cushion 32, and a high sense of presence can be provided to the user.

[0028] For the mutual attachment of the main frame 31 and the motor frame 37, fixtures such as screws may be used, for example. Different from this, a claw portion may be formed on one frame, and this claw portion may be caught by the other frame. The frame structure is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, it may be a member integrally formed with the rear motor frame 37 and the main frame 31.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the motor frame 37 has a wall portion 37a arranged along the front side of the main frame 31 and a recess 37b formed in the wall portion 37a. A part (rear part) of the motor body 43 may be fitted inside the recess 37b. According to this structure, for example, compared with a structure in which the motor body 43 is arranged on the front side of the wall portion 37a where this recess 37b is not formed, the vibration motor 40 can be arranged further back (closer to the user's head). Thereby, for example, when the user moves their head, the moment caused by the weight of the vibration motor 40 can be reduced. Also, the bulging of the housing portion 34c for accommodating the vibration motor 40 forward can be reduced.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the motor frame 37 may have a rear support wall 37c formed inside the recess 37b. The rear support wall 37c supports the rear side of the motor body 43. An elastic body 51 (see FIG. 6) formed of rubber or elastomer may be arranged between the rear support wall 37c and the motor body 43. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of noise caused by the collision between the motor body 43 and the rear support wall 37c.

[0031] The rear support wall 37c may function as a leaf spring that biases the motor body 43 forward. Thereby, the rattling of the vibration motor 40 inside the recess 36d (see FIG. 4) formed in the front motor frame 36 can be suppressed.

[0032] An elastic body formed of rubber or elastomer may also be arranged inside the front support wall 36e (see FIG. 4) of the motor frame 36. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of noise caused by the collision between the motor body 43 and the front support wall 36e.

[0033] As described above, in the front support portion 21 of the wearing band 20, recesses 36d and 37b are respectively formed in two motor frames 36 and 37 that are combined in the front-rear direction. The front portion of the motor body 43 is disposed in the recess 36d of the front motor frame 36, and the rear portion of the motor body 43 is disposed in the recess 37b of the rear motor frame 37. Different from the example described herein, a recess for accommodating a part of the motor body 43 may be formed only in one of the two motor frames 36 and 37, and such a recess may not be formed in the other motor frame.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the vibration motor 40 is located in front of the lower portion 32b of the cushion 32. According to this, the vibration of the vibration motor 40 can be transmitted to the user's forehead through the cushion 32. Further, the center of gravity position of the front support portion 21 can be lowered, and the wearing stability of the HMD1 on the user's head can be improved. In the example shown in the figure, most of the vibration motor 40 (more specifically, the motor body 43) is located below the center Lm of the cushion 32 in the vertical direction (the direction along the display panel 11).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, the cushion 32 has a rear surface 32a that contacts the user's head. In the lower portion 32b of the cushion 32, the rear surface 32a extends obliquely rearward and upward. In a cross-sectional view of the cushion 32, the rear surface 32a extends linearly in the lower portion 32b. The rear surface 32a has a curved surface 32c that curves toward the rear at its upper portion. According to this shape of the cushion 32, the curved surface 32c hits the user's forehead and effectively supports the HMD1.

[0036] The position of the vibration motor 40 is lower than the curved surface 32c. More specifically, the upper surface 43a of the motor body 43 is lower than the lower end B (the position where the curvature starts) of the curved surface 32c. Therefore, the gravity caused by the vibration motor 40 generates a moment M1 centered on the curved portion 32c. This moment M1 acts in the direction of pressing the main body 10 against the user's face and contributes to the close contact between the light-shielding cushion 13 of the main body 10 and the face.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, the cushion 32 extends obliquely upward and rearward from its lower end 32d. The vibration motor 40 is located above the lower end 32d of the cushion 32. More specifically, the position of the lower surface 43c of the vibration motor 40 is higher than the lower end 32d of the cushion 32. The frames 31 and 37 extend obliquely upward and rearward from their lower ends 31b and 37d, similar to the cushion 32. The vibration motor 40 is located above the lower ends 31b and 37d of the frames 31 and 37. That is, the position of the lower surface 43c of the vibration motor 40 is higher than the lower ends 31b and 37d of the frames 31 and 37. With this arrangement of the vibration motor 40, the position of the vibration motor 40 can be set to be rearward (toward the head). As a result, the bulging forward of the housing portion 34c that houses the vibration motor 40 can be reduced. Also, for example, when the user moves their head, the moment generated by the weight of the vibration motor 40 can be reduced.

[0038] In the example shown in the figure, the rear end 43b of the motor body 43 is located rearward of the lower end 37d of the motor frame 37, and the rear portion of the motor body 43 is located above the lower part of the motor frame 37.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the wearing band 20 has a band frame 34. The front portion 34a of the band frame 34 constitutes the front surface of the front support portion 21. Hereinafter, this front portion 34a will be referred to as the frame front portion. The frame front portion 34a is curved so as to surround the user's forehead, similar to the main frame 31 and the like. The two extending portions 34b described above extend rearward from the right side and the left side of the frame front portion 34a, respectively. The extending portion 34b and the frame front portion 34a may be integrally formed of resin.

[0040] The front portion 34a of the frame has a housing portion 34c that houses the vibration motor 40. In the example shown in the figure, the housing portion 34c is formed at the center of the front portion 34a of the frame in the left - right direction and bulges forward. The housing portion 34c has a front wall portion 34d that covers the front side of the vibration motor 40 and an upper wall portion 34e that covers the upper side of the vibration motor 40. The housing portion 34c, the front wall portion 34d and the upper wall portion 34e house, in addition to the vibration motor 40, the recess 36d and the column portion 36c of the motor frame 36.

[0041] As described above, the HMD1 has a main body 10 having a display panel 11, a front support portion 21 connected to the upper side of the main body 10 for applying to the user's forehead, a housing portion 34c provided on the front support portion 21, and a vibration motor 40 housed in the housing portion 34c. According to this HMD1, the sense of presence can be improved by the vibration motor 40. Further, since the vibration motor 40 is housed in the housing portion 34c, the vibration motor 40 can be stably driven.

[0042] Also, the vibration motor 40 is arranged such that the direction of its vibration intersects the vertical direction of the display panel. More specifically, the vibration motor 40 is an eccentric motor having a rotation axis 41, and this rotation axis 41 is directed in the direction along the display panel 11. According to this arrangement of the vibration motor 40, it is possible to suppress the display panel 11 from swaying up and down due to the vibration of the vibration motor 40 and becoming difficult to view.

[0043] Also, the front support portion 21 has a motor frame 36 that supports the main body 10, and the vibration motor 40 is attached to the motor frame 36. According to this structure, the number of parts can be reduced, and the vibration of the vibration motor 40 can be effectively transmitted to the main body 10.

[0044] Further, a recess 37b is formed in the motor frame 37 for disposing the rear portion of the vibration motor 40. According to this structure, for example, compared with a structure in which the motor body 43 is disposed on the front side of the motor frame 37 where the recess 37b is not formed, the vibration motor 40 can be disposed closer to the rear (closer to the user's head). Thereby, the swelling of the housing portion 34c for accommodating the vibration motor 40 forward can be reduced. Also, for example, when the user moves the head, the moment generated by the weight of the vibration motor 40 can be reduced.

[0045] The vibration motor 40 is disposed in front of the lower portion 32b of the cushion 32. According to this, the vibration of the vibration motor 40 can be transmitted to the user's forehead through the cushion 32. Also, the center of gravity position of the front support portion 21 can be lowered, and the wearing stability of the HMD1 on the user's head can be improved.

[0046] Also, the lower end 32d of the cushion 32 extends obliquely rearward and upward, and the vibration motor 40 is disposed above the lower end 32d of the cushion 32. Thereby, the swelling of the housing portion 34c accommodating the vibration motor 40 forward can be reduced. Also, for example, when the user moves the head, the moment generated by the weight of the vibration motor 40 can be reduced.

[0047] Also, the rear surface 32a of the cushion 32 has a curved portion 32c at its upper part. The position of the motor body 43 is lower than that of the curved portion 32c. Thereby, the gravity caused by the vibration motor 40 generates a moment M1 centered on the curved portion 32c. This moment M1 acts in the direction of pressing the main body 10 against the user's face, contributing to the close contact between the light-shielding cushion 13 of the main body 10 and the face.

[0048] Note that the HMD1 proposed in the present disclosure is not limited to the HMD1 described above, and various modifications may be made. For example, the support structure of the vibration motor 40 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the HMD1 may have only the front motor frame 36 among the two motor frames 36 and 37. In this case, the motor frame 36 may be directly attached to the main frame 31. Differently, the HMD1 may have only the rear motor frame 37 among the two motor frames 36 and 37. In this case, the motor frame 37 may have a main body support portion that supports the main body 10.

Claims

1. A main body having a display panel, a front support portion connected to the upper side of the main body and adapted to be applied to the user's forehead, a housing provided on the front support portion, and a vibration motor housed in the housing, characterized in that, the front support portion includes a frame with a cushion attached to the rear side, a front frame portion constituting the front surface of the front support portion and having the housing in front, and a motor frame holding the vibration motor, the housing houses a part of the motor frame, the motor frame has left and right column portions between which the vibration motor is disposed, and a main body support portion extending forward from the lower portions of the left and right column portions and connected to the upper portion of the main body, a head-mounted display.

2. A recess is formed in the frame for disposing a part of the vibration motor, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

3. The vibration motor is disposed in front of the lower portion of the cushion, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

4. The cushion extends obliquely upward and rearward from its lower end, The vibration motor is disposed above the lower end of the cushion, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

5. The cushion includes a rear surface including a portion that contacts the user's forehead, the rear surface has a curved portion that curves rearward at its upper portion, the position of the main body of the vibration motor is lower than the curved portion, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

6. The vibration motor is arranged such that the direction of its vibration intersects the vertical direction of the display panel, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

7. The vibration motor is an eccentric motor having a rotation axis, the rotation axis is directed in a direction along the display panel, The head-mounted display according to claim 1.

Images