Multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system and eyewear device including such hinge system

Abstract

To provide a multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system and an eyewear device including such a hinge system.SOLUTION: A multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system, which is particularly well adapted for eyewear such as a spatial computing headset, is provided. In the context of such a spatial computing headset having an optical assembly supported by opposing temple arms, the hinge system provides protection against over-extension of the temple arms or extreme deflections that may otherwise arise from undesirable torsional loading of the temple arms. The hinge system also allows the temple arms to splay outwardly to enable proper fit and enhanced user comfort.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 978,076, filed February 18, 2020, and entitled "MULTIPLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM HINGE SYSTEMS AND EYEWEAR DEVICES COMPRISING SUCH HINGE SYSTEMS," the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

[0002] (Technical field) The present disclosure relates generally to hinge systems, and more particularly to a multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system well adapted to support temple arms of eyewear devices, including spatial computing headsets, among others. The present disclosure also relates to eyewear devices comprising such hinge systems. [Background technology]

[0003] Description of Related Art Spatial computing headsets, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR) headsets, have proven useful for many applications, spanning the fields of scientific visualization, medical and military training, engineering design and prototyping, remote operation and telepresence, and personal entertainment. In spatial computing headsets, a virtual or augmented scene is displayed to a user via an optical assembly that is positionable and secureable to the user's head in front of the user's eyes. Many different systems and techniques exist for supporting such headsets on a user's head, including various structures with hinged temple arms. However, such systems and techniques can suffer from various shortcomings. For example, known systems can be overly complex, bulky, lack precision, and / or include a limited range of motion. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] (summary) The embodiments described herein provide a multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system that is particularly well-suited for supporting temple arms of eyewear devices, including spatial computing headsets. In the context of a spatial computing headset having an optical system assembly supported by opposing temple arms, the multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system can provide protection against hyperextension or extreme deflection of the temple arms (e.g., twisting one temple arm upward and one temple arm downward) that might otherwise result from undesired torsional loading of the temple arms. For example, the multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system can enable the temple arms of an eyewear device (e.g., a spatial computing headset) to rotate about at least two different rotational axes, i.e., a pitch axis and a yaw axis, decoupling forces imposed on the temple arms from, for example, the structure of the eyewear device forward of the hinge split (e.g., the optical system), the operation of the eyewear device, etc.

[0005] According to one embodiment, an eyewear device can be summarized as including an optical system assembly, a pair of opposing temple arms, and a pair of hinge systems, each hinge system coupling a respective one of the pair of opposing temple arms to the optical system assembly. Each hinge system may include a hinge base fixedly coupled to the optical system assembly, a middle hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base and rotating about a pitch axis, and a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the middle hinge member, rotating about a yaw axis, and fixedly coupled to a respective one of the pair of temple arms.

[0006] The hinge base may include a biasing member configured to rotatably bias the intermediate hinge member toward the neutral configuration about the pitch axis when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration. The hinge base may include a generally planar structure with an internal cavity that houses the biasing member. The hinge base may include a generally planar base element having the biasing member integrally formed therein. The hinge base may further include a facing cover fixedly secured to the generally planar base element and substantially concealing the biasing member within the internal cavity of the hinge base. At least one of the facing covers may include an arcuate guide to help guide the intermediate hinge member as it rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base.

[0007] The hinge base may include a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member may be pivotally mounted about the bushing and pitch up and down about the pitch axis. A clearance is provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to enable some translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base. For example, the clearance may be a circumferential clearance having a clearance distance of at least 0.25 mm.

[0008] The hinge base and intermediate hinge member of the hinge system may include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis.

[0009] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may include a first rotational stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when it pitches upward to its upward limit and a second rotational stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when it pitches downward to its downward limit. The first and second rotational stops may be provided by portions of arcuate slots provided in the hinge base that extend therefrom and interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member or structure when it pitches up or down to its upward and downward limits, respectively.

[0010] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may include a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the middle hinge member pitches upward to its upward limit, and a second rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the middle hinge member pitches downward to its downward limit. The first and second rotational stops may be provided by a periphery of the middle hinge member. The first and second rotational stops may serve as backup stops in the event of failure of the primary rotational stop provided by the base hinge.

[0011] The hinge base may include an arcuate guide, and the intermediate hinge member may include or otherwise interact with a corresponding guide pin that rides within the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base. Clearance may be provided between the contour of the arcuate guide and the corresponding guide pin to enable some translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base. For example, the clearance may be a circumferential clearance having a clearance distance of at least 0.25 mm.

[0012] The hinge system may be configured to enable the pair of temple arms to pitch up and down from a neutral configuration by at least 5 degrees, or at least 10 degrees, or more, about the pitch axis in each rotational direction.

[0013] A biasing member (e.g., a cantilever spring) may be positioned between the distal hinge member and the intermediate hinge member to bias the distal hinge member toward a neutral configuration in which the pair of temple arms are biased toward the retracted configuration.

[0014] The middle and distal hinge members of the hinge system may include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the distal hinge member relative to the middle hinge member about the yaw axis.

[0015] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may include a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit and a second rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit. The first and second rotational stops may be provided by opposing portions of a plate structure of the middle hinge member that obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit and inward limit, respectively.

[0016] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may include a first rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit and a second rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit. The first and second rotational stops may be provided by distinct portions of the distal hinge member configured to abut opposite sides of the middle hinge member.

[0017] The hinge system may be configured to enable the pair of temple arms to yaw outwardly by at least 15 degrees, or at least 20 degrees or more.

[0018] Each hinge system may be substantially concealed within the optics assembly and temple arm members of the eyewear device. The hinge systems may be configured to maintain a flexible circuit path within a separate joint area of the eyewear device from a front end of the hinge system to a rear end of the hinge system throughout operation of the hinge system. The flexible circuit path may be a void between the hinge system and the housing of the eyewear that extends along the length of the hinge system from the front end to the rear end.

[0019] While the foregoing embodiments are disclosed in the context of eyewear, it should be understood that the hinge system embodiments disclosed herein, or aspects or features thereof, may be well suited to a variety of other devices comprising one or more hinge connections. Thus, the hinge system may be summarized as including a hinge base fixedly connectable to a first member, an intermediate hinge member rotatably connected to the hinge base and rotating about a pitch axis, and a distal hinge member rotatably connected to the intermediate hinge member and rotating about a yaw axis and fixedly connectable to a second member, the hinge system enabling the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member. The first and second members may be of a variety of different configurations in which a hinge connection with multiple degrees of freedom is desirable. The hinge system may include some or all of the features described above in connection with the foregoing eyewear embodiments.

[0020] Summary recitation of some embodiments of the present disclosure

[0021] 1. An eyewear device comprising: an optical system assembly; a pair of opposing temple arms; and a pair of hinge systems, each hinge system coupling a respective one of the pair of opposing temple arms to the optical system assembly, each hinge system including a hinge base fixedly coupled to the optical system assembly, a middle hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base and rotating about a pitch axis, and a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the middle hinge member, rotating about a yaw axis and fixedly coupled to a respective one of the pair of temple arms.

[0022] 2. An eyewear device as described in item 1, wherein the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to rotatably bias the intermediate hinge member toward the neutral configuration about the pitch axis when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration.

[0023] 3. An eyewear device as described in item 2, wherein the hinge base comprises a generally planar structure with an internal cavity that houses the biasing member.

[0024] 4. The eyewear device of item 2, wherein the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element having the biasing member integrally formed therein.

[0025] 5. The eyewear device of item 4, wherein the hinge base further comprises an opposing cover fixedly secured to the generally planar base element and substantially concealing the biasing member within the internal cavity of the hinge base.

[0026] 6. An eyewear device as described in item 5, wherein at least one of the opposing covers includes an arcuate guide that helps guide the intermediate hinge member as it rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base.

[0027] 7. An eyewear device as described in item 1, wherein the hinge base includes a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member is pivotally mounted about the bushing and pitches up and down about the pitch axis.

[0028] 8. An eyewear device as described in item 7, wherein a gap is provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to enable a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

[0029] 9. An eyewear device as described in item 1, wherein the hinge base and intermediate hinge member of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis.

[0030] 10. The eyewear device of item 9, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotation stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to its upward limit; and a second rotation stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to its downward limit.

[0031] 11. The eyewear device of item 10, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by portions of an arcuate slot provided in the hinge base that obstruct the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches up or down to its upward and downward limits, respectively.

[0032] 12. The eyewear device of item 9, wherein the one or more stop arrangements include a first rotation stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to its upward limit, and a second rotation stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to its downward limit.

[0033] 13. The eyewear device of item 12, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by a periphery of the intermediate hinge member.

[0034] 14. The eyewear device of item 13, wherein the first and second rotation stops serve as backup stops in case of failure of the primary rotation stop provided by the base hinge.

[0035] 15. An eyewear device as described in item 1, wherein the hinge base includes an arcuate guide and the intermediate hinge member includes or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides within the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base.

[0036] 16. An eyewear device as described in item 15, wherein a gap is provided between the arcuate guide contour and the corresponding guide pin to enable a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

[0037] 17. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the pair of temple arms to pitch up and down at least 5 degrees about the pitch axis in each rotational direction from a neutral configuration.

[0038] 18. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the pair of temple arms to pitch up and down about the pitch axis by at least 10 degrees in each rotational direction from a neutral configuration.

[0039] 19. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein a biasing member is positioned between the distal hinge member and the intermediate hinge member and biases the distal hinge member toward a neutral configuration in which the pair of temple arms are biased toward a retracted configuration.

[0040] 20. An eyewear device as described in item 1, wherein the intermediate hinge member and the distal hinge member of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the distal hinge member relative to the intermediate hinge member about the yaw axis.

[0041] 21. An eyewear device as described in item 20, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotation stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to interrupt the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit; and a second rotation stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws to its inward limit.

[0042] 22. The eyewear device of item 21, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by opposing portions of the plate structure of the intermediate hinge member that obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws to its outward and inward limits, respectively.

[0043] 23. The eyewear device described in item 20, wherein the one or more stop arrangements include a first rotation stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit, and a second rotation stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit.

[0044] 24. The eyewear device of item 23, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by distinct portions of the distal hinge member configured to abut opposite sides of the intermediate hinge member.

[0045] 25. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the pair of temple arms to yaw outward by at least 15 degrees.

[0046] 26. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the pair of temple arms to yaw outward by at least 20 degrees.

[0047] 27. The eyewear device of item 1, wherein each hinge system is substantially concealed within the optics assembly and temple arm members of the eyewear device.

[0048] 28. An eyewear device as described in item 27, wherein the hinge system is configured to maintain a flexible circuit path within a separate joint area of the eyewear device from the front end of the hinge system to the rear end of the hinge system throughout operation of the hinge system.

[0049] 29. The eyewear device of item 28, wherein the flexible circuit path is a void between the hinge system and the housing of the eyewear that extends along the length of the hinge system from the front end to the rear end.

[0050] 30. A hinge system comprising: a hinge base fixedly coupleable to a first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base and rotating about a pitch axis; and a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member and rotating about a yaw axis and fixedly coupleable to a second member, wherein the hinge system enables the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member.

[0051] 31. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to rotatably bias the intermediate hinge member toward the neutral configuration about the pitch axis when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration.

[0052] 32. The hinge system of item 31, wherein the hinge base comprises a generally planar structure with an internal cavity that houses the biasing member.

[0053] 33. The hinge system of item 31, wherein the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element having the biasing member integrally formed therein.

[0054] 34. The hinge system of item 33, wherein the hinge base further comprises an opposing cover fixedly secured to the generally planar base element and substantially concealing the biasing member within the interior cavity of the hinge base.

[0055] 35. The hinge system of item 34, wherein at least one of the opposing covers includes an arcuate guide to help guide the intermediate hinge member as it rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base.

[0056] 36. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge base includes a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member is pivotally mounted about the bushing and pitches up and down about the pitch axis.

[0057] 37. The hinge system of item 36, wherein a clearance is provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to enable a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

[0058] 38. A hinge system as described in item 30, wherein the hinge base and intermediate hinge members of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the intermediate hinge members relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis.

[0059] 39. The hinge system of item 38, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to its upward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the hinge base configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to its downward limit.

[0060] 40. The hinge system of item 39, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by portions of arcuate slots provided in the hinge base that obstruct the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches up or down to its upward and downward limits, respectively.

[0061] 41. The hinge system of item 38, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to its upward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to its downward limit.

[0062] 42. The hinge system of item 41, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by a periphery of the middle hinge member.

[0063] 43. The hinge system of item 42, wherein the first and second rotation stops act as backup stops in the event of failure of the primary rotation stop provided by the base hinge.

[0064] 44. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge base includes an arcuate guide and the intermediate hinge member includes or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides within the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base.

[0065] 45. The hinge system of item 44, wherein clearance is provided between the arcuate guide contour and the corresponding guide pin to enable some degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

[0066] 46. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the second member to pitch at least 5 degrees up and down about the pitch axis in each direction of rotation from the neutral configuration.

[0067] 47. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the second member to pitch up and down at least 10 degrees about the pitch axis in each direction of rotation from the neutral configuration.

[0068] 48. The hinge system of item 30, wherein a biasing member is positioned between the distal hinge member and the middle hinge member and biases the distal hinge member toward the neutral configuration.

[0069] 49. The hinge system described in item 30, wherein the intermediate hinge member and the distal hinge member of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the distal hinge member relative to the intermediate hinge member about the yaw axis.

[0070] 50. The hinge system of item 49, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit.

[0071] 51. The hinge system described in item 50, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by opposing portions of the plate structure of the middle hinge member that obstruct the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward and inward limits, respectively.

[0072] 52. The hinge system of item 49, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit.

[0073] 53. The hinge system of item 52, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by distinct portions of the distal hinge member configured to abut opposite sides of the middle hinge member.

[0074] 54. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the second member to yaw by at least 15 degrees.

[0075] 55. The hinge system of item 30, wherein the hinge system is configured to enable the second member to yaw outward by at least 20 degrees. The present invention provides, for example, the following. (Item 1) 1. An optical system for presenting virtual content to a user, comprising: an optical assembly for projecting a light beam into at least one eye of a user; a first vine arm and a second vine arm opposite the first vine arm; a first hinge system and a second hinge system, the first and second hinge systems respectively coupling the first and second temple arms to the optical system assembly, the first hinge system comprising: a hinge base fixedly coupled to the optical assembly; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base and configured to rotate about a first axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member, rotating about a second axis, and fixedly coupled to the first temple arm, the first axis being different from the second axis; and a first hinge system and a second hinge system, An optical system comprising: (Item 2) Item 1. The optical system of item 1, wherein the first hinge system includes one or more stop mechanisms for limiting the rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about a pitch axis. (Item 3) 3. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the hinge base, the first rotational stop configured to constrain a first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to an upward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the hinge base, the second rotational stop configured to constrain the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to a downward limit. (Item 4) 4. The optical system of claim 3, wherein the first and second rotation stops are each provided by corresponding portions of an opening provided in the hinge base that constrains the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward or downward to the upward limit or the downward limit, respectively. (Item 5) Item 10. The optical system of item 1, wherein the hinge system includes one or more stop mechanisms for constraining rotational progress of the distal hinge member relative to the intermediate hinge member about a yaw axis. (Item 6) 6. The optical system of claim 5, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member, the first rotational stop configured to obstruct a second movement of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to an outward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member, the second rotational stop configured to obstruct the second movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws to an inward limit. (Item 7) 7. The optical system of claim 6, wherein the first and second rotation stops are each provided by corresponding opposing portions of a plate structure of the intermediate hinge member that constrain the second movement of the distal hinge member when the intermediate hinge member yaws to the outward and inward limits, respectively. (Item 8) 6. The optical system of claim 5, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise a first rotational stop and a second rotational stop, the first rotational stop being provided on the distal hinge member and configured to abut against the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit, and the second rotational stop being provided on the distal hinge member and configured to abut against the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit. (Item 9) Item 1. The optical system of item 1, wherein the hinge base comprises a biasing member configured to rotatably bias or twist the intermediate hinge member about the first axis toward a neutral position or configuration when the intermediate hinge member deviates from the neutral position or configuration. (Item 10) Item 1, wherein the optical system assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, a first plurality of projection fibers, and a second plurality of projection fibers, the first plurality of projection fibers configured to project at least one first light beam into the first lens, which in turn reflects the first light beam into at least one eye of the user. (Item 11) Item 1. The optical system of item 1, wherein the hinge base includes an arcuate guide, and the intermediate hinge member includes or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides within the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates about a pitch axis relative to the hinge base. (Item 12) Item 1. The optical system of item 1, wherein the first hinge system comprises a primary stop mechanism and a backup stop mechanism. (Item 13) 1. A hinge system comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first structural member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base and configured to rotate about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member, rotating about a yaw axis, and fixedly coupleable to a second structural member, the hinge system enabling the second structural member to pitch and yaw relative to the first structural member; A hinge system comprising: (Item 14) Item 14. The hinge system of item 13, further comprising one or more stop mechanisms for limiting rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis. (Item 15) Item 15. The hinge system of item 14, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise: a first rotational stop provided on the hinge base, the first rotational stop configured to constrain a first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches upward to an upward limit; and a second rotational stop provided on the hinge base, the second rotational stop configured to constrain the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member pitches downward to a downward limit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0076] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of eyewear in the form of a spatial computing headset including a pair of temple arms connected by a hinge system, according to one exemplary embodiment, with the temple arms of the headset shown in a retracted configuration.

[0077] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the spatial computing headset of FIG. 1, with the temple arms of the headset shown in an outwardly splayed or extended configuration.

[0078] [Figure 3] 3 is a front isometric view of one of the hinge systems, shown in isolation from the rest of the spatial computing headset of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the hinge system shown in a neutral configuration. Portions of the hinge system are shown transparent to reveal the underlying components.

[0079] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the hinge system in a neutral configuration.

[0080] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the hinge system in an elastically deformed configuration.

[0081] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of the hinge system in the same elastically deformed configuration of FIG.

[0082] [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a front elevation view of the hinge system in a neutral configuration.

[0083] [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a front elevation view of the hinge system in an upwardly pitched configuration.

[0084] [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a front elevation view of the hinge system in a pitched down configuration.

[0085] [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a top plan view of the hinge system in a neutral configuration.

[0086] [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a top plan view of the hinge system in the outwardly spread configuration.

[0087] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the hinge system.

[0088] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates one or more embodiments of various internal processing components of a wearable AR device.

[0089] [Figure 11A] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11B] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11C] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11D] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11E]11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11F] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11G] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11H] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments. [Figure 11I] 11A-I illustrate example configurations of an array of microprojectors and the coupling of the array of microprojectors with an optical system in one or more embodiments.

[0090] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 illustrates an example architecture 2500 for electronics operably coupled to an optical system in one or more embodiments.

[0091] [Figure 13A] FIG. 13A illustrates a top view of some example components of a schematic representation of an optical system in one or more embodiments.

[0092] [Figure 13B] FIG. 13B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a schematic representation of an optical system, in one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0093] (Detailed explanation) In the following description, certain specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with eyewear, including spatial computing headsets and hinge systems for the temple arms of the eyewear, have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0094] Unless otherwise required by context, throughout this specification and the claims that follow, the word "comprise" and variations thereof, such as "comprises" and "comprising," are to be interpreted in their open, inclusive sense, including, but not limited to, ".

[0095] Throughout this specification, references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0096] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR) systems have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. It should be noted that the terms “virtual reality (VR),” “augmented reality (AR),” “mixed reality (MR),” and “extended reality (XR)” are used interchangeably in this disclosure and may refer to a method or system for displaying at least virtual content to a user via at least the wearable optical assembly 12 described herein.

[0097] Unless otherwise required by context, throughout this specification and the claims that follow, the word "comprise" and variations thereof, such as "comprises" and "comprising," are to be interpreted in their open, inclusive sense, including, but not limited to, ".

[0098] 1-9 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a hinge system 100 that is particularly well-suited for eyewear. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge system 100 is particularly well-suited for a spatial computing headset 10. The spatial computing headset 10 includes an optical system assembly 12 supported by a pair of temple arms 14, 16 that are connected together by a pair of hinge systems 100. Well-known structures and devices associated with spatial computing headsets (e.g., optical components and internal electronic circuitry) are not shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments disclosed herein. The exemplary eyewear shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is non-limiting, and embodiments may be employed in other suitable eyewear, other wearable devices, or other apparatuses employing hinge connections.

[0099] Notably, the temple arms 14, 16 of the exemplary spatial computing headset 10 are movably coupled to the optics assembly 12 at joints 18, 20. Each joint 18, 20 includes a respective hinge system 100 that enables the temple arms 14, 16 to move relative to the optics assembly 12 in multiple directions and about multiple degrees of freedom. As will be described in further detail below, the exemplary spatial computing headset 10 includes hinge systems 100 at joints 18, 20 that enable the temple arms 14, 16 to diverge outward (i.e., away from the user's sagittal plane) approximately 20 degrees from a retracted configuration R shown in FIG. 1 to an extended configuration E shown in FIG. 2. The hinge system 100 further includes at least one biasing member 109 (FIGS. 3-6) that urges the temple arms 14, 16 back toward the retracted configuration R shown in FIG. 1 using a torsional force or torque. The hinge system 100 of the exemplary embodiment further enables each temple arm 14, 16 to pitch up or down approximately 10 degrees from the neutral configuration shown in Figure 1 in response to applied forces such as those labeled F1 and F2. The hinge system 100 further includes at least one biasing member 108 (Figure 3) that urges the temple arms 14, 16 back toward the neutral configuration shown in Figure 1.

[0100] 1 and 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment, each hinge system 100 is coupled to and spans between the forward end of a respective one of the temple arms 14, 16 and the optical system assembly 12. As will be described in further detail elsewhere herein, the hinge systems 100 enable the temple arms 14, 16 to pitch up and down about a pitch axis P from a neutral configuration or position (e.g., a position in which the temple arms do not exhibit movement from their designed positions due to external loads, e.g., from manually manipulating the temple arms, wearing the spatial computing headset 10 on a user's head, etc.) and yaw outward from a retracted configuration R as shown in FIG. 1 to an extended configuration E as shown in FIG. 2 . Thus, the hinge systems 100 provide the temple arms 14, 16 with multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., the ability to pitch up and down about the pitch axis P and yaw laterally about the yaw axis Y.

[0101] Conveniently, in operation, a user may spread the temple arms 14, 16 of the spatial computing headset 10 under the constraint of the hinge system 100 to the extended configuration E shown in FIG. 2. The user may then position the spatial computing headset 10 for use with the optics assembly 12, with the temple arms 14, 16 located directly in front of the user's eyes and extending beyond the user's temples, and then allow the temple arms 14, 16 to retract under the biasing force provided by the hinge system 100 toward the retracted configuration R shown in FIG. 1 until the temple arms 14, 16 contact the user's head and apply a retaining force thereto, helping to secure the spatial computing headset 10 in place. In this manner, the hinge system 100 is configured, at least in part, to help bias or twist the temple arms 14, 16 toward each other about their respective axes. In some cases, the hinge system 100 may provide the sole means of biasing the temple arms 14, 16 toward one another.

[0102] Advantageously, hinge system 100 is also configured to resist hyperextension and extreme deflection of temple arms 14, 16 by providing substantial resistance and / or positive stops (e.g., positive stops as primary stops) to undesired movement of temple arms 14, 16. For example, hinge system 100 can reduce and / or counter torsional loads that might otherwise be transmitted to optics assembly 12 through joints 18, 20 when twisting one temple arm 14 upward and one temple arm 16 downward, as represented by the labeled F1 and F2 forces in FIG. 1 . This can be advantageous in that hinge system 100 can therefore help prevent damage to fragile components of optics assembly 12 that might otherwise result from such torsional loads.

[0103] Further details of each hinge system 100 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3-9, where FIG. 3 shows the hinge system 100 in a neutral configuration or position N from a front isometric view, FIG. 4 shows the hinge system 100 in the neutral configuration N from a rear isometric view, FIG. 5 shows the hinge system 100 in an elastically deformed configuration from a front isometric view, FIG. 6 shows the hinge system 100 in the same elastically deformed configuration from a rear isometric view, and FIG. 7A shows the hinge system 100 in a 7A shows a front elevation view of hinge system 100 in a neutral configuration N, FIG. 7B shows a front elevation view of hinge system 100 in an upwardly pitched configuration U, FIG. 7C shows a front elevation view of hinge system 100 in a downwardly pitched configuration D, FIG. 8A shows a top plan view of hinge system 100 in a neutral configuration N, FIG. 8B shows a top plan view of hinge system 100 in an outwardly spread configuration O, and FIG. 9 shows an exploded isometric view of hinge system 100.

[0104] 3-6 , an exemplary embodiment of hinge system 100 includes a hinge base 102 that is fixedly coupleable to a first member, such as, for example, optics assembly 12 of spatial computing headset 10. Hinge base 102 may be fixedly coupled to the first member, for example, by one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, rivets). For example, the illustrated hinge system 100 includes, for present purposes, an array of four threaded screws 110.

[0105] The exemplary embodiment of hinge system 100 further includes an intermediate hinge member 104 rotatably coupled to and extending through hinge base 102, rotating about pitch axis P, and a distal hinge member 106 rotatably coupled to intermediate hinge member 104, rotating about yaw axis Y. Distal hinge member 106 is, in turn, fixedly coupleable to a second member, such as, for example, temple arms 14, 16 of spatial computing headset 10. In some embodiments, the temple arms correspond to a length along which the temple arms generally lie, although it should be noted that the temple arms may have one or more curved segments along their length in some embodiments, or other than a straight linear profile. In some embodiments, the temple arms (14 or 16) are fixedly attached to the distal hinge member 106, which in turn is rotatably coupled to the middle hinge member 104 such that the temple arms (14 or 16) can not only collapse toward the center of the spatial computing headset 10 about a yaw axis Y (e.g., for storage) but also yaw about the yaw axis Y and pitch about a pitch axis P, where the yaw axis Y is approximately perpendicular to the length of the temple arms (e.g., the length and yaw axes Y are designed to be orthogonal to one another and are manufactured to deviate from orthogonal with respect to positioning due to manufacturing tolerances), and the pitch axis P is substantially orthogonal to the yaw axis Y (e.g., the length and yaw axes Y are designed to be orthogonal to one another and are manufactured to deviate from orthogonal with respect to positioning due to manufacturing tolerances). The distal hinge member 106 may be fixedly coupled to a second member, for example, by one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, rivets). For example, the illustrated hinge system 100 includes, for this purpose, an arrangement of two threaded screws 112. When arranged for use, the exemplary embodiment of the hinge system 100 provides a hinge connection that enables the hinge system to pitch and yaw the second member relative to the first member. The pitch axis P and yaw axis Y may be mutually orthogonal, for example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment.In other cases, the pitch axis P and the yaw axis Y may be non-orthogonal. In either case, it should be understood that the hinge system includes at least two rotational degrees of freedom: rotation about the pitch axis P and rotation about the yaw axis Y.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 3 , the hinge base 102 includes a biasing member 108 configured to rotatably bias the intermediate hinge member 104 about the pitch axis P toward the neutral configuration N (e.g., a position in which the biasing member is in a free state, not applying a torque or load) when the intermediate hinge member 104 is displaced from the neutral configuration N. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the hinge base 102 may comprise a generally planar structure with an internal cavity that accommodates the biasing member 108. For example, the hinge base 102 may comprise a generally planar base element 120 having the biasing member 108 integrally formed therein. Additionally, opposing covers 122, 124 may be fixedly secured to the generally planar base element 120, such as by adhesive layers 123, 125 ( FIG. 9 ), to substantially conceal the biasing member 108 within the internal cavity of the hinge base 102. 3, biasing member 108 may include a plurality of serpentine spring elements that provide a rotational restoring force when a central hub of biasing member 108 rotates about pitch axis P. The specific configuration of biasing member 108 is non-limiting and illustrates one example configuration that is well adapted to provide a rotational restoring force in a relatively slender or thin form factor.

[0107] The opposing covers 122, 124 of the hinge base 102 may each include an arcuate guide 130 (e.g., an arcuate slot) to help guide the middle hinge member 104 as it rotates about the pitch axis P relative to the hinge base 102. More specifically, one or more guide pins 132 may extend between the middle hinge member 104 and the biasing member 108 of the hinge base 102 and ride within the arcuate guide 130 as the middle hinge member 104 pitches up and down about the pitch axis P. Clearance may be provided between the contours of the arcuate guides 130 and the corresponding guide pins 132 to enable some translational displacement of the middle hinge member 104 relative to the hinge base 102. In this way, the intermediate hinge member 104 may float on the biasing member 108 with some degree of play in all translational directions normal to the pivot axis P, in addition to the rotational degrees of freedom discussed above, thereby providing a particularly versatile hinge structure.

[0108] The hinge base 102 may further include a bushing 136 aligned with the pitch axis P, and the middle hinge member 104 may be pivotally mounted about the bushing 136 and pitch up and down about the pitch axis P. In some cases, a clearance (e.g., a gap) is provided between the bushing 136 and the middle hinge member 104 to enable some translational displacement of the middle hinge member 104 relative to the hinge base 102. In this manner, the hinge system 100 may provide some play in all translational directions normal to the pivot axis P, in addition to the rotational degrees of freedom discussed above, thereby providing a particularly versatile hinge structure. The middle hinge member 104 may be coupled to the hinge base 102 by a suitable fastener, such as, for example, a threaded screw 111, that threadingly engages the bushing 136. A spacer 117 may be provided between the middle hinge member 104 and the hinge base 102 to facilitate rotation of the middle hinge member 104 relative to the hinge base 102 .

[0109] The hinge base 102 and the middle hinge member 104 preferably include one or more stop arrangements or mechanisms to limit the rotational travel of the middle hinge member 104 relative to the hinge base 102 about the pitch axis P. The one or more stop arrangements may comprise, for example, a first rotational stop 130a (FIG. 6) provided on the hinge base 102 configured to interrupt the path of the middle hinge member 104 when the middle hinge member 104 pitches upward to an upward limit U (shown in FIG. 7B) and a second rotational stop 130b (FIG. 6) provided on the hinge base 102 configured to interrupt the path of the middle hinge member 104 when the middle hinge member 104 pitches downward to a downward limit D (shown in FIG. 7C). The first and second rotation stops 130a, 130b may be provided, for example, by portions of the aforementioned arcuate guide 130 (e.g., arcuate slots) provided within the hinge base 102 that obstruct the path of the intermediate hinge member 104 (via a guide pin 132 extending between the intermediate hinge member 104 and the arcuate guide 130) when the intermediate hinge member 104 pitches up or down to the upward limit U and downward limit D, respectively.

[0110] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may comprise a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member 104 configured to abut the hinge base 102 when the middle hinge member 104 pitches upward to the upward limit U (shown in FIG. 7B ) and a second rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member 104 configured to abut the hinge base 102 when the middle hinge member 104 pitches downward to the downward limit D (shown in FIG. 7C ). The first and second rotational stops may be provided, for example, by peripheral edges 140, 142 of the middle hinge member 104, which may abut a respective fastener 110 or other component part of the hinge base 102 when the middle hinge member 104 pitches up or down to the upward limit U and downward limit D, respectively. Such rotational stops serve as backup stops in case of failure of the primary rotational stop provided by the base hinge 102.

[0111] 7A-7C, the hinge system 100 of the exemplary embodiment is configured to enable the middle hinge member 104 to pitch up and down about the pitch axis P by at least about 5 degrees in each rotational direction within an upward range α and a downward range β from a neutral configuration N, more specifically, by at least about 10 degrees. FIG. 7A shows the middle hinge member 104 in the neutral configuration N, where the middle hinge member 104 is aligned generally horizontally, FIG. 7B shows the middle hinge member 104 pitched upward to an upward limit U at about +10 degrees from horizontal, and FIG. 7C shows the middle hinge member 104 pitched downward to a downward limit D at about −10 degrees from horizontal. While the hinge system 100 of the exemplary embodiment is shown with approximately equal upward range α and downward range β, it should be understood that the hinge system 100 may be configured to pitch more in one direction than the other. Additionally, while the range in the exemplary embodiment is approximately 10 degrees about pitch axis P in each rotational direction, it should be understood that hinge system 100 may be configured to have a greater or lesser range of motion. It should also be understood that neutral configuration N may be defined by intermediate hinge members 104 being at an angular orientation other than horizontal.

[0112] As previously indicated, the exemplary embodiment of hinge system 100 includes a distal hinge member 106 rotatably coupled to a middle hinge member 104 for rotation about a yaw axis Y. For present purposes, each of the middle hinge member 104 and the distal hinge member 106 includes respective features for forming a rotational joint. Such features may include, for example, respective flanges 105, 107 that mate together to form the rotational joint and define the yaw axis Y extending therethrough. The joint or joints may include a bushing 113 and may be held together by one or more suitable fasteners, such as rivets 115 (only one shown).

[0113] 3-6, a biasing member 109 is provided between the distal hinge member 106 and the intermediate hinge member 104 to bias the distal hinge member 104 toward the neutral configuration N, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the distal hinge member 106 is rotated about the yaw axis Y from the neutral configuration N, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, the biasing member 109 is provided in the form of a cantilevered spring arm that is resiliently deformed when the distal hinge member 106 rotates about the yaw axis Y, urging the distal hinge member 106 toward the neutral configuration N shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0114] The middle hinge member 104 and the distal hinge member 106 of the hinge system 100 preferably include one or more stop arrangements to limit the rotational travel of the distal hinge member 106 relative to the middle hinge member 104 about the yaw axis Y. The one or more stop arrangements may, for example, according to an exemplary embodiment, comprise a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member 106 when the distal hinge member 106 yaws to its outward limit O (shown in FIG. 8B ), similarly in the neutral configuration N, and a second rotational stop 104 provided on the middle hinge member configured to obstruct the path of the distal hinge member 106 when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit I (shown in FIG. 8A ). The first and second rotational stops may be provided, for example, by opposing portions 150, 152 of the plate structure of the middle hinge member 104 that obstruct the path of the distal hinge member 106 when the distal hinge member 106 yaws to its outward limit O and its inward limit I, respectively.

[0115] In some cases, the one or more stop arrangements may comprise a first rotational stop provided on distal hinge member 106 configured to abut middle hinge member 104 when distal hinge member 106 yaws to outward limit O (shown in FIG. 8B ) and a second rotational stop provided on distal hinge member 106 configured to abut middle hinge member 104 when distal hinge member 106 yaws to inward limit I (shown in FIG. 8A ). The first and second rotational stops may be provided by, for example, distinct portions 156, 158 of distal hinge member 106 configured to abut opposite sides of middle hinge member 104.

[0116] 8A and 8B, the exemplary embodiment hinge system 100 is configured to enable the distal hinge member (and any components connected thereto, such as temple arms 14, 16) to yaw at least 15 degrees, and more specifically, at least 20 degrees, about the yaw axis Y. FIG. 8A shows the distal hinge member 106 in a neutral configuration N in which the distal hinge member 106 is aligned generally parallel to the base hinge 102 and the middle hinge member 104, and FIG. 8B shows the distal hinge member 106 rotated outward about the yaw axis Y from the neutral configuration N to an outward limit O at approximately 20 degrees. While the exemplary embodiment hinge system 100 is shown with an outward range γ and no inward range of approximately 20 degrees, it should be understood that the hinge system 100 may be configured to yaw to a greater or lesser extent about the yaw axis Y in each rotational direction. It should also be understood that the neutral configuration N may be defined by the distal hinge member 106 being at an angular orientation other than generally parallel to the proximal hinge member 102 and the intermediate hinge member 104.

[0117] As mentioned above, the embodiments described herein provide a multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system 100 that is particularly well-adapted to support the temple arms 14, 16 of eyewear devices, including the spatial computing headset 10. In the context of a spatial computing headset 10 having an optics assembly 12 supported by opposing temple arms 14, 16, the multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system 100 can provide protection against hyperextension or extreme deflection of the temple arms 14, 16 that might otherwise result from undesired torsional loading of the temple arms 14, 16 (e.g., twisting one temple arm upward and one temple arm downward). For example, the multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system 100 may enable the temple arms 14, 16 of an eyewear device (e.g., spatial computing headset 10) to rotate about at least two different rotational axes, namely, a pitch axis P and a yaw axis Y, and decouple forces imposed on the temple arms 14, 16 from the structure of the eyewear device forward of the hinge split (e.g., optical system assembly 12).

[0118] Additionally, embodiments of hinge system 100 are provided within a relatively compact and efficient form factor. For example, in the context of a spatial computing headset 10 having an optics assembly 12 supported by opposing temple arms 14, 16, multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system 100 is sufficiently compact to be substantially concealed within optics assembly 12 and temple arm members 14, 16 (as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Furthermore, hinge system 100 may be configured to maintain flexible circuit pathway 13 a within separate joints 18, 20 of spatial computing headset 10 from a front end of hinge system 100 to a rear end of hinge system 100 throughout operation of hinge system 100.

[0119] The flexible circuit pathway may include one or more interconnected voids between the hinge system 100 and the housing of the spatial computing headset 10, extending along the length of the hinge system 100 from the front end to the rear end of the hinge system to allow one or more electrical wires, interconnects, etc. to pass therethrough. This may be advantageous in allowing an electrical pathway to cross the joints 18, 20 to enable the optics assembly 12 to communicate or otherwise interface with electronics stored within the temple arms 14, 16. Some or all of the one or more voids may have sufficient volume and provide sufficient relief for the one or more electrical wires, interconnects, etc. so that manipulation of the temple arms (e.g., pitch and / or yaw) does not adversely affect (e.g., fatigue due to bending of the one or more electrical wires, interconnects, etc.) the one or more electrical wires, interconnects, etc.

[0120] In some embodiments, only one of the two opposing temple arms (14 or 16) is configured to accommodate a flexible circuit pathway (13 a). The flexible circuit pathway (13 a) may exit the temple arm (14 or 16) to connect the optical system assembly 12 with external circuitry (e.g., circuitry in 1070 in FIG. 10 , an external charging source such as a battery or charging port, etc.). In some of these embodiments, the flexible circuit pathway 13 a may exit the temple arm with one or more electrical connectors 13 b (only one is shown in FIG. 2 ) that can receive one or more electrical connections (e.g., electrical connection via 1068 in FIG. 10 ). For example, the flexible electrical pathway 13 a may include an electrical connector 13 b that receives an electrical cable 13 c and connects the optical system assembly 12 to an external belt pack (e.g., 1070 in FIG. 10 ) that can be removably attached to a user 1060 in a belt-coupled configuration, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10 .

[0121] The local processing and data module 1070 may include a power-efficient processor or controller and digital memory, such as flash memory, both of which may be utilized to aid in processing, caching, and storing data. Data may be captured from sensors operably coupled to the frame 1064, such as image capture devices (such as cameras), microphones, inertial measurement units, accelerometers, compasses, GPS units, wireless devices, and / or gyroscopes, or any other data capture devices. Additionally or alternatively, data may be obtained and / or processed using the remote processing module 1072 and / or remote data repository 1074, potentially for passing to the display 1062 after processing or retrieval.

[0122] The local processing and data module 1070 may be operatively coupled to a remote processing module 1072 and a remote data repository 1074 (1076 and / or 1078), such as via a wired or wireless communication link, such that these remote modules (1072 or 1074) are operatively coupled to each other and available as resources to the local processing and data module 1070. The processing module 1070 may perform one or more computing tasks, including retrieving data from memory or one or more databases (e.g., cloud-based servers), to control the optical system and other systems of the optical system (12) and to provide virtual content to a user.

[0123] In one embodiment, the remote processing module 1072 may comprise one or more relatively powerful processors or controllers configured to analyze and process data and / or image information. In one embodiment, the remote data repository 1074 may comprise a relatively large digital data storage facility, which may be available through the Internet or other networking configuration in a "cloud" resource configuration. In one embodiment, all data is stored and all calculations are performed within the local processing and data module, allowing for fully autonomous use from any remote module.

[0124] In some other embodiments, flexible circuit passageway 13a may include a cable runway that houses one or more electrical wires or interconnects inside optical system 12 and exits temple arms 14 or 16. In these embodiments, one or more electrical wires or interconnects inside optical system 12 may pass through the cable runway and provide one or more separate connectors that may be connected to, for example, a belt pack (1070 in FIG. 10 ), an external charging device for charging the internal rechargeable battery of optical system 12, if applicable.

[0125] Although the embodiments disclosed herein are described primarily in the context of a spatial computing headset 10 involving hinge system 100, it should be understood that hinge system 100 or features and aspects of hinge system 100 may be incorporated into other eyewear, other wearable devices, or other apparatuses having hinge connections. However, it should also be understood that the embodiments of hinge system 100 disclosed herein are particularly well-suited for use with eyewear that includes temple arms, and limit undesirable displacement or deformation of such temple arms.

[0126] In some embodiments in which the optical system (12) provides VR, AR, MR, and / or ER content to a user wearing the optical system, the optical system may include optical, electrical, and mechanical devices to facilitate the presentation of the VR, AR, MR, and / or ER content to at least one eye of a user wearing the optical system (12). For example, the optical system (12) may include an array of microprojectors, along with associated electronics and optical components, to project virtual content to at least one eye of the user or to both eyes of the user while providing accommodation and / or vergence to the user. Accommodation is the reflex action of the eye in response to focusing on a nearby target and then viewing a distant target (or vice versa), involving coordinated changes in vergence, lens shape, and pupil size. Vergence is an adduction movement of vergence that increases the visual angle and enables single binocular vision during near vision. Vergence can be voluntary, but near stimuli do not have to be presented to elicit vergence, which is also a reflex and comovement in the near response.

[0127] 11A-11I illustrate schematics showing several non-limiting example configurations of a microprojector array and the coupling of the microprojector array with an optical system in one or more embodiments. Referring to FIG. 11G, multiple incident beamlets (11332) each pass through a small exit pupil (11330) to the eye 1158 in a discretized wavefront display configuration. Referring to FIG. 11H, subsets (11334) of the group of beamlets (11332) may be driven with matching colors and intensity levels so that they are perceived as part of the same larger-sized beam of light (the bold subgroup (11334) may be considered an "aggregated beam"). In this case, the subsets of beamlets are parallel to each other, representing a collimated aggregate beam from optical infinity (such as light emanating from a distant mountain). The eye is accommodated to infinity, so that the subset of beamlets are deflected by the cornea and lens of the eye and all strike substantially the same location on the retina, and are perceived as comprising a single focused pixel.

[0128] 11I shows another subset of beamlets, representing a concentrated collimated beam (11336) emanating from the right side of the field of view of the user's eye 58 when the eye 1158 is viewed in a coronal planar view from above. Again, the eye is shown accommodated to infinity, so the beamlets strike the same spot on the retina and the pixel is perceived as being in focus. In contrast, if a different subset of beamlets is selected that arrives at the eye as a diverging fan of rays, those beamlets will not strike the same location on the retina (and will not be perceived as being in focus) until the eye shifts accommodation to a nearby point that coincides with the geometric point of the origin of that fan of rays.

[0129] With respect to the pattern of intersections of the beamlets with the eye's anatomical pupil (e.g., the pattern of the exit pupil), the intersections may be organized into configurations such as a cross-section-efficient hexagonal or square lattice pattern or other two-dimensional arrays. Additionally, three-dimensional arrays of exit pupils can be created, as well as time-varying arrays of exit pupils.

[0130] The discretized aggregate wavefront may be created using several configurations, such as an array of microdisplays or microprojectors positioned optically conjugate with the exit pupil of a viewing optics, microdisplay, or microprojector array that is directly coupled to a viewing substrate (such as an eyeglass lens) so that they project light directly to the eye without additional intermediate viewing optics, continuous spatial light modulation array techniques, or waveguide techniques.

[0131] Referring to Figure 11A, in one embodiment, stereoscopic (e.g., 3D) or 4- or 5-dimensional brightfield images may be created by bundling a group of small projectors or display units (such as scanning fiber displays). Figure 11A depicts a hexagonal grid projection bundle 11338, which may create, for example, a 7 mm diameter hexagonal array, with each fiber display outputting a sub-image (11340). If such an array has an optical system, such as a lens, placed in front of it so that the array is placed optically conjugate with the entrance pupil of the eye, this will create an image of the array at the eye's pupil, as shown in Figure 11B, which provides essentially the same optical arrangement as the embodiment of Figure 11G.

[0132] Each small exit pupil in this configuration is created by a dedicated small display within the bundle 11338, such as a scanning fiber display. Optically, this is as if the entire hexagonal array 11338 were positioned directly at the anatomical pupil 1145 in some embodiments. Such an embodiment may be used to drive different sub-images to different small exit pupils within the larger anatomical entrance pupil 1145 of the eye, comprising a superset of beamlets with multiple angles of incidence and intersections with the eye pupil. Separate projectors or displays may each be driven with slightly different images, so that sub-images can be created that draw on different sets of light rays to be driven with different light intensities and colors.

[0133] In one embodiment, a strict image conjugate may be created as in the embodiment of FIG. 11B, in which case there is a direct one-to-one mapping between the array 11338 and the pupil 1145. In another variation, the spacing may be varied between the display and the optical system (lens 11342 in FIG. 11B) within the array so that, instead of receiving a conjugate mapping of the array and the eye pupil, the eye pupil may capture light rays from the array at some other distance. Using such a configuration would still result in an angular diversity of beams through which a discretized aggregate wavefront representation could be created, but the mathematics regarding which light rays to drive with what power and intensity may be more complex (although, on the other hand, such a configuration may be considered simpler from the perspective of the viewing optics). The mathematics involved in bright-field image capture may be utilized for these calculations.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 11C, another brightfield production embodiment is depicted in which an array of microdisplays or microprojectors 11346 may be coupled to a frame (11344), such as an eyeglass frame. This configuration may be positioned in front of the eye 1158. The depicted configuration is a non-conjugate arrangement, with no large-scale optical elements interposed between the display (e.g., a scanning fiber display) of the array 11346 and the eye 1158. One can imagine a pair of eyeglasses to which multiple displays, such as scanning fiber engines, are coupled, positioned orthogonal to the eyeglass surface and all angled inward, pointing toward the user's pupil. Each display may be configured to produce a set of light rays representing a different member of the beamlet superset.

[0135] With such a configuration, at the anatomical pupil 1145, the user may receive results similar to those received in the embodiment discussed with reference to Figure 11G, in which every point in the user's pupil receives light rays with multiple angles of incidence and intersections contributed by different displays. Figure 11D illustrates a non-conjugate configuration similar to that of Figure 11C, but the embodiment of Figure 11D features a reflective surface (11348) that facilitates moving the display array 11346 away from the field of view of the eye 58 while also allowing a view of the real world 11144 through the reflective surface (11348).

[0136] Another configuration for creating angular diversity for discretized aggregate wavefront displays is also presented. To optimize such a configuration, the size of the display can be reduced to a maximum. While scanning fiber displays that can be utilized as displays can have baseline diameters in the 1 mm range, reductions in enclosure and projection lens hardware can reduce the diameter of such displays to approximately 0.5 mm or less, which is barely noticeable to the user. Another size-reducing geometric refinement can be achieved by directly coupling a collimating lens (which may comprise, for example, a gradient refractive index, or "GRIN," lens, a conventional curved lens, or a diffractive lens) to the tip of the scanning fiber itself, in the case of a fiber scanning display array. For example, referring to FIG. 11E, a GRIN (gradient refractive index) lens (11354) is shown fused to the end of a single-mode optical fiber. An actuator 11350, such as a piezoelectric actuator, can be coupled to the fiber 11352 and used to scan the fiber tip.

[0137] In another embodiment, the ends of the fibers may be shaped into a hemispherical shape using an optical fiber bend polishing process to create the lensing effect. In another embodiment, a standard refractive lens may be bonded to the end of each optical fiber using an adhesive. In another embodiment, the lenses may be constructed from a slightly transparent polymer material such as epoxy or glass. In another embodiment, the ends of the optical fibers may be fused to create a curved surface for the lensing effect.

[0138] FIG. 11F shows an embodiment in which display configurations (e.g., a scanning fiber display with a GRIN lens, shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 11E) can be coupled together through a single transparent substrate 11356, preferably with a refractive index that approximately matches the cladding of the optical fiber 11352, so that the fiber itself is substantially invisible to outside viewing across the depicted assembly. It should be understood that if the index matching of the cladding is done precisely, then the larger cladding / housing will be transparent, and only the small core, preferably about 3 microns in diameter, will obstruct the view. In one embodiment, the display rows and columns 11358 may all be angled inward so that they are directed toward the user's anatomical pupil (in another embodiment, they can remain parallel to each other, but such a configuration is less efficient).

[0139] 12 illustrates an exemplary architecture 2500 for electronics operably coupled to an optical system in one or more embodiments. The optical system (12) itself or an external device coupled to the optical system (e.g., belt pack 1070 in FIG. 10) may include one or more printed circuit board components, such as left (2502) and right (2504) printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). As shown, the left PCBA 2502 contains most of the active electronics, while the right PCBA 604 supports primarily the display or projector elements.

[0140] The right PCBA 2504 may include several projector driver structures, which provide image information and control signals to the image generation components. For example, the right PCBA 2504 may carry a first, or left, projector driver structure 2506 and a second, or right, projector driver structure 2508. The first or left projector driver structure 2506 splices a set of signal lines (e.g., piezo driver wires) with a first, or left, projector fiber 2510. The second, or right, projector driver structure 2508 splices a set of signal lines (e.g., piezo driver wires) with a second, or right, projector fiber 2512. A first, i.e., left projector driving structure 2506 is communicatively coupled to the first, i.e., left image projector, while a second, i.e., right projector driving structure 2508 is communicatively coupled to the second, i.e., right image projector.

[0141] In operation, the image projector renders virtual content to the user's left and right eyes (e.g., retinas) via separate optical components, e.g., waveguides and / or compensatory lenses, and modifies the light associated with the virtual image.

[0142] The image projector may include, for example, left and right projector assemblies. The projector assemblies may use a variety of different image formation or production technologies, such as a fiber scanning projector, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an LCOS display, or a digital light processing (DLP) display. When a fiber scanning projector is employed, the image may be delivered along an optical fiber and projected therefrom via the tip of the optical fiber. The tip may be oriented to be routed within a waveguide (FIGS. 23 and 24). The tip of the optical fiber may project the image, which may be supported to flex or oscillate. Several piezoelectric actuators may control the oscillation (e.g., frequency, amplitude) of the tip. A projector driver structure provides the image to the individual optical fibers, controls the control signals, controls the piezoelectric actuators, and projects the image to the user's eye.

[0143] Continuing with the right PCBA 2504, the button board connector 2514 may provide communication and physical coupling to a button board 2516, which carries various user-accessible buttons, keys, switches, or other input devices. The right PCBA 2504 may include a right earbud or speaker connector 2518 to communicatively couple audio signals to a right earbud 2520 or speaker of the head-worn component. The right PCBA 2504 may also include a right microphone connector 2522 to communicatively couple audio signals from a microphone of the head-worn component. The right PCBA 2504 further includes a right occlusion driver connector 2524 to communicatively couple occlusion information to a right occlusion display 2526 of the head-worn component. The right PCBA 2504 may also include a board-to-board connector to provide communication with the left PCBA 2502 via its board-to-board connector 2534.

[0144] The right PCBA 2504 may be communicatively coupled to one or more right outward-facing, or world-view, cameras 2528, either body- or head-mounted, and optionally a right camera visual indicator (e.g., LED) that illuminates to indicate to others that an image is being captured. The right PCBA 2504 may be communicatively coupled to one or more right-eye cameras 2532, carried by a head-mounted component, positioned and oriented to capture right-eye images and enable tracking, detection, or monitoring of the orientation and / or movement of the right eye. The right PCBA 2504 may optionally be communicatively coupled to one or more right-eye illumination sources 2530 (e.g., LEDs), which illuminate the right eye with a pattern of illumination (e.g., temporal, spatial) to facilitate tracking, detection, or monitoring of the orientation and / or movement of the right eye, as described herein.

[0145] The left PCBA 2502 may include a control subsystem, which may include one or more controllers (e.g., a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a graphical processing unit, a central processing unit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 2540, and / or a programmable logic unit (PLU)). The control system may include one or more non-transitory computer- or processor-readable media that store executable logic or instructions and / or data or information. The non-transitory computer- or processor-readable media may take various forms, such as, for example, volatile and non-volatile forms, e.g., read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM, DRAM, SD-RAM), flash memory, etc. The non-transitory computer- or processor-readable media may be formed, for example, as one or more registers of a microprocessor, FPGA, or ASIC.

[0146] The left PCBA 2502 may include a left earphone or speaker connector 2536, which may communicatively couple an audio signal to a left earphone or speaker 2538 of the head-worn component. The left PCBA 2502 may include an audio signal amplifier (e.g., a stereo amplifier) 2542, which is communicatively coupled to the left earphone or speaker. The left PCBA 2502 also includes a left microphone connector 2544, which may communicatively couple an audio signal from a microphone of the head-worn component. The left PCBA 2502 may further include a left occlusion driver connector 2546, which may communicatively couple occlusion information to a left occlusion display 2548 of the head-worn component.

[0147] The left PCBA 2502 may also include one or more sensors or transducers that detect, measure, capture, or otherwise sense information about the surrounding environment and / or about the user. For example, an acceleration transducer 2550 (e.g., a three-axis accelerometer) may detect acceleration in three axes, thereby detecting movement. A gyroscope sensor 2552 may detect orientation and / or magnetic or compass heading or orientation. Other sensors or transducers may be employed as well.

[0148] The left PCBA 2502 may be communicatively coupled to one or more left outward-facing or world-view cameras 2554, which may be body- or head-mounted, and optionally to a left camera visual indicator (e.g., LED) 2556 that illuminates to indicate to others that an image is being captured. The left PCBA may be communicatively coupled to one or more left-eye cameras 2558, carried by a head-mounted component, positioned and oriented to capture images of the left eye and enable tracking, detection, or monitoring of the orientation and / or movement of the left eye. The left PCBA 2502 may optionally be communicatively coupled to one or more left-eye illumination sources (e.g., LEDs) 2556, which illuminate the left eye with a pattern of illumination (e.g., temporal, spatial) to facilitate tracking, detection, or monitoring of the orientation and / or movement of the left eye, as described herein.

[0149] The PCBAs 2502 and 2504 are communicatively coupled to distinct computing components (e.g., belt packs) via one or more ports, connectors, and / or pathways. For example, the left PCBA 2502 may include one or more communication ports or connectors to provide communication (e.g., bidirectional communication) with the belt pack. The one or more communication ports or connectors may also provide power from the belt pack to the left PCBA 2502. The left PCBA 2502 may include power conditioning circuitry 2580 (e.g., DC / DC power converters, input filters) electrically coupled to the communication ports or connectors and operable to condition (e.g., step up voltage, step down voltage, smooth current, reduce transient current).

[0150] The communications port or connector may take the form of, for example, a data and power connector or transceiver 2582 (e.g., Thunderbolt® port, USB® port). The right PCBA 2504 may include a port or connector and receive power from the belt pack. The image generation element may receive power from a portable power source (e.g., chemical battery cells, primary or secondary battery cells, supercapacitor cells, fuel cells), which may be located within the belt pack, for example.

[0151] As shown, the left PCBA 2502 contains most of the active electronics, while the right PCBA 2504 supports primarily the display or projector and associated piezo drive signals. Electrical and / or fiber optic connections are employed across the front, back, or top of the body- or head-mounted components of the optical system (12). Both PCBA 2502 and 2504 are communicatively coupled (e.g., electrically and optically) to the belt pack. The left PCBA 2502 includes a power subsystem and a high-speed communication subsystem. The right PCBA 2504 handles the fiber display piezo drive signals. In the illustrated embodiment, only the right PCBA 2504 needs to be optically connected to the belt pack. In other embodiments, both the right and left PCBA may be connected to the belt pack.

[0152] Although illustrated as employing two PCBAs 2502 and 2504, the electronics of the body- or head-worn component may employ other architectures. For example, some implementations may use fewer or more PCBAs. As another example, various components or subsystems may be arranged differently than illustrated in FIG. 12. For example, in some alternative embodiments, some of the components illustrated in FIG. 12 as residing on one PCBA may be located on the other PCBA without loss of generality.

[0153] For example, as described above with reference to Figure 11A, the optical system (12) described herein may, in some embodiments, present virtual content to a user such that the virtual content can be perceived as three-dimensional content. In some other embodiments, the optical system (12) may present virtual content to a user in a four- or five-dimensional light field (or light field).

[0154] As illustrated in Figures 13A-B, the brightfield generation subsystems (e.g., 1300 and 1302, respectively) are preferably operable to produce a brightfield. For example, an optical device 1360 or subsystem may generate or project light to simulate a four-dimensional (4D) or five-dimensional (5D) brightfield that would be produced by light reflecting from a real three-dimensional object or scene. For example, an optical device such as a waveguide reflector array projector (WRAP) device 1310 or a multiple depth plane three-dimensional (3D) display system may, in some embodiments, generate or project multiple virtual depth planes at distinct radial focal lengths to simulate a 4D or 5D brightfield. In these embodiments, the optical system (12) functions as an eyepiece brightfield generator and display of a 4D or 5D brightfield by interpreting an input image as a two-dimensional (2D) slice of a 4D function representing the brightfield. It should be noted that Figures 13A-B may illustrate an optical system that, in some embodiments, has a brightfield generation subsystem described herein, or, in some other embodiments, a stereoscopic virtual content generation subsystem that projects light beams corresponding to multiple depth planes into the user's eyes.

[0155] In some embodiments, the optical system (12) renders a stereoscopic representation of the virtual content to the user using image-based rendering, which generates different views of the virtual content from a collection of pre-acquired or pre-computed images. The virtual content may be blended or placed within an environment in which the user is viewing the virtual content, for example, by using one or more of an environment map, a world map, or a topology map (e.g., a map with point nodes representing individual locations and / or features, edges, etc. connecting the nodes and representing one or more relationships between the connected nodes). In these embodiments, the optical system uses one or more displays or rendering algorithms for image-based rendering, which require relatively modest computational resources (e.g., compared to bright-field generation for the same virtual content), particularly in real-time implementations of the virtual content. Furthermore, the cost of interacting with the generated virtual content may be independent of the complexity of the virtual content. Furthermore, the source of the images used in generating the virtual content may be real (e.g., photographs or video sequences of physical objects) or virtual (e.g., from one or more models).

[0156] These embodiments based on image-based rendering and one or more maps may be based on one or more fixed viewpoints (e.g., viewpoints from which a set of images for rendering image-based virtual content are obtained). Some of these embodiments mitigate the fixed viewpoint limitation through view interpolation using depth values (e.g., depth information obtained by a depth sensor or calculated by a localization technique such as triangulation). In these embodiments, the optical system (12) uses the depth information for view interpretation (e.g., depth data for a smaller subset of pixels in an image or for all pixels in an image) to reproject points, for example, into an environment map (e.g., a geometric map with detailed geometric and / or geographic information about features, points, etc. within the map) to a user, for example, based on the user's location, orientation, and / or gaze direction.

[0157] Some other embodiments using image-based rendering and one or more maps mitigate the fixed viewpoint limitation by determining corresponding points and / or correspondences in paired images used to render virtual content based, at least in part, on the positions of the image sensors capturing the pair of images. While both classes of embodiments involving image-based rendering effectively generate and present virtual content that can be perceived as stereoscopic by a viewing user, there may be situations, for example, where determining correspondences between pairs of images is not necessarily performed deterministically.

[0158] Some other embodiments, therefore, use the optical system (12) to generate a 4D or 5D bright field rather than employing the image-based rendering described above. The bright field may be generated using a 5D function (e.g., a 5D plenoptic function) and includes radiance at a point in a given direction in three-dimensional space. Thus, the bright field may include a 5D function that defines a set of spatial-angle images. In these embodiments, the radiance R at a point A, having coordinates (x, y, z) in space propagating along a direction D(φ, θ), may have the form R(x, y, z, φ, θ), where φ has a range [0, π] inclusive and θ has a range [0, 2π] inclusive. In this form, φ denotes the angle from the horizontal plane defined by the x-axis and y-axis, and θ denotes the angle between a vector connecting the point in 3D space to the origin of the coordinate system and a reference unit vector (e.g., a unit vector along the x-axis).

[0159] In some embodiments, radiance is conserved within the medium (e.g., a transparent medium such as air). The above 5D function exhibits a certain amount of redundancy due to radiance conservation. In these embodiments, the aforementioned 5D function representing the bright field is scaled to a 4D function R(x, y, φ, θ) when the optical system creates the 5D function within a surface (e.g., plane z=0), thus effectively scaling a 5D function with three spatial dimensions (x, y, z) and two angular dimensions (φ, θ) into a 4D function with two spatial dimensions (x, y) and two angular dimensions (φ, θ). Scaling the dimensions of the bright field function from a 5D function to a 4D function not only facilitates the generation of bright fields for virtual content, but also conserves computational resources.

[0160] In these embodiments, the optical system (12) described herein generates and presents to a user a bright field for virtual content by calculating the individual radiances of multiple points for the virtual content using the aforementioned 4D function (or, in more general applications of bright field techniques, a 5D function). The calculated radiance (or radiance flux) for a point includes data regarding the light emitted, reflected, transmitted, or received by the point and may be calculated on a per-projected-area basis. The radiance for a point may also include frequency and / or wavelength information and is directional such that the radiance represents a point (e.g., a pixel or a collection of pixels) or portion of the virtual content that can be perceived by a user of the optical system (12). The radiance may be calculated using any technique, such as parameterizing a line (e.g., a line from the user's eye to a point in the virtual content) by point and direction using an orthogonal projection image or an image with a fixed field of view using homogeneous coordinates. For example, the radiance of a point may be determined by using a light slab technique to constrain points for the virtual content and points representing the user's eyes to lie within separate convex quadrilaterals, and using a linear projection map (e.g., a 3x3 matrix) to map between points of the virtual content (e.g., image pixels of the virtual content) and points representing the user's eyes.

[0161] For example, the optical system (12) or electronics (e.g., the belt pack mentioned above) may generate the light slab by rendering a 2D array of images, each image formed by representing a slice of the 4D light slab in a fixed plane and placing the center of projection of a virtual camera at a sample location corresponding to a point in the virtual content by performing a shear perspective projection substantially similar to that used to generate the stereo pair of images. In some embodiments, the light slab may be formed from a 2D array of orthographic views.

[0162] To generate and present a brightfield representation of virtual content to a user via the optical system (12), the lens (e.g., 12a or 12b in FIG. 1) of the optical system (12) may include a stack of one or more planar or freeform waveguides, each defining one or more distinct focal planes corresponding to one or more distinct focal lengths. The stack of one or more planar or freeform waveguides may, in some embodiments, thus define multiple focal planes located at corresponding focal lengths. 2D slices of an image may be rendered onto a focal plane at a specific focal length, and a collection of 2D slices may thus be rendered onto multiple focal lengths to represent the virtual content, which may then be perceived as stereoscopic by a user of the optical system.

[0163] In some embodiments, the waveguide comprises a first orthogonal pupil-expanding (OPE) element associated with a first surface of the planar optical waveguide to split the incombined light beam into a first set of orthogonal light beamlets, and a second orthogonal pupil-expanding (OPE) element associated with a second surface of the planar optical waveguide to split the incombined light beam into a second set of orthogonal light beamlets. In some embodiments, the first OPE element is disposed on the first surface of the planar optical waveguide, and the second OPE element is disposed on the second surface of the planar optical waveguide. The internal coupling element may be configured to optically couple the collimated light beam from the image projection assembly as an internally coupled light beam within the planar optical waveguide via total internal reflection (TIR) along a first optical path that alternately intersects the first OPE element and the second OPE element for propagation, such that a portion of the internally coupled light beam is deflected via TIR as a set of distinct first and second orthogonal light beamlets that propagate within the planar optical waveguide along second parallel optical paths, in which case the second parallel optical path may be orthogonal to the first optical path.

[0164] In some embodiments, the semi-reflective interface is configured to split the in-coupled optical beam into at least two in-coupled optical beamlets. In this case, the DOEs each comprise an orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element configured to split the at least two in-coupled optical beamlets into a set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets, the semi-reflective interface is further configured to split the set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets into a set of at least four orthogonal optical beamlets, and the DOEs comprise an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element configured to split the set of at least four orthogonal optical beamlets into a set of out-coupled optical beamlets. The OPE element and the EPE element may be disposed on a surface of the optical planar waveguide.

[0165] In some embodiments, the waveguide may comprise an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide to split the orthogonal light beamlets into an array of outcoupled light beamlets (e.g., a two-dimensional outcoupled light beamlet array) that exit the planar optical waveguide. The collimated light beam may define an entrance pupil, and the outcoupled light beamlet array may define an exit pupil that is larger than the entrance pupil, for example, at least 10 times larger than the entrance pupil, or even at least 100 times larger than the entrance pupil.

[0166] In some embodiments, the EPE element is disposed on one of the first and second surfaces of the planar optical waveguide. The first set of orthogonal optical beamlets and the second set of orthogonal optical beamlets may intersect with the EPE element such that a portion of the first set of orthogonal optical beamlets and the second set of orthogonal optical beamlets are deflected out of the planar optical waveguide as an outcoupled optical beamlet array. In some embodiments, the EPE element is configured to impart a convex wavefront profile onto the outcoupled optical beamlet array exiting the planar optical waveguide. In this case, the convex wavefront profile may have a center of radius at a focal point to produce an image at a given focal plane. In another embodiment, the IC element, the OPE element, and the EPE element are each diffractive.

[0167] The virtual image generation system further comprises one or more diffractive optical elements (DOEs) associated with the planar optical waveguide to further split the plurality of primary light beamlets into an array of outcoupled light beamlets (e.g., a two-dimensional outcoupled beamlet array) that exit a face of the planar optical waveguide. The collimated light beam may define an entrance pupil, and the outcoupled light beamlet array may define an exit pupil larger than the entrance pupil, for example, at least 10 times larger than the entrance pupil, or even at least 100 times larger than the entrance pupil. In some embodiments, the first thickness of the primary substrate and the second thickness of the secondary substrate are selected such that the center-to-center spacing of at least two adjacent ones of the outcoupled light beamlets is equal to or less than the width of the collimated light beam. In another embodiment, the first thickness and the second thickness are selected such that no gap greater than half of adjacent ones of the outcoupled light beamlets reside between their edges.

[0168] In some embodiments, the semi-reflective interface is configured to split the incoupling light beam into at least two incoupling light beamlets. In this case, the DOEs each comprise an orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element configured to split the at least two incoupling light beamlets into a set of at least two orthogonal light beamlets, the semi-reflective interface is configured to further split the set of at least two orthogonal light beamlets into a set of at least four orthogonal light beamlets, and the DOEs comprise an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element configured to split the set of at least four orthogonal light beamlets into a set of outcoupling light beamlets. The OPE element and the EPE element may be disposed on a face of the optical planar waveguide.

[0169] The at least two in-coupled optical beamlets may propagate within the planar optical waveguide along a first optical path that intersects with the OPE element via total internal reflection (TIR), such that a portion of the at least two in-coupled optical beamlets are diffracted via TIR into a set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets that propagate within the planar optical waveguide along a second parallel optical path. The second parallel optical path may be orthogonal to the first optical path. The set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets may intersect with the EPE element such that a portion of the set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets is diffracted into a set of optical beamlets that are outcoupled out of the plane of the planar optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the EPE element may be configured to impart a convex wavefront profile onto the out-coupled optical beamlet array exiting the planar optical waveguide. In this case, the convex wavefront profile may have a radius centered at a focal point to produce an image at a given focal plane.

[0170] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a virtual image generation system comprises a planar optical waveguide comprising a plurality of substrates including a primary substrate having a first thickness and at least one secondary substrate each having at least one second thickness, and at least one semi-reflective interface disposed between the substrates.

[0171] The first thickness is at least twice the thickness of each of the at least one second thickness. In some embodiments, the first thickness is a non-multiple of each of the second thicknesses. In other embodiments, the secondary substrate comprises a plurality of secondary substrates. In this case, the second thicknesses may be equal to one another, or two or more of the secondary substrates may have second thicknesses that are unequal to one another. The first thickness may be a non-multiple of at least one of the second thicknesses. At least two of the unequal second thicknesses may be non-multiples of one another.

[0172] In some embodiments, each semi-reflective interface comprises a semi-reflective coating, which may be disposed between the substrates, for example, via one of physical vapor deposition (PVD), ion-assisted deposition (IAD), and ion beam sputtering (IBS), respectively. The coating may each be comprised of, for example, one or more of metals (Au, Al, Ag, Ni-Cr, Cr, etc.), dielectrics (oxides, fluorides, and sulfides), and semiconductors (Si, Ge). In yet another embodiment, adjacent ones of the substrates are comprised of materials having different refractive indices.

[0173] The virtual image generation system further includes an incoupling (IC) element configured to optically couple the collimated light beam from the image projection assembly as an incoupling light beam within the planar optical waveguide for propagation. The image projection assembly may include a scanning device configured to scan the collimated light beam. The semi-reflective interface is configured to split the incoupling light beam into multiple primary light beamlets that propagate within the primary substrate.

[0174] The virtual image generation system further comprises one or more diffractive optical elements (DOEs) associated with the planar optical waveguide to further split the plurality of primary light beamlets into an array of outcoupled light beamlets (e.g., a two-dimensional outcoupled beamlet array) that exit a face of the planar optical waveguide. The collimated light beam may define an entrance pupil, and the outcoupled light beamlet array may define an exit pupil larger than the entrance pupil, for example, at least 10 times larger than the entrance pupil, or even at least 100 times larger than the entrance pupil. In some embodiments, the first thickness of the primary substrate and the second thickness of the secondary substrate are selected such that the center-to-center spacing of at least two adjacent ones of the outcoupled light beamlets is equal to or less than the width of the collimated light beam. In another embodiment, the first thickness and the second thickness are selected such that no gap greater than half of adjacent ones of the outcoupled light beamlets reside between their edges.

[0175] In some embodiments, the semi-reflective interface is configured to split the incoupling light beam into at least two incoupling light beamlets. In this case, the DOEs each comprise an orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element configured to split the at least two incoupling light beamlets into a set of at least two orthogonal light beamlets, the semi-reflective interface is configured to further split the set of at least two orthogonal light beamlets into a set of at least four orthogonal light beamlets, and the DOEs comprise an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element configured to split the set of at least four orthogonal light beamlets into a set of outcoupling light beamlets. The OPE element and the EPE element may be disposed on a face of the optical planar waveguide.

[0176] The at least two in-coupled optical beamlets may propagate within the planar optical waveguide along a first optical path that intersects with the OPE element via total internal reflection (TIR), such that a portion of the at least two in-coupled optical beamlets are diffracted via TIR into a set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets that propagate within the planar optical waveguide along a second parallel optical path. The second parallel optical path may be orthogonal to the first optical path. The set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets may intersect with the EPE element such that a portion of the set of at least two orthogonal optical beamlets is diffracted into a set of optical beamlets that are outcoupled out of the plane of the planar optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the EPE element may be configured to impart a convex wavefront profile onto the out-coupled optical beamlet array exiting the planar optical waveguide. In this case, the convex wavefront profile may have a radius centered at a focal point to produce an image at a given focal plane.

[0177] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a virtual image generation system includes a pre-pupil expansion (PPE) element configured to receive a collimated light beam from an imaging element and split the collimated light beam into a set of initial outcoupled light beamlets. The virtual image generation system further includes a planar optical waveguide, an incoupling (IC) element configured to optically couple the set of initial outcoupled light beamlets into the planar optical waveguide as a set of incoupling light beamlets, and one or more diffractive elements associated with the planar optical waveguide to split the set of incoupling light beamlets into a set of final outcoupling light beamlets exiting a face of the planar optical waveguide. The diffractive elements may include an orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide to further split the set of incoupling light beamlets into a set of orthogonal light beamlets, and an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide to split the set of orthogonal light beamlets into a set of final outcoupling light beamlets.

[0178] In some embodiments, the collimated light beam defines an entrance pupil, the collection of initially outcoupled light beamlets defines a pre-dilated pupil that is larger than the entrance pupil, and the collection of final outcoupled light beamlets defines an exit pupil that is larger than the pre-dilated pupil. In one example, the pre-dilated pupil is at least 10 times larger than the entrance pupil, and the exit pupil is at least 10 times larger than the pre-dilated pupil. In some embodiments, the collection of initially outcoupled light beamlets is optically coupled into a planar optical waveguide as a two-dimensional array of light beamlets, and the final outcoupled light beamlet collection exits a face of the planar optical waveguide as a two-dimensional array of light beamlets. In another embodiment, the collection of initially outcoupled light beamlets is optically coupled into a planar optical waveguide as a one-dimensional array of light beamlets, and the final outcoupled light beamlet collection exits a face of the planar optical waveguide as a two-dimensional array of light beamlets.

[0179] In some embodiments, the PPE element comprises a compact planar optical waveguide, a compact OPE element associated with the compact planar optical waveguide for splitting the collimated light beam into a set of initial orthogonal light beamlets, and a compact EPE element associated with the compact planar optical waveguide for splitting the set of initial orthogonal light beamlets into a set of initial outcoupled light beamlets that exit a face of the compact planar optical waveguide. The PPE may further comprise a compact IC element configured to optically couple the collimated light beam into the planar optical waveguide.

[0180] In another embodiment, the PPE element comprises a diffractive beam splitter (e.g., a 1×N beam splitter or an M×N beam splitter) configured to split the collimated light beam into a set of initially diverging light beamlets, and a lens (e.g., a diffractive lens) configured to recollimate the set of initially diverging light beamlets into a set of initially outcoupled light beamlets.

[0181] In yet another embodiment, the PPE element comprises a prism (e.g., a solid prism or a hollow prism) configured to split the collimated light beam into a set of incoupling light beamlets. The prism may comprise a semi-reflective prism plane configured to split the collimated light beam into a set of incoupling light beamlets. The prism may comprise a plurality of parallel prism planes configured to split the collimated light beam into a set of incoupling light beamlets. In this case, the parallel prism plane may comprise a semi-reflective prism plane. The plurality of parallel prism planes may comprise fully reflective prism planes, in which case a portion of the collimated light beam may be reflected in a first direction by at least one semi-reflective prism, and a portion of the collimated light beam may be transmitted to the fully reflective prism plane for reflection in the first direction. The prism may comprise a first set of parallel prism planes configured to split the collimated light beam into a set of initial orthogonal light beamlets that are reflected in a first direction, and a second set of parallel prism planes configured to split the initial orthogonal light beamlets into a set of in-combined light beamlets that are reflected in a second direction different from the first direction, and the first and second directivities may be orthogonal to each other.

[0182] In yet another embodiment, the PPE element comprises a first planar optical waveguide assembly configured to split the collimated light beam into a two-dimensional array of outcoupled light beamlets (e.g., an N×N light beamlet array) that exit a face of the first planar optical waveguide assembly, and a second planar optical waveguide assembly configured to split the two-dimensional outcoupled light beamlet array into a plurality of two-dimensional arrays of outcoupled light beamlets that exit a face of the second planar optical waveguide assembly as a set of incoupled light beamlets. The first and second planar optical waveguide assemblies may each have unequal thicknesses.

[0183] The two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet array has an inter-beamlet spacing, and the multiple two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet arrays are spatially offset from one another by an inter-array spacing that is different from the inter-beamlet spacing of the two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet array. In some embodiments, the inter-array spacing of the multiple two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet arrays and the inter-beamlet spacing of the two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet array are non-multiples of one another. The inter-array spacing of the multiple two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet arrays may be greater than the inter-beamlet spacing of the two-dimensional outcoupling optical beamlet array.

[0184] In some embodiments, the first planar optical waveguide assembly includes a first planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces; a first internal coupling (IC) element configured to optically couple a collimated light beam within the first planar optical waveguide along a first optical path via total internal reflection (TIR) for propagation; and a first exit pupil expander (E) associated with the first planar optical waveguide for splitting the collimated light beam into a one-dimensional array of light beamlets that exit the second face of the first planar optical waveguide. a second IC element configured to optically couple a one-dimensional optical beamlet array into the second planar optical waveguide via TIR along a separate second optical path perpendicular to the first optical path for propagation therethrough; and a second exit pupil expander (EPE) element associated with the second planar optical waveguide for splitting the one-dimensional optical beamlet array into a two-dimensional optical beamlet array exiting the second face of the second planar optical waveguide. In this case, the first face of the second planar optical waveguide may be affixed to the second face of the first planar optical waveguide. The first and second planar optical waveguides may each have substantially equal thicknesses.

[0185] The second planar optical waveguide assembly includes a third planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces; a third IC element configured to optically couple the first two-dimensional optical beamlet array within the third planar optical waveguide via TIR along a separate third optical path for propagation; and a third EPE element associated with the third planar optical waveguide for splitting the two-dimensional optical beamlet array into a plurality of two-dimensional optical beamlet arrays exiting the second face of the third planar optical waveguide; The optical waveguide may include a fourth planar optical waveguide having a second surface; a fourth IC element configured to optically couple a plurality of two-dimensional optical beamlet arrays for propagation within the fourth planar optical waveguide via TIR along a separate fourth optical path perpendicular to the third optical path; and a fourth EPE element associated with the fourth planar optical waveguide to split the plurality of two-dimensional optical beamlet arrays into a plurality of two-dimensional optical beamlet arrays that exit the second surface of the fourth planar optical waveguide as an input set of optical beamlets. In this case, the first surface of the fourth planar optical waveguide may be affixed to the second surface of the third planar optical waveguide, and the first surface of the third planar optical waveguide may be affixed to the second surface of the second planar optical waveguide. The first and second planar optical waveguides may each have substantially equal thicknesses, and the third and fourth planar optical waveguides may each have substantially equal thicknesses. In this case, the substantially equal thickness of the first and second planar optical waveguides may be different from the substantially equal thickness of the third and fourth planar optical waveguides, and the equal thickness of the third and fourth planar optical waveguides may be greater than the equal thickness of the first and second planar optical waveguides.

[0186] An optical device 1360 in the form of a WRAP device 1310 or a multiple depth plane 3D display system, for example, may project images into each of the user's eyes, either directly or indirectly. When the number and radial placement of virtual depth planes as a function of radial distance is comparable to the depth resolution of the human visual system, the discrete collection of projected depth planes mimics the psychophysical effects produced by actual persistent three-dimensional objects or scenes. In one or more embodiments, the system 1300 may include a frame 1370 that can be customized for each AR user. Additional components of the system 1300 include electronics 1330 (e.g., some or all of the electronics illustrated in FIG. 12 ) that interconnect the various electrical and electronic subcomponents of the AR system.

[0187] System 1300 may further include a microdisplay 1320 that projects light associated with one or more virtual images into waveguide prism 1310. As shown in FIG. 13A, light produced from microdisplay 1320 travels through waveguide 1310, with a portion of the light reaching a user's eye 1390. In one or more embodiments, system 1300 may further include one or more compensatory lenses 1380 to modify the light associated with the virtual images. FIG. 13B illustrates the same components as FIG. 13A, but illustrates how light from microdisplay 1320 travels through waveguide 1310 and reaches a user's eye 1390.

[0188] It should be understood that optical device 1360 may include several linear waveguides, each with a separate series of resolved curved spherical reflectors or mirrors built into, located within, or formed within each of the linear waveguides. The series of resolved curved spherical reflectors or mirrors is designed to refocus infinitely focused light to a specific radial distance. A convex spherical mirror can be used to represent a virtual point source that produces an output spherical wave and appears to be located a defined distance behind the convex spherical mirror.

[0189] By concatenating a series of microreflectors of a certain shape (e.g., radius of curvature around two axes) and orientation together within a linear or rectangular waveguide, it is possible to project a 3D image corresponding to a spherical wavefront produced by a virtual point source at specific x, y, and z coordinates. Each 2D waveguide or layer provides an independent optical path to other waveguides, shaping the wavefront and focusing the incident light to project a virtual depth plane corresponding to a distinct radial distance. By using multiple 2D waveguides, each providing a focal plane at a different focal depth, a user viewing the projected virtual depth plane experiences a 3D effect.

[0190] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0191] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These examples are referred to in a non-limiting sense. They are provided to illustrate broader applicable aspects of the present disclosure. Various changes may be made to the disclosure as described, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition, process, process act, or step to the objective, spirit, or scope of the disclosure. Moreover, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, each of the individual variations described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features that can be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure and the associated claims.

[0192] The present disclosure includes methods that may be implemented using the subject devices. The methods may include the act of providing such a suitable device. Such provisioning may be performed by an end user. In other words, the act of "providing" simply requires the end user to act to obtain, access, approach, locate, configure, activate, power on, or otherwise provide the device required in the subject methods. The methods recited herein may occur in any order of the recited events that is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events.

[0193] Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, along with details regarding material selection and manufacturing. As for other details of the present disclosure, these may be understood in connection with the aforementioned referenced patents and publications and are generally known or may be understood by those skilled in the art. The same may be true with respect to the method-based aspects of the present disclosure in terms of additional operations as commonly or logically employed.

[0194] Additionally, while the present disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments incorporating various features, the present disclosure is not limited to that described or illustrated, as each variation of the disclosure is discussed. Various modifications may be made to the present disclosure as described, and equivalents (whether recited herein or not included for purposes of brevity to some extent) may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, when a range of values is provided, it is understood that all intervening values between the upper and lower limits of that range, and any other stated value or intervening value within the stated range, are encompassed within the present disclosure.

[0195] It is also contemplated that any optional features of the described inventive variations may be set forth and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item includes the possibility that multiple identical items are present. More specifically, as used in this specification and the claims associated therewith, the singular forms "a," "an," "said," and "the" include plural references unless specifically stated otherwise. In other words, the use of articles allows for "at least one" of the items of the present subject matter in the above description and in the claims associated with this disclosure. Furthermore, it should be noted that such claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. Accordingly, this language is intended to serve as a predicate for the use of exclusive terminology such as "solely," "only," and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or the use of a "negative" limitation.

[0196] Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term "comprising" in a claim associated with this disclosure shall be deemed to permit the inclusion of any additional elements, regardless of whether a given number of elements are recited in such a claim, or the addition of features may be deemed to change the nature of the elements recited in such a claim. Except as specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein should be given the broadest possible commonly understood meaning while maintaining claim legitimacy.

[0197] The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the examples provided and / or the specification of the subject matter, but rather should be limited only by the scope of the claim language associated with this disclosure.

[0198] The above description of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, but various equivalent modifications may be made, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The teachings provided herein of various embodiments may be applied to other devices that implement VR, AR, MR, XR, or hybrid systems and / or employ user interfaces, not necessarily the exemplary optical system 12 generally described above.

[0199] For example, the foregoing detailed description describes various embodiments of devices and / or processes through the use of block diagrams, schematic diagrams, and examples. To the extent that the block diagrams, schematic diagrams, and examples contain one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be individually and / or collectively implemented by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof.

[0200] In one embodiment, the present subject matter may be implemented via an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments disclosed herein may equivalently be implemented, in whole or in part, in a standard integrated circuit, as one or more computer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs executed on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers), as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors), as firmware, or virtually any combination thereof; and that designing the circuitry and / or writing the code for the software and / or firmware would be well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0201] When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, the logic or information may be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method. In the context of this disclosure, memory is a computer-readable medium that is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that contains or stores a computer and / or processor program. The logic and / or information may be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction-execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that may fetch instructions from the instruction-execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions associated with the logic and / or information.

[0202] In the context of this specification, a "computer-readable medium" may be any element that can store a program associated with logic and / or information for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, and / or device. A computer-readable medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media would include the following: portable computer diskettes (magnetic, CompactFlash® cards, Secure Digital, or equivalent), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory), portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), digital tape, and other non-transitory media.

[0203] Many of the methods described herein may be practiced with variations, for example, many of the methods may include additional acts, omit some acts, and / or perform acts in a different order than illustrated or described.

[0204] The various embodiments described above may be combined to provide further embodiments. To the extent they do not contradict the specific teachings and definitions of this specification, all U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications, and non-patent publications referenced herein and / or listed in the Application Data Sheets are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments may be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits, and concepts from the various patents, applications, and publications to provide still further embodiments.

[0205] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the scope of the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Therefore, the claims are not limited by this disclosure.

[0206] Furthermore, the various embodiments described above may be combined to provide further embodiments, and aspects of the embodiments may be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide still further embodiments.

[0207] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the scope of the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Therefore, the claims are not limited by this disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the hinge base includes a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member is pivotally mounted about the bushing to pitch up and down about the pitch axis; A hinge system wherein a gap is provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to allow a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

2. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the hinge base and the intermediate hinge member of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements for limiting rotational travel of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis; the one or more stop arrangements comprise a first rotational stop provided on the hinge base and a second rotational stop provided on the hinge base, the first rotational stop configured to interrupt a path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched upward to an upward limit, and the second rotational stop configured to interrupt the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched downward to a downward limit.

3. 3. The hinge system of claim 2, wherein the first rotation stop and the second rotation stop are provided by portions of arcuate slots in the hinge base, the arcuate slots interfering with the path of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched upward to the upward limit and when the intermediate hinge member is pitched downward to the downward limit.

4. 3. The hinge system of claim 2, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise a first rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member and a second rotational stop provided on the intermediate hinge member, the first rotational stop configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member is pitched upward to its upward limit, and the second rotational stop configured to abut the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member is pitched downward to its downward limit.

5. the first rotation stop and the second rotation stop are provided by a plurality of peripheral edges of the intermediate hinge member; The first rotation stop and the second rotation stop are provided by the hinge base.

5. The hinge system of claim 4, wherein the hinge acts as a backup stop in the event that the primary rotation stop fails.

6. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the hinge base includes an arcuate guide, and the intermediate hinge member includes or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides within the arcuate guide of the hinge base when the intermediate hinge member rotates relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis; A hinge system wherein a clearance is provided between the arcuate guide contour and the corresponding guide pin to allow a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

7. 2. The hinge system of claim 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to allow the second member to pitch up and down at least 5 degrees in each rotational direction about the pitch axis from a neutral configuration.

8. 2. The hinge system of claim 1, wherein the hinge system is configured to allow the second member to pitch up and down at least 10 degrees in each rotational direction about the pitch axis from a neutral configuration.

9. The hinge system of claim 1, further comprising a second biasing member disposed between the intermediate hinge member and the distal hinge member, the second biasing member configured to bias the distal hinge member toward a neutral configuration.

10. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the intermediate hinge member and the distal hinge member of the hinge system include one or more stop arrangements for limiting rotational travel of the distal hinge member relative to the intermediate hinge member about the yaw axis.

11. the one or more stop arrangements include a first rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member and a second rotational stop provided on the middle hinge member, the first rotational stop configured to interrupt a path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to an outward limit, and the second rotational stop configured to interrupt the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to an inward limit; 11. The hinge system of claim 10, wherein the first and second rotational stops are provided by opposing portions of a plate structure of the middle hinge member, the plate structure obstructing the path of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws outward and when the distal hinge member yaws inward.

12. 11. The hinge system of claim 10, wherein the one or more stop arrangements comprise a first rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member and a second rotational stop provided on the distal hinge member, the first rotational stop configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its outward limit, and the second rotational stop configured to abut the middle hinge member when the distal hinge member yaws to its inward limit.

13. 13. The hinge system of claim 12, wherein the first rotational stop and the second rotational stop are provided by different portions of the distal hinge member, the different portions configured to abut opposing surfaces of the middle hinge member.

14. The hinge system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge system is configured to allow the second member to yaw at least 15 degrees.

15. The hinge system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge system is configured to allow the second member to yaw outwardly at least 20 degrees.

16. 1. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the hinge base includes a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member is pivotally mounted about the bushing to pitch up and down about the pitch axis; A hinge system wherein a gap is provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to allow a degree of translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base.

17. A hinge system, comprising: a hinge base fixedly connectable to the first member; an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis; a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis, the distal hinge member being fixedly coupleable to a second member; Equipped with the hinge system allows the second member to pitch and yaw relative to the first member; the hinge base includes a biasing member configured to bias the intermediate hinge member to rotate about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate hinge member is displaced from the neutral configuration; the hinge base comprises a generally planar base element, the base element being integrally formed within the hinge base; the hinge base further comprises a plurality of opposing covers fixedly secured to the generally planar base element so as to substantially conceal the biasing member within an interior cavity of the hinge base; at least one of the plurality of opposing covers includes an arcuate guide to help guide the intermediate hinge member as it rotates relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis.

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