Wearable electronic device comprising gap cover
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/KR2024/012246
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-27
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-20
Smart Images

Figure KR2024012246_20022025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Wearable electronic device including a gap cover
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic devices, for example, wearable electronic devices including gap covers.
[0002] Portable electronic devices, such as electronic notebooks, portable multimedia players, mobile communication terminals, or tablet PCs, typically feature display elements and batteries, and have typically had bar-shaped, folder-shaped, or sliding-type appearances due to the shape of the display elements or batteries. Recently, as the performance of display elements and batteries has improved, they have become smaller, leading to the emergence of electronic devices that can be worn on parts of the body, such as the wrist or head, or as clothing (hereinafter referred to as "wearable electronic devices").
[0003] Examples of wearable electronic devices include head-mounted devices (HMDs), smart glasses, smartwatches (or bands), contact lenses, rings, or clothing, shoes, or gloves. These body-worn electronic devices are easy to carry and can enhance user accessibility.
[0004] For example, a head-mounted wearable device is a device worn on the user's head or face that projects an image onto the user's retina, allowing the user to view virtual images in three-dimensional space. For example, head-mounted wearable devices can be categorized into see-through types that provide augmented reality (AR) and see-closed types that provide virtual reality (VR). A see-through type head-mounted wearable device can be implemented in the form of glasses, for example, and can provide the user with information about buildings or objects in the space within the user's field of vision in the form of images or text. A see-closed type head-mounted wearable device can output independent images to both eyes of the user, and can provide the user, or one person, with an excellent sense of immersion by outputting content provided by a mobile communication terminal or an external input (e.g., games, movies, streaming, or broadcasting) in the form of images or audio. Additionally, head-mounted wearable devices may be used to provide mixed reality (MR) or extended reality (XR), which are a combination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
[0005] Recently, product development for head-mounted wearable devices has been actively underway, and they are being used for a variety of purposes, including military, gaming, industrial, and medical applications. Consequently, there is a growing demand for head-mounted wearable devices that are smaller and lighter while also providing superior image quality.
[0006] The above information may be provided as background art to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the above is applicable as prior art in connection with the present disclosure.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wearable electronic device can be provided.
[0008] The wearable electronic device may include a housing including a first housing facing a first direction and a second housing facing in a direction opposite to the first direction, the second housing having a first opening formed therein and forming a space therebetween with the first housing, a lens module disposed in the first opening, a gap cover disposed in the space and surrounding the lens module, and an elastic member disposed in the space and between the gap cover and the housing to elastically support the gap cover. The wearable electronic device may be configured such that when the lens module moves within the first opening, the elastic member supports a side surface of the gap cover to cover a gap between the housing and the lens module.
[0009] The wearable electronic device may include a housing including a first housing facing a first direction, and a second housing facing in a direction opposite to the first direction and having a first opening formed therein and forming a space therebetween with the first housing, a lens module disposed in the first opening, the lens module including a first lens module and a second lens module corresponding to both eyes of the user, a gap cover disposed in the space, the gap cover including a first gap cover surrounding the first lens module and a second gap cover surrounding the second lens module, and an elastic member disposed in the space, the elastic member including a first elastic member supporting one side of the first gap cover, a second elastic member supporting the other side of the first gap cover, and a third elastic member supporting one side of the second gap cover. The wearable electronic device may be configured such that when the first lens module and the second lens module move away from each other, the first elastic member and the third elastic member may exert a pushing force on the first gap cover and the second gap cover, and when the first lens module and the second lens module move toward each other, the second elastic member may exert a pushing force on the first gap cover and the second gap cover.
[0010] The above-described aspects or other aspects, configurations and / or advantages of one embodiment of the present disclosure may be further clarified by the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the front of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the back of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the rear side of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the rear side of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a cross-section of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing internal components of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the arrangement between the housing, gap cover, and elastic member of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing an X-shaped spring according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing an O-shaped spring according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 12A is a front view showing the arrangement between the housing and the gap cover and the elastic member of a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 12b is a front view showing a state in which a first lens module and a second lens module move away from each other according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 12c is a front view showing a state in which a first lens module and a second lens module move toward each other according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 13b is a cross-sectional view showing a wearable electronic device according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13a.
[0027] FIG. 14A is a perspective view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 14b is a cross-sectional view showing a wearable electronic device according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14a.
[0029] Throughout the attached drawings, similar reference numbers may be assigned to similar parts, components and / or structures.
[0030] Wearable electronic devices that implement virtual reality can generally be worn on the user's head or face. When the wearable electronic device is worn on the user's head or face, the interpupillary distance (IPD) of the display and / or lenses can be adjusted to correspond to the size of the user's head or face.
[0031] Adjusting the interpupillary distance (IPD) of the display and / or lens may create a gap between the housing and the lens. This gap allows internal components of the wearable electronic device to be visible. This gap may be left exposed without a separate member to cover the gap, or may be covered using leather, rubber, and / or other textile materials.
[0032] If the gap is left exposed, the appearance quality may deteriorate, or foreign substances or moisture may enter through the gap. The gap-covering structure, which includes leather, rubber, and / or other textile materials, may be easily deformed and / or damaged by factors such as the user's fingernails or sharp objects. Furthermore, the process of creating the gap-covering structure using leather, rubber, and / or other textile materials may be difficult or require relatively high manufacturing costs.
[0033] One embodiment of the present disclosure is intended to at least resolve the above-described problems and / or disadvantages and provide at least the advantages described below, by providing a wearable electronic device including a gap cover supported on at least one side using an elastic member.
[0034] The technical problems to be achieved in the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs from the description below.
[0035] The following description of the accompanying drawings may provide an understanding of various exemplary implementations of the present disclosure, including the claims and their equivalents. While the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the following description include numerous specific details to aid understanding, they are to be considered as one example of various exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations of the various implementations described herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0036] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to their reference meanings and can be used to clearly and consistently describe one embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various implementations of the disclosure is provided for illustrative purposes, not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure and its equivalents.
[0037] Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the singular forms of "a," "an," and "the" should be understood to include plural meanings. Thus, for example, "a component surface" could be understood to include one or more of the surfaces of the component.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1 , in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with at least one of the electronic device (104) or the server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may have at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)) omitted, or one or more other components added. In one embodiment, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).
[0039] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor), or an auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.
[0040] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.
[0041] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).
[0042] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).
[0043] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).
[0044] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.
[0045] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.
[0046] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).
[0047] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.
[0048] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.
[0049] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).
[0050] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.
[0051] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.
[0052] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).
[0053] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.
[0054] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can use subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196) to verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199).
[0055] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.
[0056] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In one embodiment, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).
[0057] In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second surface (e.g., a top surface or a side surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.
[0058] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).
[0059] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a wearable electronic device (200) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0061] In describing one embodiment of the present disclosure, some numerical values and the like may be presented, but it should be noted that such numerical values do not limit one embodiment of the present disclosure unless stated in the claims.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 2, a wearable electronic device (200) (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) is an electronic device that can be worn on a user's head or face, and the user can visually recognize surrounding objects or environments even while wearing the wearable electronic device (200). The wearable electronic device (200) uses a camera module to acquire and / or recognize visual images of objects or environments viewed by the user or in the direction in which the wearable electronic device (200) is directed, and can receive information about the objects or environments from an external electronic device via a network. The wearable electronic device (200) can provide the user with information about the objects or environments received in an acoustic or visual form. For example, the wearable electronic device (200) can provide the user with information about the objects or environments received in a visual form by using a display member such as a display module. By visualizing information about objects or the environment and combining it with actual images (or videos) of the user's surroundings, the wearable electronic device (200) can implement augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and / or extended reality (XR). The display member can provide the user with information about objects or the environment around him / her by outputting a screen in which an augmented reality object is added to an actual image (or video) of the user's surroundings.
[0063] According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed by the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) may be executed by one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) needs to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) may, instead of executing the function or service by itself or in addition, request one or more external electronic devices to execute the function or at least a part of the service. The one or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a part of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200). The electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) may provide the result as is or additionally processed as at least a part of the response to the request. For example, the external electronic device (102) may render content data executed in an application and then transmit it to the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200), and the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) that has received the data may output the content data to a display module. When the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) detects user movement through a sensor(s) such as an inertial measurement unit sensor, the processor (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) of the electronic device (101) or the wearable electronic device (200) may correct the rendering data received from the external electronic device (102) based on the movement information and output the corrected data to the display module.Or, when a user movement is detected through a sensor(s), a processor (e.g., processor (120) of FIG. 1) of the electronic device (101) or wearable electronic device (200) may transmit the movement information to an external electronic device (102) and request rendering so that screen data is updated accordingly. According to various embodiments, the external electronic device (102) may be a device of various forms, such as a case device capable of storing and charging the electronic device (101).
[0064] It should be noted that the detailed description below may refer to various things such as “a state or position in which an electronic device or a designated component of an electronic device faces the user’s face,” and this is based on the assumption that the user is wearing the wearable electronic device (200).
[0065] According to one embodiment, a wearable electronic device (200) may include at least one display member and a wearing member. Depending on the structure of the display member, the wearable electronic device (200) may further include a structure (e.g., a lens frame) for mounting or supporting the display member. The display members may be provided as a pair including a first display member and a second display member, and may be arranged to correspond to the right and left eyes of the user, respectively, when the wearable electronic device (200) is worn on the user's body. In one embodiment, the wearable electronic device (200) may also include a housing form (e.g., a goggle form) including one display member corresponding to the right eye and the left eye.
[0066] According to one embodiment, the display member is a configuration provided to provide visual information to a user, and may include, for example, a display (D), a plurality of lenses (L1, L2, L3, L4) (e.g., a lens assembly) and / or at least one sensor. Here, the lens assembly and the display (D) may each be formed transparently or translucently. However, the display member is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the display member may include a window member, and the window member may be a translucent glass or a member whose light transmittance can be adjusted as a tinting density is adjusted. In one embodiment, the display member may include a lens including a waveguide or a reflective lens, and an image output from an optical output device (e.g., a projector or the display (D)) is formed on each lens to provide visual information to the user. For example, the display member may include a waveguide (e.g., a light waveguide) in at least a portion of each lens, and may mean a display that transmits an image (or light) output from a light output device, such as a display (D), to a user's eye through the waveguide included in the display member, and at the same time transmits the real world to the user's eye through that area in a see-through manner. In one embodiment, the waveguide may be understood as a part of the lens assembly.
[0067] The lens assembly is a configuration including a plurality of lenses (e.g., L1, L2, L3, L4), which can be arranged in a state aligned with an optical axis (I) within a space of a wearable electronic device (200). The number of lenses included in the lens assembly may be less or more than that in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. In addition, the plurality of lenses included in the lens assembly may be configured as Fresnel lenses, pancake lenses, and / or multi-channel lenses.
[0068] FIGS. 3 and 4 are drawings showing the front and back of a wearable electronic device (300) according to one embodiment.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, camera modules (311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316) and / or depth sensors (317) for obtaining information related to the surrounding environment of the wearable electronic device (300) may be arranged on a first surface (310) of the electronic device (300) (e.g., housing).
[0070] In one embodiment, the camera modules (311, 312) can acquire images related to the environment surrounding the wearable electronic device.
[0071] In one embodiment, the camera modules (313, 314, 315, 316) can acquire images while the wearable electronic device is worn by a user. The camera modules (313, 314, 315, 316) can be used for hand detection, tracking, and recognition of user gestures (e.g., hand movements). The camera modules (313, 314, 315, 316) can be used for 3DoF (degrees of freedom), 6DoF head tracking, position (spatial, environmental) recognition, and / or movement recognition. In one embodiment, the camera modules (311, 312) can also be used for hand detection and tracking or recognition or detection of user gestures.
[0072] In one embodiment, the depth sensor (317) may be configured to transmit a signal and receive a signal reflected from a subject, and may be used for purposes such as time of flight (TOF) to determine the distance to an object. Instead of or in addition to the depth sensor (317), camera modules (313, 314, 315, 316) may determine the distance to an object.
[0073] According to one embodiment, a camera module (325, 326) for facial recognition and / or a display (321) (and / or a lens) may be disposed on the second side (320) of the housing.
[0074] In one embodiment, a face recognition camera module (325, 326) adjacent to the display may be used to recognize a user's face, or may recognize and / or track both eyes of the user.
[0075] In one embodiment, the display (321) (and / or lens) may be disposed on the second side (320) of the wearable electronic device (300). In one embodiment, the display (321) (and / or lens) may be at least partially similar to, or substantially identical to, the display (D) (and / or lenses L1, L2, L3, L4) of FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the wearable electronic device (300) may not include, among the plurality of camera modules (313, 314, 315, 316), the camera modules (315, 316). Although not illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the wearable electronic device (300) may further include at least one of the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and / or 2 .
[0076] As described above, according to one embodiment, the wearable electronic device (300) may have a form factor for being worn on a user's head. The wearable electronic device (300) may further include a strap and / or a wearing member for being secured to a body part of the user. The wearable electronic device (300) may provide a user experience based on augmented reality, virtual reality, and / or mixed reality while being worn on the user's head.
[0077] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the rear surface of a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the rear surface of a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0078] In describing the wearable electronic device (400) illustrated in the description below in FIG. 5 (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, the electronic device (200) of FIG. 2, and the electronic device (300) of FIGS. 3 and 4), descriptions of components substantially the same as those described above in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be omitted below. In addition, the descriptions described above in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be applied to the components illustrated in the drawings below. For example, the display (D) of FIG. 2 and the display (321) of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be omitted in the description below in FIG. 5. In addition, for example, the display member of FIG. 2 may correspond to the lens module (440) in the description below in FIG. 5, and descriptions of the lens module in the overlapping range of FIG. 2 may be omitted below.
[0079] In the following description, the thickness direction (or length direction) of the wearable electronic device (400) may be defined as the 'Y-axis direction', the width direction as the 'X-axis direction', and / or the height direction as the 'Z-axis direction'. In the detailed description below, references to the thickness direction, the width direction, and / or the height direction may indicate the thickness direction, the width direction, and / or the height direction of the wearable electronic device. In one embodiment, with respect to the direction in which the components are oriented, 'negative / positive (- / +)' may be mentioned together with the rectangular coordinate system illustrated in the drawing. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the front of the wearable electronic device (400) or the housing (401) may be defined as the 'side facing the +Y-axis direction', and the rear surface (421b) of the housing may be defined as the 'side facing the -Y-axis direction'. If 'negative / positive (- / +)' is not described, it may be interpreted to include both the + direction and the - direction unless otherwise defined. For example, 'Z-axis direction' can be interpreted as including both +Z direction and -Z direction. Similarly, 'X-axis direction' can be interpreted as including both +X direction and -X direction, and 'Y-axis direction' can be interpreted as including both +Y direction and -Y direction. In the description of direction, 'facing towards any one of the three axes of the orthogonal coordinate system' can include facing in a direction parallel to said axis. In one embodiment, 'facing a certain direction' of a certain component can be understood to include not only 'facing the same direction as the certain direction' but also 'facing a direction parallel to the certain direction' of the certain component. It should be noted that when a certain component is overlapped (or stacked) with another component in the following description, the description of the arrangement relationship in the thickness direction (Y-axis direction) described above can be applied.In describing directions, the term "first direction" in the following description may refer to the Y-axis direction or a direction parallel to the Y-axis. The foregoing description is based on the rectangular coordinate system depicted in the drawings for the sake of brevity, and it should be noted that the description of such directions or components does not limit the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0080] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the wearable electronic device (400) may include a housing (401) forming an exterior. For convenience of explanation, components such as the camera module described above in FIGS. 3 and 4 are omitted in FIGS. 5 to 7.
[0081] According to one embodiment, the housing (401) may include a first housing (410) facing in a first direction (Y-axis direction) and a second housing (420) facing in a direction opposite to the first direction and having a first opening (O1) formed therein and forming a space (S) therebetween with the first housing (410). Various components may be arranged in the space (S) between the first housing (410) and the second housing (420). For example, the lens module (440) may be arranged at least partially within the space (S) between the first housing (410) and the second housing (420). In the embodiment disclosed in the drawings below FIG. 5, the lens module (440) is illustrated as having a portion thereof disposed within the space (S) between the first housing (410) and the second housing (420), and another portion thereof exposed to the outside of the space (S), but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, it can also be applied when the entire lens module (440) is placed within the space (S).
[0082] In the space (S) between the first housing (410) and the second housing (420), at least one component provided to enable the wearable electronic device (400) to perform a certain function, as well as a substrate and / or at least one bracket for supporting the component or the substrate, may be placed. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which a substrate (405) is placed in the space (S) between the first housing (410) and the second housing (420).
[0083] The wearable electronic device (400) of FIG. 5 or below may, according to one embodiment, be a VST (video see through) type wearable electronic device. Accordingly, the housing (401) of the wearable electronic device (400) may have an opaque appearance, and may be configured so that the user can obtain visual information through the lens module (440). The first housing (410) may be coupled to the second housing (420) and may have a structure that prevents the wearable electronic device (400) from being deformed and / or damaged by dropping or impact from an external substance. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a first opening (O1) for mounting the lens module (440) may be formed in the plate (421) of the second housing (420), but foreign substances or moisture may penetrate from the outside through the first opening (O1). In addition, according to one embodiment, the first opening (O1) may be formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the lens module (440) for adjusting the interpupillary distance (IPD), in which case a gap (g1, g2) is formed between the lens module (440) and the plate (421) of the second housing (420), through which components or the substrate (405) inside the housing (401) may be visible to the outside. Since components or the substrate (405) inside the housing (401) are visible to the outside, the quality of the appearance of the wearable electronic device (400) may be significantly deteriorated.
[0084] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lens module (440) is disposed in the first opening (O1) and may include a first lens module (441) and a second lens module (442) to correspond to the user's two eyes. According to one embodiment, the distance between the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) may be referred to as an 'interpupillary distance (IPD)'. And the interpupillary distance may be adjusted by moving at least one lens module among the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442). According to one embodiment, the interpupillary distance (IPD) may be adjusted by moving only the second lens module (442) while the first lens module (441) is fixed, or by moving only the first lens module (441) while the second lens module (442) is fixed. Alternatively, the interpupillary distance (IPD) can be adjusted even when both the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) move. In this case, the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can move independently of each other or can move dependently. In the drawings below, FIG. 8 and below, as an example, an embodiment in which the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) move dependently on each other is illustrated in which the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) are connected by a shaft (445).
[0085] As previously discussed, the manner in which at least one of the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) moves to adjust the interpupillary distance (IPD) may vary. Correspondingly, the first gap (g1) between the first lens module (441) and the plate (421) of the second housing (420) and the second gap (g2) between the second lens module (442) and the plate (421) of the second housing (420) may be set differently depending on the embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the first gap (g1) between the first lens module (441) and the plate (421) of the second housing (420) may include a 1-1 gap (g1-1) formed on the outside of the wearable electronic device (400) based on the first lens module (441) and a 1-2 gap (g1-2) formed close to an imaginary line (AA) passing through the center line of the wearable electronic device (400). For another example, the second gap (g1) between the second lens module (442) and the plate (421) of the second housing (420) may include a 2-1 gap (g2-1) formed on the outside of the wearable electronic device (400) based on the second lens module (442) and a 2-2 gap (g2-2) formed close to an imaginary line (AA) passing through the center line of the wearable electronic device (400). The 1-1 gap (g1-1), the 1-2 gap (g1-2), the 2-1 gap (g2-1), and the 2-2 gap (g2-2) may be formed in various sizes according to various embodiments.
[0086] For the wearable electronic device (400) having the above-described structure, the present disclosure may further include a gap cover (450). According to one embodiment, the gap cover (450) may include a first gap cover (451) surrounding the first lens module (441) and a second gap cover (452) surrounding the second lens module (442).
[0087] The wearable electronic device (400) of the present disclosure includes a gap cover (450), thereby effectively filling the gap, thereby preventing the penetration of foreign substances and / or moisture, or the components and / or substrates inside the wearable electronic device (400) from being visible from the outside. The gap cover (450) of the present disclosure has the advantage of being able to fill the gap around the lens module (440) even when the lens module (440) moves to adjust the interpupillary distance (IPD).
[0088] Hereinafter, the gap cover (450) will be described in more detail through the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0089] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating internal components of a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement between a housing, a gap cover, and an elastic member of a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0090] It should be noted that while the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the rear surface (421b) of the plate (421) of the second housing (420), the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the front surface (421a) of the plate (421) of the second housing (420). In addition, it should be noted that FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate only some of the components arranged in the housing (401) for convenience.
[0091] The wearable electronic device (400) of the present disclosure may include a gap cover (450) surrounding a lens module (440), and an elastic member (460) disposed between the gap cover (450) and a housing (401) to elastically support the gap cover (450). Here, the housing (401) may refer to a second housing (420).
[0092] Referring to FIG. 8, the gap cover (450) includes a first gap cover (451) surrounding a first lens module (441), wherein the first gap cover (451) may include a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) surrounding a first portion of the first lens module (441) and a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) surrounding a second portion of the first lens module (441). Here, the first portion and the second portion of the first lens module (441) may refer to an outer circumferential surface of the first lens module (441), and may refer to a right semicircle and a left semicircle of the first lens module (441), respectively. According to one embodiment, the first-first gap cover (451-1) and the first-second gap cover (451-2) are separate components, but may be formed to always face each other around the first lens module (441) (e.g., the contact point (F1)), as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. And the first-first gap cover (451-1) and the first-second gap cover (451-2) may maintain contact at the surfaces facing each other (e.g., the contact point (F1)) by the elastic member (460) even when the lens module moves. When the first-first gap cover (451-1) and the first-second gap cover (451-2) contact each other, a second opening (O2) may be formed. The second opening (O2) may have a diameter substantially the same as that of the first lens module (441).
[0093] The gap cover (450) includes a second gap cover (452) surrounding the second lens module (442), wherein the second gap cover (452) may include a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) surrounding a first portion of the second lens module (442) and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) surrounding a second portion of the second lens module (442). Here, the first portion and the second portion of the second lens module (442) may refer to the outer circumference of the second lens module (442), and may refer to the left semicircle and the right semicircle of the second lens module (442), respectively. According to one embodiment, the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) are separate components, but may be formed to always face each other around the second lens module (442) (e.g., the contact point (F2)), as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. And the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) can maintain contact at the surfaces facing each other (e.g., the contact point (F2)) by the elastic member (460) even when the lens module moves. When the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) contact each other, a second opening (O2) can be formed. The second opening (O2) may have a diameter substantially the same as that of the second lens module (442).
[0094] The elastic member (460) may be configured to support the side surface of the gap cover (450) when the lens module (440) moves within the first opening (O1) so that the gap cover (450) covers the gap between the housing (401) and the lens module (440). The elastic member (460) may be configured to be disposed substantially on the same plane (e.g., XZ plane) as the gap cover (450) so as to apply a pushing or pulling force to the gap cover (450). At least two elastic members (460) are disposed around the gap cover (450). For example, when the gap cover (450) includes a first gap cover (451) and a second gap cover (452) as illustrated in FIG. 8, at least three elastic members (460) may be provided. According to one embodiment, the elastic member (460) may include a first elastic member (461) that supports one side of the first gap cover (451), a second elastic member (462) that supports the other side of the first gap cover (451), and a third elastic member (463) that supports one side of the second gap cover (452). At this time, the second elastic member (462) may support the other side of the first gap cover (451) and may also support the other side of the second gap cover (452). That is, the second elastic member (462) disposed between the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452) may be an element that elastically supports the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452) at the same time. However, the above-described embodiment is only one embodiment and is not necessarily limited thereto. According to one embodiment, the elastic member (460) may be composed of four elastic members, as illustrated in FIG. 8.In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the elastic member (460) may include a 2-1 elastic member (462-1) that supports the other side of the first gap cover (451) together with a first elastic member (461) and a third elastic member (463), and a 2-2 elastic member (462-2) that supports the other side of the second gap cover (452). In the following description, an embodiment in which the elastic member (460) provided in the wearable electronic device (400) includes a first elastic member (461), a 2-1 elastic member (462-1), a 2-2 elastic member (462-2), and a third elastic member (463) may be mainly described.
[0095] According to one embodiment, the gap cover (450) may have ribs (r1-1, r1-2, r2-1, r2-2) formed at a portion that contacts the elastic member (460). For example, the 1-1 cap shutter (451-1) in contact with the first elastic member (461) may include the 1-1 rib (r1-1), the 1-2 cap shutter (451-2) in contact with the second elastic member (462) (or the 2-1 elastic member (461-1)) may include the 1-2 rib (r1-2), the 2-1 cap shutter (452-1) in contact with the 3rd elastic member (463) may include the 2-1 rib (r2-1), and the 2-2 cap shutter (452-2) in contact with the second elastic member (462) (or the 2-2 elastic member (461-2)) may include the 2-2 rib (r1-2). The cap shutter (450) can be supported more stably by including a rib to ensure a sufficient contact area with the elastic member (460). According to one embodiment, the gap cover (450) may be provided with a recess into which the elastic member can be fitted and fixed at a portion in contact with the elastic member (460). For example, the recess may be formed in the ribs (r1-1, r1-2, r2-1, r2-2).
[0096] The cap shutter (450) and the elastic member (460) may be mounted on an inner surface of the second housing (420) (e.g., a front surface (421a) of the plate (421) of the second housing (420). The second housing (420) may include a plate (421) and an outer wall (422) extending in a first direction (Y-axis direction) from the plate (421). In addition, the second housing (420) may include a plurality of support walls (423, 424, 425, 426, 427) formed on a surface (front surface (421a)) of the plate (421) facing the first direction (Y-axis direction). The above support walls (423, 424, 425, 426, 427) can support the cap shutter (450) and the elastic member (460) so that the operation between the cap shutter (450) and the elastic member (460) is stably performed in the internal space (S) of the wearable electronic device (400).
[0097] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, on the inner surface of the second housing (420), support walls (423, 424, 425, 426, 427) may be formed, including vertical walls (423, 424, 425) extending in the height direction of the wearable electronic device (400) and horizontal walls (426, 427) extending in the width direction. According to one embodiment, a first gap cover (451), a first elastic member (461), and a second-first elastic member (461-2) may be disposed between two adjacent vertical walls among the vertical walls (423, 424, 425), for example, a first vertical wall (423) and a second vertical wall (424). And a second gap cover (452) and a second-second elastic member (462-2) and a third elastic member (463) may be disposed between two other adjacent vertical walls among the vertical walls (423, 424, 425), for example, between the second vertical wall (424) and the third vertical wall (425). Referring to FIG. 7 together with FIGS. 8 and 9, when the wearable electronic device (400) is viewed in a direction parallel to the X-axis, the gap cover (450) and the elastic member (460) may overlap each other. Between two horizontal walls (426, 427), a first gap cover (451, 452) and / or an elastic member (460) may be disposed side by side without overlapping. For example, a first gap cover (451) and a second gap cover (452) may be disposed between two horizontal walls (426, 427), each having a height corresponding to the distance between the two horizontal walls (426, 427). In one embodiment, the movement of the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452) may be guided through the two horizontal walls (426, 427). In one embodiment, a recess may be formed in the horizontal walls (426, 427) to guide the movement of the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452).
[0098] The first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) included in the lens module (440) can be connected to each other by at least one shaft (445), and according to one embodiment, when the first lens module (441) moves, the second lens module (442) can also move together. For example, the first lens module (441) can be connected to at least one shaft (445) using a first connecting member (443) provided on at least one side of the first lens module (441), and the second lens module (442) can be connected to at least one shaft (445) using a second connecting member (444) provided on at least one side of the second lens module (442). FIG. 8 illustrates a first connecting member (443) formed at the upper and lower portions of a first lens module (441), a second connecting member (444) formed at the upper and lower portions of a second lens module (442), and two shafts (445-1, 445-2) connecting the first connecting member (443) and the second connecting member (444). According to one embodiment, the shaft (445) may be connected to the first connecting member (443) and the second connecting member (444) while being positioned in the space between the outer wall (422) and the horizontal walls (426, 427) of the second housing (420). As an example, the shaft (445), the first connecting member (443), and the second connecting member (444) may each be formed in the form of a rail and a guide member guiding the rail. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto, and various embodiments can be applied to the shaft (445), the first connecting member (443), and the second connecting member (444). For example, the wearable electronic device may additionally include a driving unit (e.g., a motor) that provides power to enable the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) to move along the shaft (445).
[0099] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can move together in a direction away from each other or move together in a direction closer to each other when adjusting the interpupillary distance (IPD). The movement of the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can be performed manually by the user by applying an external force using a part of the body (e.g., a hand), but may also be performed automatically based on a preset operation of the wearable electronic device (400) according to an embodiment.
[0100] The elastic member (460) of the present disclosure is a component that elastically supports the gap cover (450) by coming into contact with the gap cover (450) at at least two locations around the gap cover (450), and any of various forms of elastic members (460) can be applied as long as they can generate an elastic repulsive force to push the gap cover (450) in the X-axis direction.
[0101] Hereinafter, the elastic member (460) will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0102] Fig. 10 is a drawing showing an X-shaped spring according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 11 is a drawing showing an O-shaped spring according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0103] According to one embodiment, the elastic member (460) may include an X-shaped leaf spring or coil spring as illustrated in FIG. 10. The X-shaped elastic member (460) may include four branches (b1, b2, b3, b4) extending in four different directions based on the center C. The X-shaped elastic member (460) may have an elastic repulsive force applied to each of the four different branches (b1, b2, b3, b4).
[0104] According to another embodiment, the elastic member (460) may include an O-shaped leaf spring or coil spring as illustrated in FIG. 11. The O-shaped elastic member (460) may be formed, for example, in a structure in which two spring plates (L1, L2) are connected to each other at the top portion (T) and the bottom portion (B), and an elastic repulsive force is applied to the left and right.
[0105] In FIGS. 8 and 9, an embodiment is shown in which only the X-shaped elastic member (460) of FIG. 10 is provided as the elastic member (460), but the present invention is not limited thereto, and an O-shaped elastic member (460) of FIG. 11 may be additionally or alternatively provided.
[0106] FIG. 12A is a front view showing the arrangement state between the housing, gap cover, and elastic member of the wearable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12B is a front view showing a state in which a first lens module and a second lens module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure move away from each other. FIG. 12C is a front view showing a state in which a first lens module and a second lens module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure move toward each other. FIG. 12A may show an intermediate state in which the first lens module and the second lens module neither approach nor move away from each other.
[0107] Referring to FIGS. 12a to 12c, the behavior between the elastic member and the cap shutter can be examined when the lens module moves within the first opening.
[0108] According to one embodiment, the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can be connected to each other by a shaft (445), and according to one embodiment, when adjusting the interpupillary distance (IPD), the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can move together in a direction away from each other or move together in a direction toward each other.
[0109] According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, when the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) are in an intermediate state where they are neither closer nor further apart from each other, the first elastic member (461), the second elastic member (462) (e.g., the 2-1 elastic member (462-1) and the 2-2 elastic member (462-2)), and the third elastic member (463) may all be assembled to be in a partially contracted state. According to one embodiment, the first elastic member (461) and the 2-1 elastic member (462-1) may exert a pushing force on the first gap cover (451) at one side and the other side of the first gap cover (451), respectively. According to another embodiment, the second elastic member (462-2) and the third elastic member (463) can exert a pushing force on the second gap cover (452) on one side and the other side of the second gap cover (452), respectively.
[0110] According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12b, when the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) move away from each other, the first elastic member (461) and the third elastic member (463) are contracted from the intermediate state, and the second elastic member (462) (e.g., the 2-1 elastic member (462-1) and the 2-2 elastic member (462-2)) can exert a pushing force on the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452) in a relaxed state from the intermediate state, respectively. Conversely, as illustrated in FIG. 12c, when the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) move toward each other, the second elastic member (462) (e.g., the 2-1 elastic member (462-1) and the 2-2 elastic member (462-2)) contracts more than the intermediate state, and the first elastic member (461) and the third elastic member (463) can exert a pushing force on the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452), respectively, in a state in which they are more relaxed than the intermediate state.
[0111] According to one embodiment, the first elastic member (461), the second elastic member (462) (e.g., the 2-1 elastic member (462-1) and the 2-2 elastic member (462-2)) and the third elastic member (463) may be configured to be fixedly connected to the first gap cover (451) and the second gap cover (452) by an adhesive and / or a fastening structure, rather than simply in contact with them.
[0112] FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13A. FIG. 14A is a perspective view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wearable electronic device according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14A.
[0113] The gap cover (450) of the present disclosure may be formed to correspond to the exterior of the housing (420). According to one embodiment, the 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the 1-2 gap cover (451-2) may have a stepped shape to correspond to the exterior of the second housing (420), and the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) may have a stepped shape to correspond to the exterior of the second housing (420).
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the second housing (420) in which the gap cover (450) and the elastic member (460) are arranged may include, for example, a smooth plate (421) that is parallel to the XZ plane and has no steps. In this case, the first gap cover (451) included in the gap cover (450) may include a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) that are arranged on substantially the same plane (XZ plane), and the second gap cover (452) may include a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) that are arranged on substantially the same plane (XZ plane).
[0115] In contrast, referring to FIGS. 14a and 14b, the second housing (420) in which the gap cover (450) and the elastic member (460) are arranged may include, for example, a plate (421) including an at least partially stepped portion (421'). The stepped portion (421') of the plate (421) may be stepped from another portion by a distance d in the first direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, the first gap cover (451) included in the gap cover (450) may include a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) arranged on different planes. In addition, the second gap cover (452) may include a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) arranged on different planes. In response to the 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the 1-2 gap cover (451-2) which are stepped by a predetermined distance (e.g., distance d) in the first direction (Y-axis direction), the first elastic member (461) and the second elastic member (462) (e.g., the 2-1 elastic member (462-1)) may also be arranged to be stepped by a predetermined distance (e.g., distance d) in the first direction (Y-axis direction). In addition, in response to the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) which are stepped by a predetermined distance (e.g., distance d) in the first direction (Y-axis direction), the 2nd elastic member (461) (e.g., the 2-2 elastic member (462-2)) and the 3rd elastic member (463) may also be arranged to be stepped by a predetermined distance (e.g., distance d) in the first direction (Y-axis direction).
[0116] According to the present disclosure, even if the exterior of the housing is stepped as shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b or has various other shapes, a wearable electronic device (400) that effectively covers the gap between the lens module (440) and the housing (401) can be provided by including a gap cover (450) and an elastic member (460) arranged correspondingly thereto.
[0117] Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned devices.
[0118] The embodiments of the present disclosure and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this document, phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" can each include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish the corresponding component from other corresponding components, and do not limit the corresponding components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it is understood that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or via a third component.
[0119] The term "module" used in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
[0120] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software (e.g., a program) including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., built-in memory or external memory) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device) may call at least one instruction among the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction called. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, "non-transitory" only means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily in the storage medium.
[0121] According to one embodiment, a method according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between sellers and buyers as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)) or may be provided through an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones), online distribution (e.g., downloading or uploading). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily created in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.
[0122] According to one embodiment, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to one embodiment, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to one embodiment, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.
[0123] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wearable electronic device (101; 200; 300; 400) may include a housing (401) including a first housing (410) facing a first direction (Y-axis direction) and a second housing (420) facing a direction opposite to the first direction, wherein a first opening (O1) is formed and a space (S) is formed between the first housing and the second housing; a lens module (440) disposed in the first opening, the lens module including a first lens module (441) and a second lens module (442) corresponding to both eyes of a user; a gap cover (450) disposed in the space and surrounding the lens module; and an elastic member (460) disposed in the space and between the gap cover and the housing to elastically support the gap cover. The above gap cover may be configured such that a side of the gap cover is elastically supported by the elastic member to cover a gap between the first opening of the second housing and the lens module.
[0124] The size of the above first opening can be formed to be larger than the diameter of the lens module (440).
[0125] The first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) can be connected by at least one shaft (445).
[0126] The interpupillary distance (IPD) can be adjusted by moving the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) along the longitudinal direction of the shaft (445).
[0127] The above gap cover (450) may include a first gap cover (451) surrounding the first lens module (441) and a second gap cover (452) surrounding the second lens module (442).
[0128] The first gap cover (451) may include a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) surrounding a first part of the first lens module (441), a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) surrounding a second part of the first lens module (441), a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) surrounding a first part of the second lens module (442), and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) surrounding a second part of the second lens module (442).
[0129] The above 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the 1-2 gap cover (451-2) may have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing, and the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) may have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing.
[0130] The above 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the 1-2 gap cover (451-2) may have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing, and the 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the 2-2 gap cover (452-2) may have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing.
[0131] The elastic member (460) may include a first elastic member (461) that supports one side of the first gap cover, a second elastic member (462) that supports the other side of the first gap cover, and a third elastic member (463) that supports one side of the second gap cover.
[0132] The second elastic member (462) can support the other side of the first gap cover and the other side of the second gap cover.
[0133] The second elastic member (462) may include a 2-1 elastic member (462-1) supporting the other side of the first gap cover and a 2-2 elastic member (462-2) supporting the other side of the second gap cover.
[0134] The above gap cover may have a rib formed at a portion that comes into contact with the elastic member.
[0135] The above elastic member (460) may include an X-shaped leaf spring or coil spring.
[0136] The above elastic member (460) may include an O-shaped leaf spring or coil spring.
[0137] The surface of the second housing facing the first direction (Y-axis direction) may include a support wall (423, 424, 425, 426, 427) for supporting the gap cover and / or the elastic member.
[0138] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wearable electronic device (101; 200; 300; 400) comprises: a housing (401) including a first housing (410) facing a first direction (Y-axis direction), and a second housing (420) facing a direction opposite to the first direction and having a first opening (O1) formed therein and forming a space (S) therebetween with the first housing; a lens module (440) disposed in the first opening, the lens module (440) including a first lens module (441) and a second lens module (442) corresponding to both eyes of a user; a gap cover (450) disposed in the space, the gap cover including a first gap cover (451) surrounding the first lens module (441) and a second gap cover (452) surrounding the second lens module (442); And an elastic member (460) disposed in the space and elastically supporting the gap cover between the gap cover and the housing, the elastic member (460) including a first elastic member (461) supporting one side of the first gap cover, a third elastic member (463) supporting one side of the second gap cover, and a second elastic member supporting the other side of the first gap cover and the other side of the second gap cover; When the first lens module and the second lens module move away from each other, the first elastic member and the third elastic member can exert a pushing force on the first gap cover and the second gap cover. When the first lens module and the second lens module move toward each other, the second elastic member can exert a pushing force on the first gap cover and the second gap cover.
[0139] The size of the above first opening can be formed to be larger than the diameter of the lens module (440).
[0140] The first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) are connected by at least one shaft (445), and the interpupillary distance (IPD) can be adjusted by moving at least one lens module of the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) along the shaft (445).
[0141] The first gap cover (451) may include a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) surrounding a first part of the first lens module (441), a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) surrounding a second part of the first lens module (441), a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) surrounding a first part of the second lens module (442), and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) surrounding a second part of the second lens module (442).
[0142] The above wearable electronic device may be of the VST (video see through) type.
[0143] While this disclosure has been described by way of example and example, it should be understood that the example is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the overall scope of this disclosure, including the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. In a wearable electronic device (101; 200; 300; 400), A housing (401) including a first housing (410) facing in a first direction (Y-axis direction) and a second housing (420) facing in a direction opposite to the first direction and having a first opening (O1) formed therein and forming a space (S) therebetween with the first housing; A lens module (440) disposed in the first opening, comprising a first lens module (441) and a second lens module (442) corresponding to the user's two eyes; A gap cover (450) arranged in the above space and surrounding the lens module; and It is arranged in the above space and includes an elastic member (460) arranged between the gap cover and the housing to elastically support the gap cover; A wearable electronic device wherein the gap cover is configured to cover a gap between the first opening of the second housing and the lens module by elastically supporting a side of the gap cover by the elastic member.
2. In paragraph 1, A wearable electronic device in which the size of the first opening is formed larger than the diameter of the lens module (440).
3. In paragraph 1, A wearable electronic device in which the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) are connected by at least one shaft (445).
4. In paragraph 3, A wearable electronic device in which the interpupillary distance (IPD) is adjusted by moving the first lens module (441) and the second lens module (442) along the longitudinal direction of the shaft (445).
5. In paragraph 1, A wearable electronic device including a first gap cover (451) surrounding the first lens module (441) and a second gap cover (452) surrounding the second lens module (442), wherein the gap cover (450) comprises:
6. In paragraph 5, A wearable electronic device, wherein the first gap cover (451) includes a 1-1 gap cover (451-1) surrounding a first portion of the first lens module (441), a 1-2 gap cover (451-2) surrounding a second portion of the first lens module (441), a 2-1 gap cover (452-1) surrounding a first portion of the second lens module (442), and a 2-2 gap cover (452-2) surrounding a second portion of the second lens module (442).
7. In paragraph 6, The above 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the above 1-2 gap cover (451-2) have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing, A wearable electronic device in which the above-mentioned 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the above-mentioned 2-2 gap cover (452-2) have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing.
8. In paragraph 6, The above 1-1 gap cover (451-1) and the above 1-2 gap cover (451-2) have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing, A wearable electronic device in which the above-mentioned 2-1 gap cover (452-1) and the above-mentioned 2-2 gap cover (452-2) have a stepped shape corresponding to the exterior of the second housing.
9. In paragraph 5 or 6, A wearable electronic device, wherein the elastic member (460) includes a first elastic member (461) supporting one side of the first gap cover, a second elastic member (462) supporting the other side of the first gap cover, and a third elastic member (463) supporting one side of the second gap cover.
10. In paragraph 9, A wearable electronic device in which the second elastic member (462) supports the other side of the first gap cover and supports the other side of the second gap cover.
11. In clause 9 or 10, A wearable electronic device, wherein the second elastic member (462) includes a 2-1 elastic member (462-1) supporting the other side of the first gap cover and a 2-2 elastic member (462-2) supporting the other side of the second gap cover.
12. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 11, The above gap cover is a wearable electronic device having a rib formed in a portion that comes into contact with the elastic member.
13. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 12, A wearable electronic device in which the elastic member (460) includes an X-shaped leaf spring or coil spring.
14. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 12, A wearable electronic device in which the elastic member (460) includes an O-shaped leaf spring or coil spring.
15. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 14, A wearable electronic device including a support wall (423, 424, 425, 426, 427) for supporting the gap cover and / or the elastic member on a surface of the second housing facing the first direction (Y-axis direction).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Augmented and / or virtual reality headsets
JP2019532341A
USB terminal having a protecting portion from short circuit
KR102121749B1
Apparatus for assistanting eyes for unrealisty goggles
KR102395790B1
Adjusting apparatus and head-mounted display device
US20200310137A1
Electronic Devices With Covering Structures
US20210325631A1
Cited By
Head-mounted display device
WO2026179845A1