Bellows Light Shield for HMD Eye-Seal Comfort and Fit

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-mounted displays face challenges in providing a light-shielding member that fits various face shapes and sizes without causing discomfort due to uneven contact pressure.

Innovation Solution

A light-shielding member with an attachment portion and a light-shielding wall featuring bellows that expand and contract in response to contact pressure, ensuring uniform contact with the user's face and reducing external light incidence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the light-shielding member is made rigid to effectively block external light, then the light-shielding performance is improved, but the comfort for users with various face shapes and sizes deteriorates due to uneven contact pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal light incidenceVSAvoidcomfort for various face shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The light-shielding member transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible structure that can dynamically adapt to different face shapes and sizes. The flexible material allows the member to deform and conform to the user's face, distributing contact pressure evenly while maintaining effective light blocking across various facial geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the light-shielding member from rigid to flexible. This parameter change enables the member to adapt to different face shapes and sizes by deforming under contact pressure, thereby maintaining both light-shielding effectiveness and user comfort across diverse facial characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the light-shielding member is made flexible to adapt to various face shapes, then the comfort for users is improved, but the light-shielding performance may deteriorate due to gaps forming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort for various face shapesVSAvoidexternal light incidence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the light-shielding member from rigid to flexible. This parameter change enables the member to adapt to different face shapes and sizes by deforming under contact pressure, thereby maintaining both light-shielding effectiveness and user comfort across diverse facial characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The light-shielding member is constructed as a flexible component that can conform to the contours of the user's face. This flexible structure eliminates gaps between the member and the face by allowing the material to bend and adapt to facial geometry, while maintaining continuous light blocking coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If a fixed-size light-shielding member is used to simplify the design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different face sizes and shapes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight-shielding member designVSAvoidsuitability for various face shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the light-shielding member from rigid to flexible. This parameter change enables the member to adapt to different face shapes and sizes by deforming under contact pressure, thereby maintaining both light-shielding effectiveness and user comfort across diverse facial characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible light-shielding member serves multiple functions: it adapts to various face shapes and sizes, distributes contact pressure evenly for comfort, and maintains effective light blocking. This single flexible component replaces the need for multiple fixed-size members or complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving universality across different user populations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a comfortable fit for users with varying face sizes by moderating contact pressure and effectively blocking external light, enhancing the immersive experience.

Implementation Method 1

bellows that come into contact with a periphery of the eyes of the user who is wearing the head-mounted display and are deformed to expand and contract in response to a contact pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12585116B2Light-shielding member and head-mounted display

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A light-shielding member that moderates the contact pressure is provided. The light-shielding member reduces external light to be incident to the eyes of a user who is wearing a head-mounted display and includes an attachment portion that is attached to a housing of the head-mounted display and a light-shielding wall extending backwardly from the attachment portion. The light-shielding wall includes at least at part thereof bellows that come into contact with the periphery of the eyes of the user who is wearing the head-mounted display and are deformed to expand and contract in response to the contact pressure.