VR Headset Carrying Accessory for Controlled Mobile Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional VR headsets are ill-suited for mobile and communal environments due to their design, which encloses the user's eyes, making it difficult for others to monitor or control the viewing experience, and they are bulky, power-hungry, and impractical for long use due to weight and battery issues.
Innovation Solution
A specialized accessory for VR headsets that functions as a client in a client/server architecture, providing additional power sources, wireless communication capabilities, and a handle attachment, allowing for portable maintenance and communal viewing experiences by linking the headset to ancillary devices like laptops or tablets for control and content sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VR headsets enclose both eyes of a user to provide immersive experience, then the immersive experience is improved, but other users cannot monitor or control the viewing experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (smartphone or tablet) that acts as a mediator between the VR headset user and other users. This intermediary device receives video feed from the VR headset's built-in camera and displays it to other users, enabling them to monitor and control the viewing experience without compromising the immersive experience of the primary user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for physical modification of the VR headset structure with an electronic solution. Instead of adding mechanical components to allow visual monitoring, the system uses the VR headset's existing camera and display capabilities combined with a wireless communication system to transmit and control content remotely.
2Reliability
If VR headsets are designed to enclose eyes for immersive viewing, then viewing immersion is improved, but the device becomes larger and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts non-essential functions from the VR headset itself and places them in external devices. The VR headset is reduced to its core function of displaying visual content to the user, while functions like content selection, control interfaces, and additional processing are moved to external smartphones or tablets, thereby reducing the weight of the headset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the external device (smartphone or tablet) perform multiple functions: it serves as a control interface for selecting content, a communication device for wireless connectivity, and a display for other users to view and control the VR experience. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components in the headset.
3Reliability
If VR headsets are made larger to enclose eyes, then immersive experience is improved, but portability and transportation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the VR system into separate components: a compact VR headset for immersive viewing and a separate control device (smartphone or tablet) for interaction and content management. This segmentation allows the headset to remain small and portable while the larger control functions are handled by the separate device that can be easily carried.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are incorporated into VR headsets for wireless capabilities and content distribution, then functionality is improved, but weight and battery power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts wireless communication components and content distribution functionality from the VR headset and places them in the external control device. The headset only handles local display and basic sensor functions, while all wireless connectivity, content streaming, and data processing are performed by the external device with its own power source.
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved VR headset accessory, and in particular, a case for carrying the VR headset that has advanced functionality necessary for facilitating portable maintenance and usage. For example, the accessory houses additional batteries and/or power source connections for charging the VR headset as well as ancillary devices for controlling the display of content in the VR headset to create a controlled viewing environment. The accessory also houses a communication component for sharing content with a remote server.