WO2016157772A1

WO2016157772A1 - Head mounted device

Info

Publication number: WO2016157772A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/001463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuya Nagata; Shigeru Toriihara
Original assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2015-03-27
Filing date: 2016-03-15
Publication date: 2016-10-06

Abstract

The present invention prevents impairment of wearing feeling of a user of a head mounted device caused by a counterweight in contact with the head of the user. A head mounted device worn on the head of a user, including: a display unit configured to display an image to the user; and a holding portion combined with the display unit and configured to hold the display unit to the head of the user, wherein the holding portion has a weight portion which is in contact with the head of the user and is configured to maintain a moment balance with the display unit, and the weight portion is deformable to conform to the shape of the head of the user.

Description

HEAD MOUNTED DEVICE

The present invention relates to a head mounted device worn on the head of a user.

An exemplary head mounted device worn on the head of a user is a head mounted display (hereafter, HMD). A typical HMD has a built-in display and is capable of displaying various images to the user. The user can move around while wearing the HMD and watching 3D images displayed thereon.

The HMD is held on the head of the user using a mounting member, such as a belt-like clamping member, a front head pressing portion, and a back head pressing portion. The mounting member has an adjustment mechanism for the adjustment of tightening and pressing, and is attachable to and detachable from the head of the user by adjusting the adjustment mechanism.

The mounting member needs to keep the display unit at the position and orientation at which the user can recognize an accurate image, and keep the display unit so that no misalignment of the display unit occurs with respect to the movement of the user, such as shaking of the head. It is desirable to provide comfortable wearing feeling even when users of different head shapes and sizes use the HMD for a long time.

PTL 1 discloses providing a counterweight, in addition to a mounting member, in a head mounted device. With the counterweight, the centroid position of the entire head mounted device can be adjusted and misalignment of the display unit to the head of the user can be reduced. As described above, PTL 1 discloses providing a counterweight in a head mounted device. Specifically, an area in which members constituting the head mounted device, such as the display unit and the counterweight, and the head of the user are in contact with each other when the head mounted device is worn is increased or decreased.

If the area in which the members constituting the head mounted device and the head of the user are in contact with each other is decreased, there is a possibility that misalignment of the display unit can occur due to the movement of the user, such as shaking of the head. To prevent occurrence of the misalignment of the display unit, it is necessary to strengthen the clamp of the holding mechanism of the head mounted device, or to use a member with a high friction coefficient. In both cases, however, wearing feeling of the user can be impaired.

If the area in which the members constituting the head mounted device and the head of the user are in contact with each other is increased, holding force can be increased without strengthening the clamp of the holding mechanism or using a member with a high friction coefficient. However, since the area in which the counterweight, which is typically formed by a hard material, and the head of the user are in contact with each other is increased, wearing feeling of the user can be impaired also in this case.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-233899

The present invention prevents impairment of wearing feeling of a user of a head mounted device caused by a counterweight in contact with the head of the user.

The present invention provides a head mounted device worn on the head of a user, including: a display unit configured to display an image to the user; and a holding portion combined with the display unit and configured to hold the display unit to the head of the user, wherein the holding portion has a weight portion which is in contact with the head of the user and is configured to maintain a moment balance with the display unit, and the weight portion is deformable to conform to the shape of the head of the user.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2A schematically illustrates a structure of a counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2B schematically illustrates a structure of a counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3A schematically illustrates a configuration of a belt portion and attachment and removal of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3B schematically illustrates a configuration of a belt portion and attachment and removal of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3C schematically illustrates a configuration of a belt portion and attachment and removal of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4A schematically illustrates a function of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4B schematically illustrates a function of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4C schematically illustrates a function of the counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5A schematically illustrates a structure of a counterweight according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5B schematically illustrates a structure of a counterweight according to a second embodiment. Fig. 6A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a third embodiment. Fig. 6B illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a third embodiment. Fig. 7A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 7B illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 8A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 8B illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 9A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a sixth embodiment. Fig. 9B illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a sixth embodiment.

First Embodiment

Fig. 1 illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display (a head mounted device provided with a display unit) according to a first embodiment. The head mounted display of the present embodiment is constituted by an image display unit 10, a front head support portion 20, a belt portion 30 (a holding portion), and a counterweight 40 (a counterweight portion). As illustrated in Fig. 1, the head mounted display is worn on the head of a user.

Each specific function is described below. Inside the image display unit 10, display elements for displaying an image, and an optical system which enlarges the image of the display elements and guides the enlarged image to the eyes of the user are disposed. The image display unit 10 and the belt portion 30 are combined with the front head support portion 20. The image display unit 10 is held in contact with a part near the front head of a user H when the user H wears the head mounted display. The belt portion 30 is a plate material having flexibility in the thickness direction, rigidity in the direction of gravity G, and flexibility in the direction to be wound around the head. The belt portion 30 has an adjustment mechanism to adjust its own length. The counterweight 40 is deformable to a shape to conform to the shape of the head of the user H, and is combined with an adjuster belt 32 which is a part of the belt portion 30. The counterweight 40 is located near the back of the head of the user H when the user H wears the head mounted display. The centroid position of the head mounted display is adjusted with the front head support portion 20 as a fulcrum so that the moment by the self-weight of the image display unit 10 and the moment by the self-weight of the counterweight 40 may be balanced substantially. The rigidity of the belt portion 30 transmits the moment and the balance is maintained. The position and orientation of the image display unit 10 is thus stabilized, and it is easy to keep the image display unit 10 at the position and orientation at which the user H can recognize an accurate image. To hold the image display unit 10, the length of the belt portion 30 is adjusted to make the image display unit 10, the belt portion 30, and the counterweight 40 be tightly worn on the head of the user H. Frictional force to keep the position and orientation of the image display unit 10 can thus be obtained with respect to various actions of the user H, such as shaking of the head. Therefore, the position and orientation of the image display unit 10 are less easily changed when the user H wears the head mounted display.

A head mounted device provided with a display unit has been described above. The present embodiment, however, is applicable also to a head mounted device which is not provided with a display unit but is provided with a main body portion that stimulates a sense organ of the head other than the vision. For example, the present embodiment is applicable to a sound guide device which guides a visually handicapped user with sound, and a head mounted device provided with a built-in device for artificially generating odor to amplify sense of reality to a virtual object.

Figs. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate a structure of the counterweight 40. Fig. 2A is an external view and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the counterweight 40. The counterweight 40 is formed as a bag by placing two sheet-like stretching cloth members 41 one on another, and sewing a cloth member 42 for enclosure at an edge of the cloth members 41. A plurality of iron balls 43 are packed in the counterweight 40 as illustrated in Fig. 2B. The bag changes its shape freely and a plurality of iron balls 43 move freely in the bag. Therefore, the counterweight 40 is deformable to a shape to conform to the shape of the head of the user H. A cloth member 44 for attachment and removal is sewn on the counterweight 40. The cloth member 41 is provided with sockets 45 of snap buttons, and the cloth member 44 for attachment and removal is provided with studs 46 of the snap buttons which fit together. With this configuration, the counterweight 40 can be wound around and attached to the adjuster belt 32. As illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B, the counterweight 40 is rectangular in shape to conform to the shape of the back head of the user H, and has a recess. With this shape, the counterweight 40 can be worn appropriately on the back head of the user H. The counterweight 40 is formed by a cloth member 41 in which a plurality of iron balls 43 are enclosed has been described. However, not only cloth member but other flexible members may be used, and not only iron balls but other metal spherical members may be used.

Figs. 3A to 3C schematically illustrate a configuration of the belt portion 30 and an attachment and removal function of the counterweight 40. Fig. 3A schematically illustrates a configuration of the belt portion 30. A storage portion 31 is formed by two plate materials disposed with a constant gap. To wind the belt portion 30 around the head of the user H, the adjuster belt 32 is stored in the gap formed in the storage portion 31 to adjust the length of the belt portion 30. An adjustment portion 33, attached to the storage portion 31, has a function to hold the adjuster belt 32 when the adjuster belt 32 is stored in the storage portion 31 and a function to release the hold when operated by the user H. Tabs 34 are attached to the storage portion 31 and the adjuster belt 32. When the belt 30 is worn, the user H pulls the tab 34 attached to the storage portion 31 and the tab 34 attached to the adjuster belt 32 by the hand toward each other. With this operation, the adjuster belt 32 is stored in the storage portion 31, and the belt portion 30 can be wound around the head of the user H. Pad members 35 are flexible members, each of which touches an area from the front head to the side head of the user to distribute the pressure when the belt 30 is worn. Grooves 36 are formed to attach and fix the counterweight 40 to the adjuster belt 32. Fig. 3B schematically illustrates the adjuster belt 32 to which the counterweight 40 is being attached. The sockets 45 are fit in the grooves 36 to position the counterweight 40. Fig. 3C schematically illustrates the adjuster belt 32 with the counterweight 40 attached thereto. By fitting the studs 46 attached to the cloth member 44 for attachment and removal in the sockets 45 attached to the cloth member 41, the cloth member 44 for attachment and removal can be wound around and fixed to the adjuster belt 32. The counterweight 40 can be detached from the adjuster belt 32 by removing the studs 46 from the sockets 45. With this configuration, the counterweight 40 can be replaced with another one when, for example, sebum and the like adheres to the counterweight 40 or the user wants to change the weight of the counterweight 40, whereby usability improves.

Figs. 4A to 4C schematically illustrate the counterweight 40 tightly worn on the back head of the user H. Fig. 4A schematically illustrates the counterweight 40 tightly worn on the back head of the user H. Fig. 4B is a diagram seen from the direction of IVB of Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C is a diagram seen from the direction of IVC of Fig. 4A. The counterweight 40, which can change its shape arbitrarily, can bend in X direction as illustrated in Fig. 4B and Y direction as illustrated in Fig. 4C to conform to the shape of the head. Since the counterweight 40 deforms, pressure applied when the counterweight 40 is worn tightly on the portion near the back head of the user H can be distributed, whereby wearing feeling can be improved.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the image display unit 10 may be easily attached to and held at any position, and the position and orientation of the image display unit 10 is less easily changed by the movement of the user H. Since the counterweight 40 deforms, the counterweight 40 can be tightly worn by conforming to the shape of the head. Further, since the pressure applied to the head when the counterweight 40 is worn tightly is easily distributed, wearing feeling can be improved.

Second Embodiment

Figs. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate a structure of a counterweight according to a second embodiment. A counterweight 50 is applied to the same head mounted display as that of the first embodiment, but has a different configuration from that of the counterweight 40. Fig. 5A is an external view and Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the counterweight 50. The counterweight 50 is formed by a bag-shaped stretching non-permeable member 51. The non-permeable member 51 is filled with a liquid 53 injected from an inlet 52. Since the non-permeable member 51 is flexible and the liquid 53 moves fluidly, the counterweight 50 can deform to conform to the shape of head of the user H as in the counterweight 40 and pressure applied when the counterweight 50 is worn can be distributed. The user H can adjust the weight of the counterweight 50 arbitrarily by adjusting the amount of the liquid 53 to be injected, whereby usability improves. A member 54 for attachment and removal is attached to a surface of the non-permeable member 51. The non-permeable member 51 is provided with sockets 55 of snap buttons, and the member 54 for attachment and removal is provided with studs 56 of the snap buttons which fit together. With this configuration, the counterweight 50 is attached to and detached from the adjuster belt 32 by the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 3B and 3C. Although the non-permeable member 51 is filled with the liquid 53 in the above description, other liquefied or gel substances may be used instead of the liquid 53.

In the present embodiment, as described above, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the image display unit 10 may be easily attached to and held at any position, and the position and orientation of the image display unit 10 is less easily changed by the movement of the user H. Since the counterweight 50 deforms, the counterweight 50 can be tightly worn by conforming to the shape of the head. Further, since the pressure applied to the head when the counterweight 50 is worn tightly is easily distributed, wearing feeling can be improved.

Third Embodiment

Fig. 6A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a third embodiment. A counterweight portion 60 has a back head support portion 61 which is deformable with the same configuration as those of the counterweights of the first and the second embodiments and rotating shafts 62. The counterweight portion 60 combines with a belt portion 30 via the rotating shafts 62 which function as movable portions. The counterweight portion 60 and the belt portion 30 are rotatable mutually in a range restricted by the rotating shafts 62. Fig. 6B illustrates a state in which the head mounted display according to the third embodiment is worn on a user H with a lower back head of characteristic shape. The counterweight portion 60 is rotated an angle B1 about the rotating shaft 62. With this rotation, the counterweight portion 60 further conforms to the shape of the head, whereby wearing feeling improves.

Fourth Embodiment

Fig. 7A illustrates an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fourth embodiment. A counterweight portion 70 has a back head support portion 71 which is deformable with the same configuration as those of the counterweights of the first and the second embodiments and attaching/detaching portions 72. For example, the attaching/detaching portion 72 is a combination of a socket and a stud of snap buttons like those of the counterweights of the first and the second embodiments, The snap buttons are fit via a round hole formed in a belt. An outer wall of the round stud and an inner wall of the round hole interfere with each other and the counterweight portion 70 is not separated from the belt, while the round stud and the round hole are rotatable mutually. Therefore, the counterweight portion 70 is rotatable in a certain restricted range to the belt. Fig. 7B illustrates a state in which the head mounted display according to the fourth embodiment is worn on a user with a lower back head of characteristic shape. The counterweight portion 70 is rotated an angle B2 about the attaching/detaching portion 72. With this rotation, the counterweight portion 70 further conforms to the shape of the head, whereby wearing feeling improves. Based on the discussion above, an effect of the head mounted display of the present embodiment is described. The head mounted display of the present embodiment can keep the position and orientation of the main body portion of the head mounted display to the head of the user. Since misalignment of the position and orientation of the main body portion caused by the movement of the user can be reduced and pressure applied to the head of the user can be distributed, wearing feeling can be improved.

Fifth Embodiment

Figs. 8A and 8B illustrate an exterior of a head mounted display according to a fifth embodiment. A counterweight 80, which is applied to the first to the fourth embodiments, but has a different configuration. In the counterweight 80, a bag portion in which iron balls and a liquid are enclosed are divided in three vertically. Fig. 8A schematically illustrates the counterweight 80 tightly worn on the user H. Fig. 8B schematically illustrates the counterweight 80 seen from the side in contact with the head of the user. The iron balls and the liquid are enclosed in each of the bag portions 81 to 83. The same amount of iron balls and liquid are enclosed in the

bag portions

81 and 83, and a smaller amount of iron balls and liquid compared with those in the

bag portions

81 and 83 are enclosed in the bag portion 82. Therefore, the counterweight 80 swells in the right and the left parts thereof. With this configuration, the dividing portions of the counterweight 80 are bent to conform to the shape of the head when the user H wears the head mounted display, whereby wearing feeling improves. The

bag portions

81 and 83 are pressed against the right and left portions of the lower part of the occipital bone of the user H, whereby holding force when the counterweight 80 is worn can be obtained.

Sixth Embodiment

Figs. 9A and 9B illustrate an exterior of a head mounted display according to a sixth embodiment. A counterweight 90, which is applied to the first to the fifth embodiment, is different in configuration. The counterweight 90 has a plurality of hemispherical silicone rubber pieces 91 on a surface in contact with the head of the user. Fig. 9A schematically illustrates the counterweight 90 tightly worn on the user H, and Fig. 9B schematically illustrates the counterweight 90 seen from the side in contact with the head of the user. Each silicone rubber piece 91 is in contact with the head of the user H and functions as a skid, whereby misalignment of the position and orientation of the head mounted display caused by the movement of the user H can be reduced.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-067068, filed March 27, 2015 and No. 2015-115170, filed June 5, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Claims

A head mounted device worn on the head of a user, comprising:
a display unit configured to display an image to the user; and
a holding portion combined with the display unit and configured to hold the display unit to the head of the user, wherein
the holding portion has a weight portion which is in contact with the head of the user and is configured to maintain a moment balance with the display unit, and
the weight portion is deformable to conform to the shape of the head of the user.
The head mounted device according to claim 1, wherein the weight portion is detachably combined to the holding portion.
The head mounted device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight portion is formed by a flexible member.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of spherical members are enclosed inside the weight portion.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein a liquefied or gel substance is enclosed inside the weight portion.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight portion is rectangular in shape and has a recess.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the weight portion has a movable portion which is movable with respect to the holding portion.
The head mounted device according to claim 7, further comprising an attaching/detaching portion configured to be attached to and detached from the holding portion, wherein the attaching/detaching portion is attached to the movable portion.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 8, wherein the weight portion comprises a plurality of bags capable of being filled with a member.
The head mounted device according to claims 1 to 9, wherein silicone rubber is attached to the weight portion on a surface in contact with the head of the user.
A head mounted device worn on the head of a user, comprising:
a main body portion configured to stimulate a sense organ of the head of the user,
a holding portion combined with the main body portion and configured to hold the main body portion to the head of the user, wherein
the holding portion has a weight portion which is in contact with the head of the user and is configured to maintain a moment balance with the display unit, and
the weight portion is deformable to conform to the shape of the head of the user.