CN-115135843-B - Multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system and eyewear apparatus incorporating such a hinge system

CN115135843BCN 115135843 BCN115135843 BCN 115135843BCN-115135843-B

Abstract

A multiple degree of freedom articulating system is provided, particularly suitable for use with eyeglasses such as space computation head-mounted devices. In the case of such a spatial computing headset with optical components supported by opposing temples, the articulating system provides protection against excessive stretching or extreme deflection of the temples that may be caused by unwanted torsional loading of the temples. The hinge system also allows the temples to be splayed out to achieve proper fit and to improve user comfort.

Inventors

A. LOPEZ
A.C. Duna

Assignees

奇跃公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210217
Priority Date: 20200218

Claims (15)

1. An optical system for presenting virtual content to a user, comprising: an optical assembly for projecting a light beam into at least one eye of a user; a first temple and a second temple opposite to the first temple, and A first hinge system and a second hinge system coupling the first and second temples to the optical assembly, respectively, the first hinge system comprising: A hinge base fixedly coupled to the optical assembly; An intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base to rotate about a first axis, and A distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member to rotate about a second axis and fixedly coupled to the first temple, the first axis being different from the second axis, Wherein the hinge base comprises an arcuate guide and the intermediate hinge member comprises or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides on the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates relative to the hinge base about the first axis.
2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first articulation system includes one or more stop mechanisms to limit rotational travel of the intermediate articulation member relative to the articulation base about the first axis as a pitch axis.
3. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms include a first rotational stop disposed on the hinge base, the first rotational stop configured to limit the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched upward to an upper limit, and a second rotational stop disposed on the hinge base, the second rotational stop configured to limit the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched downward to a lower limit.
4. An optical system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second rotation stops are provided by respective portions of an opening provided in the hinge base, the respective portions of the opening constraining the first movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is pitched up or down to the upper or lower limit, respectively.
5. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the articulation system includes one or more stop mechanisms to limit rotational travel of the distal articulation member relative to the intermediate articulation member about the second axis as a yaw axis.
6. The optical system of claim 5, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise a first rotational stop disposed on the intermediate hinge member, the first rotational stop configured to stop the second movement of the distal hinge member when the distal hinge member is yawed to an outer limit, and a second rotational stop disposed on the intermediate hinge member, the second rotational stop configured to stop the second movement of the intermediate hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is yawed to an inner limit.
7. The optical system of claim 6, wherein the first and second rotational stops are respectively provided by corresponding opposing portions of a plate-like structure of the intermediate hinge member that respectively limit the second movement of the distal hinge member when the intermediate hinge member is yawed to the outer and inner limits.
8. The optical system of claim 5, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms include a first rotational stop and a second rotational stop, wherein the first rotational stop is disposed on the distal hinge member, the first rotational stop is configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member is yawed to an outer limit, and the second rotational stop is disposed on the distal hinge member, the second rotational stop is configured to abut the intermediate hinge member when the distal hinge member is yawed to an inner limit.
9. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the articulation base comprises a biasing member configured to rotationally bias or twist the intermediate articulation member about the first axis toward a neutral position or configuration when the intermediate articulation member is offset from the neutral position or configuration.
10. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, a first plurality of projection fibers, and a second plurality of projection fibers, wherein the first plurality of projection fibers are configured to project at least one first light beam into the first lens, which in turn reflects the first light beam into the at least one eye of the user.
11. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first axis is a pitch axis.
12. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first articulation system comprises a primary stop mechanism and a back-up stop mechanism.
13. A hinge system comprising: a hinge base fixably coupled to the first structural member; an intermediate articulation member rotatably coupled to the articulation base for rotation about a pitch axis, and A distal articulation member rotatably coupled to the intermediate articulation member to rotate about a yaw axis and fixedly coupled to a second structural member, wherein the articulation system enables the second structural member to pitch and yaw relative to the first structural member, Wherein the hinge base comprises an arcuate guide and the intermediate hinge member comprises or interacts with a corresponding guide pin that rides on the arcuate guide of the hinge base as the intermediate hinge member rotates relative to the hinge base about the pitch axis.
14. The articulating system of claim 13, further comprising one or more stop mechanisms to limit rotational travel of the intermediate articulating member relative to the articulating base about the pitch axis.
15. The articulating system of claim 14, wherein the one or more stop mechanisms comprise a first rotational stop disposed on the articulating base, the first rotational stop configured to limit the first movement of the intermediate articulating member when the intermediate articulating member is pitched upward to an upper limit, and a second rotational stop disposed on the articulating base, the second rotational stop configured to limit the first movement of the intermediate articulating member when the intermediate articulating member is pitched downward to a lower limit.

Description

Multi-degree-of-freedom hinge system and eyewear apparatus incorporating such a hinge system Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial No. 62/978,076, entitled "MULTIPLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM HINGE SYSTEMS AND EYEWEAR DEVICES COMPRISING SUCH HINGE SYSTEMS (multiple degree of freedom hinge system and eyewear device incorporating such a hinge system)" filed on month 2 and 18 of 2020. The entire contents of the above-mentioned U.S. provisional patent application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all purposes. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to articulating systems, and more particularly, to multi-degree of freedom articulating systems particularly suitable for supporting temples of eyewear equipment including space computation head sets. The present disclosure also relates to eyewear devices including such hinge systems. Background Space computing headsets, including Virtual Reality (VR), augmented Reality (AR), mixed Reality (MR), and augmented reality (XR) headsets, have proven to be immeasurably valuable for many applications across the fields of scientific visualization, medical and military training, engineering and prototyping, teleoperation and telepresence, and personal entertainment systems. In a spatial computing headset, a virtual or enhanced scene is displayed to a user via an optical component that can be positioned and secured to the user's head, in front of the user's eyes. There are many different systems and techniques for supporting such a headset on a user's head, including various structures having hingedly connected temples. However, such systems and techniques may suffer from various drawbacks. For example, known systems may be overly complex, bulky, lack accuracy, and/or include a limited range of motion. Disclosure of Invention Embodiments described herein provide a multi-degree of freedom articulating system particularly suited for supporting the temples of eyewear equipment including space computation head sets. In the case of a spatial computing headset having optical components supported by opposing temples, the multi-degree of freedom articulation system may provide protection against excessive stretching or extreme deflection of the temples that may be caused by unwanted torsional loading of the temples (e.g., one of the temples twisting up, the other of the temples twisting down). For example, a multi-degree of freedom hinge system may allow the temples of an eyeglass apparatus (e.g., a space computation headset) to rotate about at least two different rotational axes (i.e., a pitch axis and a yaw axis) to decouple forces applied to the temples, for example, from structures of the eyeglass apparatus in front of a hinge member (e.g., an optical assembly), operate the eyeglass apparatus, and the like. According to one embodiment, an eyeglass apparatus can be summarized as including an optical assembly, a pair of opposing temples, and a pair of hinge systems, each coupling a respective one of the pair of opposing temples to the optical assembly. Each hinge system may include a hinge base fixedly coupled to the optical assembly, an intermediate hinge member rotatably coupled to the hinge base for rotation about a pitch axis, and a distal hinge member rotatably coupled to the intermediate hinge member for rotation about a yaw axis and fixedly coupled to a respective one of the pair of temples. The articulation base may include a biasing member configured to rotationally bias the intermediate articulation member about the pitch axis toward the neutral configuration when the intermediate articulation member is displaced from the neutral configuration. The hinge base may include a generally planar structure having an interior cavity that houses the biasing member. The hinge base may include a generally planar base element having a biasing member integrally formed therein. The hinge base may also include opposing covers fixedly attached to the generally planar base element to substantially conceal the biasing member within the interior cavity of the hinge base. At least one of the opposing covers may include an arcuate guide to help guide the intermediate hinge member as it rotates about the pitch axis relative to the hinge base. The hinge base may include a bushing aligned with the pitch axis, and the intermediate hinge member may be pivotally mounted about the bushing to pitch up and down about the pitch axis. A gap may be provided between the bushing and the intermediate hinge member to enable some translational displacement of the intermediate hinge member relative to the hinge base. For example, the cover gap may be a circumferential gap having a gap distance of at least 0.25 mm. The articulation base and the intermediate articulation member of the articulation system may include one or more stops to limit rotational travel of the intermediate articulation member relati