US-12625656-B2 - Modular strap for electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display portion and a modular securement assembly. The modular securement assembly is connectable to the display portion and includes a removable strap. The removable strap can include a communication module. The display portion can also include a sensor and the removable strap can also include an identifier. The sensor can sense the identifier.

Inventors

• Kendall L. Helbert

Assignees

• APPLE INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240307

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A wearable electronic device, comprising: a head mountable display (HMD) having a housing, a display, and a sensor; and a securement assembly, comprising: a retention band; and an electronic strap having a unique identifier, the electronic strap being removable from, and connectable to, the HMD, the electronic strap being removable from, and connectable to, the retention band, the electronic strap including an antenna; wherein: the sensor detects the unique identifier; specific settings including at least one of screen brightness, displayed icons, or memory associated with certain games, movies, or other stored content output by the HMD, are applied to the HMD based on the unique identifier; and the antenna transmits data via electromagnetic signals to at least the HMD or a carrying case, the data indicates a position of the electronic strap, wherein the position of the electronic strap includes a folded configuration.
2. 2 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic strap comprises a memory component storing data that includes the specific settings.
3. 3 . The wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the HMD generates a user specific output based on a user specific data.
4. 4 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic strap directs a state of the HMD based on the position of the electronic strap.
5. 5 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic strap transmits data to an external device.
6. 6 . A head mountable display (HMD) system, comprising: a display portion including a sensor; and a modular securement assembly connectable to the display portion, the modular securement assembly comprising: a removable electronic strap with an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is disposed within the removable electronic strap and is configured to be positioned near a user's temple area when donned, the removable electronic strap including an antenna; and a retention band removably connected to the removable electronic strap; wherein: the removable electronic strap comprises a unique identifier and the sensor detects the removable electronic strap via the unique identifier; the antenna is configured to send an electromagnetic signal to at least the HMD or a carrying case; the electromagnetic signal comprises data indication a position of the electronic strap; and the position of the electronic strap includes a folded configuration.
7. 7 . The HMD system of claim 6 , wherein: the display portion comprises a housing and a display; and the antenna transmits data associated with the unique identifier.
8. 8 . The HMD system of claim 7 , further comprising a processor electrically connected to the sensor, wherein: the sensor receives the data including a setting; the processor identifies the removable electronic strap via the unique identifier; and the processor applies the setting to an output of the display.
9. 9 . The HMD system of claim 7 , wherein the carrying case is configured to carry the HMD.
10. 10 . The HMD system of claim 7 , wherein the antenna is configured to send an electromagnetic signal to an external speaker directing the external speaker to operate in conjunction with the display portion.
11. 11 . The HMD system of claim 6 , wherein: the removable electronic strap communicates with the display portion when the removable electronic strap is in the folded configuration directing the display portion to enter a power saving mode.
12. 12 . The HMD system of claim 6 , wherein the removable electronic strap communicates with the display portion directing the display portion to exit a power saving mode when the removable electronic strap detects an approaching object.
13. 13 . The HMD system of claim 6 , wherein: the unique identifier comprises a visual image; and the sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to detect the visual image.
14. 14 . The HMD system of claim 13 , wherein the visual image includes a QR code or a bar code.
15. 15 . A modular securement assembly, comprising: a connector strap including an antenna; a first connection feature configured to removably connect the connector strap to a display; a retention band; and a second connection feature configured to removably connect the connector strap to the retention band; wherein the antenna sends an electromagnetic signal to at least one of a head mountable device or a carrying case; and wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises data indicating a position of the connector strap, wherein the position of the connector strap includes a folded configuration.
16. 16 . The modular securement assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a unique identifier.
17. 17 . The modular securement assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first connection feature comprises an electrical connection.
18. 18 . The modular securement assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a setting.
19. 19 . The modular securement assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises data indicating a power level of the display.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2022/076682, filed 19 Sep. 2022, and entitled “MODULAR STRAP FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/261,509, filed 22 Sep. 2021, and entitled “MODULAR STRAP FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE,” the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD The described embodiments relate generally to wearable electronic devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to modular wearable electronic devices and associated components. BACKGROUND Wearable electronic devices, including head mounted displays, can have a variety of different uses, from entertainment to industrial applications. Additionally, wearable electronic devices can provide users with multimedia experiences that include both visual and audio content. Additionally, a user may desire different settings or options associated with these devices and their outputs, depending on the use case and applications within virtual and modified reality (VR/MR) scenarios. Existing wearable devices, however, typically have user specific settings that must be relied upon for various different media and use scenarios, different users, or that take effort to change or customize for each use and user. In addition, existing wearable devices are typically stand-alone devices that do not coordinate or otherwise communicate with external electronic devices. In this way, traditional VR/MR devices are limited in the type and quality of VR/MR environments that can be created by just the device itself. Accordingly, there exists a need for wearable devices having one or more components that can automatically adjust user settings and communicate with other devices to create more immersive and customized VR/MR experiences. SUMMARY In a particular example of the present disclosure, a wearable electronic device includes a head mountable display (HMD) having a housing, a display, and a sensor, and a securement assembly including an electronic strap having a unique identifier, the electronic strap being removable from, and connectable to, the HMD. In such an example, the sensor detects the unique identifier and user specific settings are applied to the HMD based on the unique identifier. In one example, the electronic strap includes an antenna that transmits data to a carrying case. In one example, the electronic strap includes a memory component storing the user specific data that includes the user specific settings. In one example, the HMD generates a user specific output based on the user specific data. In one example, the electronic strap directs a state of the HMD based on a position of the electronic strap. In one example, the electronic strap transmits data to an external device. In a particular example of the present disclosure, a head mountable display (HMD) system includes a display portion having a sensor and a modular securement assembly. The modular securement assembly is connectable to the display portion and includes a removable strap and a retention band connected to the removable strap. The removable strap can include a unique identifier and the sensor detects the removable strap via the unique identifier. In one example of the HMD system, the display portion includes a housing and a display, the removable strap includes an antenna that transmits data associated with the unique identifier. In one example, the HMD system can further include a processor electrically connected to the sensor. The sensor receives the data including a user setting, the processor can identify the removable strap via the unique identifier, and the processor can apply the user settings to an output of the display. In one example, the antenna is configured to send an electromagnetic signal to a carrying case configured to carry the electronic device. In one example, the antenna is configured to send an electromagnetic signal to an external speaker directing the external speaker to operate in conjunction with the display portion. In one example, the modular securement assembly includes a folded configuration and the removable strap communicates with the display portion when the removable strap is in the folded configuration directing the display portion to enter a power saving mode. In one example, the removable strap communicates with the display portion directing the display portion to exit a power saving mode when the removable strap detects an approaching user. In one example, the unique identifier includes a visual image and the sensor includes an optical sensor configured to detect the visual image. In one example, the visual image can include a QR code or a bar code. In another particular example of the present disclosure, a modular securement assembly includes a connector strap including an antenna and a connection feature configured to removably connect the connector strap to a display component. In su