Patent Description:
This relates generally to fabric bands and, more particularly, to fabric bands for wearable electronic devices such as head-mounted devices.

Electronic devices such as head-mounted devices are configured to be worn on a head of a user. A head-mounted device may have left and right optical systems for presenting images to a user's left and right eyes. The optical systems may be mounted in a head-mounted housing. Conventional head-mounted devices can be uncomfortable and cumbersome to wear.

<CIT> describes a head band for a head-mounted device comprising a fabric that is smooth or may have ribs. The fabric has pockets for an input/output device.

The present invention provides a head band according to claim <NUM> and a head-mounted device according to claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are provided by the dependent claims. The embodiments and/or examples of the following description which are not covered by the claims, are provided for illustrative purpose only and are only intended to assist the reader in understanding the present invention. However, such embodiments and/or examples which are not covered by the claims do not form part of the present invention that is solely defined by the claims. Electronic devices such as head-mounted electronic devices include a main housing portion. Displays and lenses are mounted in the main housing portion. The displays are configured to present images that are viewable from eye boxes.

The head-mounted device includes a fabric head band for supporting the head-mounted device on a user's head. The fabric head band includes first and second flat knit end portions without ribs and a ribbed fabric portion that extends between the first and second flat knit end portions. The ribbed fabric portion may include a stretchable inner fabric layer formed from mesh fabric. A first set of ribs is formed on a first side of the inner fabric layer and a second set of ribs is formed on a second opposing side of the inner fabric layer. The fabric head band is configured to stretch in a first direction, and the ribs extend along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. Openings may pass through the ribs so that the head band remains breathable and lightweight without sacrificing cushioning.

The head band includes one or more pockets. A pocket along the border of the head band may receive a cord. A pocket at one of the end portions receives a user input device or other electronic component. The pocket may be located in the flat knit regions of the head band and/or the ribbed portion of the head band. A pocket may be formed in the ribbed fabric by separating the inner mesh fabric into first and second inner fabric layers, with the pocket located between the first and second inner fabric layers. A first set of ribs may be supported by the first inner fabric layer, and a second set of ribs may be supported by the second inner fabric layer.

An electronic device such as a head-mounted device may have a front face that faces away from a user's head and may have an opposing rear face that faces the user's head. The head-mounted device may include a main housing portion with optical modules that provide images to the user's eyes. A fabric head band may be used to attach the main housing portion to the user's head. The fabric head band may include a stretchable inner layer such as a mesh fabric layer. First and second sets of ribs may be formed on respective first and second opposing sides of the stretchable inner layer. The ribs may provide cushion while also allowing airflow through the fabric head band. One or more pockets may be formed in the fabric head band to accommodate components such as electrical components (e.g., one or more input-output devices for the head-mounted device) and/or non-electrical components (e.g., a cord for providing structure and/or adjustability to the fabric band).

A top view of an head-mounted device that includes a fabric head band is shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, head-mounted devices such as electronic device <NUM> has head-mounted support structures such as housing <NUM>. Housing <NUM> may include portions (e.g., support structures 12T) to allow device <NUM> to be worn on a user's head. Support structures 12T (sometimes referred to as temple housing structures or temple housing portions) may be formed from fabric, polymer, metal, and/or other material. Support structures 12T may form a strap or other head-mounted support structures that help support device <NUM> on a user's head. Some or all of temple housing portions 12T may overlap a user's temples when device <NUM> is worn on the user's head. A main support structure (e.g., main housing portion <NUM>) of housing <NUM> may support electronic components such as displays <NUM>. Main housing portion <NUM> may include housing structures formed from metal, polymer, glass, ceramic, and/or other material. For example, housing portion <NUM> may have housing walls on front face F and housing walls on adjacent top, bottom, left, and right side faces that are formed from rigid polymer or other rigid support structures and these rigid walls may optionally be covered with electrical components, fabric, leather, or other soft materials, etc. The walls of housing portion <NUM> may enclose internal components <NUM> in interior region <NUM> of device <NUM> and may separate interior region <NUM> from the environment surrounding device <NUM> (exterior region <NUM>). Internal components <NUM> may include integrated circuits, actuators, batteries, sensors, and/or other circuits and structures for device <NUM>. Housing <NUM> may be configured to be worn on a head of a user and may form glasses, a hat, a helmet, goggles, and/or other head-mounted device. Configurations in which housing <NUM> forms goggles may sometimes be described herein as an example.

Front face F of housing <NUM> may face outwardly away from a user's head and face. Opposing rear face R of housing <NUM> may face the user. Portions of housing <NUM> (e.g., portions of main housing <NUM>) on rear face R may form a cover such as curtain 12C. In an illustrative configuration, curtain 12C includes a fabric layer that separates interior region <NUM> from the exterior region to the rear of device <NUM>. Other structures may be used in forming curtain 12C, if desired. The presence of curtain 12C on rear face R may help hide internal housing structures, internal components <NUM>, and other structures in interior region <NUM> from view by a user.

Device <NUM> may have left and right optical modules <NUM>. Each optical module may include a respective display <NUM>, lens <NUM>, and support structure <NUM>. Support structures <NUM>, which may sometimes be referred to as lens barrels or optical module support structures, may include hollow cylindrical structures with open ends or other supporting structures to house displays <NUM> and lenses <NUM>. Support structures <NUM> may, for example, include a left lens barrel that supports a left display <NUM> and left lens <NUM> and a right lens barrel that supports a right display <NUM> and right lens <NUM>. Displays <NUM> may include arrays of pixels or other display devices to produce images. Displays <NUM> may, for example, include organic light-emitting diode pixels formed on substrates with thin-film circuitry and/or formed on semiconductor substrates, pixels formed from crystalline semiconductor dies, liquid crystal display pixels, scanning display devices, and/or other display devices for producing images. Lenses <NUM> may include one or more lens elements for providing image light from displays <NUM> to respective eyes boxes <NUM>. Lenses may be implemented using refractive glass lens elements, using mirror lens structures (catadioptric lenses), using holographic lenses, and/or other lens systems. When a user's eyes are located in eye boxes <NUM>, displays (display panels) <NUM> operate together to form a display for device <NUM> (e.g., the images provided by respective left and right optical modules <NUM> may be viewed by the user's eyes in eye boxes <NUM> so that a stereoscopic image is created for the user). The left image from the left optical module fuses with the right image from a right optical module while the display is viewed by the user.

Not all users have the same interpupillary distance P. To provide device <NUM> with the ability to adjust the interpupillary spacing between modules <NUM> along lateral dimension X and thereby adjust the spacing P between eye boxes <NUM> to accommodate different user interpupillary distances, device <NUM> may be provided with one or more actuators <NUM>. Actuators <NUM> can be manually controlled and/or computer-controlled actuators (e.g., computer-controlled motors) for moving support structures <NUM> relative to each other.

As shown in <FIG>, curtain 12C may cover rear face F while leaving lenses <NUM> of optical modules <NUM> uncovered (e.g., curtain 12C may have openings that are aligned with and receive modules <NUM>). As modules <NUM> are moved relative to each other along dimension X to accommodate different interpupillary distances for different users, modules <NUM> move relative to fixed housing structures such as the walls of main portion <NUM> and move relative to each other. To prevent undesired wrinkling and buckling of curtain 12C as optical modules <NUM> are moved relative to rigid portions of housing <NUM> and relative to each other, a fabric layer or other cover layer in curtain 12C may be configured to slide, stretch, open/close, and/or otherwise adjust to accommodate optical module movement.

A schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device such as a head-mounted device or other wearable device is shown in <FIG>. Device <NUM> of <FIG> may be operated as a stand-alone device and/or the resources of device <NUM> may be used to communicate with external electronic equipment. As an example, communications circuitry in device <NUM> may be used to transmit user input information, sensor information, and/or other information to external electronic devices (e.g., wirelessly or via wired connections). Each of these external devices may include components of the type shown by device <NUM> of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a head-mounted device such as device <NUM> may include control circuitry <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device <NUM>. The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry <NUM> may be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices and may be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communications circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. During operation, control circuitry <NUM> may use display(s) <NUM> and other output devices in providing a user with visual output and other output.

To support communications between device <NUM> and external equipment, control circuitry <NUM> may communicate using communications circuitry <NUM>. Circuitry <NUM> may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry. Circuitry <NUM>, which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and/or control and communications circuitry, may support bidirectional wireless communications between device <NUM> and external equipment (e.g., a companion device such as a computer, cellular telephone, or other electronic device, an accessory such as a point device, computer stylus, or other input device, speakers or other output devices, etc.) over a wireless link. For example, circuitry <NUM> may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as wireless local area network transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a wireless local area network link, near-field communications transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a near-field communications link, cellular telephone transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a cellular telephone link, or transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over any other suitable wired or wireless communications link. Wireless communications may, for example, be supported over a Bluetooth® link, a WiFi® link, a wireless link operating at a frequency between <NUM> and <NUM>, a <NUM> link, or other millimeter wave link, a cellular telephone link, or other wireless communications link. Device <NUM> may, if desired, include power circuits for transmitting and/or receiving wired and/or wireless power and may include batteries or other energy storage devices. For example, device <NUM> may include a coil and rectifier to receive wireless power that is provided to circuitry in device <NUM>.

Device <NUM> may include input-output devices such as devices <NUM>. Input-output devices <NUM> may be used in gathering user input, in gathering information on the environment surrounding the user, and/or in providing a user with output. Devices <NUM> may include one or more displays such as display(s) <NUM>. Display(s) <NUM> may include one or more display devices such as organic light-emitting diode display panels (panels with organic light-emitting diode pixels formed on polymer substrates or silicon substrates that contain pixel control circuitry), liquid crystal display panels, microelectromechanical systems displays (e.g., two-dimensional mirror arrays or scanning mirror display devices), display panels having pixel arrays formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies (sometimes referred to as microLEDs), and/or other display devices.

Sensors <NUM> in input-output devices <NUM> may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and/or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors such as a touch sensor that forms a button, trackpad, or other input device), and other sensors. If desired, sensors <NUM> may include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light, ultrasonic sensors, optical touch sensors, optical proximity sensors, and/or other touch sensors and/or proximity sensors, monochromatic and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, fingerprint sensors, iris scanning sensors, retinal scanning sensors, and other biometric sensors, temperature sensors, sensors for measuring three-dimensional non-contact gestures ("air gestures"), pressure sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and/or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units that contain some or all of these sensors), health sensors such as blood oxygen sensors, heart rate sensors, blood flow sensors, and/or other health sensors, radio-frequency sensors, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and/or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices that capture three-dimensional images), optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that gather time-of-flight measurements, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, gaze tracking sensors, electromyography sensors to sense muscle activation, facial sensors, and/or other sensors. In some arrangements, device <NUM> may use sensors <NUM> and/or other input-output devices to gather user input. For example, buttons may be used to gather button press input, touch sensors overlapping displays can be used for gathering user touch screen input, touch pads may be used in gathering touch input, microphones may be used for gathering audio input, accelerometers may be used in monitoring when a finger contacts an input surface and may therefore be used to gather finger press input, etc..

If desired, electronic device <NUM> may include additional components (see, e.g., other devices <NUM> in input-output devices <NUM>). The additional components may include haptic output devices, actuators for moving movable housing structures, audio output devices such as speakers, light-emitting diodes for status indicators, light sources such as light-emitting diodes that illuminate portions of a housing and/or display structure, other optical output devices, and/or other circuitry for gathering input and/or providing output. Device <NUM> may also include a battery or other energy storage device, connector ports for supporting wired communication with ancillary equipment and for receiving wired power, and other circuitry.

<FIG> is a top view of device <NUM> showing how a head band may be used to help attach head-mounted device <NUM> to a user's head. As shown in <FIG>, device <NUM> may include main housing portion <NUM> which is configured to be mounted on a user's head using temple housing portions 12T. If desired, one or more electronic components may be mounted in temple housing portions 12T such as wireless charging circuitry, input-output devices (buttons, touch sensors, rotating knobs, etc.), sensors, etc. In other arrangements, temple housing portions 12T may be free of electronic components.

Temple housing portions 12T may be formed using rigid support structures and/or flexible materials. As shown in <FIG>, for example, temple housing portions 12T may include rigid supports such as rigid support structures <NUM> and flexible fabric support structures such as head band <NUM>. Rigid support structures <NUM> may include a left temple portion and a right temple portion coupled to main housing portion <NUM>. Head band <NUM> may wrap at least partially around the user's head and may have a first end coupled to the left temple portion of support structures <NUM> and a second opposing end coupled to the right temple portion of support structures <NUM>. Head band <NUM> (sometimes referred to as a fabric band, a fabric strap, a head strap, etc.) may wrap around the back of a user's head, over the top of a user's head, and/or may otherwise couple main housing portion <NUM> to the user's head. Arrangements in which head band <NUM> includes multiple bands extending across different portions of the user's head may also be used (e.g., to form upper and lower straps across the back of the head, to form a strap over the top of the head and a strap across the back of the head, etc.). Arrangements in which support structures <NUM> are omitted and head band <NUM> is directly attached to main housing portion <NUM> may also be used.

To allow head band <NUM> to stretch and fit snugly but comfortably around the user's head, head band <NUM> may incorporate one or more stretchable materials such as stretchable polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicone, elastomeric silicon, and/or other elastomeric materials. Due to the presence of stretchable materials in head band <NUM>, head band <NUM> may return to its original length after being stretched to fit onto the user's head. This allows a user to stretch head band <NUM> around the user's head. If desired, the fabric forming head band <NUM> may contain non-stretchable strands of material (e.g., polyester, etc.). Non-stretchable strands of material may, for example, be used to provide head band <NUM> with strength and/or moisture management capabilities. Arrangements in which head band <NUM> is formed from post-consumer recycled plastics such as post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate drawn textured yarn may sometimes be described herein as an illustrative example.

A knitting machine or other equipment may be used in forming head band <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an illustrative knitting system. As shown in <FIG>, strand source <NUM> in knitting system <NUM> may be used in supplying strands <NUM> to guide and needle structures <NUM>. Structures <NUM> may include strand guide structures (e.g., a system of movable guide bars with eyelets that guide strands <NUM>) and needle systems (e.g., needle guide systems that guide sets of individually adjustable needles so that the needles may interact with the strands dispensed by the guide bars). During operations, a controller may control electrically adjustable positioners in system <NUM> to manipulate the positions of guide bars and needles in system <NUM> and thereby knit strands <NUM> into fabric <NUM>. Take down <NUM> (e.g., a pair of mating rollers or other equipment forming a take down system) may be used to gather fabric <NUM> that is produced during knitting.

A layer of illustrative knit fabric <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. A knit fabric is made up of courses <NUM> (e.g., rows of loops formed by strands <NUM>) and wales <NUM> (e.g., columns of loops formed by strands <NUM>). In a weft knit fabric of the type shown in <FIG> (sometimes referred to as a flat knit fabric), strands <NUM> form loops that extend horizontally across the fabric. An illustrative strand <NUM>' among strands <NUM> has been highlighted to show the horizontal path taken by each strand <NUM> in fabric <NUM>. In contrast, a warp knit fabric includes wales <NUM> formed from strands <NUM> that follow zig-zag paths vertically down the fabric.

The example of <FIG> is merely illustrative. Fabric <NUM> of head band <NUM> may include warp knit fabric, weft knit fabric, flat knit fabric, circular knit fabric, braided fabric, woven fabric, spacer fabric (e.g., inner and outer warp knit fabric layers joined by a spacer layer), and/or fabric formed using any other interlacing technique. Arrangements in which fabric <NUM> of head band <NUM> is a knit fabric are according to the claims.

<FIG> is a rear view of an illustrative head band formed from fabric. As shown in <FIG>, head band <NUM> includes fabric <NUM>. To accommodate the different portions of a user's head, head band <NUM> may include different regions with different properties such as different amounts of stretch and cushioning. Some regions of head band <NUM> include pockets whereas other regions of head band <NUM> may be free of pockets. Some regions of head band <NUM> include ribs whereas other regions of head band <NUM> are free of ribs. In the example of <FIG>, head band <NUM> includes one or more ribbed regions such as ribbed region <NUM> and one or more smooth regions (e.g., regions without ribs) such as smooth end portions <NUM>. Ribbed region <NUM> are formed from a ribbed fabric and may include ribs <NUM> (e.g., elongated strip-shaped protrusions extending parallel to the Z-axis of <FIG> or extending along any other suitable direction). Ribs <NUM> of ribbed region <NUM> extend across the entirety of head band <NUM> except for smooth regions <NUM>. In other arrangements, smooth regions <NUM> may be omitted and ribs <NUM> may extend from edge-to-edge on head band <NUM>, but this is not claimed.

Ribbed region <NUM> may be used in portions of head band <NUM> where extra cushion is needed such as portions contacting the back of a user's head. Smooth regions <NUM> may be used in portions of head band <NUM> that connect to other support structures in device <NUM>. For example, smooth regions <NUM> may be coupled to rigid support structures <NUM> near the user's ears or temples and/or may be coupled directly to main housing portion <NUM>. Ribbed region <NUM> and smooth regions <NUM> may be formed from a single piece of fabric or may be formed from multiple pieces of fabric that are attached together using stitching, adhesive, hook-and-loop fasteners, and/or any other suitable attachment structure.

Smooth regions <NUM> of head band <NUM> may be formed from knit fabric, woven fabric, and/or any other suitable type of fabric. In the example of <FIG>, smooth regions <NUM> are formed from flat knit fabric portions <NUM> (e.g., flat knit fabric of the type shown in <FIG>). Ribbed region <NUM> may be interposed between a first flat knit portion <NUM> and a second flat knit portion <NUM>. Flat knit portions <NUM> may be configured to attach to support structures <NUM> of temple housing portions 12T, and/or may be configured to attach directly to main housing portion <NUM>. Ribbed region <NUM> may extend around the back of a user's head, over the top of a user's head, and/or any other suitable location on the user's head.

Head band <NUM> includes one or more pockets (e.g., gaps between portions of fabric <NUM>). In <FIG>, head band <NUM> includes pockets such as pocket <NUM> and pocket <NUM>. Pockets <NUM> and <NUM> may be different portions of a single pocket or may be two separate pockets.

Pockets <NUM> and <NUM> may be bounded by portions of fabric <NUM>. For example, dashed line <NUM> may indicate an inner boundary of pockets <NUM> and <NUM>, whereas the outermost perimeter <NUM> of head band <NUM> may indicate an outer boundary of pockets <NUM> and <NUM>. Along lines <NUM> and <NUM>, upper and lower portions of fabric <NUM> may be attached together to form walls that define pockets <NUM> and <NUM>. In the regions between lines <NUM> and <NUM>, upper and lower portions of fabric <NUM> may be detached from one another to form a gap or cavity where components can be inserted.

Pocket <NUM> may be located only in smooth region <NUM> between portions of flat knit fabric <NUM>, may be located only in ribbed region <NUM> between ribs <NUM>, or may be located partially in smooth region <NUM> between portions of flat knit fabric <NUM> and in ribbed region <NUM> between ribs <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, pocket <NUM> is located partially in ribbed region <NUM> and partially in smooth region <NUM>, while pocket <NUM> is formed along some or all of the perimeter of head band <NUM>. Pocket <NUM> may be located in ribbed region <NUM>, or pocket <NUM> may be located in a border area of head band <NUM> that does not have ribs. Pocket <NUM> may be configured to receive one or more electrical components such as electrical components <NUM>. Electrical components <NUM> may include wireless charging circuitry, input-output devices (buttons, touch sensors, rotating knobs or dials, microphones, other user input devices, status indicators, displays, speakers, other output devices, etc.), sensors, and/or other electrical components (e.g., components of the type described in connection with <FIG>). Electrical components <NUM> may be contained entirely within pocket <NUM> or may have portions that are exposed on the exterior of head band <NUM>. Pocket <NUM> may be configured to receive a cord such as cord <NUM>. Cord <NUM> may be formed from braided strands of material, strands of material wrapped or twisted around a core, conductive strands, insulating strands, and/or other suitable materials. Cord <NUM> may be used to provide structure to the edges of head band <NUM> and/or may be used to provide adjustability to head band <NUM>. For example, a user may able to adjust how tightly head band <NUM> fits on the user's head by adjusting cord <NUM> in pocket <NUM>. In other arrangements, cord <NUM> may be an electrical cable that is used to convey electrical signals (e.g., between electrical components <NUM> and electrical components in main housing portion <NUM>, between electrical components <NUM> on one end of head band <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> on an opposing end of head band <NUM>, etc.).

In ribbed region <NUM>, fabric <NUM> may include an inner stretchable fabric layer such as inner fabric layer <NUM>. Inner fabric layer <NUM> may be formed from mesh fabric that allows layer <NUM> to stretch in directions <NUM>. To provide cushioning on stretchable inner layer <NUM>, fabric <NUM> may include one or more ribs such as ribs <NUM>. Ribs <NUM> may be formed on one or both sides of inner fabric layer <NUM>. For example, a first set of ribs <NUM> may be located on a first side of inner fabric layer <NUM>, and a second set of ribs <NUM> may be located on a second opposing side of inner fabric layer <NUM>. Ribs <NUM> may be formed from ottoman ribs, bengaline ribs, and/or any other suitable ribbed fabric construction. Ribs <NUM> may, for example, formed hollow (e.g., air-filled) protrusions on inner fabric layer <NUM>. In other words, air pockets may be present in ribbed region <NUM> between the strands <NUM> that form ribs <NUM> and the strands <NUM> that form inner fabric layer <NUM>. The presence of air inside of ribs <NUM> allows head band <NUM> to remain breathable and lightweight, while still having sufficient cushion to provide extra padding on the user's head.

If desired, fabric <NUM> that forms inner fabric layer <NUM> may have a lower gauge (e.g., a lower number of needles per inch) than fabric <NUM> that forms ribs <NUM>. For example, the gauge of inner fabric layer <NUM> may be equal to one-half of the gauge of the fabric that forms ribs <NUM>. By skipping a needle in inner fabric layer <NUM>, larger openings may be present in inner fabric layer <NUM>, thereby forming a stretchable mesh fabric layer that expands in directions <NUM> when device <NUM> is being worn and retracts back to its original position when device <NUM> is not being worn. Although ribs <NUM> have a higher gauge than inner fabric layer <NUM> and may therefore require more force to extend, ribs <NUM> may be formed on inner fabric layer <NUM> without increasing the required force needed to stretch head band <NUM> in directions <NUM>. In particular, ribs <NUM> may have sufficient height relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> such that ribs <NUM> can freely expand and retract with inner fabric layer <NUM>. The height of ribs <NUM> may be determined by the number of rows of loops that are used to form ribs <NUM>. Each rib <NUM> may be formed with a higher number of rows of loops than that used to form the portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> under that given rib <NUM>, so that ribs <NUM> can move with inner fabric layer <NUM> without actually requiring any stretching from ribs <NUM>.

Ribs <NUM> may extend perpendicular to the direction of desired stretch. For example, as shown in <FIG>, ribs <NUM> extend parallel to the Z-axis, which allows ribs <NUM> to stretch in directions <NUM> (e.g., parallel to the X-axis) when head band <NUM> is placed on a user's head. This is merely illustrative, however. Ribs <NUM> may extend in any suitable direction (e.g., parallel to the X-axis, oriented at an angle between the X-axis and the Z-axis, etc.). Arrangements in which different ribs <NUM> follow different paths may also be used. Ribs <NUM> may be segmented, curved, zig-zag, oriented in different angles, etc. Ribs <NUM> may all have the same size and be formed from the same materials and fabric construction, or ribs <NUM> may have one or more different characteristics such as different sizes, shapes, materials, fabric construction, etc..

<FIG> are perspective views of ribbed region <NUM> of head band <NUM>, showing how head band <NUM> may be operable in an unstretched state (<FIG>) and a stretched state (<FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, head band <NUM> may include a first set of ribs <NUM> on a first side 58A of stretchable inner fabric layer <NUM> and a second set of ribs <NUM> on a second opposing side 58B of stretchable inner fabric layer <NUM>. One set of ribs <NUM> such as ribs <NUM> on first side 58A may contact the user's head when device <NUM> is being worn, while the other set of ribs <NUM> on second side 58B may face away from the user's head when device <NUM> is being worn. Ribs <NUM> on first side 58A may be offset from the ribs <NUM> on second side 58B, if desired.

Ribs <NUM> may be filled with air pockets. In particular, air-filled openings such as openings <NUM> may be formed in ribs <NUM>. Openings <NUM> may extend parallel to ribs <NUM> and may be located between the fabric that forms ribs <NUM> and the fabric that forms inner fabric layer <NUM>. This allows head band <NUM> to remain breathable and lightweight while still providing sufficient cushion and padding on the user's head.

When forming head band <NUM>, strands <NUM> may be knitted into rows of loops such as loops <NUM>. Each rib <NUM> may be supported by a portion of inner fabric layer <NUM>. During knitting operations, knitting equipment <NUM> may knit a first set of rows of loops <NUM> to form a given one of ribs <NUM>. The number of rows of loops <NUM> that are used to form each rib <NUM> will determine the height of that rib relative to inner fabric layer <NUM>. After forming a first rib <NUM> on a first side 58A, knitting equipment <NUM> may then knit rows of loops <NUM> to form a given portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> that will support the first rib <NUM>. Knitting equipment <NUM> may then knit rows of loops <NUM> to form a second rib <NUM> on second side 58B, followed by knitting rows of loops <NUM> to form another portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> that will support the second rib <NUM>. This process may continue in an alternating fashion, with knitting equipment <NUM> knitting rows of loops <NUM> for a rib on one side, then knitting rows of loops <NUM> to form a portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> for supporting that rib, then knitting rows of loops <NUM> for a rib <NUM> on the other side, then knitting rows of loops <NUM> to form a portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> for supporting that rib, etc. When head band <NUM> is in the unstretched state of <FIG>, inner fabric layer <NUM> may not be visible between ribs <NUM> (or may be barely visible between ribs <NUM>).

Ribs <NUM> may have sufficient height relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> so that ribs <NUM> can accommodate stretching of inner fabric layer <NUM> without increasing or significantly increasing the force needed to extend inner fabric layer <NUM>. The height of ribs <NUM> relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> may be determined by the number of rows of loops <NUM> that are used to form ribs <NUM> and the number of rows of loops that are used to from inner fabric layer <NUM>. To provide ribs <NUM> with sufficient height relative to inner fabric layer <NUM>, the number of rows of loops <NUM> that are used to form a given rib <NUM> may be greater than the number of rows of loops <NUM> that are used to form the portion of inner fabric layer <NUM> that supports that given rib <NUM>. This allows ribs <NUM> to move with inner fabric layer <NUM> as inner fabric layer <NUM> is stretched in directions <NUM>. For example, when device <NUM> is not being worn and head band <NUM> is in the unstretched state of <FIG>, ribs <NUM> are at a maximum height of H1 relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> and ribbed region <NUM> may have a first length L1 along the X-axis. When device <NUM> is being worn and head band <NUM> is in the stretched state of <FIG>, ribs <NUM> are at a lower height H2 (e.g., a height lower than height H1 of <FIG>) relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> and ribbed region <NUM> may have a second length L2 along the X-axis (e.g., a length greater than length L1). Stretching head band <NUM> from length L1 to length L2 may also expose more of inner fabric layer <NUM> between ribs <NUM> than when head band <NUM> is unstretched (see exposed width W of inner fabric layer <NUM> between adjacent ribs <NUM> of <FIG>). In addition to accommodating stretching of inner fabric layer <NUM>, ribs <NUM> may permit bending of inner fabric layer <NUM>. Head band <NUM> may curve around the user's head, thereby bending around one or more axes that are parallel to the direction of ribs <NUM>. The raised height of ribs <NUM> relative to inner fabric layer <NUM> may allow ribs <NUM> to move with inner fabric layer <NUM> as it bends, rather than inhibiting bending movement.

<FIG> is a side view of head band <NUM> showing how ribs <NUM> may form a sinusoidal or accordion shape on inner fabric layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, ribs <NUM> may include a first set of ribs <NUM> on first surface 58A of inner fabric layer <NUM> and a second set of ribs <NUM> on a second opposing surface 58B of inner fabric layer <NUM>. Openings <NUM> may pass through ribs <NUM> and may provide an air gap between ribs <NUM> and inner fabric layer <NUM>, which allows head band <NUM> to remain breathable, flexible, stretchable, and lightweight, while also providing cushioning on the user's head.

In some arrangements, a pocket may extend into ribbed region <NUM> of head band <NUM>. To form a pocket in ribbed region <NUM> of head band <NUM>, inner fabric layer <NUM> may be separated into first and second layers. This type of arrangement is illustrated in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, inner layer <NUM> may be separated into first and second layers such as first inner fabric layer <NUM>-<NUM> and second inner fabric layer <NUM>-<NUM>. First inner fabric layer <NUM>-<NUM> may support a first set of ribs <NUM> on first side 58A, while second inner fabric layer <NUM>-<NUM> may support a second set of ribs <NUM> on opposing second side 58B. Portions of inner fabric layers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be decoupled from one another to form pocket <NUM> (and, if desired, to form pocket <NUM>).

<FIG> is a top view of head band <NUM> showing how a cord may pass through pocket <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, head band <NUM> may edge region <NUM> with pocket <NUM>. Pocket <NUM> may extend along an outer edge of head band <NUM>. In region <NUM>, inner fabric layer <NUM> may have upper and lower portions such as upper and lower portions <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG> to create pocket <NUM> between upper and lower portions <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In portions of head band <NUM> that do not have a pocket, such as region <NUM>, head band <NUM> may include a single inner fabric layer <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. This may be achieved by joining upper and lower portions <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in region <NUM>, or may be achieved by having only one of upper and lower portions <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> extend into region <NUM> to form inner fabric layer <NUM>. From an exterior perspective, there may be little to no visual distinction between pocket region <NUM> and pocket-free region <NUM>. By incorporating pocket <NUM> into ribbed portion <NUM> of head band <NUM>, a user's head may be cushioned from the items contained within pocket <NUM>. For example, cord <NUM> passing through pocket <NUM> may be separated from a user's head by a set of ribs <NUM>, which helps minimize user discomfort resulting from cord <NUM>.

If desired, rods may be inserted into openings <NUM> of ribs <NUM> after ribs <NUM> have been formed and while fabric <NUM> of head band <NUM> undergoes additional processing. For example, metal rods that are cut to the length of ribs <NUM> may be inserted into respective openings <NUM> while post-processing steps take place such as steaming, washing, coating, treating, etc. After post-processing steps are complete, the rods may be removed from ribs <NUM>, leaving air-filled openings <NUM> in place. If desired, rods may be inserted into openings <NUM> through the sides of ribs <NUM> (e.g., rather than at the opposing ends of ribs <NUM>) so that any gaps resulting from inserting the rods are hidden from view between ribs <NUM>.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of information such as information from input-output devices. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, data may be gathered that includes personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, username, password, biometric information, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver targeted content that is of greater interest to the user. Accordingly, use of such personal information data enables users to calculated control of the delivered content. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdictionspecific considerations. For instance, in the United States, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to "opt in" or "opt out" of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide certain types of user data. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time user-specific data is maintained. In addition to providing "opt in" and "opt out" options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an application ("app") that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.

De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing personal information data.

Physical environment: A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

Computer-generated reality: in contrast, a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In CGR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a CGR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands). A person may sense and/or interact with a CGR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some CGR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects. Examples of CGR include virtual reality and mixed reality.

Virtual reality: A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person's physical movements within the computer-generated environment.

Mixed reality: In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end. In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to the physical ground. Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality. Augmented reality: an augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called "pass-through video," meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. Augmented virtuality: an augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.

Claim 1:
A head band (<NUM>) for supporting a head-mounted device (<NUM>), comprising:
first and second flat knit portions (<NUM>);
a ribbed fabric extending between the first and second flat knit portions (<NUM>), wherein the ribbed fabric is configured to stretch in a first direction and has ribs (<NUM>) extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and
a pocket (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to receive a component (<NUM>, <NUM>).