Patent ID: 12259754

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Factors such as increased affordability and diversity of compatible programs and games are expected to significantly increase future use of VR headsets. Along with the increased time spent using VR headsets, comes the challenge of eye fatigue and long-term vision problems, including a potential risk for progressive refractory errors and xerophthalmia particularly in young children during the age when their globe is still immature. Such issues may be caused and/or exacerbated by eye dryness due to reduced blinking when using immersive VR headsets.

To address these issues, the disclosed subject matter introduces a virtual reality system which increases environmental humidity of the microclimate around the eyes of a user. In certain embodiments as depicted inFIGS.1-6the disclosed system provides at least one humidification element which may be incorporated (i.e., coupled) into a VR headset40. In certain embodiments, VR headset40may generally comprise a housing42supporting eyepieces54and a mounted screen56, with a head attachment element58such as a band coupled to housing42. In some further embodiments, VR headset40may comprise a ventilation fan64, and/or other ventilation elements, but not necessarily so.

In certain embodiments, humidification element may generally comprise a reservoir for holding water69with at least one evaporative surface which allows for diffusion of the water from within the reservoir for increasing humidity in the VR environment. In one embodiment, the evaporative surface may comprise a pleated semi-permeable membrane which can be made of biological or synthetic materials such as cellulose or polyamide, but is not limited to these options. The reservoir may further include a removable seal element, such as a cap which may be threaded to a spout, of the reservoir for allowing a user to fill the container with water. Further, the reservoir may have magnetic surface on one of the sides that can be coupled with a magnetic counter surface in the VR headset body to ensure a good fit. Other embodiments might use mechanical coupling using Velcro-like material or adhesives.

In some embodiments, VR headset40may include at least one slot configured to retain the humidification element. In certain embodiments, the slot(s) may be provided on an interior side of headset housing42for introducing evaporation humidity62into the interior cavity52of the housing and directly around the eye area of the wearer. In further embodiments, multiple slots may be provided within headset40for retaining a corresponding number of humidification elements. In still other embodiments, the water reservoir may be outside and separate from the VR headset and connected to the evaporative elements in headset by tubes.

According to an exemplary embodiment as depicted in the figures, an inner side of headset housing42may include a left side housing slot44configured to hold a left side reservoir10of a left side humidification element, and a right side housing slot46configured to hold a right side reservoir18of a right side humidification element. Left side reservoir10includes a left side pleated membrane16which faces towards inner cavity52and is substantially flush with respect to the inner wall of housing42when reservoir10is held within slot44. Left side reservoir10further includes a spout12cap14, as shown. Right side reservoir18includes a right side pleated membrane22which faces towards inner cavity52and is substantially flush with respect to the inner wall of housing42when reservoir18is held within slot46. Right side reservoir18further includes spout and cap components20. In some embodiments, left side reservoir10, left side plated membrane16and left side housing slot44may be in mirroring relationship to right side reservoir18, right side pleated membrane22, and right side housing slot46. In some further embodiments, a left bottom housing slot48and right bottom housing slot50may also be provided within an inner side of headset housing42and are configured to retain a left bottom reservoir24and a right bottom reservoir30, respectively. Left bottom reservoir24includes a left bottom pleated membrane28and spout and cap elements26. Right bottom reservoir30includes a right bottom pleated membrane34and spout and cap elements32. Bottom pleated membranes,28and34, are both configured to face upwards towards inner cavity and are substantially flush with respect to the inner wall of housing42when reservoirs24and30are held within their respective slots. As such, reservoirs16,18,24, and30can be equally or unequally spaced around eyepieces54on the left and right sides and are shaped to conform to the shape of the slots and inner walls of the VR frame.

As depicted in the figures, the slots for receiving the reservoirs provide depressions within housing42that matches the shape of the reservoirs. In certain embodiments, each reservoir may snap into its respective slot. In some embodiments, the reservoirs may snap lock into their respective slots and are held in place via friction. In alternate embodiments, the reservoirs may be permanently coupled to the headset. Thus, the reservoirs unobtrusively integrate with headset housing42and include an evaporative surface which is flush with the side wall of the housing. In certain embodiments the evaporative surface might protrude inside the VR interior environment but do so without causing any obstruction to the user's view. The reservoirs may be filled with water or any other hydration fluids and inserted into the slots within the headset to increase humidity within the headset40. In one embodiment, the disclosed system may provide a humidity level of between about 30-50%. However, the multiple reservoirs also allow the user to control the humidity level by using and/or filling less than all of the reservoirs if desired. Furthermore, some embodiments can employ a humidity sensor that can track the humidity of VR microclimate and increase the rate of ventilation whenever the humidity increases too high. Once the water within each reservoir is depleted, the reservoir may be removed from its slot and refilled, wherein the cap may be removed and reinstalled.

Thus, the disclosed subject matter provides a system which increases the level of humidity in a VR headset for microclimate control. This provides greater comfort/wearability and reduces adverse effects such as fatigue, xerophthalmia, refractive errors, etc., due to drying of eye globe caused by use of VR headsets. As such, the user may comfortably increase use time of the headset. It shall be appreciated that VR headset40may have different design features and components in alternate embodiments, and may be configured to hold any number of reservoirs. Additionally, the reservoirs may have various shapes, and different types of evaporative surface(s) of various sizes/dimensions in alternate embodiments. In some embodiments, VR headset40may comprise other components shown in the art for increasing eye comfort.

It shall be appreciated that the disclosed device and system can have multiple configurations in different embodiments. Furthermore, the disclosed system may be adapted for use with any other type of eyewear (e.g., conventional glasses, snow/ski goggles, motorcycle goggles), helmets, etc., to alleviate eye dryness and/or in low humidity environments. In some alternate embodiments, the reservoir may be provided outside of the headset housing and/or other elements for increasing humidity in the VR environment may also be used.

It shall be appreciated that the device and system described herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size, and/or dimensions. In one embodiment, the reservoirs may be made of low cost materials such as a semi-permeable membrane, plastic etc. and can be easily replaced and/or reused (e.g., after 1-2 week of use). It shall be appreciated that different materials may be used in alternate embodiments. It shall be appreciated that the device may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.

The terms VR interior environment, VR interior cavity and VR microclimate all refer to the space that is inside the VR headset to which the user's eyes are directly exposed to.

It shall be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside” is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for convenience and simplification of describing the disclosed subject matter, rather than indicating or implying that the indicated device or element must have a specific orientation or are constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has”, “have”, “having”, “with” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The constituent elements of the disclosed device and system listed herein are intended to be exemplary only, and it is not intended that this list be used to limit the device of the present application to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in the art relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to be equivalent elements that may be substituted within the present disclosure without changing the essential function or operation of the device. Terms such as ‘approximate,’ ‘approximately,’ ‘about,’ etc., as used herein indicate a deviation of within +/−10%. Relationships between the various elements of the disclosed device as described herein are presented as illustrative examples only, and not intended to limit the scope or nature of the relationships between the various elements. Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.