PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11002971-B1
Application Number: US-201916503847-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Display device with mechanically adjustable optical combiner

Abstract:
An optical system may include a head-mounted support structure configured to receive a removable portable electronic device with a display to form a head-mounted device. A head-mounted device may also be formed by incorporating a non-removable display into a head-mounted support structure. An optical combiner may be coupled to the head-mounted support structure. During operation of the head-mounted device, real-world image light passes through the optical combiner to eye boxes in which the eyes of a user are located. Display image light from the display reflects from a curved partially reflective surface of the optical combiner towards the eye boxes. To make optical adjustments such as virtual image distance adjustments, one or more actuators may be used to mechanically adjust the optical combiner.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A head-mounted device configured to receive real-world image light from real-world objects and operable with a removable portable electronic device that has a display, comprising:
 a head-mounted support structure configured to receive the removable portable electronic device; and 
 an optical combiner configured to combine the real-world image light with display image light produced by the display when the removable portable electronic device is received within the head-mounted support structure; 
 an actuator coupled to the optical combiner; and 
 control circuitry configured to use the actuator to mechanically adjust the optical combiner. 
 
     
     
       2. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the optical combiner comprises a partially reflective mirror that is configured to pass the real-world image light to an eye box, wherein the partially reflective mirror is configured to reflect the display image light to the eye box, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to tilt the optical combiner using the actuator. 
     
     
       3. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 2  further comprising a hinge coupled to the head-mounted support structure, wherein the optical combiner has first and second opposing edges, wherein the first edge is coupled to the hinge, and wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the optical combiner about the hinge by moving the second edge. 
     
     
       4. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 3  wherein the actuator is coupled to the second edge by a coupling structure and is configured to pull the second edge and to push the second edge. 
     
     
       5. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 3  wherein the actuator is coupled to the first edge and is configured to apply torque to the first edge to rotate the optical combiner about the hinge. 
     
     
       6. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the optical combiner comprises a flexible transparent layer and wherein the control circuitry is configured to bow the flexible transparent layer by pushing against an edge of the optical combiner with the actuator. 
     
     
       7. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the optical combiner comprises a flexible transparent layer having different thickness in different respective regions. 
     
     
       8. A head-mounted device, comprising:
 a head-mounted support structure; 
 a display coupled to the head-mounted support structure; 
 an optical combiner having first and second opposing curved surfaces, wherein the optical combiner is configured to pass real-world image light through the first surface to an eye box and is configured to reflect a display image on the display off the second surface in a direction towards the eye box; 
 an actuator; and 
 control circuitry configured to adjust the optical combiner with the actuator. 
 
     
     
       9. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 8  wherein the control is configured to tilt the optical combiner with the actuator. 
     
     
       10. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 8  further comprising a hinge that is coupled to the head-mounted support structure and that is coupled to an edge of the optical combiner, wherein the control circuitry is configured to rotate the optical combiner about the hinge using the actuator. 
     
     
       11. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 10  wherein the optical combiner comprises a flexible polymer layer and wherein the control circuitry is configured to bend the flexile polymer layer using the actuator. 
     
     
       12. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 8  wherein the optical combiner comprises a flexible polymer layer and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the actuator to bow the flexible polymer layer away from the eye box. 
     
     
       13. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 8  further comprising an additional actuator, wherein the optical combiner has opposing first and second edges, wherein the actuator is coupled to the first edge, and wherein the additional actuator is coupled to the second edge. 
     
     
       14. A head-mounted device, comprising:
 a head-mounted support structure configured to receive a removable cellular telephone with a display; and 
 an optical combiner configured to pass real-world image light from a real-world object to an eye box and configured to reflect display light from the display to the eye box; 
 an actuator; and 
 control circuitry configured to use the actuator to move the optical combiner. 
 
     
     
       15. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 14  wherein the optical combiner has an edge and wherein the actuator is configured to push and pull on the edge. 
     
     
       16. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 15  wherein the optical combiner comprises a transparent substrate coated with a partially reflective coating. 
     
     
       17. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 16  wherein the partially reflective coating comprises a metal layer. 
     
     
       18. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 16  wherein the partially reflective coating comprises a thin-film interference filter mirror. 
     
     
       19. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 14  wherein the optical combiner has a first edge coupled to the head-mounted support structure and an opposing second edge coupled to the actuator and wherein the actuator is configured to move the optical combiner by pulling on the second edge. 
     
     
       20. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 19  wherein the optical combiner has a first edge coupled to the head-mounted support structure and an opposing second edge coupled to the actuator and wherein the actuator is configured to bow the optical combiner outward away from the eye box by pushing on the second edge. 
     
     
       21. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 8 , wherein the first and second surfaces are curved in the same direction.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/722,710, filed Aug. 24, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to optical systems, and, more particularly, to optical systems with optical combiners. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Optical systems may be used to provide images to a viewer. In some optical systems, it is desirable for both computer-generated and real-world images to be viewed simultaneously. In this type of system, an optical combiner can be used to merge image light from a display with real-world image light. If care is not taken, however, the optical combiner will not exhibit desired optical characteristics. This can make it difficult to satisfactorily provide content to the viewer. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system may include a head-mounted support structure configured to receive a removable portable electronic device to form a head-mounted device. The removable portable electronic device may be a cellular telephone or other device with a display. A head-mounted device may also be formed by incorporating a non-removable display into a head-mounted support structure. 
     To provide a user with the ability to view mixed reality content, the head-mounted device may be provided with an optical combiner. The optical combiner may be formed from a transparent substrate layer with a coating that is partially reflective and partially transparent. The optical combiner may be coupled to the head-mounted support structure in a location that overlaps left and right eye boxes. When the head-mounted device is worn on the user&#39;s head, the left and right eyes of a user are located in the left and right eye boxes. 
     During operation of the head-mounted device, real-world image light from external objects pass through the optical combiner to eye boxes. At the same time, display image light that is produced by the display reflects from the optical combiner towards the eye boxes. This allows the user to view computer-generated content on the display overlaid on top of the real world. 
     The optical combiner may have a curved surface (a surface with a curved cross-sectional profile) such as a curved surface with compound curvature (Gaussian curvature) that forms a mirror lens (sometimes referred to as a free-form mirror lens). Display image light from the display of the removable portable device reflects from the mirror lens of the optical combiner towards the eye boxes. The lens function of the optical combiner helps focus light from the display for viewing by the user&#39;s eyes in the left and right eye boxes. The display light may be used in overlaying virtual images on real-world objects. 
     To adjust the position of virtual images (sometimes referred to as the virtual image distance) and/or to adjust the direction in which reflected display light is traveling, one or more actuators may be used to perform mechanical adjustments to the optical combiner. For example, the optical combiner may be moved towards the eye boxes (and/or increased in curvature), which provides additional lens power and shortens the virtual image distance, or the optical combiner may be moved away from the eye boxes (and/or decreased in curvature), which provides less lens power and lengthens the virtual image distance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative optical system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner (coupler) and an associated actuator along an edge of the combiner that is configured to move the optical combiner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner and associated actuators that may be used to rotate the optical combiner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner with an associated actuator that is configured to bow the combiner outward and thereby change the curvature and lens power associated with the combiner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner with an associated actuator that is configured to bend the combiner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner and an associated rotating system coupled to a hinge that is used to rotate the optical combiner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical combiner and associated non-removable display in an illustrative device in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Optical systems may be used to present images to a user. In some mixed reality systems, displays present computer-generated content that is overlaid on top of real-world images. An optical system may use an optical combiner to combine real-world image light with image light from a display. The optical combiner may be a curved partially reflective mirror that is mounted in front of a user&#39;s eyes using head-mounted support structures. The head-mounted support structures may be configured to form a head-mounted device that is worn on the head of a user. In some arrangements, the head-mounted device may include a non-removable display. In other arrangements, the head-mounted device may be configured to receive a removable portable electronic device with a display such as a removable cellular telephone. 
     During operation, one or more actuators may be used to mechanically adjust the optical combiner. The optical combiner may, for example, be tilted about a hinge axis, rotated around a pivot point, flexed to provide the optical combiner with a desired amount of curvature, and/or may otherwise be mechanically adjusted in shape and/or location. These mechanical adjustments may adjust the focal length of a reflective lens formed from the optical combiner, may steer reflected image light, and/or may otherwise be used in enhancing the ability of users to view content while using a head-mounted device that contains the optical combiner. For example, actuator movements of the optical combiner (tilting, rotating, bending, bowing, etc.) may be used in adjusting the lens power associated with the mirror lens that is formed from the partially reflective coating on the optical combiner and thereby adjusting virtual image distances associated with computer-generated objects being overlaid on the real world. 
     An illustrative optical system with a head-mounted device is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , optical system  8  may include equipment  10 A and  10 B. Equipment  10 A may be, for example, a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone. Equipment  10 B may be a head-mounted device with an optical combiner. In some configurations, the components of equipment  10 A and  10 B may be formed as an integral unit. In other configurations, equipment  10 B may be incorporated into a support structure for equipment  10 A and equipment  10 A may be removable equipment such as a removable cellular telephone or other removable portable electronic device. With this type of arrangement, equipment  10 A may be used in conjunction with equipment  10 B to form a head-mounted display or may be used separately. Configurations for system  8  in which system  8  includes removable equipment  10 A may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 1 , system  8  includes a head-mounted support structure such as support structure  12 . Support structure  12  may be formed from glass, polymer, metal, fabric, natural materials, ceramic, and/or other materials. Support structure  12  may be configured to be worn on the head of a user. For example, support structure  12  may include portions  12 ′ that are configured to form straps, helmet support structures, portions of a hat, goggles, or glasses, etc. Support structures  12  may also include housing walls, internal supports, and/or other structures for supporting and housing the components of the head-mounted device. 
     Head-mounted support structure  12  may be formed as part of equipment  10 B and may be configured to receive equipment  10 A when it is desired to support equipment  10 A during use of system  8  (e.g., when equipment  10 A and  10 B are coupled to form a head-mounted display device). Head-mounted support structure  12  may, as an example, have portions forming a recess that receives equipment  10 A and holds equipment  10 A in place while equipment  10 A is presenting computer-generated images on a display in equipment  10 A. 
     Equipment  10 A and/or  10 B may include components such as control circuitry  14 , input-output devices  16 , and other components  18 . Control circuitry  14  may include storage such as hard-disk storage, volatile and non-volatile memory, electrically programmable storage for forming a solid-state drive, and other memory. Control circuitry  14  may also include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, graphics processors, baseband processors, application-specific integrated circuits, and other processing circuitry. Communications circuits in circuitry  14  may be used to transmit and receive data (e.g., wirelessly and/or over wired paths). This allows equipment  10 A and  10 B to communicate wirelessly and/or over a wired connection between equipment  10 A and  10 B. The communications circuits of circuitry  14  may also be used to support wired and/or wireless circuitry with external equipment (e.g., remote controls, host computers, on-line content servers, etc.). 
     In some arrangements, control circuitry  14  in equipment  10 A and/or  10 B may use a display in equipment  10 A to display images. These images, which may sometimes be referred to as computer-generated content or computer-generated images, may be associated with a virtual world, may include pre-recorded video for a movie or other media, or may include other images. Image light  24  (display image light) from computer-generated images in equipment  10 A may be provided to equipment  10 B (e.g., through free space). Equipment  10 B may include an optical combiner. The optical combiner may combine real-world image light  22  associated with real-world images of real-world objects  20  with display image light  24  associated with computer-generated (non-real-world) images, thereby producing merged image light  26  for viewing by viewer (viewer eye)  30  in eye box  28 . System  8  may have two associated eye boxes  28  for providing images to a user&#39;s left and right eyes. 
     Input-output devices  16  in equipment  10 A and/or  10 B may be coupled to control circuitry  14  in equipment  10 A and/or  10 B. Input-output devices  16  may be used to gather user input from a user, may be used to make measurements on the environment surrounding device  10 , may be used to provide output to a user, and/or may be used to supply output to external electronic equipment. Input-output devices  16  may include buttons, joysticks, keypads, keyboard keys, touch sensors, track pads, displays, touch screen displays, microphones, speakers, light-emitting diodes and/or lasers for providing a user with visual output, and sensors (e.g., force sensors, temperature sensors, magnetic sensor, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or other sensors for measuring orientation, position, and/or movement of system  8 , proximity sensors, capacitive touch sensors, strain gauges, gas sensors, pressure sensors, ambient light sensors, and/or other sensors). Devices  16  can include cameras (digital image sensors) for capturing images of the user&#39;s surroundings, cameras for performing gaze detection operations by viewing eyes  30 , and/or other cameras. For example, input-output devices  16  may include one or more cameras for producing data that is fused with data from an inertial measurement unit having an accelerometer, compass, and/or gyroscope for implementing a visual inertial odometry system. Devices  16  may also include depth sensors (e.g., sensors using structured light and/or using binocular cameras). In some configurations, light-based and/or radio-frequency-based sensors may be used for external object tracking (e.g., lidar, radar, and/or other detection and ranging applications). 
     Equipment  10 A and/or  10 B may also include other components  18 . Components  18  may include electrically controlled actuators (e.g., motors, electromagnetic linear actuators, piezoelectric actuators, and/or other actuators) for mechanically adjusting an optical combiner in system  8  and/or adjusting other components of system  8 . Components  18  may also include batteries for powering the electrical components of equipment  10 A and/or  10 B, optical components, and/or other devices. If desired, some or all of the components in equipment  10 A and/or  10 B may be omitted from system  8  (e.g., to simplify system  8  and reduce cost). The configuration of  FIG. 1  is illustrative. 
     To combine display image light  24  from a display in equipment  10 A with real-world image light  22  to produce merged light  26 , components  18  in equipment  10 B may include an optical combiner. The optical combiner may be passive (e.g., a partially reflective mirror combiner having a partial mirror formed from a thin-film layer of metal and/or a thin-film interference filter having a thin-film dielectric stack of polymers and/or inorganic dielectrics of alternating refractive index that forms a thin-film interference filter mirror with a desired reflectivity and transmission) and/or may include one or more optional adjustable components. Optional adjustable optical components in the optical combiner may impart global changes to light  22  (e.g., a global change in light intensity) and/or may be two-dimensional components (e.g., pixelated components) that can impart changes in particular regions of the optical combiner (e.g., localized increases in light absorption). This allows real-world image light  22  to be locally dimmed (as an example) to help reduce external light intensity when virtual objects in image light  24  are being overlaid on portions of a real-world scene. 
     In illustrative configurations described herein, system  8  includes an optical combiner that has one or more transparent supporting layers such as a transparent polymer substrate layer or a layer of other suitable clear material such as glass substrate layer. The substrate of the optical combiner is covered with one or more coating layers (e.g., partial mirror layer(s)) that are partially transparent and partially reflective. A coating on the substrate of the optical combiner may, as an example, have a light transmission of 10-90%, at least 20%, at least 30%, less than 80%, less than 70%, or other suitable transmission and may have a reflectivity of 10-90%, at least 20%, at least 30%, less than 70%, less than 80%, etc. 
     A cross-sectional side view of system  8  in an illustrative configuration in which head-mounted support structure  12  (e.g., a housing for equipment  10 B) is configured to receive a removable portable electronic device (equipment  10 A) is shown in  FIG. 2 . Equipment  10 B includes head-mounted support structure  12  and optical combiner  34 . Combiner  34  may have a curved shape (e.g., a curved cross-sectional profile). For example, combiner  34  may have a transparent substrate with a surface such as inner surface  42  that exhibits compound curvature (e.g., surface  42  may be a Gaussian surface). A partially reflective layer such as layer  42 C that is formed on surface  42  of the transparent substrate may have a corresponding curved shape. This allows layer  42 C to form a partially reflective mirror lens that reflects and focuses light  24  towards eye box  28  and eye  30  for viewing by a user while simultaneously passing real-world image light  22  to eye box  28  and eye  30  without significant distortion so that the user may view real-world objects such as external object  20 . 
     Input-output components  16  (e.g., a gaze tracking system, a front-facing or side-facing camera, a camera in visual odometry circuitry, depth sensors and other sensors, etc.) can be mounted in one or more locations on housing  12  such as locations  32  and may point towards eye  30 , external object  20  and/or other external and/or internal directions. Housing  12  may, if desired, have a transparent structure such as optional transparent structure  36  (e.g., a planar layer of glass, transparent polymer, etc.) that receives the front face of equipment  10 A (e.g., a removable cellular telephone or other removable portable electronic device) and receives display  40  on the front face of equipment  10 A when equipment  10 A is received within equipment  10 B. One or more coatings or other optical layers may be formed on all or part of a transparent substrate in structure  36  (e.g., to from antireflection coatings, etc.). 
     Display  40  uses pixels (e.g., an array of pixels) to emit display image light  24  (sometimes referred to as virtual image light or virtual images). External objects such as real world object  20  emit real-world image light. Reflective layer (e.g., coating  42 C) is formed on surface  42  of the transparent substrate in optical combiner  34 . The transparent substrate may be formed from a glass layer, a polymer layer such as a flexible polymer layer, or other suitable substrate layer(s). Coating  42 C may be a partially reflective layer of metal (e.g., a metal thin-film layer) or a partially reflective thin-film interference filter mirror formed from a dielectric stack of materials of different refractive index values. Optical combiner  34  is sufficiently transparent to pass real-world light  22  to eye box  28  while being sufficiently reflective to reflect light  24  from display  40  to eye box  28 . During operation of the head-mounted device, real-world image light  22  and display light  24  are combined by combiner  34  and form combined light  26  that is directed toward eye boxes such as eye box  28  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Lens surface  42  of optical combiner  34  may not have a desired configuration for reflecting light  24  towards eye box  28 . The concave mirror lens formed from surface  42  of optical combiner  34  therefore may not have desired properties for optimal display image viewing. For example, the lens power associated with optical combiner  34  may be different than desired, causing the virtual image distance of the head-mounted device to differ from a desired virtual image distance. As another example, image light  24  may be reflected in a different direction than desired for viewing by the user. For example, if the user&#39;s eyes are high on the user&#39;s face, light  24  may be reflected to a location on the user&#39;s face that is too low and if the user&#39;s eyes are low on the user&#39;s face, light  24  may be reflected towards a location on the user&#39;s face that is too high. 
     During operation of system  8 , control circuitry  14  may use one or more actuators to mechanically adjust optical combiner  32  and thereby enhance display image viewing for the user (viewer) wearing system  8 . The actuator(s) may, for example, adjust lens orientation and/or shape so that the optical power associated with optical combiner  34  changes, thereby shifting the location of virtual images (computer-generated content) being overlaid on real-world objects. 
     Consider, as an example, the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , optical combiner  34  may be mechanically adjusted using actuator  56 . Actuator  56  may be coupled to optical combiner  34  using coupling structure  58  (e.g., one or more cables or other pull elements and/or rigid rods or other push-pull coupling structures). Coupling structure  58  may be configured to avoid creating visual obstructions for the user. The housing of actuator  56  may be coupled to a portion of support structure  12 . For example, actuator  56  may be mounted to housing  12  using fasteners, adhesive, brackets, clips, and/or other coupling mechanisms. When it is desired to adjust the orientation of optical combiner  34 , control circuitry  14  may control actuator  56  use coupling structure  58  to pull against the lower edge of optical combiner  34  while the opposing upper edge of optical combiner  34  rotates relative to support structure  12  using hinge  54 . In this way, optical combiner  34  is moved inwardly towards eye box  28  (e.g., to illustrative position  50 , which may shift the virtual image distance of system  8  outward). When actuator  56  pushes on the lower edge of optical combiner  34 , optical combiner  34  is moved outwardly away from eye box  28  (e.g., to illustrative position  52 , which may shift the virtual image distance of system  8  inward). In some arrangements, adjustments to the orientation of optical combiner  34  that are made using actuator  56  may be used to direct reflected portions of light  24  towards locations of interest. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , hinge  54  is coupled between support structure  12  and the upper edge of optical combiner  34 , so that optical combiner  34  can rotate about hinge  54  while moving towards or away from eye boxes  28 . In the illustrative example of  FIG. 4 , the actuator circuitry used in adjusting optical combiner  34  has two portions. First actuator  56 - 1  is coupled to upper edge  34 - 2  of optical combiner  34  and second actuator  56 - 2  is coupled to lower edge of optical combiner  34 . Control circuitry  14  may control the first and second actuators to rotate optical combiner  34  about an axis of rotation such as axis  66  (which extends into the page in  FIG. 4 ) and/or to translate optical combiner  34  toward or away from eye box  28 . For example, when it is desired to move optical combiner  34  away from eye box  28 , actuators  56 - 1  and  56 - 1  may simultaneously push optical combiner  34  away from eye box  28  and when it is desired to move optical combiner  34  towards eye box  28 , actuators  56 - 1  and  56 - 2  may simultaneously pull optical combiner  34  toward eye box  28 . Arrangements in which actuators  56 - 1  and  56 - 2  rotate optical combiner  34  while translating optical combiner  34  (e.g., to adjust virtual image distance) may also be used. 
       FIG. 5  shows how optical combiner  34  may be made of a flexible substrate material (e.g., a thin bendable layer of polymer). Actuator  56  can apply pressure to lower edge  34 ′ of optical combiner  34  by pushing on combiner  34  in direction  70 , thereby causing optical combiner  34  to bow outwardly (away from eye box  28 ). This changes the lens power of the mirror lens formed from the partially reflective mirror coating on optical combiner  34  (e.g., to adjust virtual image distance). In scenarios in which it is desired to flatten optical combiner  34  (e.g., when it is desired to reduce the curvature of combiner  34  and weaken the lens power of the mirror lens), actuator  56  can move lower edge  34 ′ towards actuator  56  by pulling on combiner  34  in direction  72 . By increasing or decreasing the amount of bow (the amount of curvature) in optical combiner  34  using actuator  56 , a desired optical characteristic for optical combiner  34  may be achieved (e.g., to adjust virtual image distance). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , optical combiner  34  may, if desired, have different regions with different flexibility (e.g., different flexibility due to material of different thicknesses and/or material with different stiffness values due to differences in material composition or other differences). Optical combiner  34  may, as an example, be formed from a flexible polymer layer with that has a first thickness in upper portion  34 A (and/or first material in portion  34 A), a second thickness that is less than the first thickness in middle portion  34 B (and/or second material in portion  34 B), and a third thickness that is less than the second thickness in lower portion  34 C (and/or a third material in portion  34 C). When actuator  56  moves lower edge  34 - 1  of optical combiner  34  towards eye box  60 , the optical combiner portion  34 B will flex more than portion  34 A and portion  34 C will flex more than portion  34 B, as illustrated by bent combiner profile  74 . This type of cross-sectional bend profile for combiner  34  may be used to create a mirror lens with different curvature (and different lens power) in different areas of the lens (e.g., to implement a bifocal effect for virtual content). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , optical combiner  34  may be positioned using a rotational actuator such as actuator  56 R (e.g., a motor or other rotatable positioner). Upper edge  34 - 2  of optical combiner  34  may be coupled to hinge  54 , so that optical combiner  34  can be rotated about hinge  54  in outward direction  80  away from eye box  28  and in inward direction  82  towards eye box  28  using actuator  56 R (e.g., to adjust virtual image distance). If desired, an actuator such as linear actuator  56 L may be mounted in a portion of support structures  12  that is not immediately adjacent to hinge  54 . A coupler such as coupling structure  84  may be used to translate linear actuation from actuator  56 L into rotational actuation (torque) on upper edge  34 - 2  of optical combiner  34  at hinge  54 . The coupling structures that are used to couple actuators in system  8  to optical combiner  34  may include push-pull coupling members (e.g., solid structures of metal, polymer, and/or other materials), and/or pull-type coupling structures (e.g., flexible strands of material). If desired, springs and other non-motorized actuating structures may be incorporated into the actuating system and coupling structures used to couple actuators in system  8  to optical combiners  34 . In general, any suitable type of actuator (linear, rotational, etc.) may be used to rotate optical combiner  34  about hinge  54 . Hinge  54  of  FIG. 7  is located at the upper edge of optical combiner  34 . If desired, hinges or other pivot structures may be coupled between other portions of combiner  34  and support structure  12 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of system  8  in an illustrative configuration in which display  40  has been integrated into support structure  12 . In this type of arrangement, display  40  is a non-removable display that is coupled to head-mounted support structure  12  to form a head-mounted device. Because display  40  is mounted within the head-mounted device, support structure  12  need not be configured to receive removable electronic device  10 A. Images to be displayed on display  40  may be provided to control circuitry in the head-mounted device from internal storage processing circuits and/or from external equipment. For example, external equipment such as a cellular telephone, computer, etc. may convey still and/or moving images to the head-mounted device to display on display  40 . Optical combiner  34  of  FIG. 8 , which is used in conveying images from display  40  to eye box  28 , may be mechanically adjusted (e.g., to adjust virtual image distance) using one or more actuators as described in connection with  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 , and  7  and/or using other suitable mechanical adjustment arrangements. 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of gaze tracking information and other user information. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include 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&#39;s, home addresses, data or records relating to a user&#39;s health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, facial information, or any other identifying or personal information. 
     The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, 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&#39;s general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals. 
     The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. 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 jurisdiction-specific 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. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country. 
     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 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. 
     Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user&#39;s privacy. 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 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 such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190705
Publication Date: 20210511
Grant Date: 20210511
Priority Date: 20180824
Inventors: WITTENBERG, MICHAEL B.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02B2027/014", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0093", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0138", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0172", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0172", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0172", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 75846010