PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10823970-B2
Application Number: US-201916280803-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Head-mounted electronic display device with lens position sensing

Abstract:
A head-mounted device may have a display with first and second pixel arrays that display content for a user. A head-mounted support structure in the device supports the pixel arrays on the head of the user. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens module that includes a left lens and the first pixel array. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens module that includes a right lens and the second pixel array. Sensing circuitry such as proximity sensing circuitry may be used to detect relative positions between the left and right lens modules and facing surfaces of a user&#39;s nose while the user is wearing the head-mounted support structure. Control circuitry may adjust the positions of the left and right lens modules using interpupillary distance information for the user and using information from the sensing circuitry.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a head-mounted support structure; 
 a display having first and second display portions; 
 control circuitry configured to supply content using the display; 
 first and second lens modules supported by the head-mounted support, wherein the first lens module includes the first display portion, wherein the second lens module includes the second display portion, and wherein the first and second lens modules are configured to be adjacent to a nose of a user when the user wears the head-mounted support structure; 
 sensor circuitry configured to gather sensor information indicative of relative distance between the first lens module and the nose and indicative of relative distance between the second lens module and the nose; and 
 positioning circuitry configured to adjust a lens-to-lens spacing between the first and second lens modules, wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the positioning circuitry to adjust the lens-to-lens spacing based on the sensor information and based on interpupillary distance information for the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second lens modules respectively include first and second lenses, wherein the positioning circuitry is configured to adjust the lens-to-lens spacing associated with the first and second lenses, wherein the first and second lens modules have first and second lens module edges facing the nose, and wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a first proximity sensor on the first lens module edge and a second proximity sensor on the second lens module edge. 
     
     
       3. The system defined in  claim 2  wherein the first and second proximity sensors comprise first and second capacitive proximity sensors, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The system defined in  claim 2  wherein the first and second proximity sensors comprise proximity sensors selected from the group consisting of: optical proximity sensors and ultrasonic proximity sensors. 
     
     
       5. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second lens modules respectively include first and second lenses and wherein the positioning circuitry includes positioners that are configured to adjust the lens-to-lens spacing associated with the first and second lenses. 
     
     
       6. The system defined in  claim 5  wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a contact sensor having a switch, and a force sensor and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the positioners to adjust the lens-to-lens spacing based on the sensor information. 
     
     
       7. The system defined in  claim 5  wherein the positioners include a motor, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a current sensing circuit configured to measure current through the motor to produce the sensor information, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the positioners to adjust the lens-to-lens spacing based on the sensor information. 
     
     
       8. The system defined in  claim 5  wherein the positioners comprise a first positioner configured to position the first lens module and a second positioner configured to position the second lens module. 
     
     
       9. The system defined in  claim 8  further comprising a first gaze tracking sensor in the first lens module and a second gaze tracking sensor in the second lens module, wherein the control circuitry is configured to gather the interpupillary distance information for the user using the first and second gaze tracking sensors and is configured to adjust the positions of the first and second lens modules with the first and second positioners respectively using the interpupillary distance information and the sensor information. 
     
     
       10. The system defined in  claim 9  further comprising a first flexible circuit coupled to the first gaze tracking sensor and a second flexible circuit coupled to the second gaze tracking sensor, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a first capacitive sensor having capacitive sensor electrodes on the first flexible circuit and comprises a second capacitive sensor having capacitive sensor electrodes on the second flexible circuit. 
     
     
       11. A head-mounted device configured to be worn by a user, the head-mounted device comprising:
 head-mounted support structures; 
 first and second pixel arrays configured to display content; 
 left and right positioners; 
 left and right lens modules that are positioned respectively by the left and right positioners, wherein the left lens module includes a left lens and the first pixel array and wherein the right lens module includes a right lens and the second pixel array; 
 a left proximity sensor on the left lens module, wherein the left proximity sensor is configured to face a first side of a nose of the user when the user is wearing the head-mounted support structures; 
 a right proximity sensor on the right lens module, wherein the right proximity sensor is configured to face a second side of the nose of the user when the user is wearing the head-mounted support structures; and 
 control circuitry configured to position the left and right lens modules using the left and right positioners based on information from the left and right proximity sensors. 
 
     
     
       12. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 11  wherein the left and right proximity sensors comprise respective left and right capacitive sensors having respective left and right electrodes. 
     
     
       13. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 12  wherein the left lens module has a left lens module structure that is configured to enclose the first pixel array and support the left lens and wherein the right lens module has a right lens module structure that is configured to enclose the second pixel array and support the right lens. 
     
     
       14. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first flexible printed circuit that passes through the left lens module structure, wherein the left electrodes are formed on the first flexible printed circuit on an exterior portion of the left lens module structure; and 
 a second flexible printed circuit that passes through the right lens module structure, wherein the right electrodes are formed on the second flexible printed circuit on an exterior portion of the right lens module structure. 
 
     
     
       15. A head-mounted device, comprising:
 a first positioner; 
 a first lens module positioned by the first positioner, wherein the first lens module includes a first display and a first lens; 
 a second positioner; 
 a second lens module positioned by the second positioner, wherein the second lens module includes a second display and a second lens; 
 sensor circuitry configured to detect proximity of the first and second lens modules to sides of a user&#39;s nose; and 
 control circuitry configured to use the first and second positioners to respectively position the first and second lens modules based on information from the sensor circuitry, wherein the first and second positioners move to adjust a distance between the first and second lens modules and the sides of the user&#39;s nose. 
 
     
     
       16. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 15  wherein the user has an associated interpupillary distance, the head-mounted device further comprising:
 a head-mounted support structure configured to be worn by the user, wherein the first and second lens modules are coupled to the head-mounted support structure and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the first and second positioners to respectively position the first and second lens modules using the interpupillary distance and information from the sensor circuitry. 
 
     
     
       17. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 16  wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a first sensor on the first lens module and a second sensor on the second lens module. 
     
     
       18. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 17  wherein the first sensor comprises a first capacitive proximity sensor configured to face a first side of the nose and wherein the second sensor comprises a second capacitive proximity sensor configured to face a second side of the nose. 
     
     
       19. The head-mounted device defined in  claim 16  wherein the first and second sensors comprise sensors selected from the group consisting of: force sensors, capacitive sensors, optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, contact switches, and force-feedback motor-based sensors.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/721,943, filed Aug. 23, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to wearable electronic device systems. 
     Electronic devices are sometimes configured to be worn by users. For example, head-mounted devices are provided with head-mounted structures that allow the devices to be worn on users&#39; heads. The head-mounted devices may include optical systems with lenses. The lenses allow displays in the devices to present visual content to users. 
     Users have faces of different shapes and sizes. This can pose challenges when a head-mounted device is to be used by multiple users. If care is not taken, a head-mounted device may not fit well for certain users. 
     SUMMARY 
     A head-mounted device may have a display that displays content for a user. Head-mounted support structures in the device support the display on the head of the user. 
     The head-mounted device may have lenses in lens modules. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens module. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens module. The left and right lens modules may have respective left and right lenses and respective left and right portions of a display. 
     To accommodate users with different interpupillary distances, the left and right lens modules may be moved towards or away from each other. To avoid excessive pressure on a user&#39;s nose, sensing circuitry such as proximity sensing circuitry may be used to detect relative positions between the left and right lens modules and facing surfaces of the user&#39;s nose. Control circuitry may adjust the lens modules using the interpupillary distance information for the user and using information from the sensing circuitry to prevent excessive pressure from the lens modules on the user&#39;s nose. 
     A user may supply the interpupillary distance of the user to the head-mounted device, an image sensor or other device may be used in measuring the interpupillary distance to provide to the head-mounted device, and/or gaze tracking sensors in the head-mounted device may measure the interpupillary distance of the user while the head-mounted device is being worn on the head of the user. In some configurations, a proximity sensor such as a capacitive proximity sensor may have electrodes on flexible printed circuits that are coupled to the gaze tracking sensors. Other sensing arrangements may be used to measure lens module positions relative to the user&#39;s nose, if desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device such as a head-mounted display device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative head-mounted device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a pair of lenses for a head-mounted device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative lens module with a proximity sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of an illustrative control circuit for controlling a positioner motor while monitoring for feedback from the motor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a graph of an illustrative lens positioner motor current as a function of time showing how feedback from the motor may be analyzed so that the motor serves as a proximity sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved operating a head-mounted device in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may include displays and other components for presenting content to users. The electronic devices may be wearable electronic devices. A wearable electronic device such as a head-mounted device may have head-mounted support structures that allow the head-mounted device to be worn on a user&#39;s head. 
     A head-mounted device may contain a display formed from one or more display panels (displays) for displaying visual content to a user. A lens system may be used to allow the user to focus on the display and view the visual content. The lens system may have a left lens that is aligned with a user&#39;s left eye and a right lens that is aligned with a user&#39;s right eye. 
     Not all users have eyes that are separated by the same interpupillary distance. To ensure that a wide range of users are able to comfortably view content on the display, the head-mounted device may be provided with lens positioners. The lens positioners may be used in adjusting the lens-to-lens spacing between the left and right lenses to match the interpupillary distance of the user. 
     To prevent excessive pressure on the surface of the user&#39;s nose, proximity sensors can be used to automatically detect the surfaces of the user&#39;s nose. Control circuitry in the head-mounted device may then place the left and right lenses and corresponding left and right portions of the display at comfortable locations relative to the user&#39;s nose. In some situations, the left and right lenses may be spaced so that the lens-to-lens spacing between the left and right lenses matches the user&#39;s interpupillary distance. In other situations, the lens-to-lens spacing between the left and right lenses will be slightly larger than the user&#39;s interpupillary distance to ensure that the lenses do not press excessively against the user&#39;s nose. Sensor circuitry such as proximity sensor circuitry may be used to provide the control circuitry with real-time feedback on the positions of the lenses relative to the user&#39;s nose, thereby ensuring that the positions of the left and right lenses are adjusted satisfactorily. 
     A schematic diagram of an illustrative system having an electronic device with sensor circuitry that ensures satisfactory placement of lenses relative to a user&#39;s facial features is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  8  may include one or more electronic devices such as electronic device  10 . The electronic devices of system  8  may include computers, cellular telephones, head-mounted devices, wristwatch devices, and other electronic devices. Configurations in which electronic device  10  is a head-mounted device are sometimes described herein as an example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic devices such as electronic device  10  may have control circuitry  12 . Control circuitry  12  may include storage and processing circuitry for controlling the operation of device  10 . Circuitry  12  may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., 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  12  may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, graphics processing units, application specific integrated circuits, and other integrated circuits. Software code may be stored on storage in circuitry  12  and run on processing circuitry in circuitry  12  to implement control operations for device  10  (e.g., data gathering operations, operations involved in processing three-dimensional facial image data, operations involving the adjustment of components using control signals, etc.). Control circuitry  12  may include wired and wireless communications circuitry. For example, control circuitry  12  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, wireless local area network (WiFi®) transceiver circuitry, millimeter wave transceiver circuitry, and/or other wireless communications circuitry. 
     During operation, the communications circuitry of the devices in system  8  (e.g., the communications circuitry of control circuitry  12  of device  10 ), may be used to support communication between the electronic devices. For example, one electronic device may transmit video and/or audio data to another electronic device in system  8 . Electronic devices in system  8  may use wired and/or wireless communications circuitry to communicate through one or more communications networks (e.g., the internet, local area networks, etc.). The communications circuitry may be used to allow data to be received by device  10  from external equipment (e.g., a tethered computer, a portable device such as a handheld device or laptop computer, online computing equipment such as a remote server or other remote computing equipment, or other electrical equipment) and/or to provide data to external equipment. 
     Device  10  may include input-output devices  22 . Input-output devices  22  may be used to allow a user to provide device  10  with user input. Input-output devices  22  may also be used to gather information on the environment in which device  10  is operating. Output components in devices  22  may allow device  10  to provide a user with output and may be used to communicate with external electrical equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , input-output devices  22  may include one or more displays such as display  14 . In some configurations, display  14  of device  10  includes left and right display panels (sometimes referred to as left and right portions of display  14  and/or left and right displays) that are in alignment with the user&#39;s left and right eyes, respectively. In other configurations, display  14  includes a single display panel that extends across both eyes. 
     Display  14  may be used to display images. The visual content that is displayed on display  14  may be viewed by a user of device  10 . Displays in device  10  such as display  14  may be organic light-emitting diode displays or other displays based on arrays of light-emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays, liquid-crystal-on-silicon displays, projectors or displays based on projecting light beams on a surface directly or indirectly through specialized optics (e.g., digital micromirror devices), electrophoretic displays, plasma displays, electrowetting displays, or any other suitable displays. 
     Display  14  may present computer-generated content such as virtual reality content and mixed reality content to a user. Virtual reality content may be displayed in the absence of real-world content. Mixed reality content, which may sometimes be referred to as augmented reality content, may include computer-generated images that are overlaid on real-world images. The real-world images may be captured by a camera (e.g., a forward-facing camera) and merged with overlaid computer-generated content or an optical coupling system may be used to allow computer-generated content to be overlaid on top of real-world images. As an example, a pair of mixed reality glasses or other augmented reality head-mounted display may include a display device that provides images to a user through a beam splitter, prism, holographic coupler, or other optical coupler. Configurations in which display  14  is used to display virtual reality content to a user through lenses are described herein as an example. 
     Input-output circuitry  22  may include sensors  16 . Sensors  16  may include, for example, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., three-dimensional image sensors such as structured light sensors that emit beams of light and that use two-dimensional digital image sensors to gather image data for three-dimensional images from light spots that are produced when a target is illuminated by the beams of light, binocular three-dimensional image sensors that gather three-dimensional images using two or more cameras in a binocular imaging arrangement, three-dimensional lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, three-dimensional radio-frequency sensors, or other sensors that gather three-dimensional image data), cameras (e.g., infrared and/or visible digital image sensors), gaze tracking sensors (e.g., a gaze tracking system based on an image sensor and, if desired, a light source that emits one or more beams of light that are tracked using the image sensor after reflecting from a user&#39;s eyes), touch sensors, buttons, force sensors, sensors such as contact sensors based on switches, gas sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors, magnetic sensors, audio sensors (microphones), ambient light sensors, microphones for gathering voice commands and other audio input, sensors that are configured to gather information on motion, position, and/or orientation (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and/or inertial measurement units that include all of these sensors or a subset of one or two of these sensors), fingerprint sensors and other biometric sensors, optical position sensors (optical encoders), and/or other position sensors such as linear position sensors, and/or other sensors. A shown in  FIG. 1 , sensors  16  may include sensing circuitry (sensor circuitry) that is configured to measure the separation between objects in system  8 . The sensing circuitry may include one or more sensors such as proximity sensors  20  (e.g., capacitive proximity sensors, light-based (optical) proximity sensors, ultrasonic proximity sensors, and/or other proximity sensors). Sensing circuitry such as proximity sensors  20  may, for example, be used to sense relative positions between a user&#39;s nose and lens modules in device  10 . 
     User input and other information may be gathered using sensors and other input devices in input-output devices  22 . If desired, input-output devices  22  may include other devices  24  such as haptic output devices (e.g., vibrating components), light-emitting diodes and other light sources, speakers such as ear speakers for producing audio output, and other electrical components. Device  10  may include circuits for receiving wireless power, circuits for transmitting power wirelessly to other devices, batteries and other energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors), joysticks, buttons, and/or other components. 
     Electronic device  10  may have housing structures (e.g., housing walls, straps, etc.), as shown by illustrative support structures  26  of  FIG. 1 . In configurations in which electronic device  10  is a head-mounted device (e.g., a pair of glasses, goggles, a helmet, a hat, etc.), support structures  26  may include head-mounted support structures (e.g., a helmet housing, head straps, temples in a pair of eyeglasses, goggle housing structures, and/or other head-mounted structures). The head-mounted support structures may be configured to be worn on a head of a user during operation of device  10  and may support display(s)  14 , sensors  16 , other components  24 , other input-output devices  22 , and control circuitry  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of electronic device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which electronic device  10  is a head-mounted device. As shown in  FIG. 2 , electronic device  10  may include support structures (see, e.g., support structures  26  of  FIG. 1 ) that are used in housing the components of device  10  and mounting device  10  onto a user&#39;s head. These support structures may include, for example, structures that form housing walls and other structures for main unit  26 - 2  (e.g., exterior housing walls, lens module structures, etc.) and straps or other supplemental support structures such as structures  26 - 1  that help to hold main unit  26 - 2  on a user&#39;s face so that the user&#39;s eyes are located within eye boxes  60 . 
     Display  14  may include left and right display panels (e.g., left and right pixel arrays, sometimes referred to as left and right displays or left and right display portions) that are mounted respectively in left and right display modules  70  corresponding respectively to a user&#39;s left eye (and left eye box  60 ) and right eye (and right eye box). Modules  70 , which may sometimes be referred to as lens support structures, lens housings, or lens and display housings, may be individually positioned relative to the housing wall structures of main unit  26 - 2  and relative to the user&#39;s eyes using positioning circuitry such as respective left and right positioners  58 . Positioners  58  may be stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components for adjusting lens module positions. Positioners  58  may be controlled by control circuitry  12  during operation of device  10 . For example, positioners  58  may be used to adjust the spacing between modules  70  (and therefore the lens-to-lens spacing between the left and right lenses of modules  70 ) to match the interpupillary distance IPD of a user&#39;s eyes. This allows the user to view the left and right display portions of display  14  in the left and right lens modules. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner edges of left and right lens modules  70  may be adjacent to corresponding side surfaces  42  of the user&#39;s nose  40  when device  10  is being worn on a user&#39;s head. To ensure that display  14  is viewable by the user when the user&#39;s eyes are located in eye boxes  60  ( FIG. 2 ), control circuitry  12  attempts to align lens centers LC with the centers PC of the user&#39;s eyes. At the same time, control circuitry  12  uses sensor circuitry such as proximity sensors  20  to detect the position of inner edges  70 E of lens modules  70  relative to nose side surfaces  42  to ensure that lens modules  70  do not press excessively on nose  40  and cause discomfort. 
     In scenarios in which the user&#39;s nose is small, there may be ample room available to align lens centers LC with eye centers PC. In scenarios in which the user&#39;s nose is larger, control circuitry  12  may position modules  70  as shown in  FIG. 3 , where lens-to-lens spacing LD is larger than would be desired for perfect alignment of lens centers LC with eye centers PC. The user of this wider lens-to-lens spacing helps ensure that edges  70 E of lens modules  70  will not exert more inward force on surfaces  42  of nose  40  than would be comfortable to a user, while still allowing satisfactory viewing of content on display  14  through lenses  72 . Lens module surfaces  70 E may be placed at a non-zero distance (gap) from corresponding adjacent surfaces  42  as shown in  FIG. 3  or may rest gently against surfaces  42 . A user may select which of these options is most comfortable to the user and/or a default setting may be supplied to control circuitry  12 . 
     Any suitable detection circuitry may be used to measure the distance between nose surface  42  and edge  70 E of each lens module  70 . For example, each lens module  70  may have a proximity sensor  20  with a set of multiple capacitive proximity sensor electrodes  44  that are used in detecting direct contact and/or proximity of nose surface  42 . As another example, proximity sensor  20  may be an ultrasonic proximity sensor that gathers information on the distance between nose surface  42  and edge  70 E by emitting ultrasonic audio signals with a speaker or other transducer and detecting corresponding reflected audio signals with a microphone. If desired, proximity sensor  20  may include a light-emitting device such as an infrared light-emitting diode that emits infrared light and a corresponding light detector such as an infrared photodetector that detects corresponding reflected light from nose surface  42  to measure the distance between sensor  20  and nose surface  42 . Other arrangements for measuring the separation between nose surface  42  and module edge  70 E may be used, if desired. For example, sensor  20  may include switches for contact sensors that change state when pressed against nose surface  42 , may contain force sensors (e.g., resistive force sensors, capacitive force sensors, strain gauges, optical force sensors, etc.) that detect pressure on sensor  20  due to contact between edge  70 E (and sensor  20 ) and corresponding nose surface  42 , etc. Proximity information may also be gathered using feedback from motors in positioners  58  (e.g., motors and associated sensing and control circuitry may be used to form force-feedback motor-based sensors). 
     As shown in the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 4 , proximity sensor  20  may be formed from capacitive sensor electrodes  44  ( FIG. 3 ) that are located on flexible printed circuit  48  in region  50  (e.g., on the exterior of lens module  70 ). Flexible printed circuit  48  may be located on the inner edge  70 E of module  70 , facing user nose surface  42 . Flexible printed circuits such as printed circuit  48  may be formed from flexible printed circuit substrates with metal traces. The flexible printed circuit substrates may be formed from sheets of polyimide or flexible layers of other polymers. The metal traces may form signal lines for conveying data and power signals and may include pads that form capacitive proximity sensor electrodes  44  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The flexible printed circuits of module  70  may be used in interconnecting electrical components associated with module  70 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a connection hub such as hub  46  may be mounted to an exterior portion of module  70 . Hub  46  may include a connector such as connector  56  that is configured to mate with a cable or other signal path (e.g., to couple module  70  to control circuitry  12 ). Hub  46  may be coupled to gaze tracking sensor  52  using flexible printed circuit  48 , may be coupled to display  14  using flexible printed circuit  59 , and may be coupled to additional components  61  using flexible printed circuit  54 . 
     Gaze tracking sensor  52  and other components for device  10  such as display  14  may be sealed within the interior of the lens module support structures (e.g., lens module housing walls) of lens module  70 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , lens  72  may be mounted within a wall of module  70 . Gaze tracking sensor  52  may have a light source that emits beams of infrared light onto a user&#39;s eye in eye box  60  through lens  72  and may have an infrared image sensor that captures images of the user&#39;s eye when the user&#39;s eye is illuminated by the infrared light beams, thereby allowing gaze tracking sensor  52  to identify the direction of gaze of the user&#39;s eye and the location of eye center PC of the user&#39;s eye. By using a gaze tracking sensor  52  in each lens module  70 , control circuitry  12  can measure the user&#39;s interpupillary distance IPD ( FIG. 3 ). In measuring the interpupillary distance, control circuitry  12  can determine the position of each gaze tracking sensor and its lens module (and/or control circuitry  12  can determine lens-to-lens spacing LD) using information from the positioner that is adjusting that lens module and/or additional lens module position sensors (e.g., an optical encoder, etc.). This allows gaze tracker measurements of the user&#39;s eye center locations relative to the gaze tracking sensors to be used in measuring interpupillary distance IPD. 
     Additional components  61  may include display components and other light-emitting components (e.g., light-emitting diodes, lasers, lamps, etc.), sensors  16  (e.g., biometric sensors, environmental sensors, an optical position encoder and/or other sensors for measuring the position of lens modules  70  and thereby determining the lens-to-lens spacing of lenses  72  and the positions of gaze trackers  52 , and/or other sensors  16 ). 
     If desired, the position of lens modules  70  (e.g., each lens module edge  70 E) relative to the corresponding surfaces of nose  40  (e.g., each nose surface  42 ) may be measured using feedback from motors in positioners  58  as lens modules  70  are moved into contact with nose surfaces  42 . An illustrative control circuit for a positioner such as positioner  58  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Control circuitry  12  ( FIG. 1 ) may include a motor controller such as controller  80 . Controller  80  may drive motor  86  in a positioner  58  to move an associated lens module  70  by supplying a power supply voltage Vin to motor  86  using path  84 . While voltage Vin is being supplied to motor  86 , controller  80  of control circuitry  12  monitors the resulting current flow (current I) through path  84  using sensor circuit  82  (e.g., a current sensing resistor with a corresponding analog-to-digital converter circuit, etc.). Power supply voltage Vin may remain relatively constant while motor  86  moves lens module  70 . Positioner  58  may initially be used to position edge  70 E at a location that is distant from nose surface  42 . Control circuitry  12  may then direct positioner  58  to move lens module  70  toward nose  40  until edge  70 E contacts nose surface  42 . Curve  92  of  FIG. 6  represents the current I that flows through path  84  as sensed by sensor  82 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , current I may initially be below threshold value Ith. So long as the movement of module  70  is unimpeded by nose  40 , the value of current I may remain at this low value. When, however, edge  70 E contacts nose surface  42 , motion of module  70  is impeded and current I through motor  86  of positioner  58  will rise above Ith, as shown at time tc of  FIG. 6 . When current I is detected as exceeding Ith, control circuitry  12  can conclude that module edge  70 E is contacting nose surface  42 . Based on this detected contact between module  70  and nose  40 , control circuitry  12  can determine the position of module  70  relative to nose  40  (e.g., motor  86  can be used as part of a motor-feedback proximity sensor and feedback from motor  86  can serve as a proximity sensor signal for control circuitry  12 ). 
     Illustrative operations involved in operating device  10  in system  8  are shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     During the operations of block  100 , information on the distance between the user&#39;s eyes (interpupillary distance IPD, sometimes referred to as pupillary distance) may be gathered. With one illustrative arrangement, device  10  or other equipment in system  8  gathers the user&#39;s interpupillary distance from the user by prompting the user to type the interpupillary distance into a data entry box on display  14  or a display in other equipment in system  8 . The user may also supply the user&#39;s interpupillary distance using voice input or other user input arrangements. With another illustrative arrangement, a sensor in device  10  or other a sensor in a stand-alone computer, portable device, or other equipment in system  8  may measure the user&#39;s interpupillary distance. For example, a sensor such as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image sensor may gather an image of the user&#39;s face to measure the value of interpupillary distance IPD. After the measurement of the interpupillary distance has been made, the interpupillary distance may be provided to device  10  (e.g., over a wired or wireless communications paths). If desired, gaze trackers  52  may measure the locations of the centers of the user&#39;s eyes PD and thereby determine IPD from direct measurement as a user is wearing device  10  on the user&#39;s head. 
     After gathering interpupillary distance IPD, control circuitry  12  of device  10  may, during the operations of block  102 , use positioners  58  to adjust the spacing LD between lens centers LC so that this distance matches interpupillary distance IPD and so that the centers of lenses  72  are aligned with respective eye centers PC. While positioners  58  are moving lens modules  70  and lenses  72  (e.g., while spacing LD is being reduced to move modules  70  towards adjacent surfaces of the user&#39;s nose), control circuitry  12  uses proximity sensor circuitry (e.g., proximity sensor  20 ) to monitor the distance between each lens module edge  70 E and an adjacent surface  42  of nose  40 . In some situations, the user&#39;s nose  40  will prevent lenses  72  from being brought sufficiently close to each other to allow LD to exactly match IPD without creating a risk of discomfort for the user. Discomfort is prevented by using proximity sensor information to limit the amount of pressure exerted by each edge  70 E on the adjacent nose surface  42  or to limit the movement of edge  70 E towards nose surface  42  sufficiently to ensure that a non-zero gap G (e.g., a gap G of at least 0.1 mm, at least 0.2 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 2 mm, less than 5 mm, or other suitable spacing) is maintained between edge  70 E and nose surface  42 . The sensor data that is used in limiting the position of edges  70 E relative to nose surfaces  42  may be optical proximity sensor data, capacitive proximity sensor data, ultrasonic proximity sensor data, motor feedback proximity sensor data, and/or proximity (distance) data from other sensors (e.g., a force sensor that detects contact with nose surface  42 , a contact sensor that has a switch that detects contact with nose surface  42 , etc.). If desired, the position of nose surfaces  42  relative to modules  70  may be detected by moving lens modules  70 E into contact with surfaces  42  (e.g., so that motor feedback can be gathered during contact between modules  70  and nose  40  and/or so that a contact sensor, force sensor, touch sensor, and/or other sensor may detect nose surfaces  42  by contact) and then backing off lens modules  70 E to a desired separation. 
     Following the positioning of modules  70  at desired locations relative to nose surfaces  42  to ensure user comfort while wearing device  10 , control circuitry  12  may use display  14  to present visual content to the user through lenses  72  (block  104 ). 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology involves sensing the relative positions between lenses in a head-mounted device and a user&#39;s nose. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, the operation of the head-mounted device will involve gathering user data such as information on the positions of a user&#39;s eyes and nose. 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 facial 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: 20190220
Publication Date: 20201103
Grant Date: 20201103
Priority Date: 20180823
Inventors: FRANKLIN, JEREMY C.
TAO, Jia
HOBSON, Phil M.
Dey, Stephen E.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/163", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0154", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/189", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0154", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/013", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/013", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10151", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N13/383", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/189", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0179", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0179", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0955", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/021", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10121", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/163", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2027/0154", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0176", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/189", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N13/383", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/021", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/013", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0955", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0179", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 69587195