Last week Apple provided us with a peek at possible future versions of Vision Pro that embedded health sensors into both the light seal/facial interface and head band, with later to monitor brain activity. Another patent published Thursday covers the addition of touch sensors/touch controls to the top surface of the light seal. At the end of our report we provide you with five links to other HMD patents that you could explore.
Apple's patent application covers a head-mountable device / future Vision Pro model that includes a display, a frame at least partially surrounding the display, a facial interface attached to the frame, a cover disposed around the facial interface, and a touch sensitive surface incorporated into the cover to receive input from a user.
In one example, the head-mountable device further includes a first distinct touch sensitive surface and a second distinct touch sensitive surface disposed on an outer surface of the cover.
In one example, the head-mountable device further includes a strain gauge disposed in the frame and electrically connected to the touch sensitive surface.
In one example, the touch sensitive surface of the head-mountable device includes a conductive fabric. In one example, the touch sensitive surface of the head-mountable device is disposed on an outer surface of the cover and includes a distinct perimeter and the head-mountable device includes an indicator to direct the user to the touch sensitive surface.
In one example, wherein the indicator of the head-mountable device includes a projection that extends outward from the cover along a perimeter of the touch sensitive surface.
In one example, the indicator of the head-mountable device includes a visual cue generated on the display. In one example, wherein the indicator includes a light emitting diode positioned on an inner surface of the cover to guide the user to the touch sensitive surface.
In one example, the indicator of the head-mountable device includes a haptic engine disposed in the cover to provide haptic feedback to the user to guide the user to the touch sensitive surface.
In one example, the head-mountable device further includes a position sensor configured to detect a near touch of the touch sensitive surface and a processor disposed on the frame, the processor is configured to turn on the touch sensitive surface when the sensor detects the near touch. In one example, the position sensor of the head-mountable device includes a camera.
Apple's patent FIG. 3A below shows a top view of a head-mountable device with conducive fabric in a light seal of the head-mountable device; FIGS. 4, 5 and 6Ff show a touch sensitive surface of a light seal of a head-mountable device.
Further to patent FIG. 3A: Sensors #320 can be electrically connected by a conductive fabric #316 that runs through the cover of the light seal #312. In some examples, the conductive fabric runs through or across a retention band #309. The conductive fabrics #316a/b/c/d can be disposed in specific touch sensitive surfaces and are configured to allow a user to provide input to the HMD by touching the specific touch sensitive surfaces.
Further to FIG. 4: An indicator can use tactile feedback to guide the user's finger (#10) to the touch sensitive surface F#418. For example, a plurality of projections #417 or bumps can project outward from the surface of a light seal #412 along the perimeter of the touch sensitive surface. Therefore, when the user slides their finger over the projections, the user's feels a tactile sensation on the tip of their finger. These tactile sensations can orient and alert the user to the perimeter of the touch sensitive surface. In other words, as the user's finger approaches the touch sensitive surface the projections provide tactile feedback to the user to know that they have arrived at the touch sensitive surface.
Further to FIG. 5: The light seal #512 includes a touch sensitive surface #518 that is disposed on an outer surface of a light seal. In the illustrated example, the touch sensitive surface can include a plurality of conductive fabrics #516 organize (e.g., weaved) in a specific pattern. In the illustrated example, the conduct fabric is organized in a matrix pattern. When the conductive fabric is organized in this pattern, the conductive fabric can track the movement of the user's finger along the touch sensitive surface. The conductive fabrics can be spaced apart a predetermined distance such that environmental factors can not adversely affect input to the touch sensitive surface.
Further to FIG. 7: In the illustrated example, the touch sensitive surface #618 includes a plurality of planes #616 that are woven into the light seal #612 and are spaced vertically from each other. The planes can get a capacitance reading to track the movement of the user's finger of the user. In other words, the finger can do a swiping motion or gesture in a vertical direction and the planes can track the movement. This gesture can be used for volume control or scrolling. In some examples, the planes #616 can be spaced horizontally form each other and the user can do a swiping motion or gesture in a horizontal direction.
Translated from: patentlyapple
English 
Chinese