IP Library Granted Patent US 10,466,491
Granted Patent B2
US 10,466,491 · App. 15/170,256 · Granted Nov 5, 2019

Modular systems for head-worn computers

Inventors: Ralph F. Osterhout (San Francisco, CA); Robert Michael Lohse (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
G02B27/0176G06F1/163G06F1/1632G06F1/1658G02B2027/0156G02B2027/0161G02B2027/0178G06F3/012G06F3/013G06F3/016G06F3/017G06F3/0346G06F3/0362G06F3/03545
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,466,491
App. No.
15/170,256
Filed
Jun 1, 2016
Granted
Nov 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.03
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to modular expansion systems for use in head-worn computing systems. In an head-worn computer, an electrical connector is adapted to electrically connect with a modular expansion module, wherein the modular expansion module adds a capability to the head-worn computer and is removeably mounted to the head-worn computer, and a mount is adapted to physically secure the modular expansion module to the head-worn computer.

Claims (17)

1. A wearable head device, comprising:

a first see-through display adapted to be positioned in front of a first eye of a wearer of the wearable head device;

a second see-through display adapted to be positioned in front of a second eye of the wearer;

an electrical connector adapted to electrically connect with a modular expansion module, wherein the modular expansion module is adapted to removably mount to the wearable head device and wherein the modular expansion module is associated with a function;

a processor adapted to:

in response to a determination that the modular expansion module is mounted to the wearable head device, identify the function associated with the modular expansion module; and

in response to identifying the function, configure an operation of the modular expansion module; and

a mount adapted to physically secure the modular expansion module to the wearable head device, the mount centered between the first see-through display and the second see-through display.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a magnetic element to physically secure the modular expansion module.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a snap fit element to physically secure the modular expansion module.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises an alignment element to physically align the modular expansion module on the wearable head device.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1 , the processor further adapted to, in response to the determination that the modular expansion module is mounted to the wearable head device, identify a schema for the function associated with the modular expansion module, wherein configuring an operation of the modular expansion module comprises configuring the modular expansion module to operate in accordance with the schema identified for the function.

6. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the wearable head device comprises a camera system and the function comprises an optical modification of the camera system.

7. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the modular expansion module comprises one or more of a camera, a depth sensor, a radar unit, a tracking infrared emitting diode, a tracking infrared photodiode, an IMU, a sound transducer, a haptic transducer, a light emitter, a magnetic field sensor, a magnetic field emitter, an EMI tracker, an electrochromic window, a liquid crystal window, a shutter, a wind sensor, or a scent sensor.

8. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to perform the function when not mounted to the wearable head device.

9. The wearable head device of claim 8 , wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to capture video of the wearer while not mounted to the wearable head device.

10. The wearable head device of claim 9 , wherein the modular expansion module is further adapted to present the captured video via a video conferencing application.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073480/0540 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073388/0027 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050967/0138 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 22, 2019
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050138/0287 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Apr 18, 2019
From: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
To: MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
Reel/Frame 048945/0939 →
SECURED PARTY BILL OF SALE Recorded Apr 18, 2019
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 051018/0883 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2018
From: OSTERHOUT, RALPH F.; LOHSE, ROBERT MICHAEL
To: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 045653/0327 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2018
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045606/0295 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2017
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: O-FILM GLOBAL (HK) TRADING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 044127/0501 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2017
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: 21ST CENTURY FOX AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044052/0367 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170351098A1 · Dec 7, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,320,982 US 12,650,602 US 12,710,662