IP Library Granted Patent US 11,226,691
Granted Patent B2
US 11,226,691 · App. 17/026,037 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

User interface systems for head-worn computers

Inventor: Ralph F. Osterhout (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
G06F3/0362G02B27/017G02B27/0172G02B27/0176G06F1/163G06F3/011G06F3/013G06F3/016G06F3/017G06F3/0482G02B2027/014G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,226,691
App. No.
17/026,037
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relates to user interface systems and methods for use in head-worn computing systems.

Claims (40)

1. A wearable head device, comprising:

a frame including an arm and configured to hold the wearable head device to a user's head;

a see-through display configured to be positioned in front of the user's eye, the see-through display coupled to the arm for mechanical support, the see-through display further configured to present a graphical user interface;

a dial disposed on the arm and configured to be accessible to the user when the wearable head device is worn by the user; and

a proximity sensor disposed on the arm and configured to receive proximity input,

wherein the dial is configured to move a cursor in a direction in the graphical user interface, and

wherein the proximity sensor is configured to select the direction in which the cursor is to be moved by the dial.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the dial includes a plurality of mechanical stops adapted to cause the dial to stop moving in increments and correspondingly select an element of the graphical user interface.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein:

in accordance with the proximity sensor receiving a first proximity input, manipulating the dial causes the cursor to move vertically on the display, and

in accordance with the proximity sensor receiving a second proximity input, manipulating the dial causes the cursor to move horizontally on the display.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of selectable elements, and wherein manipulating the dial causes the cursor to snap to a next selectable element in the plurality of selectable elements in a direction indicated by the user via the proximity input.

6. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a scrollable environment, wherein manipulating the dial causes the scrollable environment to scroll in a direction indicated by the user via the proximity input.

7. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein an element of the graphical user interface is selected in response to the proximity sensor receiving the proximity input.

8. The wearable head device of claim 7 , wherein the element is selected based on a length of selection time.

9. The wearable head device of claim 7 , wherein the element is selected based on a pattern of user interactions.

10. A method comprising:

receiving proximity input via a proximity sensor disposed on an arm of a frame of a wearable head device, the frame configured to hold the wearable head device to a user's head;

receiving dial input via a dial disposed on the arm and configured to be accessible to the user when the wearable head device is worn by the user; and

in response to receiving the dial input, moving a cursor in a direction in a graphical user interface of a see-through display of the wearable head device, wherein the direction is determined via the proximity sensor in response to receiving the proximity input;

wherein:

the see-through display is configured to be positioned in front of the user's eye, and

the see-through display is coupled to the arm for mechanical support.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dial includes a plurality of mechanical stops adapted to cause the dial to stop moving in increments and correspondingly select an element of the graphical user interface.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of selectable elements, and wherein the method further comprises causing the cursor to snap to a next selectable element in the plurality of selectable elements in a direction indicated by the user via the proximity input.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting an element of the graphical user interface in response to the proximity sensor receiving the proximity input.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the element is selected based on a length of selection time.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving proximity input via a proximity sensor disposed on an arm of a frame of a wearable head device, the frame configured to hold the wearable head device to a user's head;

receiving dial input via a dial disposed on the arm and configured to be accessible to the user when the wearable head device is worn by the user; and

in response to receiving the dial input, moving a cursor in a direction in a graphical user interface of a see-through display of the wearable head device, wherein the direction is determined via the proximity sensor in response to receiving the proximity input;

wherein:

the see-through display is configured to be positioned in front of the user's eye, and

the see-through display is coupled to the arm for mechanical support.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of selectable elements, and wherein the method further comprises causing the cursor to snap to a next selectable element in the plurality of selectable elements in a direction indicated by the user via the proximity input.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises selecting an element of the graphical user interface in response to the proximity sensor receiving the proximity input.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the element is selected based on a length of selection time.

Assignments (3)
SECURED PARTY BILL OF SALE Recorded Nov 20, 2025
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 073641/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2025
From: OSTERHOUT, RALPH F.
To: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072492/0928 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2022
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MAGIC LEAP, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060338/0665 →