IP Library Granted Patent US 11,695,287
Granted Patent B2
US 11,695,287 · App. 17/213,693 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Apparatus, system, and method for charging artificial-reality displays

Inventors: Peter Wesley Bristol (Seattle, WA); Ines Le Bihan (Seattle, WA); Eric Daniels (San Francisco, CA); Igor Markovsky (Campbell, CA); Punit Narendra Govenji (Pleasanton, CA); Raymond Lee (Palo Alto, CA); Benjamin Elliott Tunberg Rogoza (Leavenworth, WA); Jaykishan Dakshesh Choksi (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
H02J7/0044A45C11/04A45C15/00H02J7/342
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,695,287
App. No.
17/213,693
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disclosed system may include (1) an artificial-reality display dimensioned to be worn by a user, the artificial-reality display comprising (A) a battery and (B) at least one recipient charging element, and (2) a charging case dimensioned to accommodate the artificial-reality display, the charging case comprising (A) at least one source charging element configured to interface with the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to facilitate charging the battery of the artificial-reality display and (B) at least one alignment guide that forces the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to energizingly couple with the source charging element of the charging case. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims (50)

1. A system comprising:

an artificial-reality display dimensioned to be worn by a user, the artificial-reality display comprising:

a battery; and

at least one recipient charging element; and

a charging case dimensioned to accommodate the artificial-reality display, the charging case comprising:

a lid that movably closes via a hinge;

at least one source charging element configured to interface with the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to facilitate charging the battery of the artificial-reality display; and

at least one alignment guide that forces the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to energizingly couple with the source charging element of the charging case, wherein the alignment guide comprises a cavity dimensioned such that the lid applies pressure on the artificial-reality display when the lid is movably closed onto the artificial-reality display via the hinge, the pressure applied by the lid serving to secure continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case secures the artificial-reality display in a specific position that ensures continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element when the artificial-reality display is enclosed within the charging case.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the artificial-reality display comprises augmented-reality glasses having a set of temples;

the charging case comprises one or more temple blocks positioned to support one or more of the temples of the augmented-reality glasses; and

the alignment guide of the charging case comprise one or more indentations formed in the temple blocks, the indentations being positioned to hold the augmented-reality glasses in the specific position within the charging case.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case comprise one or more mechanical pins positioned to hold the artificial-reality display in the specific position within the charging case.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case comprise one or more magnetic fasteners positioned to hold the artificial-reality display in the specific position within the charging case.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case comprises a cavity dimensioned to force the artificial-reality display into a specific position that ensures continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element upon closure of the charging case.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the charging case charges the battery of the artificial-reality display; and

the alignment guide of the charging case prevents the recipient charging element from disengaging from the source charging element despite a jolt experienced by the charging case.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the artificial-reality display comprises augmented-reality glasses having a set of temples; and

the charging case comprises at least one temple block that:

is positioned to support at least one of the temples of the augmented-reality glasses; and

incorporates the source charging element to facilitate charging the battery via the recipient charging element when the at least one of the temples of the augmented-reality glasses is supported by the temple block.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the augmented-reality glasses have a front frame;

the recipient charging element is situated on an end of the front frame of the augmented-reality glasses; and

one of the temples is coupled to the end of the front frame of the augmented-reality glasses via a hinge such that the recipient charging element is accessible when the one of the temples is folded and inaccessible when the one of the temples is unfolded.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the recipient charging element is visible when the one of the temples is folded and is concealed from view when the one of the temples is unfolded.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the energizing coupling comprises an electrical coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element; and

the recipient charging element and the source charging element comprise electrical connectors that are configured to mate with each other and facilitate charging the battery of the artificial-reality display via the electrical coupling.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the energizing coupling comprises an inductive coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element; and

the recipient charging element and the source charging element comprise electromagnetic coils that are configured to induce an electromotive force that facilitates charging the battery of the artificial-reality display via the inductive coupling.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging case comprises an additional battery that transfers power to the battery of the artificial-reality display via the energizing coupling between the source charging element and the recipient charging element.

14. A charging case for augmented-reality glasses, the charging case comprising:

a base;

a lid movably coupled to the base via a hinge;

at least one source charging element configured to interface with a recipient charging element of the augmented-reality glasses to facilitate charging a battery of the artificial-reality display; and

at least one alignment guide that forces the recipient charging element of the augmented-reality glasses to energizingly couple with the source charging element when the augmented-reality glasses are placed in the base and the lid is closed to the base, wherein the alignment guide comprises a cavity formed by the base and the lid and is dimensioned such that the lid applies pressure on the artificial-reality display when the lid is movably closed onto the artificial-reality display via the hinge, the pressure applied by the lid serving to secure continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element.

15. The charging case of claim 14 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case is positioned to align the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display with the source charging element when the artificial-reality display is placed within the charging case.

16. The charging case of claim 15 , wherein the alignment guide of the charging case secures the artificial-reality display in a specific position that ensures continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element when the artificial-reality display is enclosed within the charging case.

17. The charging case of claim 16 , further comprising at least one temple block positioned to support at least one temple of the augmented-reality glasses; and

wherein the alignment guide of the charging case comprise one or more indentations formed in the temple blocks, the indentations being positioned to hold the augmented-reality glasses in the specific position within the charging case.

18. A method comprising:

manufacturing a base of a charging case for charging an artificial-reality display;

manufacturing a lid of the charging case that is movably coupled to the base via a hinge;

incorporating, into the charging case, at least one source charging element configured to interface with a recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to facilitate charging a battery of the artificial-reality display; and

incorporating, into the charging case, at least one alignment guide that forces the recipient charging element of the artificial-reality display to energizingly couple with the source charging element of the artificial-reality display when the artificial-reality display is placed in the base, wherein the alignment guide comprises a cavity formed by the base and the lid and is dimensioned such that the lid applies pressure on the artificial-reality display when the lid is movably closed onto the artificial-reality display via the hinge, the pressure applied by the lid serving to secure continuity of the energizing coupling between the recipient charging element and the source charging element.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2022
From: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060203/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2021
From: BRISTOL, PETER WESLEY; BIHAN, INES LE; DANIELS, ERIC; MARKOVSKY, IGOR; GOVENJI, PUNIT NARENDRA; LEE, RAYMOND; ROGOZA, BENJAMIN ELLIOTT TUNBERG; CHOKSI, JAYKISHAN DAKSHESH
To: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 056692/0074 →