Positioning, stabilising and interfacing structures and system incorporating same
A head-mounted display system includes a head-mounted display unit a display that, in use, is held in an operational position over a user's face. The head-mounted display system further comprises a flow generator configured to generate a flow of air, and an air guide arrangement coupled to the flow generator to enable the flow generator to direct air to, or draw air from, one or more selected areas in proximity of the head-mounted display system.
1. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit; and
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap,
wherein the at least one strap comprises a hollow sleeve configured to receive the at least one rigidiser arm and at least one opening configured to receive the at least one rigidiser arm into the sleeve.
2. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another to allow at least the rigidised portion of the at least one strap to move relative to the at least one rigidiser arm, and wherein the at least one rigidiser arm is affixed to the at least one strap at one localised point or area only.
3. The augmented reality display system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one rigidiser arm is affixed to the at least one strap in a limited area of the at least one strap the limited area is adjacent a pocket or a sleeve opening of the at least one strap.
4. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigidiser arm is multi-axially deformable to conform to a user's facial profile.
5. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap is made of an elastic textile material and the positioning and stabilising structure is arranged such that the at least one strap is substantially free to move by elastically expanding and/or contracting relative to the at least one rigidiser arm and along a longitudinal axis of the at least one strap and/or rigidiser arm.
6. The augmented reality display system according to claim 5 , wherein the elastic textile material is any one from the group consisting of: elastane, TPE, nylon and silicone.
7. The augmented reality display system according to claim 5 , wherein the positioning and stabilising structure is able to stretch along its substantially entire length.
8. The augmented reality display system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one strap has a stretchable length that remains substantially unaltered relative to the at least one strap without the at least one rigidiser arm.
9. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the at least one rigidiser arm are configured to allow the at least one rigidiser arm to move substantially axially inside the sleeve.
10. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the at least one rigidiser arm is affixed to the at least one strap by sewing, welding, gluing, heat staking, clamping, buttoning, snapping a cover over an end, and/or snapping on an external part.
11. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the imparted predetermined shape directs pressure of the positioning and stabilising structure to predetermined portions of the user's face.
12. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , further comprising two or more rigidiser arms forming opposing temporal connectors adapted configured to be disposed on opposing sides of the user's head and extend along temporal regions of the user's head.
13. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigidiser arm is completely removable from the at least one strap.
14. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning and stabilising structure maintains its entire operational length and is able to freely stretch along the at least one rigidiser arm.
15. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap includes two side strap portions configured to extend from a user interface along the sides of a user's head and two back strap portions configured to extend along the back of the user's head, the two back strap portions are not adjustable except through an elasticity of the back strap portions or through increasing the back strap portions in tightness equally by shortening the total length of the positioning and stabilising structure.
16. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap comprises a back portion that is split into at least two back straps.
17. The augmented reality display system according to claim 16 , wherein the at least two back straps comprise a first back strap configured to engage a user proximal to the crown of the head and a second back strap configured to engage the user proximal to the rear of the head.
18. The augmented reality display system according to claim 16 , wherein each of the at least two back straps are configured to retain the augmented reality display unit on the nose of a user with substantially equal tension forces on each of the at least two back straps.
19. The augmented reality display system according to claim 16 , wherein each of the at least two back straps are non-independently adjustable such that the at least two back straps naturally center on respective sides of the crown of the head of a user.
20. The augmented reality display system according to claim 19 , wherein the at least two back straps are symmetrical.
21. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical component is a battery configured to provide electrical charge to the augmented reality display unit.
22. The augmented reality display system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigidiser arm includes a headgear connector having an electrical connector and configured to engage a complementary connector of the at least one strap.
23. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit; and
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap,
wherein the at least one strap is made of an elastic textile material and the positioning and stabilising structure is arranged such that the at least one strap is substantially free to move by elastically expanding and/or contracting relative to the at least one rigidiser arm and along a longitudinal axis of the at least one strap and/or rigidiser arm,
wherein the at least one strap has a stretchable length that remains substantially unaltered relative to the at least one strap without the at least one rigidiser arm, and
wherein the at least one strap is stretchable and is in the form of a sleeve arranged to slip over the at least one rigidiser arm, the arrangement being such that the at least one strap maintains its substantially entire stretchable length and is able to substantially freely stretch over the at least one rigidiser arm.
24. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit;
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap; and
three, four or more separate straps connected by two or more joints.
25. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit; and
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap,
wherein the at least one strap comprises two pockets, each pocket receiving a rigidiser arm to releasably secure the at least one strap to the rigidiser arms.
26. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit; and
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap,
wherein the at least one electrical component is a flow generator in the form of a bidirectional blower, configured to provide airflow to a space proximate to the augmented reality display unit and/or to draw air from the space proximate to the augmented reality display unit, and wherein the bidirectional blower is further configured to simultaneously generate a bidirectional draft in opposing directions.
27. The augmented reality display system according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one strap includes a conduit configured to convey airflow to or from the flow generator.
28. An augmented reality display system, comprising:
an augmented reality display unit having a display; and
a positioning and stabilising structure to hold the augmented reality display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use, the positioning and stabilising structure comprising:
at least one strap housing at least one electrical component in electrical communication with the augmented reality display unit;
at least one rigidiser arm, wherein the positioning and stabilising structure positions the at least one strap and the at least one rigidiser arm with regard to one another such that the at least one rigidiser arm imparts a predetermined shape to the at least one strap at a rigidised portion of the at least one strap; and
a spacing element configured to space the at least one rigidiser arm away from the augmented reality display unit, and wherein the at least one strap engages the spacing element.