Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-04-03
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
C359S630000, C345S008000, C351S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212020
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a head-mounted carrier arrangement in general, and in particular to a head-mounted carrier arrangement for supporting opto-electric apparatuses intended to be placed in front of one of or both eyes of a human user.
BACKGROUND
There is, for different technical applications, a need to place an optical or an opto-electrical apparatus in front of the eyes of a user. An example of a classic application of this kind is common spectacles or goggles having lenses mounted on a frame comprising lens carrier, nose support and ear support.
More specific such applications are for example found in gaze shields with controllable optical properties, picture presentation devises for e.g. VR-technique (virtual reality), cameras and eye controlled apparatuses. A common feature for these examples are that such apparatuses are comparatively heavy, and in many cases comparatively heavy and spacious optic and/or electric conductors are also required. A common solution in prior art is to design the carrier in the shape of a helmet to be strapped on the head of a user. Drawbacks with such prior art carriers are inter alia that they are less handsome, often uncomfortable to carry spacious and thereby not really portable.
The development of new material and techniques has entailed an increased miniaturization of optic and electric components, which in its turn lead to lighter and more handy optical and opto-electric apparatuses. However, in many applications the problems with conductors to and from the apparatus remain.
Examples of prior art are found in the patent publications WO 95/11473 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,300 disclosing a number of head-mounted picture presentation devices mounted on support frames arranged for fixation on the head of a user.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to solve the general problem of providing a light, small, flexible in use and comfortable head-mounted carrier for an optical or opto-electric apparatus intended to be positioned in front of the eye of a user.
The overall problem comprises the following aspects:
to minimize the total weight and size of the carrier and possible electric/optical conductors;
to avoid that conductors limit the movability of a user;
to avoid that conductors affect the position of the optical apparatus in front of the user's eye;
to provide a carrier that fits different head shapes and head sizes;
to provide a carrier that is foldable and that is small when folded;
to position an optical/opto-electric apparatus in front of the eye of a user;
to compensate for an uneven distribution of weight with regard to an optical apparatus to be positioned in front of one of or both of the eyes of a user, with regard to an asymmetric distribution of weight when an optical apparatus is to be positioned in front of one eye only and/or with regard to a heavy and unwieldy cable with conductors to said optical apparatus.
SUMMARY
The above mentioned problem is, according to the present invention, solved by a carrier provided with an elongate and flexible ribbon, that possibly is elastic across and/or along its profile, for example in the shape of or comprising a cable. In a first embodiment of the invention, at least a part of the ribbon is provided with an elastic or resilient and possibly partly stiff arrangement. When in use, the ribbon is strapped on the head of a user by means of an inherent spring force and possibly by form fit through a pre-formed shape provided by means of the stiff arrangement. In a second embodiment the ribbon co-operates with e.g. a spectacle frame-like support frame in such a way that the cable is placed around or over the head of the user and is strapped to the support frame by means of one or more ribbon fastening devices. These embodiments are particularly suitable for use together with purely optical apparatuses or with opto-electric apparatuses having wireless signal transmission or when there is a need to independently connect signal conductors to an optical apparatus mounted on the carrier.
In an advantageous further developed embodiment of the invention, the above mentioned problem is solved by a carrier in which the a cable for electric and/or optical signal conductors are utilised as a part of the carrier itself. In a third embodiment, a part of the cable is therefore provided with a springing and possibly partly stiff arrangement that is intended to be strapped around the head of a user and thereby carries the rest of the cable and other components supported by the carrier. In a fourth embodiment, a part of the cable co-operates with a for example rim-like support frame and is strapped to the support frame by means of cable fastening devices. The cable will thereby itself take part in carrying its own weight and evenly distribute the weight over the head of the user. In order to come close to the axis of rotation of the head and thereby minimise the movement of the cable when moving the head, the cable is led away from the carrying parts of the carrier, preferably along the side and the neck of the user's head.
The inventive carrier is adaptable to different head shapes and head sizes by applying a selectable length of the supporting part of the ribbon or cable around the user's head. In one embodiment provided with a support frame, the adaptation can additionally be carried out through adjustment at joints between parts of the support frame and by adjusting angles of forehead support, nose support and ear support in relation to the support frame and the head of a user.
Varieties of the first and the third embodiment, respectively, are additionally provided with a device for support preferably against the lower part of a user's back head for the purpose of improving the fit against and clasp around the user's head. In a first variety, it can be a back head support comprising an ear support which is pre-shaped to fit over one of the user's ears and a prolongation arranged to clasp around the back head of the user below the carrying part of the ribbon or the cable. In a second variety, the back head support is arranged to as a branch of the ribbon or the cable, such that a branched part of the band or cable constitutes the back head support. This back head support is also devised to be applied to a user's back head below the main carrying part of the cable. The carrier may also be designed such that the back head support clasps around the head above the band or the cable.
The inventive carrier is conveniently foldable. In a first embodiment, the ribbon or the cable is flexibly pre-shaped such that the it in its resting condition winds up to e.g. a spiral form. In a second embodiment, a comprised support frame is foldable through joints possibly in addition to a windable cable.
An optical/opto-electric apparatus mounted on the carrier is positioned in front of the eye or eyes of user by adjusting the clasp of cable around the user's head and different support components such as forehead support, nose support and ear support.
An uneven distribution of weight is compensated, for example in embodiments where an optical arrangement is to be positioned before one eye only, by leading away the not carrying part of the cable on the side of the user's head opposite the side of the optical apparatus. In embodiments comprising a support frame, the side pieces and ear support will also contribute to this weight compensating function.
Explanations/Definitions
In the present text, the expression optical apparatus is used as the term for an apparatus comprising optical components in combination with electronic or opto-electric components. There may also be only optical components, which possibly communicate with another apparatus through optical conductors. Likewise, an opto-electric apparatus may also be devised to communicate wirelessly with another apparatus.
The invention will now be described by means of exemplifying embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5003300 (1991-03-01), Wells
p
Ahlgren Urban
Astradsson Petter
Edoff Mikael
Ericsson Jonas
Magnusson Stefan
ECT Eye Control Technique AB
Epps Georgia
Ladas & Parry
Seyrafi Saeed
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