# US 12,111,478 B2 · Head-mounted display unit with adaptable facial interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,478 B2 - Document ID: US12111478B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/229,282 - Filed: 2023-08-02 - Published: 2023-11-23 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-09 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield; Kristi E. Bauerly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111478B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G02B 2027/0154: {with movable elements} - G02B 2027/0159: {with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image} - G02B 2027/0181: {Adaptation to the pilot/driver} - H04M 1/05: specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A facial interface for a head-mounted display, which is to be worn on a head of a user, includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion engages an upper facial region above eyes of the user. The lower portion that engages a lower facial region below the eyes of the user. The lower portion has a lower shear compliance in that is greater than an upper shear compliance of the upper portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A facial interface for a head-mounted display to be worn on a head of a user, the facial interface comprising: a chassis; an upper portion coupled to the chassis and configured to engage an upper facial region above eyes of the user; and a lower portion that includes a lower facial support coupled to the chassis and configured to engage a lower facial region below the eyes of the user, the lower facial support including: a first rotating joint that defines a first rotating axis of the lower facial support, a second rotating joint that defines a second rotating axis of the lower facial support, a third rotating joint that defines a third rotating axis of the lower facial support, and a contact coupled to the third rotating joint and configured to engage the lower facial region of the user, wherein the first rotating axis, the second rotating axis, and the third rotating axis are generally perpendicular to each other, and rotation about the first rotating joint, the second rotating joint, and the third rotating joint allows displacement of the contact in a normal direction and a shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The facial interface of claim 1, wherein the lower facial support is configured to provide a lower shear compliance that is greater than an upper shear compliance of the upper portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The facial interface of claim 1, wherein the lower facial support includes: a first link extending between the chassis and the first rotating joint, a second link extending between the first rotating joint and the second rotating joint, and a third link extending between the second rotating joint and the third rotating joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The facial interface of claim 3, wherein based on lengths of the first link, the second link, and the third link, the first rotating axis, the second rotating axis, and the third rotating axis are non-intersecting such that rotation of the contact about the first rotating axis, the second rotating axis, and the third rotating axis allows the displacement of the contact in the normal direction and the shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The facial interface of claim 3, wherein the first rotating joint includes a first spring, the second rotating joint includes a second spring, and the third rotation joint includes a third spring, and wherein torque is applied between the first link, the second link, and the third link via the first spring, the second spring, and the third spring to apply a normal force, a lower vertical shear force, and a horizontal shear force between the contact and the lower facial region of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The facial interface of claim 1, wherein the first rotating axis is a vertical axis that allows for movement of the contact in the normal direction and a lateral shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user, the second rotating axis is a horizontal longitudinal axis that allows for movement of the contact in a horizontal shear direction and a vertical shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user, and the third rotating axis is a horizontal lateral axis that allows for movement of the contact in the normal direction and the vertical shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The facial interface of claim 1, wherein two or more of the first rotating axis, the second rotating axis, or the third rotating axis intersect each other to constrain movement of the lower facial support. ### Claim 8 A facial interface for a head-mounted display to be worn on a head of a user, the facial interface comprising: a display assembly; an upper portion coupled to the display assembly and configured to engage an upper facial region above eyes of the user; and a lower portion that includes a lower facial support configured to engage a lower facial region below the eyes of the user, the lower facial support including: a first rotating joint coupled to the display assembly and having a horizontal lateral axis of rotation, a first link extending vertically upward from the first rotating joint, a second rotating joint coupled to an end of the first link and having a horizontal normal axis of rotation, a second link extending horizontally laterally from the second rotating joint, a third rotating joint coupled to an end of the second link and having a vertical axis of rotation, and a third link extending horizontally normally between the third rotating joint and a contact configured engage the lower facial region of the user, wherein the lower facial support is configured to allow movement of the contact relative to the lower facial region of the user to provide a low restriction to movement of the lower facial region as compared to the upper facial region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein rotation of the first rotating joint about the horizontal lateral axis of rotation results in movement of the end of the first link and the contact in a normal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein rotation of the second rotating joint about the horizontal normal axis of rotation results in movement of the end of the second link and the contact in a vertical direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein rotation of the third rotating joint about the vertical axis of rotation results in movement of the end of the third link and the contact in a horizontal shear direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein the first rotating joint includes a first spring, the second rotating joint includes a second spring, and the third rotating joint includes a third spring, and wherein torque is applied between the first link, the second link, and the third link via the first spring, the second spring, and the third spring to apply a normal force, a lower vertical shear force, and a horizontal shear force between the contact and the lower facial region of the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein based on lengths of the first link, the second link, and the third link, movement of the contact relative to the lower facial region of the user is unconstrained. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein based on lengths of the first link, the second link, and the third link, movement of the contact relative to the lower facial region of the user is constrained. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The facial interface of claim 8, wherein the upper portion has an upper shear range of displacement that is at most fifty percent of a lower shear range of displacement of the lower portion. ### Claim 16 A facial interface for a head-mounted display to be worn on a head of a user, the facial interface comprising: a chassis; an upper portion coupled to the chassis and configured to engage an upper facial region above eyes of the user; and a lower portion that is configured to engage a lower facial region below the eyes of the user, the lower portion including a three-axis gimbal coupled to the chassis, the three-axis gimbal having three links and three rotating joints that allow displacement of the lower portion in a normal direction and a shear direction relative to the lower facial region of the user in response to movement of the lower facial region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The facial interface of claim 16, wherein based on relative lengths of the three links, movement of the three-axis gimbal is constrained. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The facial interface of claim 16, wherein based on relative lengths of the three links, movement of the three-axis gimbal is unconstrained. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The facial interface of claim 16, wherein the axes of the three-axis gimbal are perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The facial interface of claim 16, wherein the upper portion has a first stiffness and the lower portion has a second stiffness, and the first stiffness is at least two times stiffer than the second stiffness in a shear direction to limit movement of the head-mounted display in response to movement of the lower facial region.