Adjustable head-mounted display to accommodate different head and face sizes

Abstract

A head-mounted display (HMD) includes various features that allow for customizing the HMD to different users. The HMD may include an interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment mechanism that includes a double biasing assembly for smooth, controlled adjustment of the spacing between lens tubes. The HMD may include a field of view (FOV) adjustment mechanism that includes first and second gear assemblies connected via a connecting rod to allow uniform adjustment of the spacing between the lenses and the user's face. The HMD may further include a swappable face gasket, a swappable visor, a removable head strap, and a modular accessory compartment for further customizations to the HMD. The HMD may further include inconspicuous spectrum-transmissive windows that are made with a spectrum-transmissive base material for the HMD housing that is coated with a spectrum-opaque material, and the spectrum-opaque material is selectively removed to create the spectrum-transmissive windows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head-mounted display (HMD) comprising:
 a housing made of an infrared (IR)-transmissive material, wherein an outer surface of the housing is coated with an IR-opaque material, and wherein one or more locations on the outer surface are devoid of the IR-opaque material to provide one or more IR-transmissive windows on the housing; and   one or more IR sensors disposed inside the housing behind the one or more IR-transmissive windows.   
     
     
         2 . The HMD of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is coated with an IR-transmissive coating that substantially covers the IR-opaque material and the one or more locations. 
     
     
         3 . The HMD of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the housing at the one or more locations is thinner than a thickness of a remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The HMD of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more IR sensors are mounted to an inner surface of the housing behind the one or more locations. 
     
     
         5 . The HMD of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more locations are circular in shape to provide one or more circular IR-transmissive windows on the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The HMD of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more IR-transmissive windows comprise a plurality of IR-transmissive windows. 
     
     
         7 . The HMD of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the plurality of IR-transmissive windows are located on a front of the HMD. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a head-mounted display (HMD) having at least one window that allows electromagnetic radiation in a specific spectrum to pass through the at least one window, the method comprising:
 forming a housing for the HMD out of a first material that is configured to allow the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum to pass therethrough;   painting an outer surface of the housing with a second material that is configured to block the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum; and   removing the second material from at least one location on the outer surface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein removing the second material comprises laser etching the second material away from the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising removing material from an inner surface of the housing behind the at least one location to decrease a thickness of the housing at the at least one location. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising coating the outer surface with the first material or a third material that is configured to allow the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising mounting at least one sensor configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum on an inner surface of the housing behind the at least one location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising mounting at least one beacon configured to emit the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum on an inner surface of the housing behind the at least one location. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the specific spectrum is the infrared (IR) spectrum. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first material comprises an IR-transmissive polycarbonate plastic. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing made of a spectrum-transmissive material that is configured to allow electromagnetic radiation in a specific spectrum to pass therethrough, wherein an outer surface of the housing is coated with a spectrum-opaque material that is configured to block the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum, and wherein one or more locations on the outer surface are devoid of the spectrum-opaque material to provide one or more spectrum-transmissive windows on the housing; and   one or more spectrum-specific components disposed inside the housing behind the one or more spectrum-transmissive windows.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the outer surface is coated with a spectrum-transmissive coating that substantially covers the spectrum-opaque material and the one or more locations. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more spectrum-specific components are at least one of sensors that detect the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum, or beacons that emit the electromagnetic radiation in the specific spectrum. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein a thickness of the housing at the one or more locations is thinner than a thickness of a remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the specific spectrum is the infrared (IR) spectrum.