Apple patents head-mounted display with self-adjusting weight
Apple has been granted a patent for a head-mounted device that uses a built-in energy storage unit to push against the display. This system applies a changing force to the screen as it moves, helping to balance the weight of the device on the user's head.
In the filing’s own words
A counterbalance for an object and a method of counterbalancing a force are disclosed. In an example, a head-mountable device (HMD) includes a housing, an optical module coupled to the housing, and an energy storage device coupled to the optical module. The energy storage device can apply a force to the optical module. A profile of the force can vary non-linearly as a position of the optical module relative to the housing changes.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A head-mountable device (HMD), comprising: a housing; a display coupled to the housing; a counterbalance coupled to the display, the counterbalance comprises a cam; and an energy storage device coupled to the display, the energy storage device configured to apply a force to the display; a profile of the force being configured to vary non-linearly as a position of the display relative to the housing changes; and a position of a component of the counterbalance configured to adjust based on a change to the profile of the force.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Force counterbalance system and method
- Patent number
- US12730326B2
- Application number
- 19078642
- Filed
- Mar 13, 2025
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
G02B 27/0176 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0154 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0163 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.