Head-mounted displays and attachments that enable interactive sensory experiences

Abstract

Introduced herein are techniques for producing sensory stimuli that increase the realism of content experienced by a user. Several embodiments pertain to scent delivery system that are able to dispense scented material(s) to the user. A scent delivery system could be a self-contained unit that is attachable to a head-mounted display (HMD) or could be integrated into the HMD itself. The scent delivery system can be used to improve the realism of content (e.g., visual content and audio content) presented to the user. More specifically, the scent delivery system can be configured to dispense one or more scented materials in response to determining a particular scene is being shown. Different scented materials can be dispensed based on characteristics of the content. In some embodiments, the scented material(s) are held in capsules that are housed within the scent delivery system. The capsules may be readily replaceable by the user.

1 . An apparatus for producing sensory stimuli to increase the realism of digital content, the apparatus comprising:
 a structural frame that includes a fastener for detachably connecting the apparatus to a head-mounted display;   multiple containers that each include a scented material, wherein the multiple containers are removable from the apparatus; and   at least one pump configured to controllably dispense the scented materials from the multiple containers to produce scents during playback of digital content by the head-mounted display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor configured to generate a control signal that controls how much of each scented material is dispensed by the at least one pump from the multiple containers during playback of the digital content by the head-mounted display.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to measure motion of the apparatus, temperature of a user, ambient humidity, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processor lowers scent intensity by decreasing a volume of scented material dispensed by the at least one pump responsive to a determination the sensor outputs a value exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structural frame includes an outlet through which air residing in a cavity formed by the structural frame can escape into an external environment. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a fan configured to guide air from the cavity to the external environment through the outlet of the structural frame.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple containers are housed within a compartment that is accessible when the apparatus is connected to the head-mounted display. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, an indication that a sensory functionality of a sensory stimulus apparatus connected to a head-mounted display is enabled;   parsing, by the processor, digital content presented by the head-mounted display to discover a keyframe;   generating, by the processor, a control signal responsive to a determination that the keyframe has been shown; and   transmitting, by the processor, the control signal to a pump of the sensory stimulus apparatus,
 wherein reception of the control signal causes the pump to dispense a liquid from a reservoir of the sensory stimulus apparatus. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is water that is dispensed in a controlled manner to simulate a water feature shown in the digital content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a scented material that is dispensed in a controlled manner to produce a scent that corresponds to an item shown in the digital content. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 monitoring, by the processor, a reaction by a user to the dispersal of the liquid;   determining, by the processor, that the reaction matches a pattern indicative of discomfort; and   modifying, by the processor, the control signal to alter a characteristic of the liquid dispensed by the pump.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pattern indicative of discomfort is a head movement away from a fictional source of the liquid, and wherein the characteristic is a volume of liquid dispensed by the pump, a force with which the liquid is dispensed by the pump, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring comprises:
 examining, by the processor, an output produced by a sensor connected to the sensory stimulus apparatus or the head-mounted display,   wherein the sensor is
 a motion sensor whose output is indicative of motion of the sensory stimulus apparatus, 
 a temperature sensor whose output is indicative of skin temperature of the user, or 
 a humidity sensor whose output is indicative of ambient humidity. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, an indication that a sensory functionality of a sensory stimulus apparatus connected to a head-mounted display is enabled;   parsing, by the processor, digital content presented by the head-mounted display to discover a keyframe;   generating, by the processor, a control signal responsive to a determination that the keyframe has been shown; and   transmitting, by the processor, the control signal to a fan of the sensory stimulus apparatus,
 wherein reception of the control signal causes the fan to create an air flow in a controlled manner to simulate wind. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 monitoring, by the processor, a reaction by a user to the air flow;   determining, by the processor, that the reaction matches a pattern indicative of discomfort; and   modifying, by the processor, the control signal to alter a characteristic of the air flow.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern indicative of discomfort is a head movement away from a fictional source of the air flow, and wherein the characteristic is a speed of the air flow, a temperature of the air flow, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said monitoring comprises:
 examining, by the processor, an output produced by a sensor connected to the sensory stimulus apparatus or the head-mounted display,   wherein the sensor is
 a motion sensor whose output is indicative of motion of the sensory stimulus apparatus, 
 a temperature sensor whose output is indicative of skin temperature of the user, or 
 a humidity sensor whose output is indicative of ambient humidity. 
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a structural frame that includes a fastener for connecting the apparatus to a head-mounted display;   a container of scented material that is removable from the apparatus;   a pump configured to controllably dispense the scented material from the container; and   a processor configured to:
 receive input indicative of a selection of an item offered for sale by an electronic commerce platform; 
 determine that the scented material corresponds to an actual scent produced by the item in a real-world environment; and 
 generate a control signal that controls how much scented material is dispensed by the pump following the selection of the item offered for sale by the electronic commerce platform. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said determining is based on a mapping of items to scented materials provided by a merchant responsible for supplying the item offered for sale by the electronic commerce platform. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of clam  18 , wherein said determining is based on one or more keywords identified within a product listing corresponding to the item offered for sale by the electronic commerce platform.