Modular Virtual Reality Headset and Virtual Reality Systems for Use in Public Venues

Abstract

A modular VR system is provided with features that are specifically beneficial to public venues. The system includes a mask unit that is preferably custom fit to the user, and a modular, selectively-connectable viewing unit. The viewing unit houses all the required virtual reality optics and may be selectively secured to the mask unit. The mask unit includes an electrical memory which is electrically connected to the viewing unit when the two are connected. The viewing unit includes activatable covers to automatically protect the lenses whenever the viewing unit is disconnected from the mask unit. The viewing unit further includes a system to automatically adjust the distance between the lenses to match the interpupillary distance of the user. The viewing unit also includes an integral payment device and a handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A modular virtual reality headset for use by a user having two eyes positioned along an eye-to-eye axis and defining an interpupilary distance value therebetween, said virtual reality headset comprising:
 a display for selectively showing video content to said user, said display being positioned within a display plane located in front of said user's two eyes;   a first lens located in a lens plane between said display and a first of said user's two eyes, said first lens defining a first optical center, said lens plane being parallel to said display plane;   a second lens located in said lens plane between said display and a second of said user's two eyes, said second lens defining a second optical center;   said first and second lenses being selectively movable within said lens plane,   a mechanism for automatically moving said lenses within said lens plane to an aligned position wherein said first optical center of said first lens aligns with said user's first of said two eyes and said second optical center of said second lens aligns with said user's second of said two eyes,   wherein, at said aligned position, the distance between said first and second optical centers of said first and second lenses generally equals said user's interpupilary distance value; and   a controller for controlling said mechanism based on said user's interpupilary distance value.   
     
     
         2 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a microprocessor and an electronic memory. 
     
     
         3 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 2 , wherein said electronic memory includes said interpupilary distance value of said user. 
     
     
         4 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are selectively movable, by said mechanism, along a lens axis that is within said lens plane and parallel to said eye-to-eye axis of said user's eyes. 
     
     
         5 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 4 , wherein said first lens is secured to a first lens mount and wherein said second lens is mounted to a second lens mount. 
     
     
         6 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 5 , wherein said mechanism includes a linear drive connected to said first and second lens mounts and wherein activation of said linear drive causes said first and second lens mounts, and said first and second lenses to linearly displace with respect to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 6 , wherein said linear drive is a lead screw having right-hand threads along a first half of its length, and left-hand threads along the remaining half of its length, said first lens mount includes a threaded bore having right-hand threads and sized to engagingly receive said right-hand threads of said lead screw, said second lens mount includes a threaded bore having left-hand threads and sized to engagingly receive said left-hand threads of said lead screw, so that rotation of said lead screw in a first direction causes said lens mounts and said lenses to move linearly towards each other, and rotation of said lead screw in an opposite second direction causes said lens mounts and said lenses to move linearly away from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 7 , further comprising an electric drive motor connected to said lead screw, said drive motor selectively rotating said lead screw in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 6 , wherein said controller reads said user's interpupilary distance value from said memory and uses this information to control said drive motor so that said first and second lenses are linearly positioned to match said read user's interpupilary distance value. 
     
     
         10 ) A method for automatically adjusting the lenses of a virtual reality headset to match a user's interpupilary distance value, said virtual reality headset includes a first lens having a center and being slidably-displaceable along a first axis, a second lens having a center and being slidably-displaceable along said first axis, a linear drive mechanism mechanically connected to said first and second lenses, an electronic memory, and a controller for controlling the operation of said drive mechanism, said method comprising the steps of:
 inputting, to said electronic memory, said user's interpupilary distance value;   reading, by said controller, said interpupilary distance value from said electronic memory; and   activating, by said controller, said drive mechanism, based on said read interpupilary distance value, so that said drive mechanism linearly displaces said first and second lenses along said first axis until the distance measured between the center of said first and second lenses matches said user's interpupilary distance value.   
     
     
         11 ) A modular virtual reality headset for use by a user having two eyes positioned along an eye-to-eye axis and defining an interpupilary distance value therebetween, said virtual reality headset comprising:
 a display for selectively showing video content to said user, said display being positioned within a display plane located in front of said user's two eyes;   a first lens located in a lens plane between said display and a first of said user's two eyes, said first lens defining a first optical center, said lens plane being parallel to said display plane;   a second lens located in said lens plane between said display and a second of said user's two eyes, said second lens defining a second optical center;   said first and second lenses being selectively movable within said lens plane,   a mechanism for automatically moving said lenses within said lens plane to an aligned position wherein said first optical center of said first lens aligns with said user's first of said two eyes and said second optical center of said second lens aligns with said user's second of said two eyes,   wherein, at said aligned position, the distance between said first and second optical centers of said first and second lenses generally equals said user's interpupilary distance value;   a controller for controlling said mechanism based on said user's interpupilary distance value; and   an electronic memory connected to said controller for storing said interpupilary distance value.   
     
     
         12 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 11 , wherein said lenses are selectively movable, by said mechanism, along a lens axis that is within said lens plane and parallel to said eye-to-eye axis of said user's eyes. 
     
     
         13 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 12 , wherein said first lens is secured to a first lens mount and wherein said second lens is mounted to a second lens mount. 
     
     
         14 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 13 , wherein said mechanism includes a linear drive connected to said first and second lens mounts and wherein activation of said linear drive causes said first and second lens mounts, and said first and second lenses to linearly displace with respect to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 14 , wherein said linear drive is a lead screw having right-hand threads along a first half of its length, and left-hand threads along the remaining half of its length, said first lens mount includes a threaded bore having right-hand threads and sized to engagingly receive said right-hand threads of said lead screw, said second lens mount includes a threaded bore having left-hand threads and sized to engagingly receive said left-hand threads of said lead screw, so that rotation of said lead screw in a first direction causes said lens mounts and said lenses to move linearly towards each other, and rotation of said lead screw in an opposite second direction causes said lens mounts and said lenses to move linearly away from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 15 , further comprising an electric drive motor connected to said lead screw, said drive motor selectively rotating said lead screw in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The virtual reality headset of  claim 14 , wherein said controller reads said user's interpupilary distance value from said memory and uses this information to control said drive motor so that said first and second lenses are linearly positioned to match said read user's interpupilary distance value.