- 1 hour ago
- AR/VR
- Alban Martin
-
React
There has been speculation that the first version of “Apple Glass” – Apple’s much talked about augmented/virtual reality headset – will be powered by an iPhone. A recently granted patent (11,258,891) for a “head-mounted display apparatus driven by a portable electronic device with display” confirms that the project is coming to fruition.
A patent for Apple Glass connected to the iPhone
The patent suggests that the Apple Glasses would be attached to an iPhone or even an iPod touch. The connection would logically be wireless (Bluetooth or Wifi), a bit like the iPhone and Apple Watch today.
This design would make the headset much lighter if the smartphone acts as the remote brain. An Apple Glass helmet or goggles incorporating the components of an iPhone would be a bit heavy and uncomfortable. That said, the document mentions a wired connection, so both wired and wireless options could be offered.
Summary of the patent
Here is the abstract of the patent provided by Apple with the technical details:
The portable electronic device can be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the two devices can communicate and operate with each other. Each device may be permitted to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of improving, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the wearable electronic device.
Among the many pages of the patent are also new patent claims to protect various aspects of the invention. For example, Apple is focusing on a “camera configured to capture an image of the environment; a lens adjacent to the display through which the display is visible; and a processor configured to automatically switch from an internal viewing mode in which the image is not displayed to an external viewing mode in which the image is displayed on the screen in response to environmental information“. A way to adapt the rendering according to the context and improve the augmented reality experience.
What do you think ? Is the Cupertino company on the right track?