Apple has been granted another patent (number 10,761,605) for “knit data input glove” — in other words, an “Apple Glove” for augmented reality/virtual reality purposes.
Per the patent data, the glove would be formed from knitted fabric. The knitted fabric may form fingers for the glove and may form pockets in the fingers. Sensors such as inertial measurement units may be placed in the pockets to measure movements of a user’s fingers in the glove.
The sensors may be coupled to control circuitry in the glove using conductive yarn in the knitted fabric. The conductive yarn may form courses in the knitted fabric that run along each finger. Haptic components and other electrical components may be coupled to the control circuitry using the conductive yarn.
Electrodes may be formed from metal-coated strands of material in the fabric on the sides of each finger. The wireless or wired communications circuitry coupled to the control circuitry may be used to convey information such as user finger movement information to external equipment.
The glove would allow a user may manipulate virtual reality objects in a virtual reality system using data input gloves. However, Apple says that it can be challenging to incorporate electrical components into a fabric-based item such as gloves. As a result, it may be difficult to satisfactorily incorporate sensors and other components into data input gloves.
Data input gloves may not be sufficiently comfortable when worn or may not be sufficiently accurate when used to control a system. Apple wants to change this.
