Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,902,796) for a “multi-user display system” for a car — or a building.
In the patent data, Apple notes that It can be desirable for multiple users to share a display in a vehicle or in a building. For example, it may be desirable for multiple car occupants to be able to view individualized content on an in-vehicle display. However, Apple says it can be challenging to incorporate such display systems as, if care is not taken, viewers may not be able to view desired content and privacy concerns may not be addressed. The tech giant thinks a multi-user display system is the answer.
Here’s the summary of the invention: “Electronic equipment in a system such as a vehicle or building may include one or more displays. The displays may display image frames for users with light-modulating glasses. The image frames may include interspersed image frames corresponding to unique content for each of the users. Dummy frames may be incorporated into the displayed frames on the display to help obscure displayed content from external observers.
“The light-modulating glasses may have light modulators such as liquid crystal light modulators. Control circuitry in the glasses may adjust the light modulators to exhibit transparent intervals that overlaps desired image frames and opaque intervals that are aligned with other image frames and the dummy frames. This allows each user to view unique content on a shared display while preventing external observers without glasses from observing the content that is being presented.”
Speaking of the Apple Car rumors, Korea’s eDaily claims that Hyundai intends to transition the company’s “Apple Car” partnership to its Kia brand as part of an arrangement that could see production move to the U.S.
The report adds that Hyundai has decided it’s “not suitable” for the Apple Car business because of its will, to continue the Hyundai brand. Plus, the car maker purportedly doesn’t want to come an original equipment manufacturer for Apple vehicles.
On January 10, it was announced (rumored?) that Apple and Hyundai plan to sign a partnership deal on autonomous electric cars by March and start production around 2024 in the U.S.
On January 8, Korea IT News reported that Apple and Hyundai would team up to produce electric vehicles. Hyundai is a South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul. Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1967 and, along with its 32.8% owned subsidiary, Kia Motors, and its 100% owned luxury subsidiary, Genesis Motor, and electric vehicle subsidiary, Ioniq.
