Apple has filed for two new patents for “Apple Glasses,” the rumored augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display (HMD).
Patent number 20210026139 is for an “optical mode for head-mountable device.” It involves an HMD used to display visual information within the field of view of the user. The device can be used as a virtual reality (VR) system, an augmented reality (AR) system, and/or a mixed reality (MR) system.
A user may observe outputs provided by the head-mountable device, such as visual information provided on a display. The display can optionally allow a user to observe an environment outside of the HMD. Other outputs provided by the head-mountable device can include audio output and/or haptic feedback.
A user may further interact with the head-mountable device by providing inputs for processing by one or more components of the head-mountable device. For example, the user can provide tactile inputs, voice commands, and other inputs while the device is mounted to the user’s head.
Patent number 20210026146 is for an “optical assembly for head-mountable device.” It involves the assembling of Apple Glasses with the above-mentioned features.
When it comes to Apple Glasses, such a device will arrive this year or 2022, depending on which rumor you believe. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) thinks Apple will at least preview it before the end of the year.
It will be a head-mounted display. Or may have a design like “normal” glasses. Or it may be available in both. The Apple Glasses may or may not have to be tethered to an iPhone to work. Other rumors say that Apple Glasses could have a custom-build Apple chip and a dedicated operating system dubbed “rOS” for “reality operating system.”
The accompanying image is courtesy of Inaugment.
