Apple files two more patents for the rumored ‘Apple Glasses’

Apple has filed for two more patents regarding the rumored “Apple Glasses,” a a head-mounted, augmented reality/virtual reality headset.

Patent filing number 20210051406 is for a “method and device for sound processing for a synthesized reality setting.” It relates to sound processing for a synthesized reality setting. The goal is to equip Apple Glasses with systems, methods, and devices for transforming a real sound into a virtual sound based on an acoustic reverberation property of a synthesized reality setting. 

Here’s the summary of the invention: “In one implementation, a method of transforming a sound into a virtual sound for a synthesized reality (SR) setting is performed by a head-mounted device (HMD) including one or more processors, non-transitory memory, a microphone, a speaker, and a display. The method includes displaying, on the display, an image representation of a synthesized reality (SR) setting including a plurality of surfaces associated with an acoustic reverberation property of the SR setting. 

“The method includes recording, via the microphone, a real sound produced in a physical setting. The method further includes generating, using the one or more processors, a virtual sound by transforming the real sound based on the acoustic reverberation property of the SR setting. The method further includes playing, via the speaker, the virtual sound.”

Patent filing number 20210048689 is for a “small field of view display mitigation using transitional visuals.” Apple says that virtual content may be difficult to view at peripheral portions of a display. For example, the virtual content may be clipped or cut-off as the virtual content approaches a peripheral edge of the display. 

In the case of an optical see-through display, the limited dynamic range of the transparent display may make seeing or understanding the virtual content difficult at the limits of the optical see-through display’s field of view (e.g., inactive border regions of the display). 

For example, virtual content may be difficult to view in circumstances where the optical see-through display has a small or narrow field of view. Apple doesn’t want the Apple Glasses to have such limitations.

Here’s the summary of the invention: “Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that enable improved display of virtual content in computer generated reality (CGR) environments. In some implementations, the CGR environment is provided at an electronic device based on a field of view (FOV) of the device and a position of virtual content within the FOV. A display characteristic of the virtual object is adjusted to minimize or negate any adverse effects of the virtual object or a portion of the virtual object falling outside of the FOV of the electronic device.”

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 eventually 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.”