Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 11,004,426) for a “zone identification and indication system” that hints that such a vehicle could incorporate augmented reality into its windshield.
In the patent filing, the tech giant notes that, in many situations, a graphical overlay can be provided on an environment that is perceived through the windshield. The overlay would provide information information such as vehicle speed, directions, traffic conditions, and more.
Here’s the summary of the invention: “An augmented reality display system included in a vehicle generates an augmented reality display, on one or more transparent surfaces of the vehicle. The augmented reality display can include an indicator of the vehicle speed which is spatially positioned according to the speed of the vehicle relative to the local speed limit. The augmented reality display can include display elements which conform to environmental objects and can obscure and replace content displayed on the objects.
“The augmented reality display can include display elements which indicate a position of environmental objects which are obscured from direct perception through the transparent surface. The augmented reality display can include display elements which simulate one or more particular environmental objects in the environment, based on monitoring manual driving performance of the vehicle by a driver. The augmented reality display can include display elements which identify environmental objects and particular zones in the environment.”
Rumored manufacturing partners for helping Apple make an electric, likely self-driving car have included Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen. However, don’t look for such a vehicle to arrive until at least 2025, if indeed it ever rolls out.
