Apple has filed for a patent for “tunable lenses” for the Apple Vision Pro.
About the patent filing
In the patent filing, Apple says that head-mounted devices typically include lenses with fixed shapes and properties. However, the tech giant adds that, if care isn’t taken, it may be difficult to adjust these types of lenses to optimally present content to each user of the head-mounted device. Apple thinks the solution is a Vision Pro with a catadioptric lens and a tunable lens that could change on what is being viewed. (Catadioptric is a term that describes an optical system that uses both lenses and curved mirrors to refract and reflect light.)
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “An electronic device may include an optical module with a display and a tunable lens. During operation, the electronic device may gather data and adjust the tunable lens based on the gathered data. The optical module may include a non-adjustable lens element with convex curvature in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a Fresnel lens element in addition to the tunable lens.
“The optical module may include a catadioptric lens in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a catadioptric lens that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may have a birdbath architecture that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may include a waveguide and the tunable lens may be an adjustable positive bias lens and/or an adjustable negative bias lens.”
About the Vision Pro
Demos of the Apple Vision Pro at Apple Stores in the U.S. can be reserved on Apple.com. To reserve a free Vision Pro demo online, go here, then follow the steps to book an appointment at your local Apple Store.
Pricing for the Vision Pro starts at US$3,499 with 256GB of storage. ZEISS Optical Inserts are available: $99 for reading lens and $149 for prescription lens.
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