Future Vision Pros may adjust audio based on the orientation of a user’s eyes. Apple has filed for a patent for “Correcting Audio Signals Based On An Orientation Of An Eyewear Assembly.”
About the patent filing
The patent filing relates generally to audio signals driven to extra-aural speakers, and more specifically to correcting audio signals driven to extra-aural speakers of an eyewear assembly based on an orientation of the eyewear assembly. In the patent filing, Apple notes that extra-aural speakers may enable sound to be projected in an environment that’s near a user’s ear without covering or otherwise obstructing the ear.
For example, extra-aural speakers could be attached to headgear that is designed to be worn on the head of the user. The extra-aural speakers can then project sounds in directions external to the user’s ears without physically covering the ears.
However, there are issues with this approach. It may enable the sounds to combine with other sounds in the environment, such as the user’s own voice. This may also enable the wearer of the headgear to avoid wearing hardware in or on their ears.
Apple’s idea to address problems such as these by configuring sensors coupled to an eyewear assembly to detect an orientation of the eyewear assembly relative to anatomic features of a wearer. For example, the eyewear assembly could be smart glasses or goggles, e.g., eyeglasses with circuitry. An output from the sensors may be used to adjust audio signals driven to extra-aural speakers that are coupled to the eyewear assembly based on the orientation that is detected
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “An eyewear assembly may include a frame configured to rest on a wearer’s face, a plurality of extra-aural speakers, and a plurality of sensors. A processing circuitry may execute instructions stored in memory to process output data of the plurality of sensors to determine locations of a plurality of anatomic features of the wearer, detect an orientation of the eyewear assembly relative to the wearer of the eyewear assembly based on the locations of the plurality of anatomic features of the wearer, and determine, based on the orientation, a correction to an audio signal that is to drive an extra-aural speaker of the plurality of extra-aural speakers. Other aspects are also described and claimed.”
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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