Apple files for patent for an adjustment mechanism for ‘Apple Glasses’

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200355919) for an “adjustment mechanism for a head-mounted display.” It almost certainly involves the rumored “Apple Glasses,” an augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display (HMD).

HMDs are electronic devices that display graphics to a user wearing them. They’re used, for example, when participating in activities related to computer-generated, augmented, virtual, and/or mixed realities. The head-mounted display may be worn by users having differing head sizes and facial features, so the ability to adjust a fit of the head-mounted display for a particular user having specific features is a high priority. 

Existing head-mounted displays can be adjusted for circumferential fit using features such headbands made from elastic materials and temple-located adjustment mechanisms that change a length of a non-elastic headband between a variety of predetermined lengths. However, Apple says that these adjustment options don’t address differences in facial features, such as different inter-pupillary distances (IPD) among users. 

The tech giant has a better idea: “A head-mounted display includes an optical assembly and an actuator. The actuator includes a movement mechanism configured to adjust a position of an optical component within the optical assembly, a locking-release mechanism configured to modify operation of the movement mechanism upon detection of a dynamic event, and a dampening mechanism configured to control positional changes of the optical component during the dynamic event.”

When it comes to Apple Glasses, such a device will arrive next year or 2022, depending on which rumor you believe. 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.”