Apple files yet another patent for the rumored ‘Apple Glasses’

Apple has filed for another patent (number 20210011289) for the rumored “Apple Glasses,” an augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounts display (HMD).

One of dozens of patent filings for an HMD, this one is dubbed “head-mounted display for virtual and mixed reality with inside-outside positional, user body, and environment tracking.” The system would use computer vision methods and data fusion from multiple sensors to achieve real-time tracking. High frame rate and low latency would be achieved by performing part of the processing on the HMD itself.

In the patent filing, Apple notes that tracking of various elements is generally recognized as an essential prerequisite for achieving a high end virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) application experience. Among these elements, positional head tracking, user body tracking and environment tracking play a key role in achieving great immersion. 

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 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.”