Apple patent filing involves a virtual display in an extended reality environment

Pay attention because this is kinda confusing: Apple has filed for a patent (number US 20230299989 A1) for “displaying a virtual display” in an extended reality environment.

It involves the upcoming Apple Vision Pro. The US$3,499 (and higher) “Spatial Computer” will be available in early 2024. However, it apparently will only be available in limited quantities at first.

In the patent filing, Apple says that conventional extended reality settings may include representations of a virtual display. The virtual displays may be depicted within the extended reality settings in various ways.

Apple’s patent filing describes techniques for displaying a virtual display in an extended reality setting. Various conventional systems may be equipped to display media to a user in an extended reality setting, such as via a virtual display within the extended reality setting. 

However, given the increasing complexity of extended reality systems, conventional techniques for displaying media to a user aren’t compatible with various new extended reality modes, according to Apple. For example, conventional systems are unable to adequately display media to a user when the user is viewing an environment using augmented reality. 

Apple says that given the difficulties of simultaneously displaying both representations of actual content and virtual content, a method and system for displaying a virtual display in an extended reality setting is desired. The tech giant’s idea involves, a set of parameters corresponding to characteristics of a physical setting of a user is obtained. 

Based on the parameters, at least one display placement value and a fixed boundary location corresponding to the physical setting are obtained. In accordance with a determination that the at least one display placement value satisfies a display placement criterion, a virtual display is displayed at the fixed boundary location corresponding to the physical setting.