Apple patent filing involves a ‘visual overlay system’ for an Apple Car

Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has filed for a patent (number US 20230267896 A1) for a “visual overlay system” for a vehicle that would provide augmented reality features. 

About the patent filing

In the patent filing, Apple says that such a graphical overlay could provide useful information. For example, a car’s graphical overlay could be perceived by an occupant of the vehicle and provide info relevant to one or more of the vehicle, including vehicle speed, and one or more portions of the environment in which the vehicle is located. 

Such information could be provided on a transparent surface, including a forward window (a windscreen), windshield, etc., such that the information can be perceived by an operator of the vehicle, including a driver, near the line of sight of the operator as the operator observes the environment through which the vehicle is navigated, including an oncoming roadway.

In some cases, the graphics displayed should be able to overlay certain objects located in the environment perceived though the transparent surface and can augment, alter, control, information related to the environment which is provided to an observer via the transparent surface.

Summary of the patent filing

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “An augmented reality display system included in a vehicle generates an augmented reality display, on one or more transparent surfaces of the vehicle. The augmented reality display can include an indicator of the vehicle speed which is spatially positioned according to the speed of the vehicle relative to the local speed limit. The augmented reality display can include display elements which conform to environmental objects and can obscure and replace content displayed on the objects. 

“The augmented reality display can include display elements which indicate a position of environmental objects which are obscured from direct perception through the transparent surface. The augmented reality display can include display elements which simulate one or more particular environmental objects in the environment, based on monitoring manual driving performance of the vehicle by a driver. The augmented reality display can include display elements which identify environmental objects and particular zones in the environment.”

When might we see an Apple Car?

On. Nov. 18, 2021, Bloomberg reported that Apple is accelerating development on its “Apple Car.” The article says the electric vehicle will be self-driving and could roll out in 2025. 

What’s more, in a note to clients — as noted by AppleInsider — investment bank Wedbush says Apple is likely to announce a strategic electric vehicle partnership in 2022 to lay the groundwork for an “Apple Car” release in 2025.