“Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published yet another continuation patent from Apple that reveals further tweaking being made to their patent claims that could protect this invention in court,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“It’s the details Apple wants to ensure are covered in a final product. Different continuation patents for Apple’s future head mounted display device cover a different set of specifics that Apple wants protected,” Purcher reports. “The original patent was first published in 2010, yet filed in 2008, is the master invention that goes deeper into the details of the invention including device’s face plate, its camera possibilities, exterior controls, its use of haptics and more. Apple’s invention was granted a patent back in February 2015.”
Purcher reports, “Then in March 2016 Apple began to tweak the patent claims of this future device and today Apple is seen once again further tweaking their patent claims as detailed below providing us with a glimpse of what’s on their engineer team’s mind as well as their legal team.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple interest in AR over VR is glaringly apparent.
SEE ALSO:
Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple will have a 3-5 year lead in augmented reality; use as part of an autonomous driving system – November 2, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘We are high on Augmented Reality for the long run’ – October 14, 2016
iPhone 7 Plus is the starting point of Apple’s major push into augmented reality – September 28, 2016
iPhone 7 Plus proves Apple is gearing up for augmented reality – September 27, 2016
What iPhone 7 says about Apple’s future augmented reality plans – September 19, 2016
Apple needs to forget chasing Snapchat and go after the Augmented Reality industry – August 25, 2016
Tim Cook publicly confirms Apple has augmented reality plans – July 27, 2016
Apple acquires Flyby Media; assembles large team of virtual and augmented reality experts – January 29, 2016
Apple hires leading virtual reality researcher – January 22, 2016
Apple is building a virtual reality supply chain with disruptive potential, new research shows – November 19, 2015
Analyst: Apple team exploring virtual reality/augmented reality – August 31, 2015
Apple exploring a new reality with purchase of Metaio – June 3, 2015
Apple patents perforated augmented reality display that you can see and hear through – May 29, 2015
Apple acquires augmented reality company Metaio – May 28, 2015
New Apple haptics patent application reveals diamond-layered trackpad that simulates wood, other textures – April 23, 2015
Apple granted U.S. patent for hybrid VR head-mounted display – February 18, 2015
Apple is working on VR user interfaces and gaming; looking for Oculus and Leap experts – February 10, 2015
Apple granted patent for display-based speakers for iOS devices – January 13, 2015
Apple granted a patent for devices with a transparent display – November 18, 2014
Apple’s new iPhones, iPads could feature haptic displays – June 30, 2014
Apple patent application reveals personal display headset invention – May 8, 2014
Apple patent application reveals wildly intelligent multi-tiered haptics system – May 3, 2012
Apple continues to tweak Apple TV video headset accessory – April 10, 2014
Apple patent application reveals sapphire flexible transparent display devices created with Liquidmetal – December 19, 2013
Apple granted knockout patent for head-mounted personal display – December 10, 2013
iGlasses: Apple granted patent for head-mounted augmented reality displays – July 5, 2012
Apple files patent application for haptic feedback touch-based user interface – March 22, 2012
Two highlighted items in the source article sound very close to some things Google has already done in placing a button on the device to control the inserted smartphone (e.g. Google Cardboard) and the touch area on the support structure (e.g. Google Glass). Though for the latter they seem to specify a wheel control so if they stay within that it seems to be covered.
The design described in the patent seems interesting but I wonder how well they’ll be able to spread the weight that seems to be placed primarily on the bridge of the nose when used with the inserted smartphone. This is in contrast to current offerings by Google, Sony, Occulus, etc. that seem to distribute the weight to the entire area under the eyes including the nose. Perhaps indication that iPhones will get lighter still?