The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 96 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we briefly cover a design patent for AirPods Max, a prescription lens system for a future version of their VR Headset, a system related to Face ID and as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Apple wins 'AirPods Max' Design Patent

In January Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple has been Granted 15 Design Patents Relating to their AirPods Max and Smart Case." The design patents were from Hong Kong. Today the U.S. Patent Office granted Apple a design patent for AirPods Max under number D916,680, with a few of the patent figures presented below.

Multi-Component Vision System - Face ID

Apple's newly granted patent 10,268,234 covers their invention relating to their TrueDepth camera system referred to as a "vision system" that's supported by a special bracket assembly. In order for Face ID to function properly, the TrueDepth camera must be set firmly in place on your iPhone or iPad so as to ensure that when using Face ID, the system is able to match your face to what's on file in the secure enclave.

Apple's patent FIG. 18 below illustrates a plan view of the transparent cover and an alignment module secured with the transparent cover; FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the alignment module 608, the vision system 610, and the bracket assembly 640; FIG. 26 illustrates a side view of an electronic device using a vision system to determine dimensional information of a user.

VR Headset with a Corrective Lenses System

Today Apple was granted 10,983,352 that covers a VR Headset that uniquely provides a magnets-based corrective lens system to accommodate users with prescription glasses needs; users with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or presbyopia.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 below is a top view of an illustrative head-mounted device; FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative display and associated optical system with removable lens structures.

Lenses in system 96 may include regions of different strength. For example, lens 82 may be a bifocal lens, trifocal lens, progressive lens, or other lens with multiple strengths in different regions.

In order for Apple to reach the maximum number of users for their future HMD, Apple recognizes that no other HMD system on the market today addresses the needs of those with prescription glasses. By enabling the corrective lenses to simply drop into the head set they are ensuring maximum comfort for users who won't be forced to wear their glasses in the headset.

Other Granted Patents of Interest

01: Electronic devices with fabric buttons

02: Displaying 3D content shared from other devices

03: Motion-based configuration of a multi-user device

The Remaining Patents Granted to Apple Today