Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of xxx newly granted patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we briefly cover … 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 this week.

One: System with Adjustable Cushions

In this granted patent, Apple notes that the head-mounted device may display different types of content during different operating modes. For example, gaming content may be displayed on the left and right displays during operation in a gaming mode and movie content may be displayed on the displays during operation in a movie mode.

The head-mounted device may have an electrically adjustable face cushion. The face cushion may be attached to a rear-facing peripheral edge of the head-mounted support structure and may have a ring shape. The electrically adjustable face cushion may have adjustable elements such as adjustable inflation air bags.

Airflow control systems formed from electrically adjustable airflow valves, check valves, and air pumps may be used in controlling inflation of the adjustable inflation air bags in responses to changes in the operating mode of the head-mounted device and/or in response to sensor data or other input. The sensor data may include strain gauge measurements of facial pressure on the air bags.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates that the invention relates to an HMD and FIG. 9 is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in using a head-mounted device with an adjustable face cushion. Review granted patent 11726337 for more details

Two: Head-mountable Device With Variable Stiffness Head Securement

While we know the head band system that made it to the final version of Vison Pro, this is one of Apple's patents that described various possible solutions. In this second granted patent, Apple notes that a head-mountable device can be secured to a head of a user while being worn and operated by the user. It can be desirable to maximize the fit and comfort on the user, so that usage of the head-mountable device for extended durations is not difficult for the user.

Some head-mountable devices are designed to secure to the head of the user by wrapping tightly around the back of the user's head, for example, with a band. This arrangement often involves providing a tightness that can secure the head-mountable device to a variety of head shapes and sizes. However, this can be somewhat uncomfortable for at least some users. The forces can be unevenly distributed about the face as the forces of gravity pull components onto certain facial regions.

To maximize comfort experienced by the user, a head-mountable device can include a head securement element that provides limited flexibility while also providing adequate stiffness to reduce the effects of sagging components under their own weight. Such stiffness can help the forces be distributed evenly across the face.

For example, rather than allowing excessive forces to weigh on the cheeks and/or nose of the user, certain types of stiffness about the head-mountable device can help distribute forces along the forehead of the user and/or other regions.

To review the details of Apple's invention, review granted patent  11726523.

Three: Display & Wake Systems

In this third granted patent, Apple notes that a display system includes a head-mounted display unit and a wake control system. The head-mounted display unit provides content to a user and is operable in a low-power state and a high-power state that consumes more power to provide the content to the user than the low-power state. The wake control system determines when to operate in the high-power state. The wake control system may assess a first wake criterion with low power, assess a second wake criterion with higher power than the first wake criterion upon satisfaction of the first wake criterion, and cause the head-mounted display unit to operate in the high-power state upon satisfaction of the second wake criterion.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 above illustrates the display system #100 that includes a wake control system #200 that is implemented by the various components to determine when to transition from a low-power state to a high-power state.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent 11726324.

Today’s Remaining Granted Patents