Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to future specialized Apple watch bands hat include markers to assist HMDs correctly position a users arms or hands in XR environments. The markets could also allow an HMD like Vision Pro to overlay a customized Virtual user interface for the watch that relates to  specific user applications. The patent is heavy on the technical aspect of the invention and light on the specific user applications that they wish to keep under wraps for the time being.

Electronic systems may utilize identifiable markers to track the location and/or orientation of a reference point from the physical environment. For example, electronic systems may track the location and/or orientation of the user's hands to allow information regarding the positioning of the user's hands to be incorporated into a virtual reality (VR) system, an augmented reality (AR) system, and/or a mixed reality (MR) system.

In some applications, electronic systems may visually track distinct markers to provide a reference from the physical environment or surroundings of the user. Markers are often visually distinctive and unwieldy. Therefore, markers for electronic systems may not be convenient or visually appealing to users.

It can be desirable to provide markers that are visually appealing and convenient for users while providing a reliable reference point for electronic systems. For example, systems of the present disclosure can provide a watch band that provide a marker pattern to a computer-generated reality device.

The watch band can include structures or features that provide an identifiable marker pattern to the computer-generated reality device. The structures or features that provide the marker pattern can be invisible or imperceptible to the user. Structures or features of the watch band can include infrared reflective thread, visually obscured markers, or lenticular lens assemblies.

In Apple's patent FIG. 1 below we see a user wearing a Vision Pro-like headset working in concert with an Apple Watch that incorporates a specialized band as part of a VR/XR system. Markers could integrated into the watch band.

For example, the marker #152 can provide a reference point in the physical environment to virtually overlay an interface #6 using the displays of the head-mountable device #100 or other suitable device. The user #2 can use the interface to launch applications or interact with applications within the HMD (Vision Pro).

In FIG. 2, a watch band #150 for use with a watch #20 can provide a marker #152 to the HMD #10. The watch band can include features like a marker pattern to provide a reference point in the physical environment for a virtual reality (VR) system, an augmented reality (AR) system, and/or a mixed reality (MR) system.

 Optionally, the marker threads #153 are indistinguishable from, imperceptible from, or otherwise hidden among the woven, fabric threads of the band body #151 under visible light in the human visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the marker threads are formed from infrared reflective thread that reflects infrared light to provide a marker  or marker pattern, while being visually similar to the fabric of the band body under visible light in the human visible spectrum.

In the depicted FIG. 3 below, a machine-identifiable pattern or marker  is displayed on the band body. The marker can be printed, dyed, embossed, engraved, or attached to the surface of the band body. The arrangement or pattern of the marker can be selected to be visually appealing. In some embodiments, the marker is visible under visible light in the human visible spectrum. Optionally, the marker may only be visible under ultraviolet and/or infrared light, or otherwise visible to an electronic system.

In Apple's patent FIGS. 4 and 5 above, the watch band can include a lenticular lens assembly #155 that allows the marker to be visible from certain angles while obscuring the marker from other angles. The marker can be printed, dyed, embossed, engraved, or attached to the surface of the band body. Optionally, the marker #152 may only be visible under ultraviolet and/or infrared light, or otherwise only visible to an electronic system.

As illustrated above, one or more lenses #156 of the lenticular lens assembly #155 can be disposed over the patterns of the marker. The lenses #156 can refract light from the marker such that the marker  is only visible from certain angles. 

For example, the marker may only be visible through lens #156 at an angle A and obscured when viewed at an angle B. In some embodiments, the characteristics of the lenses can be selected such that the angle A permits the electronic device to view the marker while angle B obscures the marker from the user's view.

For full details, review granted patent 11998090.