Another week and another big round of HMD patents that also cover possible future features like a new Fisheye camera. There are three more Mega Patents each with 994 pages each. Others covers biometric enrollment, realistic avatar creation and more.  

Expanded Field of View using Multiple Cameras

Apple invents methods and apparatus for providing an expanded field of view (FoV) using multiple cameras of a device or system. A device may include forward-facing cameras that capture images or video of an environment in front of the device. These images or video streams may be combined and rendered to provide a stereo view of the environment through a display. However, the field of view (FoV) of these systems is limited to the FoV of the forward-facing cameras. Embodiments may use input from one or more other cameras of the device or system to expand the FoV of the forward-facing cameras of a device or system. These other cameras may be referred to as side cameras, while the forward-facing cameras may be referred to as front cameras. Typically, these side cameras have a wide FoV, and may include or be what are known as “fisheye” cameras. The FoVs of the side cameras generally overlap somewhat with the FoV of the front cameras. Embodiments may leverage the input from these side cameras to provide an expanded FoV that may be displayed to the user of the device.

Apple's patent FIG. 4 above graphically illustrates a method for generating images with an expanded FoV of an environment from images captured by forward-facing and side-facing cameras. It provides a Fisheye view. For full details, review patent application 20240397025.

Other HMD Patents for November 28, 2024

20240393872: Realistic Avatar Generation

20240393551: Pattern Projector (15 Pages)

20240393207: Identifying Lens Characteristics using Reflections

20240395073: Devices, Methods and GUIs for Biometric Enrollment

20240397680: Mega Vision Pro #1 (994 Pages)

20240393601: Mega Vision Pro #2 (994 Pages)

20240397032: Mega Vision Pro #3 (994 Pages)