Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to head-mountable devices, and, more particularly, to head-mountable devices with optical assemblies that could be separated from the HMD and facilitate a shared experience with another user. That's an interesting idea.

Optical Assemblies For Shared Experience

Head-mountable devices, such as head-mountable displays, headsets, visors, smartglasses, head-up display, etc., can perform a range of functions that are managed by the components (e.g., sensors, circuitry, and other hardware) included with the wearable device.

A head-mountable device can operate in concert with one or more optical assemblies thereof to provide multiple users with shared experiences and content enjoyment.

Such operations can be facilitated by a connection between the head-mountable device and one or both of its optical assemblies to allow different users to receive content. Such a connection can be made possible by a communication link that directly and/or physically connects the head-mountable device and one or both of its optical assemblies when the one or both of the optical assemblies is removed from the head-mountable device for operation by a separate user.

The burden of processing can be shared between multiple devices and/or delegated to a designated device. At least some content provided for output on the head-mountable device can be transmitted to a detached optical assembly device for output thereat.

The connection can facilitate such transmission in a manner that reduces the burden of generating content and/or adapting content for output on any given display. The ability to provide multiple outputs on separate components allows separate users to participate in a shared experience.

To review the full details of this invention, check out granted patent 12250361.

 Apple Inventors

• Paul Wang: Senior Manager, Product Design
• Jeremy Franklin: Product Design Manager