In December 2013 we posted a report titled "Take a Peek at a Few Key PrimeSense Patents that Apple Gained." The report showcased some advanced inventions regarding Augmented Reality, Gaze Control for a 3D interface, several projector inventions with one for glasses and so forth that Apple gained with their acquisition of Primesense. Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published granted patent 9,201,501 titled "Adaptive projector." This is Apple's second granted patent regarding this projector this quarter.

Granted Patent: Adaptive Projector

Apple's newly granted patent generally relates to natural interaction systems. More particularly this invention relates to adaptive reality augmentation and 3-dimensional input interfaces.

Apple further notes that the invention, in certain embodiments seeks to provide an improved content projection device, which is aware of objects in its field of view, recognizing such objects as suitable for projection of content thereon. The projection device may adapt to the geometry and character of the objects by controlling scale, distortion, focus of the projected content, and varying the projected content itself. Additionally or alternatively, the projection device may adapt the projected content according to the relationship of the viewer to the projected content, such as its gaze vector, distance from the surface onto which content is projected, and other similar parameters. The 2D/3D input device used to analyze the geometry for projection can also be used to interact with the projected content.

According to disclosed embodiments of the invention, methods and apparatus are provided for the projection of content, such as the input device interface, using a 3-dimensional input device as means of determining the optimal objects to serve as substrate for such content projection.

Apple's patent FIG. 1, which is presented in our cover graphic, is a schematic pictorial illustration of an interactive three-dimensional video display system; FIG. 6 illustrates an interactive three-dimensional video display system that includes a wearable monitor.

Apple's granted patent was originally filed in Q4 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Comments are reviewed daily from 5am to 6pm MST and sporadically over the weekend.