Last Sunday Patently Apple posted a continuation patent report titled "Apple's Long-Standing iPhone 'Glasses' Accessory Patent Continues to add new Features to Protect." That was timely considering that the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application from Apple today that shows that Apple has finally updated their HMD-Styled accessory device design as noted in our cover graphic. The HMD accessory is one of many new accessory devices presented in today's patent filing that also covers possible future cases and folios for the iPhone and iPad.

Starting with Apple's patent FIG. 11 below, Apple describes the HMD-Styled accessory that is designed to be paired with an iPhone. Apple notes that an "accessory device #800 may include a head mounted device that can take the form of a virtual reality headset or an augmented reality headset.

When the iPhone is positioned in the receptacle the target (#826) can be detected by a detection mechanism #866, and communication can subsequently be established between the wireless circuitry (#822) in the accessory device (#800) and wireless circuitry (#864) in the iPhone.

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Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of an accessory device; FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of an alternate embodiment of an accessory device, showing the accessory device having a touch display.

Apple notes that in patent FIG. 1, the target #126 is a magnet that emits an external magnetic field that is detectable by a magnetic field sensor (not shown in FIG. 1) of the mobile wireless communication device. The target can provide several benefits for the accessory device #100. For example, when a mobile wireless communication device is positioned in the receptacle and detects the target, communication may be initiated between the mobile wireless communication device and the accessory device.

In addition to communication features, the wireless circuitry #122 may provide additional functions, such as providing power to components of the accessory device. Although not shown, the accessory device may include an inductive charging coil designed to supply power to the internal power supply 128, or other devices of the accessory device that require power.

Below we present patent FIG. 8 that could provide information related to the appearance of the accessory device #600. For example, in some embodiments, the accessory device includes information stored on the memory circuit #624 associated with a particular theme. The theme may include a user-preferred theme, such as a sport franchise, a college or university, or a particular location of interest, as non-limiting examples.

Lastly, we see that Apple is still working on their AirPower charging pad in FIG. 12 above. 

Apple's patent application that was published today by the U.S. Patent Office was filed back in Q3 2019 Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.