2. Granted Patents
Apple has won an AirPods-Related patent for a Silent Gesture Sensor with a new Bioauthentication Circuit
Apple has won a patent that relates to the use of a new Face ID technology known as Metasurface Optical Elements (MOEs)
Apple has won a Patent for a Larger Lanyard Accessory that could carry an iPhone, iPad, Battery Pack and more
Apple won a patent for an Apple Pencil with an advanced Color Sensor System allowing artists to match colors from a palette of real-world objects
Apple has won a Patent that Reveals the technical features behind a Spatial Audio Rendering Processor Designed for AirPods Max
Apple won a patent for a 'Wearable Loops' device that tracks users, gathers biometric/medical data & inputs such as voice & motion
Apple has won a patent describing possible future Macs & Magic Mouse/Keyboards that use projectors & light sensors to recognize Gestures+
Apple won a series of Design Patents and 42 Utility Patents today covering Audio Bridging, Shielding for iPhone displays with Touch Sensors
Apple wins a Patent for Speaker Systems designed for Closed Environments like a Boardroom, Airplanes, Cruise Ships, Trains+
Apple has won a patent for a MacBook with a Built-In Advanced Event Camera that could capture sophisticated Hand Gestures
Last week Apple was granted a patent for a possible future MacBook with unique Aluminum Keys with Special Features
Apple wins a patent for advanced Eye Detection methods for future eyewear that uses Electrooculography (EOG) Sensors & more
Apple won 42 patents today covering radar-based object detection & tracking along with an iPhone with a Wrap Around Display
Today, Apple won patents for a Conformable HMD Facial Interface, Vision Pro’s EyeSight, a MacBook with an Expandable Display+
Apple has won a Patent for using a Cursor to Interact with 3D Environments on Future Macs, iDevices & HMDs
Apple has been granted a Smartglasses Patent that relates to an on-device system for Calibrating Adjustable Lenses
Apple won a patent for all-glass device embodiments for Apple Watch, Mac & an iPhone that allows Imagery on both Front and Backsides
Apple has won a patent for adding external Touch Display Controls to future versions of Vision Pro that could launch apps & more
Today he U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to a Future version of Apple Vision Pro being provided with tiny external displays with icons that could be activated with fingers touching finger sensors under the icons instead of using buttons. A user's Fingerprint may be required to launch apps and more.
In Apple's patent background they note that electronic devices sometimes include optical components. For example, a wearable electronic device such as a head-mounted device may include a display for displaying an image. Input devices such as buttons may also be included.
Challenges can arise in providing output and gathering input in a wearable electronic device such as a head-mounted device. If care is not taken, input-output devices may be cumbersome to use and may not be able to provide desired output.
HMD's with Finger Sensors
Apple's granted patent covers a possible future version of Vision Pro headset. Head-mounted support structures may be used to support the display and lenses. One or more external displays on the head-mounted support structures may be publicly viewable while the head-mounted device is being worn.
The head-mounted support structures may have a front face. One or more finger sensors that are configured to detect touch input, force input, and/or other input from an external object such as a user's finger may be included in the head-mounted device.
A finger sensor may have an elongated shape that runs along a peripheral edge of an external display mounted on the front face. Finger sensors may also be located on other portions of a head-mounted support structure.
A finger sensor may have a touch sensor configured to gather touch input from a finger or other external object, a force sensor configured to gather force input from a finger or other external object, a proximity sensor configured to detect fingers that are not touching the finger sensor, and/or other sensing circuitry. A haptic output device in the electronic device may provide haptic feedback (e.g., when a user supplies input to a finger sensor).
A display may overlap the finger sensor. For example, an elongated finger sensor may be overlapped by a corresponding elongated display or other display structure. Icons and other reconfigurable visual elements may be displayed on the elongated display (e.g., to implement a reconfigurable function row for the wearable electronic device).
In some configurations, visual elements such as icons can be moved between a first display such as a rectangular main external display and a second display such as an elongated strip-shaped display that runs along a peripheral edge of the main display and that overlaps an elongated strip-shaped finger sensor.
Apple also notes that a sensor and/or other fingerprint sensors of the HMD may include a fingerprint sensor. In this type of configuration, each of a user's different fingerprints (or different fingerprints from different corresponding users) may be used to trigger execution by the HMD. For example, in response to receiving finger input from a first finger, the HMD may enter a first mode of operation, whereas in response to receiving finger input from a second finger that is different than the first finger, the HMD may enter a second mode of operation that is different than the first mode of operation. Fingerprints may be used for authentication, for launching specific applications, operating system functions, or other software, and/or for otherwise providing the HMD with user input.
Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with input-output components; FIG. 3 is a front view of an illustrative electronic device with an area for a front-facing display and an elongated sensor such as a peripheral finger sensor strip; FIG. 4 is atop view of an illustrative electronic device such as a with a finger sensor; FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views of illustrative electronic devices with displays. Enlarge our graphic below to read the extra notes associated with the patent figures.
Apple's patent FIG. 7 above is a front view of an illustrative head-mounted device with a finger sensor for adjusting device settings such as lens position settings; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an illustrative finger sensor formed on a protruding support structure.
To review the full details of this invention, check out granted patent 12265682.
Apple has won a patent for the Ultimate Workplace & Student 'Privacy Mode' feature that Requires Visionware
Apple has been granted a patent for a future Media Editing App that uses Storyboard Templates
Apple wins on odd patent relating to Audience Reactive Media that could slow down a Movie's funny scene until the user's laughter subsides
Apple wins a Patent relating to Charging Systems for Handheld Controllers that work with HMDs, Macs & Home devices
Apple invents a new Cover Glass to improve the Scratch and Burnish Resistance for future iPhones
Apple won a patent for a Magic Mouse that could provide tactile feedback that's more immersive for gaming, designing and more
Apple wins a Watch patent that provides a detachable watch body while retaining health sensors on the band to monitor a user's health
Apple has won a patent for a Hybrid Gaze Tracking System for Future HMDs for Ultrasonic Biometrics & more
Apple won a Patent relating to an Apple Pencil that they refer to as a Virtual Pen
Apple has won a Patent relating to the use of a Future Apple Pencil that could be used to Manipulate Virtual Objects
Apple was granted a Patent for a Collapsible HMD with Adjustable Size and Shape for Charging and Transport
Apple won a major patent for Smart Rings that could control content on displays like an iMac that acts as an In-Air Trackpad & much more
Apple has won a Patent for advanced XR Pinch Recognition using Finger Zones
Continue reading "Apple has won a Patent for advanced XR Pinch Recognition using Finger Zones" »
Apple won 43 utility patents yesterday covering an Apple Watch Band with Wrist Detection, a series of Vision Pro design patents and more
Apple is developing a way to improve future Hand Tracking Accuracy by using 'Spatiotemporal Smoothing'
Apple won a Patent for the addition of a Side Band Display for Vision Pro or Smartglasses to display Icons and Messages
Apple won a Flexible Frame Smartglasses patent describing spring hinges that supply a constant bending force from the temples to the frame
Apple wins an extremely detailed Hypertension (Blood Pressure) Monitoring System patent that pertains to a future Apple Watch+
Apple wins a Patent for an in-store Apple Watch Touchless Wrist Measurement System to assist users get the right fit
Apple wins a Patent for an HMD or Smartglasses that will make the public aware when a user is about to record a video and more
Apple wins a Patent for a Possible future AirPods Pro Feature
Continue reading "Apple wins a Patent for a Possible future AirPods Pro Feature" »