Today the US Patent & Trademark Office granted Apple a patent that relates to the sensing of surface quality and, more particularly, to the sensing of surface quality using self-mixing interferometry. Today the US Patent & Trademark Office granted Apple a patent that relates to the sensing of surface quality and, more particularly, to the sensing of surface quality using self-mixing interferometry. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted a patent to Apple relating to surface quality measurement and, in particular, to surface quality measurement using automixing interferometry. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent related to surface quality measurement, more specifically, surface quality measurement using automixing interferometry. While Apple’s patent focuses on the upcoming VR smart glove system and the Apple Pencil with SMI sensor, the VR smart glove might be of interest to those who love gaming.
While the graphics in Apple VR headsets will be amazing, it’s safe to say that using a smart glove in a game will make users feel like they’re actually touching elements in new worlds, underwater elements, or tunnel walls. more realistic than ever. It will add a whole new level of sensory experience.
The Apple patent covers surface quality determination based on self-mixing interferometry (SMI). This technology could turn devices like the Apple Pencil into a more compact smart glove or smart ring. This will allow the devices to consume less power and operate at higher speeds than existing mechanical surface profiling sensors and/or image-based surface quality sensors.
For example, a glove may be embedded with a set of SMI sensors and associated processing systems that can detect the surface quality of objects as the glove wearer moves through an AR or VR environment.
Apple patent drawing. Figure IB below shows an example of a wearable device that includes an array of one or more SMI sensors.
In some embodiments, other than smart gloves, as shown, for example, in figures 1 and 2 of the patent. Referring to Figures 11A and 11B below, operations may include animation of interactions between virtual objects and objects in an AR or VR environment. Animation can be performed depending on the surface quality of the target. For example, in an AR or VR environment where a virtual balloon is shown on the display, if 1) the balloon makes virtual contact with the target and 2) the surface, the AR or VR environment can animate the “explosion” of the balloon. The quality of the target is very rough, usually causing the balloon to burst. This will be the SMI sensor in the headset, which makes it look realistic.
For the Apple Pencil, using the SMI sensor will allow the user or artist to have a better feel for different surfaces, so the pen will feel better when writing on virtual paper or drawing on a canvas or wall.
For example, an array of SMI sensors and their associated processing system may be embedded in a stylus (or electronic pen, pencil, or brush) that can be used to write on any surface while rendering on an associated electronic device, drawing, or drawing. . Displays the line (or stroke) quality that matches the surface quality (such as roughness or waviness) of the surface on which the user writes, draws, or draws.
Posted by Jack Percher on October 24, 2022 at 09:04 AM. Patents granted, Apple accessories, HMD, smart glasses+ | Permalink | Comments (0)
Post time: Oct-28-2022