Apple patents “stone” for Vision Pro: what is it and what is it for?

There are still a few months left before the opening. Apple Vision Pro launched on the US market, but in the last few hours a new curiosity related to a space computer developed in Cupertino has become known. the ones from the apple patented “stone” for your mixed reality glasses.

This is an accessory that, apparently, will allow Apple to expand the capabilities of the Vision Pro beyond the original. Everything indicates that the use of the word “stone” refers to both the form factor and the size of the device itself. While those in Cupertino have taken care to be fairly vague – both in text and graphics – since not to reveal exactly what will be the real purpose of this element.

It doesn’t mean no some interesting tips In the document, they can demonstrate where Apple intends to go with this kind of “electronic gem” for the Vision Pro. In addition, the patent reflects the many configurations and technologies that may or may not be included in this accessory.

This is something that is clear from the very beginning of the patent. In the summary, Apple mentions the following:

“The implementations of the considered technology provide a small portable physical object for use in an augmented reality system. The system may include a device that allows the user/carrier to interact with virtual representations of content such as stored data and/or application overlays. in the user’s physical environment. The object has a unique identifier that can be obtained by the device or another device. The object may be an idle device without any internal circuitry, a passive device with circuitry activated by another device, or an active device having its own processing circuitry and/or display located in the object’s body. The object can be associated with the content displayed by the device to provide the user with a physical object that can be moved or manipulated to move, change. transport or store content created, stored and/or displayed in an augmented reality environment.”

This first segment makes it clear that Apple is working on a “small and portable” accessory for the Vision Pro. References to “virtual imaging” and “augmented reality environments” leave no room for doubt. The interesting thing is that, if the interpretation is correct, this device can serve as a means of storing and exchanging information between different Vision Pro devices.. Or at least it could be one of its many – and still hypothetical – uses.

Apple Vision Pro may use “electronic stone” as an accessory

Apple has patented a very wide range of possible uses and technologies for the Vision Pro accessory.. This responds to the need to cover as many questions as possible when working on an element whose final implementation – both for the first version and for future generations – has not yet been fully clarified. That is why, in such situations, they tend to cover as many options as possible within the same patent.

Therefore, it is not surprising that in other fragments of the document, Apple mentions the possible addition of various components. From cameras and touch sensors to heart rate monitors or inertial measuring instruments, just to name a few. Or that it might even provide tactile or audible feedback when performing certain actions.

But a specific fragment of the patent would make sense to interpret this “stone” as a possible method store and share augmented reality elements between different Apple Vision Pro.

“Technological implementations […] Described herein provide augmented reality systems for using one or more additional physical devices with which content created and/or stored in an XR environment can be associated.

The systems and methods described herein associate system generated and/or stored content with an additional physical device such that the association is maintained even when the system’s XR components are inactive or turned off. Thus, a user of the XR system may be provided with a portable companion device (sometimes referred to herein as a “rock”) that can be carried around to transport content from the XR environment to the physical world.

The same XR system can then access related content when it detects a companion device. […]. Thus, a user of an XR system may be given the ability to transfer content such as a stack of digital photographs, the state of an active document or application, and/or digital currency (for example) within the physical world for later use. Access by various devices or systems.

The patent mentions various methods that can be used in different Apple Vision Pro to detect and activate the “electronic stone”. And also presented several other, somewhat technical and even confusing scenarios. In any case, what we collect here seems to be one of the most possible applications of the accessory In the not too distant future.

If the text in your document is still not very clear to you, don’t worry. To be honest, the patent suggests that Apple is developing technology that can link virtual content created with Vision Pro to a small handheld device. This will allow you to store it there so it doesn’t get lost when you turn off your mixed reality headset, as well as transfer it to other devices for sharing. Almost like a USB stick, but much more complex and designed for augmented reality environments..

It remains to be seen if this interpretation is correct, or whether Apple will continue to develop this “stone” type accessory for the Vision Pro at all. We will be following the news closely.