According to the list published by the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), Apple has recently obtained a technology patent related to AR projectors, which can be applied to Mac computers, desk lamps, TVs and other devices in the future.
According to the patent description, Apple’s envisioned AR projector can project an interactive area on any surface, and a computer can generate various virtual objects, and users can intuitively interact with these virtual elements through gestures such as clicking and zooming.
It is learned from the patent that Apple describes the projector as having an array of light emitters and sensors, one or more cameras (e.g., visible light camera, stereoscopic imaging system, infrared camera, depth-sensing camera, etc.), one or more Ultrasonic sensors, one or more RF sensors (such as ultra-wideband RF sensors).
The position sensor can collect gesture input, etc. In addition, the projector is also equipped with a microphone to detect voice input. The projector can synthesize these input data and adjust the interactive scene according to the user’s requirements.
