Apple AR Glasses May Feature Removable Headphones And Light-Activated Cameras

We have been hearing reports that Apple is currently developing augmented reality (AR) glasses, which could arrive sometime in 2020 or 2021. Talks about augmented reality technology have been rife online since many believe that AR glasses might soon replace smartphones. While we still do not know what we will expect from the long-awaited Apple headset, a new set of patents may have revealed some of its possible features.

The US Patent and Trademark Office published a couple of patent applications from Apple, which are, in a way, related to a possible headset, reports Apple Insider. The patents are part of the more extensive series of patents submitted by the Cupertino tech juggernaut published just recently. It is worth mentioning that these patents were files a few months ago and were publicly released by the USPTO.

There are lots of exciting details that point to the idea that Apple is currently exploring right now in relation to its Apple AR Glasses. One patent labeled "Electronic Devices having Electrically Adjustable Optical Layers," which is applicable to a head-mounted housing, a handheld device, or other housing for an electronic device. Technically, the patent has something to do with the hiding or revealing of optical components that entail a particular amount of light in order for it to operate.

The patent also mentions adjustable transparency for an optical layer that would hide or reveal the optical components. The other patent is labeled "Display System Having An Audio Output Device," which refers to "a head-mounted display unit and a detachable speaker unit." basically, it refers to the headphone component of Apple AR Glasses. The patent could also mean anything ranging from detachable headphones that allow the user to use its own headphones or adjustable headphones to match various head shapes and sizes.

Interestingly, there is also a feature that mentions a visual indicator in the headset, which is related to the spatial proximity of the removable speaker. These details are exciting, but these are preliminary glimpses of the possible features that may or may not end up in Apple AR Glasses. If these patents ever see the light of day, there are still a lot of modifications that Apple may do to its AR Glasses before it finally reaches the consumers.