Patent Shows That LG's Virtual Reality Headset Can Split In Half

A new LG patent has surfaced online, showing what appears to be the company’s upcoming virtual reality headset. The patent shows that LG’s VR headset will have a peculiar design wherein it is capable of detaching in half between the displays.

The patent for LG’s VR headset was first spotted by the Dutch website LetsGoDigital last week. The patent is filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). LG’s VR headset can split in half up front and separates the dual displays inside. When worn tightly, the VR headset is supposed to stay together and users will be able to start viewing VR experiences.

The design of the LG VR headset appears to be similar to the prototype of Nonobject. The industrial design firm’s prototype VR headset uses a set of magnets to keep the VR headset from splitting in half while being used. The main difference between Nonobject’s prototype and LG’s VR headset is that the latter features a spring-loaded mechanism that clips the headset together, according to Road To VR.

The unusual design of the new VR headset could be LG’s way to set itself apart from other big players in the virtual reality market, as pointed out by Digital Trends. Right now, the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive are the two most popular VR headsets for high-end virtual reality. Both are capable of delivering impressively immersive experiences, but there really is nothing special about their designs.

The patent also shows that the LG VR headset comes with integrated headphones. LG’s method of including a set of integrated headphones is similar to the latest iteration of Sony’s PlayStation VR headset.

Back in February, LG announced that it partnered with Valve to create its own virtual reality headset. At the time, the company showed off a prototype of the headset which featured 3.64-inch OLED displays with a screen resolution of 1,440 x 1,280 pixels per each eye. The displays also have a 90Hz refresh rate. It remains unclear if the illustrations in this newly discovered patent is LG’s consumer-ready version of that prototype. It’s possible that LG could be working on more than one version of its virtual reality headset, but the company hasn’t officially announced anything thus far.

What’s certain however is that LG is working alongside Valve for its VR headset. The LG VR headset will be powered by Valve’s SteamVR platform and is also expected to come with SteamVR tracking technology. LG’s VR headset is expected to compete directly with the HTC Vive. For those who might have forgotten, HTC also partnered with Valve to design and create the Vive VR headset. Like the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift, LG’s VR headset will be wired and will require a high-powered PC in order to work.

This won’t be LG’s first attempt at penetrating the virtual reality market. Last year, LG released the 360 VR headset, which only worked for the LG G5. It was able to deliver a compact and lightweight mobile VR experience, but it wasn’t received well by critics and never caught on with consumers.