Apple Virtual Reality Headset Force Touch Glove Patent
Photo credit: Patently Apple
Rumors are circulating of an Apple virtual reality headset that could be launching as soon as 2023, but a recently approved patent may have leaked some of the included accessories. More specifically, force touch gloves using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques using one or more ultrasonic waves propagating in the user’s body.


Apple Virtual Reality Headset Force Touch Glove Patent
How would the force touch gloves work? A transducer can be paired to a finger and then transmit ultrasonic waves into them. As the wave propagates through the finger’s layers, a reflection of he transmitted wave results due to the bone and/or due to reaching the opposite side of the finger. Time-of-flight (or changes) can be used to detect applied force when this happens. As for virtual realty in cars, there’s Audi’s Holoride, which offers an adaptive experience while driving.

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FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary system with an ultrasonic force detection system for detecting an applied force between a finger and a surface; and FIGS. 6B illustrates an example of a finger with an applied force of zero and with a non-zero applied force,” said Patently Apple.

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