Future head-mounted displays, such as "Apple Glass", may automatically remove dust that obstructs the wearer's vision. If you wear glasses and have a cloth to clean them repeatedly, you may still need to wipe down the "Apple Glass." However, a newly revealed patent application suggests that Apple is looking to keep the inside of the device clean on its own.
The newly granted patent, "Particle Control for Head-Mountable Device," discusses how the device itself removes dust or other debris from what Apple calls an "optical module."
" The quality of the view provided by the optical module may depend on the clarity of the optical path between the image source and the user's eyes," the patent application says.
"For example, particles (eg, dust, debris, foreign objects, and/or other materials) along the optical path may obstruct, distort, and/or otherwise adversely affect the view provided to the user," the patent continues.
"In particular, where the display element includes a high-resolution display, such particles on the surface of the display element may block entire pixels and/or multiple pixels, thereby altering the image transmitted to the user from its intended form," Apple said.
According to Apple, the problem will only increase "over the life of the headset." It can occur even if the equipment is "sealed to prevent and/or limit the ingress of substantially all particles from the outside environment".
Over time, "degradation, erosion, friction, wear and/or aging of components" may mean "particles migrate" or "collect on display elements".
Apple's proposal is that the device itself can remove dust and capture "particles so they don't interfere with the user's view of and/or through the optics." One way this can be achieved is through vibration.
Details in patent application show different ways lenses or other optics can be moved to remove debris
"For example, a display element and/or another optical element may move in a manner that releases particles on its viewing surface," the patent application says. "The optical module can include a particle retention element that firmly retains particles, keeping them out of the optical path."
So "Apple Glass" can shake off these dust particles and collect them in a safe place out of the wearer's sight. This vibration can be done automatically when the device detects a problem or when the wearer chooses to use it.
The patent is attributed to five inventors including Ivan S. Maric. His previous work for Apple included designing how the MacBook Pro would sense its environment in a HomePod style.
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