Apple’s choice to make use of tethered Imaginative and prescient Professional batteries raised just a few eyebrows when the upcoming product was introduced, with the choice apparently made to scale back the burden of the headset.
Nevertheless, the corporate was involved that the front-heavy weight stability of the gadget might trigger neck pressure, and a brand new Apple patent utility places ahead a possible answer – which borrows from a Meta Quest headset accent proven above …
Imaginative and prescient Professional batteries
When Apple first introduced Imaginative and prescient Professional again in June, it let chosen media representatives strive it out for themselves – together with our personal Likelihood Miller – and he raised the burden of the headset as a possible concern when utilizing it for longer periods.
Apple took two selections to attempt to decrease the issue. First, it made the gadget as small as attainable, at the price of not permitting room for eyeglasses. Second, the headset is plugged right into a a separate, tethered battery pack – a call some felt wasn’t very according to the corporate’s minimalist design philosophy.
Even so, Apple was nonetheless involved that the front-heavy middle of gravity might be an issue.
Rear counterweight proposed
One attainable answer Apple has explored was described in a patent granted final month: including a rear counterweight.
Whereas this is able to in fact enhance the general weight of the headset, it will create a greater weight-balance.
A major a part of the problem shouldn’t be the burden itself, however relatively the burden distribution. A lot of the tech – and thus many of the weight – is on the entrance of the headset, exerting downward strain on the entrance. Resisting that strain is a key supply of neck fatigue.
What the patent proposes is a rear counterweight, to create a extra impartial middle of gravity.
Head-mounted battery plate
I famous on the time that I’d purchased a Meta Quest 2 accent comprising a extra snug headband with a rear-mounted supplementary battery.
The front-heavy weight stability meant that I continuously felt like my head was being pulled ahead and down. Not massively, however sufficient that it grew to become irritating after round 30-40 minutes of use.
Meta does have an answer to this, within the type of the Quest 2 Elite Strap. It is a extra snug strap typically, cradling the again of your head, but additionally features a second battery within the rear part. Whereas this does makes the entire unit heavier, the extra even weight distribution nonetheless improves consolation (in addition to doubling battery-life from round two hours to about 4).
What the most recent Apple patent utility describes is actually borrowing this concept from Meta – however as an alternative of a set battery, there’s a battery mount to which you’ll connect swappable batteries.
Patently Apple noticed it.
Apple’s European patent submitting pertains to a mount that’s attachable to a help, similar to a headscarf or retention band, of a head-mountable gadget (HMD). The disclosed mount solves elementary challenges confronted by typical HMDs by offering not less than the next benefits. Firstly, the mount permits an adjunct, similar to an auxiliary battery, to be conveniently hooked up to the HMD. Secondly, the mount addresses the issue of an unbalanced weight distribution skilled by a consumer whereas carrying the HMD. Thirdly, the mount can embody a cable administration system or cable organizer that retains a cable or wire, thereby eliminating or lowering slack within the cable.
Picture: Meta
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