Samsung's New Patent Reveals Next-Generation Gear VR Features: Supports Drones, Trackpads, and Folding

The first generation of Gear VR is relatively simple in function, mainly to allow Galaxy mobile phone users to experience the fun of VR games. This week, the U.S. Trademark Office’s information shows that Samsung is applying for a brand new Gear VR patent that will enable the next generation of products to have more native features and new input accessories. New Gear VR foldable touchpad As shown in Fig.1, we can see that the new mask made of transparent glass panel will allow the Galaxy phone to take a picture of the outside world through the camera, so that the user can perceive the surrounding environment, and the system can also be used as a user in the display. Provides a picture-in-picture view. The following three new input accessories are connected to the Galaxy phone via USB. The new accessory allows users to select, move, or interact with objects in the game menu without having to use their hands. As can be seen in FIG. 6 of the patent diagram, the touch panel can be rotated or folded so that the user can operate the accessory at different angles. Panoramic shooting and drone shooting As can be seen in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the user can simply click on the touchpad to tap the options in the Galaxy phone, or take a panoramic picture by turning the input accessory and moving the head. When the Gear VR panel is converted into a transparent glass panel, the user can take a picture by one-click on the panel. This approach makes panoramic shooting more stable because users do not need to hold the phone. Samsung also stated in the patent that the Gear VR will be able to be compatible with future UAVs, controlled by head-mounted displays and some new input accessories. Samsung submitted the above patent application in October 2016, but it is still uncertain when a specific product will be available. Yesterday, Apple said that the company won the patent war for Siri icon in China and the European Union, and confirmed that Siri will log in future smart eyewear products. Apple’s patent for this design, as well as two practical patents announced in 2017, indicate that Apple’s head will use Siri as the main control method for future heads-up or smart glasses. In 2010, Apple proposed a headphone with a remote control, so that may become a secondary input method. We can see that Apple is slowly preparing its AR and VR devices. The latest Mac Pro trademark also includes a series of related keywords and phrases such as head-mounted displays, heads-up, augmented reality displays, and handles.