Apple patents 3D avatar editing tools that move with you
Apple describes a system for editing virtual avatars in a 3D space using a floating menu. The menu stays in place when you move slightly but moves with you if you walk a certain distance.
In the filing’s own words
The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for interacting with virtual avatars and/or user representations.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computer system configured to communicate with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices, the computer system comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: concurrently displaying, via the one or more display generation components: an avatar at a first location in a three-dimensional environment; and a respective user interface that includes one or more controls for editing a visual appearance of the avatar that are incorporated into a surface that is displayed proximate to the avatar but is spaced apart from the avatar in a simulated depth dimension of the three-dimensional environment relative to a viewpoint of a user; while concurrently displaying the avatar and the respective user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, an input directed to a control in the respective user interface; in response to detecting the input directed to the control in the respective user interface, changing an appearance of the avatar based on the input; while displaying the respective user interface that includes the one or more controls for editing the visual appearance of the avatar at a first user interface location in the three-dimensional environment, detecting, via the one or more input devices, movement by the user; and in response to detecting the movement by the user: in accordance with a determination that the movement by the user exceeds a distance threshold, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, the respective user interface that includes the one or more controls for editing the visual appearance of the avatar at a modified user interface location in the three-dimensional environment different from the first user interface location in the three-dimensional environment; and in accordance with a determination that the movement by the user does not exceed the distance threshold, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, movement of the avatar based on the movement by the user while maintaining display of the respective user interface that includes the one or more controls for editing the visual appearance of the avatar at the first user interface location in the three-dimensional environment.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Techniques for interacting with virtual avatars and/or user representations
- Patent number
- US12743859B2
- Application number
- 18391199
- Filed
- Dec 20, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 36
Classified under
G06T 19/20 Physics & computingG06T 13/40 Physics & computingG06T 19/003 Physics & computingG06T 2219/2016 Physics & computingG06T 2219/2021 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
- Apple patents AR glasses that zoom in on what you look at Sep 8, 2026
- Apple patents finger ring that controls VR with taps and waves Sep 15, 2026
- Apple patents head-mounted device that types via eye swipes and hand pinches Oct 6, 2026
- Apple patents eye-tracking and hand gestures to select screen items Oct 20, 2026
- Apple patents AR glasses that adjust lenses to fit your eyes Sep 17, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.