Apple patents method to build 3D models from single-pass scans
Apple describes a technique for creating 3D models by taking photos and depth data while moving a device around an object. The system filters out blurry or distorted images by tracking how specific points on the object shift across frames, ensuring only clear data is used to build the model.
In the filing’s own words
Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that generates a three-dimensional (3D) model based on a selected subset of the images and depth data corresponding to each of the images of the subset. For example, an example process may include acquiring sensor data during movement of the device in a physical environment including an object, the sensor data including images of a physical environment captured via a camera on the device, selecting a subset of the images based on assessing the images with respect to motion-based defects based on device motion and depth data, and generating a 3D model of the object based on the selected subset of the images and depth data corresponding to each of the images of the selected subset.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: at a device having a processor: acquiring a plurality of images and depth data during movement of the device in a physical environment comprising an object; determining, at a first point in time, a first location of a pixel associated with the object based on the depth data; determining, at a second point in time, a second location of the pixel associated with the object based on the depth data; determining a distance between the first location and the second location of the pixel; and selecting a subset of the images based on an assessment of a change in the distance between the first location and the second location of the pixel.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- SINGLE-PASS OBJECT SCANNING
- Publication number
- US20260260421A1
- Application number
- 19650667
- Filed
- Apr 17, 2026
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06T 17/00 Physics & computingG06T 7/20 Physics & computingG06T 7/579 Physics & computingG06T 19/006 Physics & computingH04N 23/633 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/64 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in AI & software
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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.