Apple patents unified animation API for 2D and 3D displays
Apple describes a method for running 2D and 3D animation processes together on a device. It takes a single animation definition and splits it into separate instructions for the 2D and 3D systems to generate display data. The device then shows the animation on the screen using both sets of data.
In the filing’s own words
In one implementation, a method of displaying an animation is performed by a device including a display, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes executing a 2D animation system process, executing a 3D animation system process, and executing a 3D animation application process including a 3D animation definition defining an animation changing a target property of a 2D layer of an entity from a first value at a first time to a second value at a second time. Executing the 3D animation application process includes generating a 2D animation definition defining the animation, providing the 2D animation definition to the 2D animation system process for generating 2D display data, and providing the 3D animation definition to the 3D animation system process for generating 3D display data. The method further includes displaying the animation on the display based on the 2D display data and the 3D display data.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1 - 20. (canceled)
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Unified Animation API
- Publication number
- US20260268565A1
- Application number
- 19565933
- Filed
- Mar 13, 2026
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
G06T 13/20 Physics & computingG06T 13/80 Physics & computingG06T 19/00 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AI & software
- Apple patents AI that acts on voicemails for you Oct 15, 2026
- Apple patents letting users teach custom hand gestures to their devices Oct 22, 2026
- Apple patents AI that acts on voicemails for you Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents video tool that swaps focus between subjects after filming Oct 20, 2026
- Apple patents system that changes room ambience based on what you look at Sep 3, 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.