Apple patents passive room mapping using camera features
Apple has filed a patent for a method that creates a 3D map of a room by analyzing photos taken by a device's camera. The system counts distinct visual features in the images and only builds the map if enough data is captured, ensuring the model is accurate without requiring user input.
In the filing’s own words
In one implementation, a method of generating a mesh of a physical environment is performed by a device including an image sensor, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes capturing, using the image sensor, a plurality of images of a physical environment. The method includes detecting, in the plurality of images, a plurality of features. The method includes determining an enrollment score based on a number of the plurality of images and a number of the plurality of features. The method includes, in response to determining that the enrollment score is greater than a threshold, generating a mesh of the physical environment based on the plurality of images.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: at a device including an image sensor, non-transitory memory, and one or more processors: capturing, using the image sensor, a plurality of images of a physical environment; detecting, in the plurality of images, a plurality of features; determining an enrollment score based on a number of the plurality of images and a number of the plurality of features; and in response to determining that the enrollment score is greater than a threshold, generating a mesh of the physical environment based on the plurality of images.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- PASSIVE ROOM ENROLLMENT
- Publication number
- US20260278937A1
- Application number
- 19555292
- Filed
- Mar 3, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06T 17/20 Physics & computingG06T 7/13 Physics & computingG06T 2207/20164 Physics & computingG06T 2207/30168 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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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.