For some time now, there have been rumors of an Apple car. Apple has previously submitted many patent applications for vehicles, sparking a variety of rumors from fans. However, an Apple vehicle might be in the works.
According to a recent report, 66 patent applications for an Apple Car have been published by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The patents cover a variety of topics, including depth mapping, time of flight sensors, vehicle steering systems, and much more.
Which technologies can be used by the Apple Car?
More Apple Car Leaks: Apple Secures 66 Patents for Mapping and Driving The patents imply that iPhone cameras be utilized for depth mapping using a radiation source, according to a recent Apple article.
The depth detecting technique described in the patent is something we’ve seen previously.
According to the source, Apple would use its LiDAR sensor for depth detecting because it now enhances the quality of night mode photos.
The patent that the USPO has made public refers to Apple’s second patent on “calibration of depth,” specifically for time-of-flight sensing and depth mapping using beam sources and sensors.
More Apple Car Leaks: Apple Secures 66 Patents for Mapping and Driving Picture Source: Patently Apple
According to reports, the Apple automobile will estimate the distance between several sensor arrays and external objects.
A side view of the depth mapping system is shown in FIG. 1.
The image below shows another illustration of dots projected onto a chosen scene using a Toof sensor array.
While Patent FIG. 3 shows how the steering system’s actuator modules are configured.
Apple’s recently approved patent also includes a depth-sensing device that uses a radiation source to direct light pulses to a certain area.
After the light pulses reflect off the item, it will calculate their individual arrival times.
A steer-by-wire system is an option.
The article also discusses Steer-by-wire technology that can be utilized in the Apple automobile and has several steering actuators.
Actuators in vehicles are programmable mechanisms that affect how they move.
A steering-by-wire system can do away with the need for a physical link between the steering wheel and the wheels of the vehicle.
The invention also includes a technique for controlling the Apple automobile.
The vehicle may quickly switch between automatic steering via wire control and blended steering angles.
A steering actuator module in the steering system is shown in Apple’s Patent FIG. 3.
Apple has added ten more claims for “A method for operating a vehicle” and twenty more claims for “A steering system.”
We advise reading the article if you’re curious about some of the patent claims involving a steering system.
