Google Is Rethinking the Connection System of VR Head Display

According to patent documents, Google is rethinking the connection system of VR head display. The world intellectual property organization approved a design patent of Google earlier. Google pointed out in the document that general head display devices are connected with one or more external data sources to transmit video or graphic content. In the past, the connection with external data sources was mainly realized through data lines. However, such a solution is relatively cumbersome and limits the mobility of users.

Therefore, some head display devices choose wireless local area network (WLAN) link to connect with external data sources through inverted-F antenna or monopole antenna. In addition, head display devices are increasingly configured to support wireless connections of various personal devices, or to connect wirelessly with motion controllers via a wireless personal area network (WPAN).

Google pointed out that the typical size of head display equipment usually does not allow sufficient spacing of inverted-F antenna / monopole antenna. Time multiplexing between two antennas is also often difficult to achieve the expected, because doing so will significantly reduce the effective bandwidth of the two antennas. As for separating antennas in the spectrum, this method will limit the number and type of devices that the head display device can connect. Although WLAN antenna conforming to IEEE 802.11 standard can operate in 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band, WPAN antenna conforming to Bluetooth standard only operates in 2.4 GHz band, so this will limit WLAN antenna to 5 GHz band.

According to the patent documents, Google's invention includes WPAN and WLAN antennas, which are widely spaced from each other, with the goal of maximizing transmission performance. This solution is specially designed for VR all-in-one machine. The technology giant said that similar systems can accommodate and make full use of Bluetooth modules at the same time. The patent document does not mention cellular connection, but it should still be within the scope of possibility.

Google is one of the world's largest technology companies, and most of its patents will never be commercialized directly. However, the emergence of solutions for specific product categories shows that they are committed to relevant experiments. In this particular case, Google still seems keen to support the daydream ecosystem in terms of hardware and software. Lenovo mirage solo all-in-one machine running daydream relies on settings similar to this patent. It supports WiFi 802.11 AC / N connection and dual band 2 × 2 MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0.

It is said that Google's network connection solution is more effective than traditional settings, so they may commercialize the technology or license it to a third party. Considering that Google is not particularly active in the field of consumer VR hardware recently, it seems more likely to choose to help its partners achieve product leadership.