Apple patent application details light-weight laser-based head mounted display

Head-mounted displays are nothing new, and neither is the prospect of displaying content from a mobile phone or other mobile device at nose-distance. But, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s newest patent application to go public details plans for a laser-based head mounted display that lightens the load by separating the “laser engine” from the goggle-like head mounted display.

“A user simply plugs their handheld video player such as the iPod manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., into the compact laser engine attached to their belt, and places the headset on their head. The user then selects a video to be played at the handheld video player (viewing through transparent display elements).”

When not in use, the goggles can be used as normal eyeglasses or sunglasses, as no image or video is projected onto the lens. It’d be great to walk around with a heads-up display of Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps or an RSS feed from my iPhone. That is, as long as the goggles are at least somewhat attractive. What good is heads-up video if you have to deal with sneers and snickers from everyone around you?

[Via: MacRumors]