We’ve known for some time that electronics company LG have been working with Valve on a new VR headset. A recent Trademark application revealed the name of the device as the LG UltraGear VR. Now a patent application has shown what the final design will look like.
Previously only the prototype version of the headset had been seen, where it featured two 3.64” OLED displays with a resolution of 1440×1280 pixels and a 90Hx refresh rate, thus giving the device a higher quality display compared to the HTC Vive. This appears to be carried through to the final design, though even at this stage, specs can still change and LG are keeping the rest of the technical specifications close to its chest for now.
The LG UltraGear VR’s most interesting design feature is its ability to open up at the front. Unlike the prototype design which had a flip-up visor similar to some of the Windows Mixed Reality devices, the patent describes the ability for the front to split open and rest around the user’s neck, placing the weight on the user’s shoulders instead of the top of the head. Lets Go Digital, who discovered the patent, commented that this sounded like a much more comfortable way of wearing a VR headset when not in use.
The patent application filed at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) features over 15 design sketches to illustrate the finalised design. In addition to the innovative front-opening system, the LG headset also has an adjustable strap, built-in headphones and a round button as the back to adjust the fit. Tracking systems will still be provided by Valve’s SteamVR system, likely using the same Lighthouse tracking station as the HTC Vive.
It is not currently known when LG plans on officially unveiling the final product, but most experts are predicting that it will appear at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that is due to take place in Las Vegas in January, 2018.
VRFocus will bring you further news on the LG UltraGear VR as it becomes available.
via Mint VR