Last Thursday, Valve, the parent company of the popular online gaming storefront Steam, filed a technology patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its sophomore virtual reality (VR) headset.
Valve is reportedly working on Deckard, a follow-up to its Index VR headset. Initially leaked in September 2021, Valve will release Deckard as a standalone headset, similarly to other mobile VR devices such as the Meta Quest, negating the need to offload processing power to a desktop.
Additionally, Valve’s USTPO request outlines other features. The firm’s patent reveals that the device contains a sturdy head mounting system that significantly improves the design of “conventional head-mounted displays.”
With the USPTO filing, Valve is attempting to best accommodate differing head sizes with Deckard’s built-in pulleys, ball joints, and harnesses. The design also contains two loudspeaker arms built into the head strap.
The patent request also hints at mixed reality (MR) functions by referring to augmented reality (AR) picture quality and consideration. Valve’s patent filing explains,
“Additionally, failing to properly secure the HMD may impact a quality of images presented in VR and/or AR environments”
In the 2021 leak, YouTuber Brad Lynch revealed that the device does not require external tethering, and the upcoming device may run on a Linux ARM binary system.
Valve Index for Enterprise
The news comes after Valve suggested vertical use cases in the patent request, including engineering, medical, and military.
Kratos Defense & Security is utilising Valve Index headsets and a mock-up cockpit with realistic buttons and controls. The training platform provides helicopter pilots with repeatable scenarios and multi-position training sessions.
Furthermore, in August, Valve introduced small but notable changes to its SteamVR platform that increased collaboration and virtual desktop opportunities.
In a previous update, SteamVR introduced Facemouse, an open-source, non-commercial eye-tracking software that allows users to control a mouse using their eyes.
