In a recent discovery from 91Mobiles, Samsung has been awarded a patent from China’s Intellectual Property Office. Not seems to be an upgraded Samsung Odyssey with 4 cameras located on the inside, seeming to be used for tracking.
This is a design patent rather than a utility patent, so we can only extract information that we can see visually along with the filing dates. All following assumptions and remarks will be based off of what we can see in the report.
The Odyssey is the Samsung PC VR headset. It originally launched back in 2017, but since then has had an older brother headset release. The Odyssey+ launched in 2018, but saw no major improvements in the short year that separated the two headsets. Both headsets feature OLED displays, the same as the Oculus Quest and the HTC Vive Pro. There is also an IPD adjuster and built-in headphones that enhance any VR experience.
The Odyssey lineup is powered the Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform. That is responsible for the operating system and the external tracking system. The Odyssey can also support SteamVR can and can play most games on the platform.
Inside-Out Tracking? Lighthouse Tracking?
Between some of the biggest tech companies that have these images, there are a few rumors being swirled around right now. Some are saying the the two cameras towards the middle of the headset are used for headset tracking from the headset. The two cameras on the outside would be used for controller tracking. The headset and controllers would be tracked by different methods, making for an interesting headset.
Our theory, and many others, think this headset would be completely on its own for tracking. Inside-out for controller tracking and headset tracking. This would emulate the Oculus Rift S in many ways. Clearly the designs and rendering of the product are completely different, but the functionality ideas would be identical.
This isn’t a standalone headset it seems either. Although you see the volume adjusting buttons and the IPD dial, the headset doesn’t seem to have any power buttons or LED lights on the outside. This would already put it behind its competitors if it were trying to break free from the PC.
Can I Buy This Headset?
The answer to that question is still up for debate. This patent was applied for all the way back on the 3rd day of 2019. Well over a year ago now. This could mean a few things.
The product could simply be in a long development cycle, it could mean it never was actually made a product, or that Samsung made the headset without ever releasing it for public consumption. Its not rare for companies to make patents without ever turning it into a product. And with the Odyssey likely not having its own place in the VR market today, it would make sense on why the headset not got to the consumer world.
If it is a product, it would likely be one of the only headsets released in 2020. This would give it an edge over some competition, but would still be fighting for second place behind Oculus headsets. For more VR news and community updates, make sure to check back at VRGear.com.
