Infineon Builds MEMS Scanner For Smart Glasses, HUDs

The German Firm's Solution Will Result in Smaller, More Efficient, and Cheaper AR Devices

2
Infineon AR-HUD
Augmented RealityReviews

Published: August 10, 2021

Demond Cureton

Infineon Technologies announced on Monday it had released a new micro-electromechanical (MEMS) scanner to improve augmented reality (AR) capabilities for wearable devices and automotive heads-up displays (HUDs), known as AR-HUD modules.

The scanner consists of a MEMS mirror and driver, allowing for smaller form factors, lower power consumption rates, and system costs, the company said in its press release.

Infineon’s scanners also include a tilting mirror aimed at creating a “new generation of laser beam scanner (LBS) projectors”, the company added.

Charles Chan, Company Head of Automotive MEMS Product Line, said AR solutions could enhance real environments with digital data for people in business and personal settings, “but especially on the street,” adding:

“Maps, infotainment or messages projected on everyday glasses guide people to the nearest supermarket or shared car park around the corner. Overlaying valuable information, from route navigation to driver assistance systems, over the car’s complete windshield, instead of just over a small area in front of the driver, is a major step ahead for improving driving safety and convenience”

AR-HUDs were typically challenging to mount in car dashboards, but Infineon’s MEMS scanner chipsets allowed smaller form factors, compared to conventional ones, which could top 30 litres in optical volume, the firm said.

Smaller form factors also allowed automakers to install AR-HUDs in smaller vehicles. The Munich-based firm added its MEMS scanner chipsets also enabled AR micro-projectors for smart glasses, allowing manufacturers to integrate small batteries into smart glass frames to avoid frequent device recharging.

The news comes as the company launched a collaboration with TriLite Technologies GmbH, with the Vienna-based company tasked with system integration and control algorithms to boost system performance.

AR Smart Glass Firms Tease Markets with New Solutions

The developments come amid numerous innovations in the smart glasses and AR market, which saw tech giants such as Lenovo, Apple, and Facebook announce plans to launch products globally.

Facebook, who said in early August it would become a “metaverse firm”, also revealed in quarterly earnings reports it would prioritise the release of its Ray Ban smart glasses aimed at replacing mobiles.

Apple has also filed several patents for technologies, such as air conditioning and hand tracking cameras, for its upcoming Apple Glasses debut set for mid-2022.

NewSight Reality (NSR) also unveiled its Transparent Optical Module (TOM) which replaces light and optical engines with a multi-layer, hermitically-sealed” modules for greater durability, smaller form factors, and 90 percent transparency.

 

AR Smart GlassesImmersive CollaborationMixed Reality HeadsetsWearables
Featured

Share This Post