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Apple refining waveguide technology to keep AR headset weight down

Apple is continuing its development of optical waveguide technology, likely as a way to make an "Apple Glass" augmented reality headset lighter and more comfortable to wear.

Waveguides are structures that redirect and guide light. In augmented reality devices, they're commonly used to route graphical information from an output source to a display pane in front of a user's eyes.

In a patent application titled "Pixel array implemented on photonic integrated circuit (PIC)," Apple outlines a method for a system that uses a substrate, light emitters, and waveguides to display information on an optoelectronic device.

The patent application is much more technical than most, and focuses on the underlying technology and mathematical formulae associated with the system. In fact, no part of the patent mentions wearable devices, smartphones, or other uses cases for consumer products.

However, the focus here appears to be on "Miniaturized projectors for visual applications" that "require a compact and efficient pixel generator for light at wavelengths in the visible spectrum."

In one embodiment of the idea, Apple notes that an "optoelectronic device" could comprise at least three light emitters disposed on a substrate. Waveguides on that substrate could receive that light as an input, curve adiabatically from the input ends, and guide them to output ends.

Credit: Apple Credit: Apple

The PIC could also include directional couplers that could be chosen to "selectively transfer the optical flux at different wavelengths." For example, one coupler would transfer green light from a green laser to a waveguide carrying blue light from a blue laser.

"The waveguide will then output a beam that includes red, green and blue components. The actual output color and intensity can be modulated by modulating the individual emitters or by means of external variable optical attenuators (VOAs), which can be implemented and integrated on the same PIC. As noted earlier, multiple sets of emitters and couplers of this sort can be combined to produce an integrated, multi-pixel light engine," the patent reads.

On its own, the patent doesn't reveal anything concrete about Apple product plans. But taken together with other waveguide-related rumors, it hints at use in an augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality device (MR).

Previous patent applications have explicitly suggested that waveguides could be used to make head-mounted devices lighter and more balanced for wear. Another patent application from 2019 indicates that Apple may be working on another waveguide system involving mirrors and lasers in lieu of display panels.

There's also the fact that many current AR devices, such as Magic Leap, already use waveguide-based technology. Apple reportedly met with waveguide suppliers and other AR component makers at CES 2019.

The patent on Thursday list Igal I. Bayn, Alexander Shpunt, and Arman Hajati as its inventors. Bayn previously worked on photo-based technology at Cisco; Shpunt is credited on a variety of 3D and display-related patents for Apple; and Hajati is named as an inventor on patents from Apple and Fujifilm.

Apple files numerous patent applications on a weekly basis, so they are a poor indicator of the company's future product plans.

However, Apple is rumored to be developing a pair of AR/MR glasses, potentially dubbed "Apple Glass," that could cost $499 and debut sometime in 2022.



6 Comments

thrang 17 Years · 1037 comments

I continue to think - if there are "real" - that the focus will be more on vertical markets where the need to access and reference a lot of data quickly while keeping your hands free would be of greatest value. Not to say that there isn't a consumer application of course, but you can think of a number of large verticals (i.e manufacturing, support, education, etc.) where there could be appeal for something like this. Consumer application would also have more style/fashion pressures than the utility of supporting productivity verticles.

The other part to this is the "other rumor", that Apple is exploring technology to adapt the optics to deal with different eyesight requirements. Without that, this looks so difficult to implement regardless of market segment.

maestro64 19 Years · 5029 comments

No mater how light they make them you will still be "one of those people" wearing them.

3D TV fail because of the geek factor of the glasses. I could be wrong, unless Apple can make wearing glass like these cool like they did with the Apple watch, I do not see a wide market for these types of products. Yes there will be people who want them but not everyone. I was wrong on the watch i did not see younger people wanting to wear a watch but Apple solved that problem, they could do it again with glasses.

byronl 4 Years · 377 comments

i get excited when i don’t understand half the words of a technology description 😍😍

JWSC 7 Years · 1203 comments

maestro64 said:
No mater how light they make them you will still be "one of those people" wearing them.

3D TV fail because of the geek factor of the glasses. I could be wrong, unless Apple can make wearing glass like these cool like they did with the Apple watch, I do not see a wide market for these types of products. Yes there will be people who want them but not everyone. I was wrong on the watch i did not see younger people wanting to wear a watch but Apple solved that problem, they could do it again with glasses.

If I were Apple I would partner with Gucci, Ray-Ban, Vuarnet and the like to codesign and sell branded glasses.  These A/R glasses don’t necessarily have to look much different from regular glasses.  At a distance the Apple Watch looks like any other watch.  And people got over the initial weird looks of wireless AirPods.

Beats 4 Years · 3073 comments

maestro64 said:
No mater how light they make them you will still be "one of those people" wearing them.

3D TV fail because of the geek factor of the glasses. I could be wrong, unless Apple can make wearing glass like these cool like they did with the Apple watch, I do not see a wide market for these types of products. Yes there will be people who want them but not everyone. I was wrong on the watch i did not see younger people wanting to wear a watch but Apple solved that problem, they could do it again with glasses.

Why wouldn't Apple make these normal? I don't get that idea that happens with Apple every invention.