An Nvidia Patent titled 'Backlight-free Augmented Reality using Digital Holography' will be adopted by Foxconn for their future Smartglasses
On December 24, 2024, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple Supplier Foxconn is entering the AR Glasses Market with a focus on MicroLED Microdisplays in a new partnership with Porotech."
Today, Hon Hai Technology Group, also known as "Huida" in Asia, was the first to disclose an AR glasses patent titled "Backlight-free Augmented Reality using Digital Holography. The patent referred to is actually an Nvidia patent that was published last week by the U.S. Patent Office under number 20250004275. Our cover graphic presents one of the patent figures of the patent.
Nvidia's patent abstract states: "Optical systems including an interferometer utilizing a spatial light modulator. A light guide including a first beam splitter and multiple mirrors directs incoherent light through the beam splitter to the interferometer to generate an interference light pattern, and further directs the interference light pattern back to the first beam splitter via the mirrors." You could dive into the patent's details here.
In the bigger picture, the Nvidia patent that Huida/Foxconn will use shows that its AR glasses will be able to solve the pain point of AR wearable devices that have always been bulky. It will replace the current heavy folding optical model through unique "digital interference holographic technology" and specific optical design. The set makes AR glasses lighter and provides a better immersive experience.
AR glasses also mentions that its finished AR glasses look like a pair of ordinary glasses and are roughly the same weight as Meta's Ray-Ban AR glasses. The lenses are fully transparent and support binocular display. There are separate configurations on the left and right sides of the glasses.
Nvidia's CEO Jen-Hsun Huang will deliver a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at 6:30 p.m. PT tonight. You could view it on YouTube. Whether there will be any announcements regarding Foxconn's entry into AI/AR glasses with Nvidia's patent is unknown at this time.
Last week, Patently Apple posted a patent report titled "Apple reinvents Eye-Tracking for future Smartglasses that could potentially decrease the thickness of the Frame around the Lenses+."
The trend is to push technology to make future AI/AR smartglasses appear like normal glasses and remove the stigma associated with wearing thick geeky tech-looking glasses.