AR technology sounds great, but no one wants to be a mirror hole. Today at CES, we got a look at Lumius’ bid to make AR glasses a little smaller. The company creates technology that makes it easier for eyeglass makers to create glasses that look good, more or less like glasses, and are compatible with prescription lenses.
The new glasses feature the second generation of Z-Lens 2D waveguide technology, which halves the size and weight of the technology needed to bring AR to life.
“For AR glasses to make meaningful inroads into the consumer market, they must be both functional and aesthetically impressive. With the Z-Lens, we’re redefining form and function, removing barriers to entry for the industry and paving the way for broader consumer adoption,” Lumus CEO Ari Grobman said in an interview with TechCrunch. “Our introduction of Maximus 2D reflective waveguide technology two years ago was just the beginning. The Z-Lens, with all its enhancements, opens up the future of augmented reality that consumers have been waiting for.”
The lenses include 2Kx2K resolution, incredibly vivid colors, and a heads-up display that’s visible even in bright sunlight. More good news for this particular pair of glasses owners – the company’s technology can be connected directly to Rx prescription glasses. The technology works by using so-called “reflective waves” that help the tiny projectors contained in the eyeglass frames work inside the semi-transmissive lenses. This means that the glasses can be used as regular glasses as well as projection surfaces. Another advantage is that there is less light leakage – so it is almost impossible for the wearer to see from the front that information is entering the eye sockets.
The company told me it holds patents, saying more than 430 patents have been issued and an additional 540 patents are pending. Augmented reality optics put him among the world’s top patent holders and made him an acquisition target for large companies that fear lawsuits, paying royalties, or both.
