Augmented reality (AR) technology, by definition, enhances or adds to what we are able to see in the real world. Yet, AR glasses sometimes struggle to simulate depth perception of objects in a field, a very fundamental capability of human vision that most of us learn long before we learn how to walk and talk. Without it, the way we experience the world becomes more detached from reality, not augmented.
Lumus, an AR technology company in Ness Ziona, Israel, and optical product manufacturer AddOptics, based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, are looking to improve depth perception for AR glasses, and in doing so open up an AR glasses market that has stumbled over the years to finally take off.
The companies have announced a partnership that will combine Lumus’ reflective geometric waveguide technology for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, with AddOptics’ optical lens technology that enables a push-pull method based on the additive property of thin lens diopters. The integration of technologies could be key to enabling a better AR experience, particularly for people who need corrective lenses.
At statement from the partners explained, “By combining a positive diopter lens (+0.50 D) with an equal but opposite negative diopter lens (-0.50 D), the company has created a combined lens system with no net optical power (0.00 D) that brings the virtual image to the ideal viewing distance of a couple of meters while keeping the wearer’s view of physical world unchanged.”
Lumus’ Z-Lens 2D reflective waveguide architecture will be “directly bonded” into AddOptics’ prescription lenses, which the statement described as “exceptionally thin, lightweight and ultra-flat – essential for precise waveguide bonding – and their innovative lens designs with unique, sharp edges enhance the integration of light engines.”
Lumus claimed it has “the only waveguide that allows direct bonding of prescription lenses… without bulky, heavy inserts, resulting in a groundbreaking optical solution that seamlessly merges virtual content with the real world.”
AddOptics CEO Joris Biskop said, “Our collaboration offers users a seamless way to address the more than 70% of people who require corrective lenses to interact with digital content through AR glasses. By pairing our prescription lenses with Lumus’ reflective waveguides, we’re creating personalized AR experiences tailored to the unique visual needs of each user.”
But David Goldman, vice president of marketing at Lumus, told Fierce Electronics that all AR glasses users will benefit. “This development doesn’t only benefit those who currently wear glasses. The solution brings virtual content to the ideal viewing distance of a couple of meters for all viewers, while simultaneously keeping the wearer’s view of the physical world unchanged, which eliminates issues with previous AR displays struggling to accurately show depth perception.”
For this technology integration to make a real impact on the market, it will need to draw the attention of big-name AR glasses manufacturers. Goldman declined to identify customers, but said, “Tier 1 companies manufacturing optical AR glasses have recognized the importance of directly bonded, push-pull prescription lenses. They’re no longer a nice-to-have, they’re a must for optical AR glasses to look more natural and feel more comfortable for everyday usage.”
Goldman added that the partners are directly addressing some of the issues that critics of early AR glasses often harped on.
“The roadblocks that have historically limited the AR glasses market include size, weight, and depth perception issues,” he said. “Existing bulky, heavy inserts or clip-on solutions have held back those that require prescriptions from wearing AR glasses. By integrating the technology into the product, we’ve enabled a form factor that looks like a regular pair of glasses. Furthermore, the technology provides an improved viewing experience across all AR experiences that users are already familiar with. Creating a solution that allows for AR-enabled glasses that look and feel like regular glasses will allow for a continued, broadened appeal of AR eyewear, growing the market to additional users.”