A recently discovered patent shows Apple's work in the field of AR and VR glasses. But today it's all about holographic display.
Apple seems to want to combine augmented and virtual reality with holography. At least that is what a recently discovered patent entitled "Optical Systems for Displays" suggests. The aim is to completely replace displays in glasses with holography. The description states:
An electronic device may include a display system for presenting images near the eyes of a user. The display system may include a light directing display unit and an optical system that redirects light from the display unit to the eyes of a user. The optical system may include input and output couplers formed on a waveguide. The input coupler may redirect light from the display unit to propagate in the waveguide to the output coupler. The output couplers may redirect light from the input couplers to exit the waveguide toward the eyes of the user. A light directing element may be used to redirect edge light that would otherwise be outside the user's field of view toward the user's eyes.
If this technology were to be implemented successfully, AR and VR glasses could be significantly lighter and cheaper, as the corresponding lenses - i.e. displays - would be completely eliminated. Accordingly, such glasses would be much smarter. On the whole, the entire patent reads very futuristically. It remains to be seen whether and when the implementation of such a technology will actually succeed. We must also not forget one important point - not every patent ultimately makes it to market. (Photo by monsitj / Bigstockphoto)