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Himax FSC LCOS in Google Glass — Seeking Alpha Article
This blog was the first to identify that there was a Himax panel in an early Google Glass prototype and the first to identify that there was a field sequential color LCOS panel inside Google Glass. Due to the connection it was a reasonable speculation but there was no proof that Himax was in Google Glass.
Then when Catwig published a teardown of Google Glass last week (and my inbox lit up with people telling me about the article) there were no Himax logos to be seen which started people to wondering if there was indeed a Himax display inside. As a result of my prior exclusive finds on Himax, LCOS and Google Glass, I was ask to contribute to Seeking Alpha and I just published an article that details my proof that there is a Himax LCOS display inside the current Google Glass. In that article, I also discounted some recent speculation that Google Glass was going to use a Samsung OLED microdisplay anytime soon.
Hi Karl,
Do you have any thoughts on Google hiring Mark B Spitzer last year? (Former CEO at MyVu/Micro Optical and Principal Scientist at Kopin)
I noticed a recent report that FoxConn/Google may have purchased some of Mark’s patents covering Wave guide technology, among others. How does wave guide fit in with LCOS?
http://www.seobythesea.com/2013/05/google-wearable-computing-glasses-patents/
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Doug
I don’t have any specific knowledge about Mr. Spitzer other than I know he as been involved in Microdisplays for a long time. With Google making a significant investment in head mount displays, it makes sense that they might be acquiring people and patents in the area.
Waveguides are a way to relay/move light or an image from one place to another. With head mount display they are often use to turn the light with a thinner optical device. You will notice with Google Glass that they have a big rectangular beam splitter in front of the eye. Using waveguides the part in front of the eye could be much thinner than the current Google Glass beam splitter.
Waveguides are not specific to LCOS and could be use with other microdisplay devices.
Karl,
I’m curious about waveguide technology and using a laser as the light source. My research indicates that lasers would be the best possible way to project a focus free image and could project it into a waveguide or possibly through fiber optics directly onto the eye, i.e. Magic Leap.
From my understanding there my be only 1 manufacturer with expertise using lasers, LCoS and waveguides.
Any thoughts?
I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head with all this expertise. I know Vuzix tried waveguides and I think they have use LCOS as well as many others. In all the waveguides I have seen while they bend the light in a remarkably short distance but they all seem to suffer with a “glowing” type image and/or severe chroma aberrations. In theory laser would let one use holographic waveguides and the narrow laser line width would improve the characteristics.
One group you might want to join is the Linked In AR group, they deal with this type of technology all the time. The members list include some very technical people with broad backgrounds.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/AR-Glasses-4437607
Karl
Thanks! For your quick response. I’ve seen this patent from Microsoft and they have a long standing working relationship with Himax.http://www.google.com/patents/US20130208362
Also check out this patent from Rockwell that they used a Himax LCoS chipset in and also referenced a Syndiant as an alternative. I believe the testing and development work has been done with Himax LCoS.
Transparent waveguide display
http://www.google.com/patents/EP2733517A1?cl=en
Thanks again! Looking forward to getting my hands on a Navdy!
I’m pretty sure the SBG element comes from SBG Labs in California. Johnathan Waldern who is on the patent heads up SBG labs. They probably did the work under a contract from Rockwell. This might be a good clue as a starting point for you to search.
Karl