Holographic waveguide display solutions developer DigiLens recently unveiled the newest component technology for its waveguides. According to the company, the Transparent Resolution Expander (T-REx) can double the inherent resolution of any projector used in extended reality (XR) glasses. To do this, it rapidly switches between two slightly offset images, subsequently increasing the effective resolution. This eliminates the need for any additional material size, weight or power to be integrated onto the head-worn system to produce high-definition content.
In a press release, DigiLens shared how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can leverage the technology to provide hardware that can support high resolution content without compromising wearability or durability. Smartglass manufacturers can now also make use of lower resolution hardware with less volume, weight and thermal dissipation.
T-REx utilizes what is called the “wobulation” technique, a process that involves overlaying two frames with a minor offset to allow the pixels of one frame to essentially fill in the spaces between the pixels in the succeeding frame. When performed fast enough, the eye does not consciously notice that there are actually two different frames present. However, it can see the additional detail.
To make this happen, T-REx uses a switchable waveguide where an electrical current is applied to the waveguide, adjusting the position of the light coming from the waveguide itself. This is what makes the wobulation technique possible. DigiLens’ waveguide can switch to as fast as 50 µs, which means it can easily support full color RGB wobulation at 60 Hz and 90 Hz. Viewers can then experience high resolution images even when using a lower resolution projector.
T-REx presents opportunities for efficiently increasing the image resolution of any XR technology or light engine that is already equipped with existing DigiLens waveguides. When the technology is integrated with DigiLens’ modular approach to XR glasses, users can easily leverage the increased resolution component technology to reduce projector size, enable a larger field of view at a fixed resolution, or reduce the cost of the projector by reducing its resolution and doubling the system’s overall resolution via T-REx.
“This is a real technological breakthrough as very rarely do you improve on pixel experience without any sort of trade-off,” shared Chris Pickett, CEO of DigiLens. “It also expands the possibilities of our waveguides for a range of customers and use cases, who can benefit from a system they can upgrade and mold to their unique needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach where you have to wait for a whole new generation of products to benefit from updated specs.”
T-REx is compatible with various projector types, including LCoS, µLED, DLP, OLED, LBS and WILD. According to DigiLens, the only projector requirement is a temporal separation between consecutive frames. The company also shared that T-REx does not produce heat, sound or vibration compared to other alternative wobulation technologies, which generate heat or a buzzing sound.
T-REx is currently available as an optional add-on component technology grant under the baseline manufacturing and supply license for existing DigiLens licensees. Customers may also avail themselves of the technology by requesting it through the Visualize Framework for custom smartglasses projects.
For more information, visit the DigiLens website.