Detectors & Imaging

New smart glasses from QD Laser rely on laser retinal imaging

June 5, 2014

QD Lase and the Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics at the University of Tokyo have announced the development of wearable, see-through, head-worn display called Laser Eyewear (LEW) based on laser retinal imaging optics.

Conard Holton

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QD Laser (Kawasaki, Japan) and the Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics at the University of Tokyo have announced the development of a wearable, see-through, head-worn display called Laser Eyewear (LEW) based on laser retinal imaging optics. The team says this marks a significant milestone for daily-use smart glasses with a natural fit. The proof of concept model will be exhibited at the Open House of the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, on June 6-7.

A variety of such wearable smart glasses are now being developed. Most of these devices adopt relatively easy-to-attach liquid crystal displays and some are being commercialized, including Google Glass. However, retinal imaging enables smart glasses with smaller size, lower power consumption, and lower cost than devices based on LCDs. The developers say that this opens a path to daily-use smart glasses with a natural fit.

Related article: Head-worn displays: Useful tool or niche novelty? by LFW senior editor Gail Overton

The Laser Eyewear design is based on laser retinal imaging optical systems proposed in the early 1990s, in which RGB semiconductor laser light is reflected and scanned on a MEMS mirror to project an image through the pupil onto the retina. It produces high brightness, high color reproducibility, and wide viewing angle. Focus-free viewing is also realized, meaning that picture clarity is independent of the quality of an individual's eyesight--ie, whether near- or far-sighted. Despite these advantages, laser retinal imaging displays have yet to be commercialized, primarily because of the design difficulty.

QD Laser plans further development of LEW in terms of size and power consumption, and plans to release a wired LEW as a support tool in the workplace by the end of 2015, and a consumer-oriented wireless LEW by the end of 2017.

SOURCE:QD Laser

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.