poLight ASA Partners with Inuitive to Unveil Innovations for MR Headsets
Advanced Tunable Optics and Vision Processors Deliver Enhanced Foveated Video Streaming for Immersive Experiences
poLight ASA is partnering with Inuitive to unveil significant imaging advancements for mixed reality (MR) headsets at the SPIE AR|VR|MR conference, scheduled from 27 to 29 January 2025 in San Francisco, California. The integration of poLight’s tunable optics technology with Inuitive’s NU4100 vision processor enables high-resolution foveated video streaming, which will be presented at the poLight booth, #6223.
Based in Tønsberg, Norway, poLight ASA (OSE: PLT) plans to demonstrate the capabilities of its TLens® tunable optics, which, when combined with Inuitive’s NU4100 processor, achieves over 50 pupils per degree (ppd) resolution. This development addresses several design challenges in MR devices, providing a natural and highly detailed viewing experience akin to the human eye. The live demonstration will showcase how the solution enhances imaging functionality, offering seamless focus transitions between near and far objects.
The setup features a poLight TLens® integrated into a camera module, with captured images processed by Inuitive’s NU4100 vision-on-chip processor. This technology enables simultaneous streaming of both full field-of-view and high-resolution cropped images, referred to as foveated images. The dynamic focus and positioning of the foveated region are designed to replicate the natural switching of human vision between varying distances. This innovation has already reached mass production.
The demonstration aims to highlight how this collaborative effort advances the user experience in MR headsets. By reducing the computational power required for high-quality imaging, the system also enhances frame rates and extends battery life. The combined technologies outperform traditional fixed-focus or mechanically focused systems, making them an optimal choice for next-generation MR devices.
Inuitive’s NU4100 processor further complements poLight’s TLens® by delivering real-time, high-resolution foveated video streaming. The company anticipates setting a new benchmark in immersive experiences with its forthcoming NU4500 processor, which is expected to offer superior performance and drive the next phase of innovation in MR and extended reality (XR) applications.
At the SPIE AR|VR|MR conference, visitors can explore this collaborative technology at poLight’s booth (#6223). Additionally, the company will showcase its latest TWedge® wobulator pixel-shifting technology, designed to enhance display imaging. Pierre Craen, Chief Technology Officer at poLight ASA, is scheduled to deliver a presentation titled Making Vision Better: Improving AR/MR Cameras and Micro Display Systems that Replicate the True Human Eye Experience during the main stage plenary session on 28 January. The talk will address existing AR/MR imaging challenges and propose solutions for the industry’s future.
poLight ASA (OSE: PLT) develops proprietary tunable optics technology, with its flagship product TLens® designed to emulate human eye functionality in autofocus cameras. This innovation is utilised in applications such as smartphones, wearables, barcode scanners, machine vision systems, and medical devices. The TLens® technology offers benefits including rapid focus speed, a compact design, immunity to magnetic interference, low power consumption, and a consistent field of view. poLight operates globally, with offices across Europe, the US, and Asia. Further information can be found at www.polight.com.
Inuitive develops advanced Vision-on-Chip processors integrating multiple capabilities, including depth sensing, simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM), and AI-based object detection. These processors deliver high performance while optimising power usage, response times, and cost. Inuitive collaborates with partners across robotics, drones, AR, VR, AIoT, and 3D sensing to create solutions offering human-like visual understanding and superior performance.