POSTECH and Samsung Team on Single-Layer Display for AR Glasses

• Researchers built a one-sheet waveguide that delivers full-color AR visuals while cutting bulk and weight.
• The project, developed with Samsung Research, could enable slimmer, more comfortable AR eyewear.

POSTECH researchers, working with Samsung Research, have developed a display component that could help make augmented reality glasses thinner and lighter. Traditional designs use stacked layers of glass to control how different colors reach the eye. This new approach handles all colors in a single, ultra-thin layer.

The system uses tiny structures built into the glass that direct red, green, and blue light in the same direction. This keeps the image bright and clear, even if the viewer’s gaze shifts. The prototype is about half a millimeter thick—comparable to a strand of hair—and maintains a comfortable viewing window.

The simplified design could facilitate manufacturing while improving user comfort. POSTECH says the work is a key step toward AR glasses that look more like everyday eyewear.

🌀 Tom's Take:

Headworn wearables, particularly AR glasses, must be lightweight and comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods. Advances in optics that enable smartglasses to resemble regular eyewear are essential for these devices to reach the mainstream market.

Source: POSTECH