Why MicroLED for AR?
Current AR headsets often use LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) or OLED-on-Silicon. However, these technologies struggle with either brightness (OLED) or bulk (LCoS). MicroLED offers:
- Extreme Brightness: Visible even in direct sunlight (potentially exceeding 1 million nits at the source).
- Energy Efficiency: Up to 5x more efficient than OLED, critical for small batteries in glasses.
- Compact Size: Pixels are measured in microns, allowing for ultra-slim optics that look like standard eyewear.
Google Acquisition
Google's acquisition of Raxium in May 2022 signaled a shift towards in-house hardware development for AR. By controlling the display layer, Google can optimize the entire Android XR stack for specific hardware configurations, much like Apple does with its custom silicon and display controllers.
Implementation in Android XR
Raxium's technology is the primary display engine for the "display" variant of the upcoming Samsung Android XR glasses. It enables a monocular or binocular overlay that is sharp, colorful, and transparent enough for everyday social interaction.