Patent reveals new details about Facebook AR glasses

Facebook AR Glasses - Woman wearing sunglasses - facebook logo reflection

A patent filing has provided more details about the yet to be released augmented reality glasses.

Although the much anticipated Facebook AR glasses are not due to be released until sometime in the future, a few more details regarding how these glasses might function have been revealed in a new patent filing. Among these details include hints about the audio function of the new device.

The wearable technology could be equipped with a “cartilage conduction audio system”.

The Facebook AR glasses patent, which was filed back in January but was officially published late last week, reveals that the social networking giant applied for a patent pertaining to an audio system. More specifically, a “Cartilage Conduction Audio System for Eyewear Devices.”

Although it seems that the overall design of the wearable tech isn’t all that different to what was revealed in an earlier patent published back in 2017, Mashable notes that the plans for the glasses are further along.

That audio system that is being built into the glasses would provide sound to the users using a similar technique as headphones designed with bone conduction technology. This would be achieved by using sensors that would also sit inside the ear. These sensors are designed to project sound into the user’s ear while also allowing the user to hear ambient noise around them.

However, while this tech appears similar to bone conduction systems, the cartilage conduction method is supposedly more reliable and more comfortable, according to the details laid out in the patent.

The Facebook AR glasses audio system generates sound by vibrating the back of the ear.

According to the patent, the system includes a transducer assembly, an audio sensor and a controller, all of which is responsible for generating the audio content.

“The transducer assembly is coupled to a back of an auricle of an ear of the user. The transducer assembly vibrates the auricle over a frequency range to cause the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave in accordance with vibration instructions,” the patent states.

Additionally, beyond the transducer, the acoustic sensor picks up the acoustic pressure wave at the user’s ear entrance. Meanwhile the controller essentially provides the updated vibration instructions to the transducer assembly.

Facebook AR Glasses - Woman wearing sunglasses - facebook logo reflectionAlthough Facebook has spoken publicly about the project on more than one occasion, still, very little is known about the Facebook AR glasses and there has been no word yet on when they might be released.

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