While valued at $5.2 billion in 2022, the worldwide smart glass market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 10.9% between 2022 and 2030, reaching $ 10.7 billion.

Smart glasses, also called augmented reality (AR) glasses, refer to a testament to the boundless potential of wearable technology. They combine various electronic components to provide immersive, hands-free experiences. From AR visual displays to robust processing capabilities, the underlying electronic architecture of these wearable devices is intriguing.  

Along the same lines, here we will explore what exactly smart glasses are and also go through the critical electronic components that drive the functionality of smart glasses.

Ⅰ. What Is Meant By A Smart Glass?

Smart glasses are wearable computer glasses that integrate digital data with the physical world. They are a type of Augmented Reality device that overlays information onto your real-world view. It can include everything from displaying texts and emails to providing real-time navigation prompts, health metrics, or even translating foreign language signs.

Furthermore, smart glasses often contain sensors, cameras, and microphones to interact with the environment and wireless connectivity to interface with your smartphone or other devices. They may additionally have built-in speakers for audio output, and some even include eye-tracking technology to control the display based on where you're looking.

Ⅱ. Key Electronic Components for Smart Glasses

In the following sections, we'll examine the core components required to make smart glasses:

Microprocessor 

The microprocessor, the brain of smart glasses, is a compact digital processor responsible for various computational tasks. It's typically an SoC (System-on-Chip) containing a CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphics processing unit), and DSP (digital signal processor). Advanced smart glasses often employ low-power multi-core ARM-based chips capable of simultaneously handling multiple tasks efficiently, from data processing to complex image rendering.

Memory

Smart glasses need volatile (RAM) and non-volatile (flash) memory. On the one hand, RAM enables real-time processing and keeps relevant data readily accessible for quick processing by the central processing unit. On the other hand, flashing memory stores the operating system, apps, and user data. Given the compact form factor, memory modules used in smart glasses are typically LPDDR (low power double data rate) and eMMC (embedded multi-media card) or UFS (Universal Flash Storage) types for their compact size and energy efficiency.

Display

The display is also a fundamental component that projects digital information into the user's field of vision. It could be an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon), or DLP (Digital Light Processing) display. These types of displays provide high-resolution images with efficient power usage. The optics used for image projection frequently include waveguides or beam splitters to overlay digital images onto the real world.

Sensors

Sensors in smart glasses typically include inertial measurement units (IMUs) consisting of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. They detect motion and orientation while enabling head-tracking capabilities. Other sensors could include ambient light sensors for adjusting display brightness based on environmental conditions, proximity sensors, and biometric sensors (like heart rate or galvanic skin response sensors) for health monitoring.

Camera

The camera helps capture first-person view images and videos and enables features like augmented reality and facial recognition. It's usually a compact CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) sensor due to its low power consumption and high image quality. The camera may include autofocus, high dynamic range (HDR), and stabilization to enhance image capture quality.

Microphone and Speakers

The microphone captures audio input for voice commands, while the speakers deliver audio output to the user. Thanks to their compact size and energy efficiency, they're typically MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) devices. Noise-cancellation technology might be integrated into the microphone for better voice command recognition in noisy environments. Meanwhile, bone-conduction technology could be used in the speaker for discreet audio delivery.

Battery

Smart glasses use small, rechargeable lithium-polymer or lithium-ion batteries, given the compact form factor. These types of batteries are selected for their high energy density as well as a slow loss of charge when not in use. Power management is crucial for extending battery life, and smart glasses often include power-efficient designs and adaptive brightness controls.

Wireless Connectivity Components

Smart glasses require wireless components for internet connectivity and data exchange with other devices. Generally speaking, it includes Wi-Fi for high-speed internet access, Bluetooth for local device connectivity, and NFC (near-field communication) for contactless transactions. Some models might also include 4G/5G modules for standalone connectivity. These components are usually integrated into the main SoC or included as separate chips.

Operating System

The operating system (OS) manages hardware resources and provides services for executing applications. It could be a custom OS designed specifically for smart glasses or a modified version of a well-known mobile OS, like Android. The OS must be optimized for low power consumption, efficient memory usage, and support for voice, touch, and gesture controls.

User Interface

The user interface in smart glasses must be intuitive and easy to use. It might involve a combination of voice, touch, and gesture controls, with a visual interface displayed within the user's field of vision. The UI design needs to consider legibility and ease of interaction in various environmental conditions. It should be optimized for the limited processing resources of smart glasses.

Gesture Recognition

Gesture recognition allows users to interact with their glasses through specific hand or head movements. It requires a combination of sensors (like IMUs and cameras) and sophisticated algorithms (like machine learning models) to interpret these gestures accurately. The system must be powerful enough to recognize gestures in various lighting conditions and angles.

GPS Module

A GPS (Global Positioning System) module is used for location tracking, which provides data for navigation and context-aware applications. It can use signals from multiple satellite systems for more accurate positioning. Plus, it's beneficial if the GPS module supports assisted GPS (A-GPS) that uses network resources to obtain faster and more accurate location information.

Ⅲ. Summary

As a blend of AR and computing capabilities, smart glasses integrate digital data with physical reality and offer features like real-time navigation, health metrics, and translations. Key electronic components in smart glasses include a microprocessor that performs various computational tasks, memory modules for processing and storage, displays that project digital information, sensors for motion detection and environmental adaptability, cameras for image and video capture, microphones and speakers for audio communication, and a battery to power the device.

Wireless connectivity components enable internet access and data exchange while the operating system manages hardware resources and executes applications. The user interface and gesture recognition allow intuitive interaction, and a GPS module provides location tracking for navigation and context-aware applications. Want to be a part of this cutting-edge technology revolution? Discover our extensive range of electronic components and start building your smart glasses today!