Huawei has just unveiled its latest innovation at the Munich International Automobile Expo that is being held in Germany. It is the new AR HUD technology, which is an augmented reality based system that powers a heads up display that can turn a car’s front wind shield into a smart screen.

As per official notes, the new AR HUD technology will offer an informative and interactive heads up display for the car’s front windshield. For those unaware, a HUD is a common feature in military aircrafts like fighter jets in which crucial details like speed, altitude and other crucial information is displayed in front of the pilot. Now, the Chinese tech giant seeks to use an augmented reality based technology to offer a similar solution in future generation of automobiles. The brand believes that through this technology, carmakers would be able to integrate new technologies, safety, and entertainment together to create a new driving experience.

The Huawei AR HUD offers a large viewing angle of 13°x 5°, which is a 70 inch large display area that can cover up to 7.5 meters in the front. To keep the driver’s vision clutter free and without any distractions, the company built the related system in the lower area behind the steering wheel. The new AR HUD would be capable of offering navigation based information like route distance, information regarding the number of lanes in an upcoming road, and other crucial information like weather conditions.Furthermore, an interesting aspect of this technology could also be in the form of night vision or assistive vision during times of heavy rain, low light scenarios, or even fog.

This would ensure safety of the driver and the passengers as well. The company stated that the AR HUD will also feature a FHD display up to 100PPD and would not be hindered by issues like low brightness, low contrast, or image distortion that plagues a traditional HUD technology. In other words, it can also be used as an entertainment and multimedia tool, which offers video/movie streaming feature. Other interesting applications include the ability to offer three dimensional mapping system that offers information on parking lots, restaurants, shops, gas stations, and more in real time.

RELATED:

• Huawei schedules a launch event on September 13 for office productivity products
• Huawei will release a new version of HarmonyOS at its 2021 developer conference
• Huawei patents smartphone with rollable display and air gesture controls

The post Huawei unveils AR HUD tech for cars, turns front windshield into a smart screen appeared first on Gizmochina.

Amidst a bucket load of patents by companies, Google’s unique patent shows that users can take capture a picture/selfie without a smartphone. Accordingly, it’s new patent shows a smart ring that can take selfies as you wear it.

As spotted by Protocol(via Softpedia news), Google has applied for the patent at USPTO way back in May 2019. However, it got published only on November 10, 2020. USPTO is a United States Patent and Trademark Office. First, the abstract of the patent pretty much confirms that it’s a smart wearable device with a selfie camera.

Google Smart Ring- Structure & Functions

As per the patent description, the smart ring houses an aperture(opening) that is enough to fit a finger. Precisely, it says the aperture is shaped to fit the first finger(finger where the ring sits) of the user. Further, the smart ring has the following components housed inside:

1. A processor(to process, coordinate, transmit data)
2. An input device(button/joystick/touch sensor/lever/dial)
3. An optical sensor(Normal/autofocus camera- to capture images)
4. Transmitter(Transmit the image to an external device- Wireless)
5. Power Source(Optional- battery/fuel cells/ultra-capacitor)- to power processor, transmitter & autofocus camera.
6. An indicator(light source/speaker/haptic feedback device)

Additionally, the smart ring also requires a second wearable device typically a HUD(Heads-Up Display) for transmitting, displaying the images. For representation purposes, Google has shown Smart Glass schematics. Basically, the company says it has not included other implementations to avoid obscuring(keeping it secret) the embodiments.

1 of 2

To begin with, Google says that the smart ring comprises two surfaces apart from the ring- One which houses the camera, and the other housing the input device. Additionally, both the surfaces are designed to tilt sideways to comfort the user and his/her finger range. Also, the housing that has a camera is capable of protruding out of the platform and beyond the ring.

This is according to the finger it is worn(eg: left index/ring finger). Typically, the finger may be anyone on either hand. Google even mentions that the circular body may also be a helix/spiral shape with a break. Accordingly, it will expand to tolerate the fingers of different sizes.

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple patents a futuristic VR/AR Headset that sends images directly to users’ pupils

Function

As for the input device, a user can perform different actions with different levels of pressure(if button) to it. However, in the case of a touch sensor, it can detect different tap levels, and the right input finger to avoid accidental presses. Other actuation mechanisms can be can also be from a laptop/mobile, response from a human stimulus, eye-tracking via Smart Glass, and more.

Thus on actuating, the sensor captures the image and sends it to the processor. The camera may be a fixed/autofocus camera. According to the position, Google says the camera projects upwards, tilts sideways to capture the image. Also, the possibility of connecting to a HUD hints that it may also live feed the contents to a screen.

1 of 2

That said the processing unit has a CPU, RF circuitry(RF transceiver/DSP/SIM), I/O, Power. The ring may also include a gyroscope, accelerometers for vibration/shock impact. Additionally, Google also talks about an optional control module. The smart ring may use either wired, Wi-Fi, WiMax, Bluetooth, NFC one-way/bi-directionally to send the data to the second device.

Secondary wearable device(HUD)

Talking about the second wearable device, Google says it could be anything from a smart Glass to a HUD(Heads Up Display). Precisely, it should have a display for viewing contents, processes, and a transmitter to communicate with the smart ring.

Also, other implementations of Google’s secondary wearable device hints at the possibility of a Helmet, Headbands etc. Nevertheless, this looks like an interesting patent from Google and we hope it becomes reality someday.

UP NEXT: Google Pixel 5 suffers from an issue with system volume, which is scaring users

The post Google patents a Smart Ring with an integrated selfie camera module appeared first on Gizmochina.