Mojo Vision Keeps an Eye on the Future With Mojo Lens Prototype

It seems that, as technology advances, it finds more and more ways to integrate within our daily lives, even within our bodies.

One recent technology hoping to shake up the industry is the smart contact lens. 

 

Example technology within a smart contact lens. Image used courtesy of Ma et al

 

Recently, a prototype from Mojo Vision, a company working on creating tiny displays, has come to fruition.

The prototype embeds a 14,000 pixels per inch microLED (μLED) display, a low latency communication system, accurate eye-tracking hardware, and a medical-grade powering system inside a contact lens. This level of integration in such a small device requires advanced manufacturing technologies and quality management processes.

This article will delve into Mojo Vision's latest prototype, but first, it's important to understand an aspect Mojo Vision calls "invisible computing."

 

Mojo Vision's Technology for Invisible Computing

Invisible computing refers to the availability of relevant information whenever needed without distraction. These lenses aim to provide digital information to the wearer's retina while being connected with the surroundings. Thus, the content is invisible from the user's visual field when it's not required. 

This technology claims to help users respond dynamically and access the data without the distraction of a gadget.

Mojo Vision developed the first AR contact lenses aiming for invisible computing in 2020. This prototype featured only a single μLED display and a wireless power system.

 

An exploded rendering of Mojo Vision’s smart contact lens. Image used courtesy of Mojo Vision

The latest iteration of the device includes:

• Computer vision
• Augmented reality
• A μLED display
• A broadband radio for communication
• Eye-tracking sensors
• A thin-film solid-state battery

Despite this extensive list of technology, the computing systems are not included in the lens. The company is developing a separate computing device called a relay. 

This wearable device, which users can wear around the neck, communicates with the lens and runs applications. It streams multimedia to the lenses and gathers sensor data from the eyes to track what information the user wants next. All of this communication states to occur with minimal latency.

The latest prototype of the Mojo Lens is the result of advanced innovative technologies, ranging from displays to communication protocols. 

 

Introducing the "Mojo Lens" Prototype

At the center of this advanced lens is a 14,000 pixels per inch μLED display, which is less than 0.5 mm in diameter. It is claimed to be the "world's smallest yet densest display."

This seemingly amazing feat is achieved by fabricating 1.3 um wide pixels with only a 0.5 um gap between the pixels. The display claims to show texts, graphics, and high-resolution videos on the wearer's retina that are viewable in daylight and indoors.

 

The Mojo Lens Prototype. Image used courtesy of Mojo Vision

 

For projecting real-time AR data, efficient data streaming via low latency communication systems is critical. The Mojo lens uses an application-specific IC (ASIC) that integrates an ARM Core M0 processor and a 5 GHz broadband radio to transmit sensor data from the lens and receive the streaming content for display. 

The system uses the Mojo proprietary communication protocols to achieve ultra-low latency, making it faster and more efficient than Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

However, the critical elements of the lens are the eye-tracking system that enables the AR experience. The lens incorporates a custom-configured accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer to accomplish this task.

Besides hardware, the Mojo Vision team has also invested in a new operating system code and user experience (UX) components. They have developed a proprietary motion-sensing algorithm to make the eye-tracking system ultra-precise.

With an eye tracker in the lens, wearers could access and interact with the AR content through eye movements. With this technology, the lens believes it successfully delivers fast and distraction-free content to the users, enabling invisible computing.

The lens is powered by medical-grade micro-batteries, a proprietary power management integrated circuit, and a wireless charging circuit. The medical-grade thin-film solid-state batteries make the device suitable for FDA clinical trials. 

All in all, the company will begin user testing, application prototyping, optimization, and clinical trials with visually impaired individuals.

 

Mojo Lens Applications

Overall, the Mojo lens is an AR solution that hopes to have many applications, especially for those who are visually impaired. 

The company is currently collaborating with performance athletes and sports enthusiasts to carve out its place in the athletics application. The lens aims to deliver vital insights to the athletes while allowing them to stay focused on their training activities.

With this prototype, the door is wide open for future developments for smart contact lenses. It will be interesting to see where this technology heads in the future and what else Mojo Vision will bring to the table.