A micro fan could help smart glasses manage heat from processors, cameras, and displays while keeping the design compact.
xMEMS Labs has introduced the XMC-1200, an active micro fan for AR, XR, and smart glasses. It is designed to cool components in spaces where conventional fans cannot fit.
The XMC-1200 measures 46mm² and can be placed in areas such as the temple arms of glasses. When used with the Astra2 drive ASIC, it typically consumes 70mW and can reduce temperature by up to 10°C at a 1W thermal load.
The cooling system is designed to help processors, displays, and cameras operate for longer without reducing performance because of heat.
Smart glasses are adding processors, cameras, light engines, and other components for AI, translation, voice assistants, computer vision, and video. These components generate heat in a small space, making thermal management a challenge.
Excess heat can cause displays to reduce brightness, processors to throttle, and cameras to limit recording time. Heat around the temple can also increase the temperature felt by the wearer.
For AR and XR displays, the XMC-1200 can cool microdisplay LEDs and laser light sources. Changes in the temperature of these components can affect wavelength, colour accuracy, white point, contrast, and brightness.
The chip can also cool processors during workloads such as real-time AI, voice assistants, translation, and computer vision. This can help maintain processor performance during longer periods of use.
For camera-based glasses, the XMC-1200 can cool image sensors and video processing circuits during recording. Since these devices have limited space for heatsinks and airflow, cooling heat near its source can help extend recording time.
“This is the cooling chip the glasses industry has been waiting for,” said Mike Housholder, Vice President and General Manager of the Thermal Management Business Unit at xMEMS. “The XMC-2400 is in production today and is already supporting xMEMS’ first glasses deployments, while XMC-1200 engineering samples are now available to lead OEMs. Solid-state µCooling is now a commercial technology built to directly address one of the smart glasses’ industries more pressing challenges.”
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