Tiny Fans Could Be the Key to Powerful, Comfortable smart Glasses
LAS VEGAS – xMEMS is demonstrating a breakthrough in wearable technology wiht its new “µCooling” fan-on-chip and miniaturized speaker components, aiming to overcome heat and size limitations currently hindering the progress of advanced smart glasses. The technology was showcased at a recent presentation, offering a glimpse into a future where powerful computing and immersive audio can be packed into increasingly sleek eyewear.
The push for smaller, more capable smart glasses is accelerating, driven by demand for features like high-resolution video recording and augmented reality applications. These functionalities generate critically important heat, traditionally requiring bulky cooling solutions or performance throttling. xMEMS’ approach directly addresses this challenge, possibly enabling a new generation of wearables that are both powerful and comfortable. The company’s technology builds on its existing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) speaker expertise, and complements Sycamore’s work in micro-optics, both contributing to shrinking the overall form factor of smart glasses.
xMEMS calls the fan-on-chip “µCooling,” and Housholder tells me the use cases for it are fairly flexible. Such as, I tried the proprietary tech on a pair of gaming headphones — where I think the fans truly shine — and felt the lack of moisture and sweat buildup almost promptly.
The need for effective thermal management is underscored by Apple’s recent plans to incorporate vapor chamber cooling into the iPhone 17 Pro series, signaling a broader industry focus on heat dissipation in compact devices. xMEMS’ fan-on-chip technology represents an even more targeted and aggressive solution for the unique constraints of wearable devices.
Both Sycamore and µcooling are effective solutions to shrinking the smart glasses form factor, but the key to widespread adoption lies in partnerships with major manufacturers. The impact on the final cost of future smart glasses and the potential for competing technologies from companies like Meta, Samsung, and Apple remain to be seen. Given the rapid evolution of the smart glasses market - from audio-only devices to those with advanced displays and neural interfaces within just two years – the next wave of wearable innovation appears to be on the horizon.
