Sharp Corporation (hereinafter “Sharp”) has developed a head-mounted display prototype for VR (virtual reality) that connects to smartphones, realizing an ultra-light weight of approximately 175 grams and high-definition images.

The prototype with ultra-light weight of approximately 175 grams is made possible by employing Sharp’s proprietary cutting-edge devices, such as an ultra-lightweight VR display and a bright, ultra-thin eyepiece. The light weight also owes much to Sharp’s expertise in component miniaturization, accrued over the years in the development of smartphones. The unit can be used for long hours with less fatigue, and folds up into a compact size, making it easy to carry around. The display delivers 4K (2K per eye) high definition and smooth reproduction at a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The resulting realistic images create a truly immersive experience.

The prototype incorporates Sharp’s unique RGB color camera module, which uses a polymer lens to allow ultrafast autofocusing. The prototype also has an image display function that takes in images of the surrounding real world and displays them in color. It also has a pop-up image function that displays the surrounding real world in a separate window on a section of the VR space. Image focusing is achieved by changing the thickness of the polymer lens, which means that focusing is much faster than on a conventional camera. Even when the position of the focus moves, the angle of view (the range that can be seen) remains the same, reducing motion sickness. In addition, the headset features two B/W cameras to support a hand-tracking function that recognizes the user’s hand movements and converts them to operation in the visible field. This function enables intuitive operation without the need for controllers.

Starting with this development, Sharp will accelerate the creation of new experiences that fuse the real and virtual worlds.

The prototype is on exhibit at CES 2023, one of the largest tech events in the world, held January 5 to 8 (Thursday to Sunday; Location of Sharp booth: Petrus Ballroom, Wynn Las Vegas Hotel at 3131 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109, U.S.A.).

Main Features

1. Ultra-light body weighing only approximately 175 grams thanks to Sharp’s state-of-the-art devices and proprietary miniaturization expertise derived from smartphone development

2. Display delivers 4K (2K per eye) high definition and smooth reproduction at a refresh rate of 120 Hz

3. RGB camera module using a polymer lens enables fast autofocusing and comfortable viewing with reduced motion sickness