Lenovo filed a U.S. patent for a head-mounted wearable that looks like it could become a competitor against the Google Glass.
The patent is for an "Electronic Device and Sound Capturing Method" on a device with touch-based navigation that has a video and audio recorder, along with light-pump video on demand displays on dual screens.
The VOD displays are from Lumus Labs, which basically gives users an augmented reality display right on the screen of their glasses. The company was previously known as a supplier for components of the heads-up displays used in fighter jets, but is now heavily promoting its consumer-focused products.
The diagrams in the filed patent appear to show Lumus OE-31 eyepieces.
"Regardless if a company is using our technology or a competitive technology, we will not comment on any of their efforts unless they have officially announced a product," said Lumus director of business development Ari Grobman.
In addition, Lenovo's device also has bone conduction microphones in its earpieces, which would enable wireless communication. The set-up of the microphones also makes it easier to catch the user's voice in a system that works similarly to noise canceling microphones, adding an extra layer of privacy to conversations as even messages spoken in low volumes can be clearly heard on the other end.
Bone conduction microphones used on wearables is not an innovation, as Google Glass uses a bone conduction speaker in its design to signal the user for more discreet notifications. Google's design uses a vibrating pad that touches the bone structure located at the back of the user's ear, which sends audio straight into the wearer's inner ear.
Lenovo's usage of bone conduction microphones, however, records audio rather than creating it. The patent shows that while the user is watching a movie on the device's display, commands can be issued through the microphone to control the playback of the movie.
Lenovo's filed patent carefully describes the device as a recording device, which is essential to protect the company from being sued by competitors for copyright infringements.
Lenovo's acquisition of Motorola paves the way for the development of the product alongside a recognizable brand. When Lenovo purchased Motorola in January, Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang said that the company will use the acquisition to surpass Apple and Samsung.
Lenovo has not yet made a big splash in the United States, with only its ThinkPad products receiving attention. Lenovo's potential entry into the wearables market not only marks the company's insistence to make a splash in the industry, but also signals the competition that will likely occur in the market in the near future.
