Xiaomi has applied for a new patent for AR smart glasses with a neckband design at the State Intellectual Property Office of China, which was filed in December 2019 and announced earlier this week.
From the patent map released by 91Mobiles, this device looks like ordinary smart glasses.
The interesting thing is that the glasses are connected to a neckband through a cable. This is the first time we have seen such a design.
There are several buttons on the neckband, which may be volume control and power button.
Like other augmented reality glasses, Xiaomi smart glasses can display augmented reality content and may also support some popular applications.
The patent description states that "this design is used in the augmented reality of wearable smart devices." However, the functions and features of the smart glasses are still a mystery, and nothing can be inferred from the patent pictures. Because Xiaomi has the habit of applying for patents, it is impossible to determine whether this product will be launched.
Xiaomi is not the only smartphone brand that develops smart glasses. There have been rumors in the past that Huawei and Apple are also working to bring augmented reality glasses to the market.
According to a report from the Orion Institute, the smart glasses market is expected to grow in the coming years because of "rapidly evolving technologies and consumer demand for detailed multimedia and beautiful gaming experiences."