NVIDIA

Brand patents holographic technology for use in monitors and headphones

NVIDIA, best known for its advanced graphics cards, has filed a patent for a holographic technology designed for use in monitors and headphones.

Judging by the description, the option involves wearing a headset on the head and is intended for virtual reality devices. The app includes a technical explanation of how the technology works, potentially suitable for use in one of the first VR holographic displays on the market.

In addition to creating video cards, NVIDIA is developing in several areas, including creating hardware and software. While the company was known for its graphics cards in the 1990s, today it works on a wide range of semiconductor solutions, software products and consumer products. On the playing field, in addition to video cards from the GeForce family, it offers Shield consoles. The company also has its own streaming gaming platform, GeForce Now.

NVIDIA's patent application describes the invention as a "Holographic Virtual Reality Display". While the summary doesn't indicate that the screen is specifically designed for use in headphones, in a more detailed version we are talking about specific use in VR headunits. We can assume that we can talk about helmets like Meta Quest.

This is not the first holographic display on the market. For example, the Microsoft HoloLens project has been working on these devices for years. However, in the case of HoloLens, we are talking about augmented reality models. It doesn't appear that NVIDIA intends to replicate Microsoft's product, although the document does mention that the technology can also be used in augmented and mixed reality devices.

In NVIDIA's description, the device is called a VR display, so it's probably not about adding additional content to the image of the surrounding world. Among the potential consumers of the technology, gamers are also indicated - the control must be done through game controllers, and consoles are also indicated as a signal source. However, nothing is reported about specific products where the technology can be used.

As is often the case with patents, the existence of an application does not mean that NVIDIA is necessarily developing a product line using the new technology. It is possible that the company simply intends to strengthen its position in the VR gaming market, as this area is becoming increasingly in demand. However, the filing indicates that the company is already working on the technology itself, which could underlie many new types of devices.

Nvidia