May 4, 2023

AR eyeglasses for hearing loss compensation, spoken language translation SABIC’S ULTEM resin provides lightweight comfort for hearing-impaired and multi-language users of LLVISION’S augmented reality eyeglasses. LEION Hey augmented reality (AR) eyeglasses from Beijing LLVision Technology Co., Ltd., display voice translations in text on the lenses in real time. The company’s glasses feature legs (or temples) molded from SABIC’s ULTEM 1000 resin. SABIC’s innovative material helped LLVision minimize the weight of the legs to give users all-day comfort, while providing high strength that enables key components to be integrated into the legs with maximum functionality. SABIC Hearing loss compensation and spoken language translation can nowbe provided using an unlikely yet elegant technology – augmented reality (AR)eyeglasses from Beijing LLVision Technology Co., Ltd., which display voicetranslations in text on the lenses in real time. The company’s LEION Heyglasses feature legs (or temples) molded from SABIC’s tough, lightweight, andinherent, non-halogenated flame-retardant ULTEM 1000 resin. ULTEM resin enablesthin-wall molding of the hollow legs, which contain both a lithium-ion batteryand a computer chip to enable rapid, multi-language translations. SABIC’sinnovative material helped LLVision minimize the weight of the legs to giveusers all-day comfort, while providing high strength that enables keycomponents to be integrated into the legs with maximum functionality. “At the beginning of the design phase, we set a goal to make thelightest AR glasses on the market,” recalled Mr. Wu Fei, CEO of LLVision.“Every gram mattered to the comfort of our customers. However, with all thecomponents required for AR glasses, including the optical module, microphoneand computer chip, it was a difficult challenge. After comparing and testingmaterials from more than 20 suppliers globally, we found SABIC’s ULTEM resin tobe the lightest, with additional advantages of strength, resilience and inherent,non-halogenated flame retardance. With the help of ULTEM resin, we lowered theoverall weight of our LEION Hey glasses to just 79 grams, or 2.8 ounces.” According to the World Health Organization , about1.5 billion people (nearly 20 percent of the global population) live withhearing loss – a number that could rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. Another trendis the growing need for international communications that has arisen with theloosening of COVID-19 restrictions. The LEION Hey glasses can enableindividuals to cope with both scenarios. They can help avoid the challenges ofhearing in noisy environments or lip-reading when people are wearing masks.Also, they can facilitate communication in multilingual work environments andenable more-active business and social interactions. LLVision employs automatic speech recognition technology andartificial intelligence to create, stream and display voice translations inmilliseconds. The computer chip integrated in the legs of the glassestranslates voice input into text data. The glasses connect wirelessly to asmartphone app that handles user authentication. Lighter legs During LLVision’s selection process, ULTEM resin surpassedincumbent materials used for eyeglass legs, such as amorphous polyamide (PA) resin.SABIC’s polyetherimide (PEI) material provides a balance of ductility andstiffness that enables thin-wall molding to cut weight by up to 30 percent vs.PA and provide more space for embedded components. This specialty resin alsoprovides better dimensional stability than PA for efficient assembly anddelivers combined stiffness and strength that allows the legs to clamp securelyto the wearer’s head. ULTEM resin’s flame retardance enhances the safety ofdevices that incorporate electronic components, and the non-halogenatedformulation avoids the use of chlorine and bromine, which are associated withadverse health and environmental effects. ULTEM 1000 resin is an unreinforced, general-purpose gradeoffering high heat resistance, high strength and modulus, and broad chemicalresistance. It is rated for fire safety under the UL94 V0, V2, and 5VAstandards. SABIC supplies the material to LLVision in a custom gray color. Inaddition, SABIC has a broad portfolio of other materials well suited for eyeglassframes and legs depending on customers’ design needs. “LLVision’s AR smart glasses are a novel and effective way tohelp people communicate more easily and accurately,” said Scott Fisher,director, ULTEM Resins & Additives for SABIC’s Specialties business. “Ourhigh-performance ULTEM resin, which has been chosen for eyewear applicationsfor more than a decade , helpedthe company address key product design and manufacturing challenges. Subject touser testing, any maker of AR or conventional eyewear can benefit from thelight weight and high-strength properties of ULTEM resin. We look forward toworking with LLVision on a next-generation version of the LEION Hey glassesusing a certified renewable, bio-based grade of ULTEM resin.” Latest from Today's Medical Developments