How AR Glasses Make Virtual Objects Look Solid
This patent describes how augmented reality glasses can make virtual objects appear more distinct by selectively blocking real-world light behind them using a special pixelated filter.
Original patent title: “Opacity filter for display device”
This patent describes how augmented reality glasses can make virtual objects appear more distinct by selectively blocking real-world light behind them using a special pixelated filter. Granted to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB in 2020 with 38 claims and 14 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2039.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an optical see-through display device, like AR glasses, that helps virtual images look more real. It includes an "opacity filter" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1), which is a grid of tiny pixels, like a transparent screen, placed between your eye and the real world. A "display component" shows the augmented reality image. An "opacity filter control circuit" then makes specific pixels in this filter less transparent (more opaque) exactly where the augmented reality image is displayed (Claim 2). This selective blocking of real-world light behind the virtual image makes the virtual image appear more solid and distinct. For example, if you're wearing these glasses and a virtual dog appears to sit on your real-world table, the filter would darken the part of the table directly behind the virtual dog, making the dog look less ghostly and more like it's actually there. The filter can also adjust opacity around the edges of the virtual image (Claim 4, 5, 6) or based on the image's position relative to the display's boundaries (Claim 8, 9).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover augmented reality systems that entirely block the real-world view (e.g., virtual reality headsets).
- Does not cover systems where the opacity filter's control is unrelated to the shape or position of the augmented reality image.
- Does not cover methods of making AR images appear distinct without using a pixelated, controllable opacity filter.
- Does not cover AR systems that only use projection onto the real world without a physical filter to adjust real-world light.
- Does not cover systems where the opacity filter is not positioned between the user's eye and the real-world scene.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is using a pixelated, controllable opacity filter to dynamically block real-world light only where an augmented reality image is displayed. This makes the virtual image stand out more clearly against the real background, solving a key problem of making virtual objects appear solid and not ghost-like.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Microsoft HoloLens 2
Magic Leap 2
Future consumer AR glasses
Industrial AR headsets for maintenance or training
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is crucial for making augmented reality experiences more immersive and believable. One of the biggest challenges in AR is making virtual objects look like they truly belong in the real world, especially when they should appear in front of real objects. This patent addresses the "occlusion problem" by enhancing the visual fidelity of AR images, which is vital for widespread adoption of AR glasses in consumer and industrial applications.
Filed
August 22, 2019
Granted
February 25, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Microsoft (with HoloLens), Magic Leap, and Apple are actively developing and refining optical see-through AR devices that likely incorporate similar principles for improving virtual image clarity and occlusion. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be involved in telecommunications and related technologies, including aspects of AR/VR.
Market impact
This type of technology directly impacts the quality and realism of augmented reality experiences. By enabling AR images to appear more solid and correctly occlude real-world objects, it removes a significant barrier to user immersion and acceptance. This capability is essential for AR to move beyond niche applications into mainstream consumer and enterprise markets, potentially leading to new product categories and widespread adoption of AR glasses.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an optical see-through display device, like AR glasses, that helps virtual images look more real. It includes an "opacity filter" (Claim 1), which is a grid of tiny pixels, like a transparent screen, placed between your eye and the real world. A "display component" shows the augmented reality image. An "opacity filter control circuit" then makes specific pixels in this filter less transparent (more opaque) exactly where the augmented reality image is displayed (Claim 2). This selective blocking of real-world light behind the virtual image makes the virtual image appear more solid and distinct. For example, if you're wearing these glasses and a virtual dog appears to sit on your real-world table, the filter would darken the part of the table directly behind the virtual dog, making the dog look less ghostly and more like it's actually there. The filter can also adjust opacity around the edges of the virtual image (Claim 4, 5, 6) or based on the image's position relative to the display's boundaries (Claim 8, 9).
The clever bit
The clever bit is using a pixelated, controllable opacity filter to dynamically block real-world light only where an augmented reality image is displayed. This makes the virtual image stand out more clearly against the real background, solving a key problem of making virtual objects appear solid and not ghost-like.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover augmented reality systems that entirely block the real-world view (e.g., virtual reality headsets).
- Does not cover systems where the opacity filter's control is unrelated to the shape or position of the augmented reality image.
- Does not cover methods of making AR images appear distinct without using a pixelated, controllable opacity filter.
- Does not cover AR systems that only use projection onto the real world without a physical filter to adjust real-world light.
- Does not cover systems where the opacity filter is not positioned between the user's eye and the real-world scene.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
23/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$173K – $553K
Midpoint $346K · 13.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
38 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Bar-Zeev, A., Crocco, B., Kipman, A. A., & Lewis, J. (2020). How AR Glasses Make Virtual Objects Look Solid (U.S. Patent No. 10,573,086). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10573086/opacity-filter-for-display-device
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How AR Glasses Make Virtual Objects Look Solid cover?
This patent describes how augmented reality glasses can make virtual objects appear more distinct by selectively blocking real-world light behind them using a special pixelated filter.
Who owns patent US 10573086?
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 22, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10573086 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 14 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is crucial for making augmented reality experiences more immersive and believable. One of the biggest challenges in AR is making virtual objects look like they truly belong in the real world, especially when they should appear in front of real objects. This patent addresses the "occlusion problem" by enhancing the visual fidelity of AR images, which is vital for widespread adoption of AR glasses in consumer and industrial applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover augmented reality systems that entirely block the real-world view (e.g., virtual reality headsets).
Same assignee
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