A Mere 46mm²! The World's Smallest Active Cooling Fan for AR/XR Glasses Has Officially Launched

On July 22, xMEMS Labs (xMEMS) announced its latest innovation: the XMC-1200 active micro-fan.

It is officially claimed to be the world's smallest active micro-fan. Based on the xMEMS µCooling solid-state thermal cooling platform, it is specifically tailored for the confined spaces found in the temples of smart glasses and AR/XR eyewear.

Reportedly, this heatsink measures just 46mm² in area, allowing it to be installed in space-constrained locations such as eyeglass temples. When paired with the Astra2 driver ASIC, the system's typical power consumption is only 70mW. It has a negligible impact on battery life yet can achieve a temperature reduction of up to 10°C under a 1W thermal load.

In terms of specific application scenarios, this cooler addresses several pain points:

1. Cool the AR micro-display and laser light source to prevent wavelength drift caused by temperature rise, thereby maintaining color accuracy and brightness stability.

2. Extend the processor's lifespan and prevent issues such as overheating-induced shutdowns or throttling in smart glasses.

3. Extend video recording time for camera glasses, addressing the user pain point of recording interruptions caused by overheating.

4. It can also dissipate heat from the temple area before it reaches the skin, lowering the temperature at the points of contact and improving comfort during prolonged wear.

Mike Housholder, Vice President and General Manager of the Thermal Management Business Unit at xMEMS, stated bluntly: "The industry has been skirting around the 'thermal wall' we are currently facing rather than breaking through it. Devices are getting hotter, yet rotary fans are mechanically, acoustically, and thermodynamically unfeasible to fit into eyeglass temples. The XMC-1200 is the first active cooling device thin, quiet, and efficient enough to operate within the cramped confines where eyewear electronics are housed."

It is worth noting that xMEMS is no newcomer to the field of micro-thermal management. Its first mass-produced product, the XMC-2400, has been optimized for high-power eyewear processors; it is currently shipping and supporting initial eyewear design projects.

Engineering samples of the XMC-1200 are now available to qualified OEMs, with mass production targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027. Based on this timeline, ultra-slim smart glasses featuring this technology could hit the market in 2028.

Source: VR Planet