依靠创新的力量影响我们周围的世界
SIGNALS+ 在线快讯订阅
持续关注Signals+，了解有关连接、数字健康、电气化和智能工业的最新见解、信息和想法并加以利用。
VARJO: ADVANCING BREAKTHROUGHS WITH MIXED REALITY TECHNOLOGY
Imagine a physician exploring photorealistic 3D anatomy, an automotive designer perfecting life-like designs without prototypes, or a manufacturer using immersive factory simulations to cut training costs. Across industries, businesses are leveraging virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (XR) technologies to boost efficiency, collaboration, and savings.
Varjo—creator of the world’s most advanced, virtual and mixed reality technologies—partnered up with Analog Devices (ADI) in developing their highly advanced XR-4 Series headset.
ADI delivered with full-system, audio/visual solutions, enabling Varjo to focus on display and imaging while seamlessly integrating new functions into next-generation devices. These technologies included:
- ADI’s 3D Time of Flight (ToF) technology for millimeter-accurate, depth processing
- ADI LISTN™ signal processing software portfolio for high performance audio
- Dynamic Speaker Management™ (DSM) for premium audio playback with high fidelity amplifiers
- Power Management for cutting-edge technology, including 3D vision and high fidelity audio
AT A GLANCE
COMPANY
Varjo was founded by experienced product innovators with a background in high end technology and innovations at Nokia, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. As developers of the world's most advanced VR/XR products and services, Varjo transforms how people train, create, and learn in automotive, aerospace, training and simulation, engineering, and research.
GOAL
Establish a collaborative relationship with a partner with vast experience and a deep product portfolio (hardware and software) in audio/visual technologies.
CHALLENGES
Finding a co-collaborator with advanced technical solutions for Varjo’s next-generation XR-4 Series headsets; solve for acoustically challenging situations, including high noise environments (for example, headset fans) requiring significant effort from amplifiers and software, especially in multiuser communications.
SOLUTION
Software algorithms within the audio and ToF domains running on ADI hardware; ADI’s LISTN audio software algorithms; power management solutions.
ADI's solutions helped Varjo achieve high quality playback and speech capture for the XR-4 Series, our first-ever headset with integrated audio. Thanks to the ADI team’s great offering and support, including working at the Catalyst, we were able to deliver a premium solution for our industrial customers in training and simulation, design visualization, and medical and research, without compromising our ambitious, open-ear, acoustic concept.Mika-Petteri Lundgren
Principal Hardware Architect | Varjo
BREAKING DOWN REALITIES
VR (Virtual Reality)
Fully immersive, computer-generated 3D content. Used for training, simulation, architecture, and entertainment.
AR (Augmented Reality)
Digital overlays on the real world, where virtual objects or information appear on real-world views which are fictional or speculative alternative worlds; used for customer service, maintenance, and logistics.
MR (Mixed Reality)
A hybrid of AR and VR where physical and virtual objects co-exist and can interact with each other in real time. Used to collaborate with colleagues.
XR (Extended reality)
A range of real and virtual environments, including VR, AR, and MR. People can choose their level of virtuality, 100% reality to fully synthetic, or somewhere in between.
Varjo XR-4 headset enables hands-on learning with advanced virtual and mixed reality, so you can simulate any training scenario—from turbine mechanics to complex aerospace operations—delivering realistic, interactive learning experiences anytime, anywhere.
BRINGING VIRTUAL REALITY TO LIFE
Leveraging ADI’s advanced technologies, the Varjo XR-4 Series produced immersive, digital theater sound (DTS) and spatial audio through integrated speakers, and noise-reducing microphones for effortless communications in multiuser sessions. ToF also produced advanced depth sensing for high quality, mixed reality experiences.
In audio, ADI’s full system solutions in both audio playback and capture are a mix of hardware, software, and embedded algorithms. ToF not only delivers an imager but also a dedicated ISP for depth camera that removes the complexity of integrating ToF into end systems.
Additionally, ADI’s comprehensive power management portfolio—featuring advanced consumer power components and architecture—provides highly efficient power delivery with a compact footprint to various subsystems such as fan controllers, audio amplifiers, ToF sensors, and imaging processors. Consequently, ADI’s power solution reduces heat dissipation while maintaining peak performance under heavy loads.
A CATALYST TO VARJO’S SUCCESS
In addition to leveraging ADI’s advanced audio/visual technologies, Varjo’s team worked hand in hand on-site with ADI engineers testing the XR-4 Series in ADI’s unique co-creation and innovation hub, the Catalyst Center, located in Limerick, Ireland. By combining advanced mixed reality technology with the ultimate graphical processing power, the XR-4 Series headset delivers unparalleled visual fidelity and immersion that are critical for demanding industrial applications.
ADI TECHNOLOGIES POWERING VARJO’S REALITY
| Application | ADI's Technology + Function | Benefits |
| 3D ToF | ADI ToF is a complete, precision hardware/ software solution, delivering high performance VGA resolution depth imaging |
|
| Audio Systems for Headset | ADI LISTN is a portfolio of high performance, microphone audio signal processing algorithms ADI Dynamic Speaker Management (DSM) delivers premium audio playback with algorithms running on ADI’s high fidelity amplifiers |
|
| Power Management | ADI's expansive power solutions enable smaller and smarter applications. | Portability: compact footprint; high power density; USB compliant Cost-Effective: high volume; low cost, PCB compatible; fast to market |
THE REAL IMPACT OF MIXED REALITY TECHNOLOGY1
Training and Simulation
- May reduce costs by up to 99%
- Increase training velocity
- Optimize user engagement
- Train for dangerous scenarios, safely
Product Design
- Save time, work, and money by spotting errors earlier
- Make modifications in real time
- Conduct reviews remotely regardless of location
- Accelerate innovation speed
Product Marketing, Sales, Exhibitions
- Improve conversions with personalized buying experience
- Reduce inventory and shipping costs with digital equivalents of physical products
- Competitive advantage vs. brochures, 2D images
- Upsell and offer premium options
Remote Collaboration
- Potential cost savings with reduced travel time and expenses
- Work simultaneously on the same project for shared understanding, experience
- Run more immersive meetings where 2D and 3D objects can be easily shared, edited, and presented
CRAFTING THE FUTURE OF MIXED REALITY TECHNOLOGY
From training fighter pilots in virtual cockpits, and helping medical students master anatomy, to giving factory workers real-world preparedness, and helping product designers innovate efficiently, Varjo, with help from ADI, has created next-generation virtual and mixed reality devices, which are blazing the trail for unprecedented, virtual world adoption.
1 Data from Varjo case studies
