Optics

WaveOptics secures $15.5M to advance PC and waveguide-based AR optics

July 21, 2017

Augmented reality specialist WaveOptics announced the completion of a second round of funding.

WaveOptics is using photonic crystal (PC) and waveguide-based technology to develop optics for augmented reality (AR) displays.

Augmented reality (AR) specialist WaveOptics (Oxfordshire, England) announced the completion of a second round of funding, netting the company $15.5 million dollars. The round featured existing backers such as Touchstone Innovations, Octopus Ventures, and Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), while being led by Gobi Ventures, a new Chinese investor.

"WaveOptics is reinventing the AR market by developing a series of new AR display tech that enables a wider field of view and brighter full colour images--a unique combination in today's market," said Martin Harriman, chairman of WaveOptics. "This funding round further accelerates development of our industry-leading technologies and enables us to launch programs in new markets and territories. We are excited about the team of investors we have on board who share our vision."

The company is working on waveguide technology, aiming to reduce the cumbersome size of current AR headsets seen on the market by focusing on the optics side rather than creating its own head-mounted display (HMD). The design channels light from a microdisplay harnessing waveguide hologram physics and photonic crystals rather than conventional AR projection.

"WaveOptics has made significant technical and commercial progress since the investment round we led in October 2015, with very positive feedback from industry on its initial beta products," added Robert Bahns, director of technology investment at Touchstone Innovations. "This new funding will allow the company to complete its product development and position itself as a leader and key technology enabler of highly compelling AR experiences."

SOURCE: VRFocus; https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/07/waveoptics-secures-12m-investment-for-its-ar-display-technology/

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.