Optics

Vuzix partners with Plessey to put microLEDs in AR glasses

June 6, 2018

Should be the basis for a new generation of AR smart glasses with the sleekest form factors to date.

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IMAGE. Quanta-Brite technology from Plessey will be used in a new generation of AR glasses from Vuzix. (Courtesy Plessey)

Vuzix (Rochester, NY; NASDAQ: VUZI), a maker of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) products for the consumer and enterprise markets, is teaming with Plessey Semiconductor (Plymouth, England), to develop advanced display engines for Vuzix waveguide optics. The companies say that the combination of Vuzix’ expertise and IP in smart glasses and waveguide optic technologies and Plessey’s microLED light source product family, Quanta-Brite, will be the basis for a new generation of AR smart glasses with the sleekest form factors to date.

Quanta-Brite is based on Plessey’s gallium-nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) technology, with an integrated monolithic array of RGB pixels with advanced micro-optical elements to create a bright, largely collimated and highly uniform light source for the illumination in advanced display engines. The resulting optical system is up to 50% smaller, lighter, simpler and cheaper than incumbent solutions and the high performance microLED emitters combined with minimal optical system losses result is significantly increased power efficiency.

Vuzix says the combination of its recently announced collaboration with Qualcomm around the Snapdragon XR1 platform and Plessey’s microLED technology should enable Vuzix to develop powerful AR smart glasses in form factors nearly indistinguishable from regular eyeglasses, which it expects to introduce in 2019, should lead the mark

Source: Vuzix

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.