DigiLens, Mitsubishi Chemical boost plastic waveguides distribution partnership
DigiLens (Sunnyvale, CA), which develops holographic waveguide display technology for extended reality (XR), has boosted its partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Tokyo, Japan) to bring to market plastic waveguides for XR glasses at a performance, cost, and scale for consumer and enterprise use.
DigiLens’ photopolymer and holographic contact copy manufacturing process technology approach will be able to make a working waveguide display using plastic waveguide substrates, explains Patrick Suel, president of Diamond Edge Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings. Its investments in DigiLens and the collaboration with MCC has helped to create plastic waveguide technology without the need for nanoimprint lithography (NIL imprinting), providing smartglasses OEMs a scalable plastic solution available through DigiLens’ licensed production partners, Suel adds.
Together, DigiLens and the MCC team have created plastic waveguides that perform at nearly the same level as glass while drastically reducing the weight and long-term manufacturing cost. Other benefits include increased user safety, with the lens being so close to the eye. The partnership is allowing DigiLens’ licensees to ship waveguides and integrated XR hardware solutions at a cost-effective consumer price point and will push the ecosystem one step closer to delivering XR glasses in a lightweight form factor within the next couple of years.