Silicon-based microdisplay technology breakthrough, many companies launch microdisplays for AR/VR

Germany's Fraunhofer IPMS develops semi-transparent silicon-based Micro OLED display for AR

Recently, Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (Fraunhofer IPMS) has developed an innovative semi-transparent silicon-based Micro OLED display for augmented reality that significantly reduces size and improves efficiency. Internal technical research shows that the transparency of the product can reach more than 50%.

With years of expertise in microdisplay design, researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems have designed an innovative approach. By integrating thinner circuit layers and micro-optics directly onto the chip, transparent microdisplays can double as optical combiner elements. This integration optimizes the optical system, significantly reducing size and improving efficiency. Internal technical research shows that the transparency of the product can reach more than 50%.

The team introduced: "Modern and advanced silicon CMOS processes are increasingly used on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. This wafer technology can be used to realize very thin circuit layers. With specific IC design and appropriate process flow, it can be transferred on glass wafers to realize semi-transparent micro displays."

Rain develops large FOV, high brightness AR/VR optical engine Anamorphic XR

Rain Technology is actively developing an optical engine Anamorphic XR for AR/VR. The team claims that by using reflective mirrors for the Lateral optical path and lenses for the Transverse optical path, the field of view and efficiency can be improved, and this can be achieved in a highly compact and manufacturable form.

According to Anamorphic XR, the total thickness of Anamorphic XR is 1-5mm, the panel size is 5x50mm, the pixel size is 3x30µm, the field of view is about 100 degrees, and it can achieve wide-field 20/20 resolution, and the brightness is greater than 3000 nits.

Anamorphic XR is designed to provide high-definition, wide-angle images and brighter, clearer views in a compact, transparent form factor. The team also provides a table comparing Anamorphic XR with traditional VR and AR optics:

The Anamorphic XR display is equipped with a deformable microdisplay integrated within a deformable waveguide frame. Light emitted from the microdisplay pixels travels down a transparent deformable waveguide, where a cylindrical mirror reflects the light back up to be extracted and perceived by the user's eye. This allows the real-world image to pass through the waveguide. Anamorphic XR also applies polarization instead of diffraction to extract the light from the waveguide, providing a brighter, clearer image.

VueReal Launches ColourFusion(TM) Microdisplay

VueReal announced yesterday the launch of its revolutionary ColourFusion™ microDisplay, an innovative augmented reality (AR) display that sets a new standard in visual clarity and color accuracy. The solution is suitable for consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, medical and industrial industries.

ColourFusion™ microdisplays are powered by VueReal’s MicroSolid Printing™ platform, integrating cutting-edge full-color microLED technology, image quality enhancement algorithms, and LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) systems to deliver high resolution, high grayscale and color depth, high contrast, and unprecedented low power consumption through power-saving algorithms and variable frame rates.

At the heart of the solution is VueReal’s MicroSolid Printing™ platform, which solves the primary challenge to mass adoption of microLED displays – efficient transfer of microLEDs from wafer to backplane. VueReal’s patented process transforms millions of micron-sized LEDs with unmatched throughput, scalability, and high yield.

ColourFusion™ microDisplay technology leverages VueReal’s proprietary MicroSolid Printing to manufacture full-color microLED displays known for their exceptional brightness and energy efficiency. By enhancing these displays with LCOS technology, VueReal has achieved a breakthrough in effective resolution, surpassing existing AR displays on the market.

ColourFusion™ microdisplay features include:

· Enhanced resolution: By combining efficient full-color microLEDs with LCOS technology, ColourFusion™ microDisplay delivers enhanced pixel density and sharper visuals, making it ideal for consumer and professional AR applications.

· Superior image quality: Harnessing the power of full-color microLEDs, the display produces a full spectrum of vivid colors and high contrast, bringing augmented reality to life without the challenges of color breakout and low contrast of traditional LCOS.

· Unprecedented energy efficiency: Utilizing full-color microLED displays enables low-power modes where the display’s frame rate can be adaptively adjusted based on usage, reducing system and display power consumption. ColourFusion™ microDisplay enables higher-efficiency microLEDs, further improving power consumption. Additionally, the LEDs used in this application have higher peak light efficiency and more efficient light coupling from the LCOS to the optics.

High cost-performance: Unlike other display solutions, this technology delivers high-quality displays that can be mass-produced at an affordable price using today’s technology.