Lumus, the developer of reflective waveguide technology for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, has announced a new licensing agreement with Quanta Computer Inc., a long-standing Lumus supply chain partner, to manufacture the company’s next generation of thinner, easier-to-produce waveguides for AR glasses.
The agreement builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between Lumus and Quanta, beginning with Quanta’s investment in the company in 2016. Since then, the companies have worked together to advance geometric waveguide technology from early development to scalable manufacturing. Under the new licensing agreement, Quanta will manufacture Lumus’ next generation of thin waveguides, including Z-30 2.0 and A-Lens (30° and 50° FOV).
“Our relationship with Quanta has always been built around solving the practical challenges of bringing advanced AR optics into mass production,” said Ari Grobman, CEO of Lumus, in a press release. “This agreement allows us to bring our next generation of lower-cost waveguides into manufacturing with a partner that understands both the technology and the production requirements behind it. We’re excited to bring thinner waveguides and lighter optical engines to market while preserving the image quality and efficiency Lumus is known for.”
Lumus’ Z-30 2.0 waveguide delivers a 30-degree field of view in a thinner, lighter optical engine while increasing brightness and enabling direct prescription lens bonding.
Lumus’ new A-Lens waveguides will be available in both 30° and 50° field-of-view designs. Designed for lower-cost production, A-Lens is approximately half the weight and thickness of previous generations while maintaining the image quality and efficiency that define Lumus’ waveguide architecture.
“Quanta and Lumus have consistently advanced reflective waveguide technology while maintaining a strong focus on manufacturability and scale,” said C.C. Leung, Vice Chairman and President of Quanta Computer Inc, in the same press release.
“Leveraging Quanta’s leadership in AI infrastructure, smart computing platforms, precision optics, and global manufacturing operations, we are well positioned to bring next-generation AR technologies from innovation to commercialization. This licensing agreement reflects our confidence in Lumus’ advanced waveguide portfolio and strengthens our long-term collaboration to deliver light weight, high brightness, cost-effective, and production-ready optical solutions for the future generation of AI-enabled smart glasses.”
The new waveguides reflect Lumus’ continued focus on reducing the size, weight, and manufacturing cost of AR optics without compromising the optical performance required for consumer and enterprise devices.