Lumus, a maker of reflective waveguide tech augmented reality (AR) eyewear, has expanded its partnership with Schott, a high-tech materials and optics company.
The collaboration aims to address the surging global demand for optical AR glasses.
The key development in this extended collaboration involves Schott’s expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in Penang, Malaysia. This expansion aligns with the growing need for optical AR glasses worldwide and is set to strengthen Lumus’s position as a leader in the AR industry.
The announcement, made at SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, unveiled the collaborative efforts to bring Lumus’s next-generation Z-Lens waveguide architecture to life. This technology is pivotal in developing smaller, lighter AR glasses with high-resolution image quality, outdoor-compatible brightness, and seamless Rx integration.
Lumus CEO Ari Grobman said in a statement, “The success of our partnership is helping to make high-quality optical AR glasses a practical reality for the mass market. The expanded partnership with Lumus represents the logical next step in Schott’s history of pioneering innovations in optics and vision technology that turn visions into a reality.”
The five-year partnership began with Schott establishing a sampling line in Malaysia, where it developed processing and metrology capabilities to provide customers with prototypes. The second phase focused on industrial manufacturing requirements, with the processing platform centering around Lumus’s new Z-lens reflective waveguide architecture.
As part of the collaboration, Schott will enhance its Malaysia Advanced Optics Hub, allowing the partnership to support all phases of product development, from prototypes to mass-market scale manufacturing.
Ruediger Sprengard, head of augmented reality at Schott, said in a statement, “With this expansion, we are well positioned to meet the growing demand in cutting-edge optics such as AR waveguides based on Lumus’ Z-lens architecture.”
Lumus’s Z-Lens 2D waveguide architecture, introduced last year, is 50% smaller and lighter than its predecessor, offering better image quality, high luminance efficiency, and industry-leading brightness. It has been lauded for its innovative, lightweight optical engine, providing wearers with an augmented reality experience in daylight while maintaining the appearance of traditional eyewear.
The strategic partnership between Lumus and Schott showcases the strengths of two industry leaders committed to pushing the boundaries of AR technology. Lumus holds a prominent position in augmented reality optics, boasting over 430 patents and more than 540 additional patents pending. Schott has been around as a manufacturer for 140 years and it has 17,200 employees.