Revolutionary projector platform for virtual and augmented reality eyewear

Project Information

REALITY

Grant agreement ID: 756043

DOI

10.3030/756043

Project closed

EC signature date 22 February 2017

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Total cost

€ 3 195 000,00

EU contribution

€ 2 236 500,00

Coordinated by

BRIGHTERWAVE OY
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - REALITY (Revolutionary projector platform for virtual and augmented reality eyewear)

Reporting period: 2018-01-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Whereas Virtual Reality (VR) immerses your senses completely in a world that only exists in the digital realm, Augmented Reality (AR) superimposes virtual objects in the user's view of the real world. Both technologies are finally starting to emerge from the lab into applications for everyday life. VR finds typically applications in gaming and other entertainment, education, designing, sports, fashion, healthcare, real estate, etc. AR has a wide range of applications in several industries (manufacturing, aviation, biomedical healthcare, military, homeland security, automotive, etc.) and thanks to the rise of consumer smart devices and overall computing technology developments it now has lots of potential in the mainstream consumer space as well.

So far, it has been impossible to build light-weight and sleek AR/VR eyewear because of the large size and complexity of the required electronics and optics. We have created a revolutionary RGB laser light source that is >90% smaller than competing solutions enabling a mass-producible ultra-compact retinal scanning display projector capable of providing full color 3D experience. Successful completion of the REALITY project will result in the world’s smallest projector engine that enables us and our customers build consumer-friendly AR/VR eyewear products with superior performance. It will make Brighterwave the preferred laser projector and AR/VR eyewear solution provider in the fast-growing AR/VR markets.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We design, develop and fabricate novel ultra-compact RGB laser modules based on our proprietary frequency-converted laser technology. In REALITY project, we optimize the key components of the laser module to match stringent requirements of AR/VR applications. This revolutionary module acts as a heart of our retinal scanning display which also has a MEMS scanner, optics and electronics. The laser projector unit is embedded to the handle of the AR/VR eyewear giving rise to consumer-friendly form-factor and light weight. The formed image is reflected from a regular or prescription (sun)glass lens which has a reflective hologram. We operate through our world-class manufacturing partners to provide the quality and volume needed in consumer electronics and professional AR/VR markets.

We made new key laser components, built new laser light source modules and assembled them with other parts and components to a form of a projector engine. We used this engine in our AR eyewear demonstrators which we will take to commercial level.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We have recently presented our laser projector and AR eyewear demos in several exhibitions world-wide and received a lot of interest from consumers and professionals. The eyewear demos show exceptionally large field of view and there is no image noise (or so called laser speckle) issue. The brightness can be dynamically adjusted and the eyewear provides bright and crystal clear image day and night. Our AR eyewear products will be light-weight, wireless and water-proof with foldable handles and they can be seamlessly paired with a cell phone, smart watch or other host unit. Thanks to our new laser technology we can now make full color eyewear which is always eye-safe and has low power consumption and excellent image quality. We will bring our innovative products to the market place and expect to gain a considerable market share due to our strong competitive advantages.

Brighterwave laser projector concept for AR VR