🔍 Crystal-Optech's Current AR Optics Overview

🔍 Crystal-Optech's Current AR Optics Overview:

1. Core Technologies

Reflective Waveguide

Closely partnered with industry leader Lumus and holds shares in the company.

Meta’s AR glasses (launched this year) use this technology, licensed by Lumus and manufactured by Schott in Malaysia.

Advantages: High optical efficiency (up to ~10%).

Disadvantages: Bulky, heavy, low production yield, constrained by patents—limited profitability across the value chain.

This is Crystal-Optech’s main area of technical accumulation.

Volume Holographic Grating (VHG)

Currently under development.

Potential future applications in automotive HUDs.

2. SRG (Surface Relief Grating) Technology

Very low optical efficiency (only ~0.2–0.3%).

While it offers smaller size and higher yield, the low brightness makes it unsuitable for high-luminance MicroLED engines.

MicroLED optical engines still face challenges in resolution and full-color performance.

In the long term, single-panel full-color MicroLED + SRG might become viable, but in the short term, this combo lacks maturity.

3. Recommended Near-Term Application Strategy

For high-resolution full-color AR (e.g., 720p+):

A more realistic solution in the short term is Reflective Waveguide + LCoS light engine.

Balances manufacturability and optical performance better.

Offers a more feasible path to commercialization today.

4. Broader Optics Experience

Crystal-Optech has significant optical experience in smartphones—for example, the prisms in Apple’s telephoto lens modules are made by them.

🔍 水晶光电在AR光学领域的布局总结：

1. 核心技术方向

反射光波导（Reflective Waveguide）

与Lumus合作紧密，为其股东；

Meta的AR眼镜采用此方案，由Lumus授权、肖特在马来西亚制造；

优点：光效较高（接近10%）；

缺点：系统厚重、良率低、受专利限制，整体产业链利润不高；

目前是水晶的主要技术积累方向。

体全息衍射光波导（VHG - Volume Holographic Grating）

正在攻克中；

潜力方向之一，可能用于车载HUD。

2. SRG（Surface Relief Grating）方案

光效极低（约2-3‰）；

虽有体积小、良率高优势，但不适合高亮度MicroLED光机；

当前MicroLED光机在分辨率和彩色化方面仍未成熟；

长期看可能与单片彩色MicroLED结合，但短期内落地性弱。

3. 应用方向与落地建议

若短期内要实现高分辨率彩色AR（如720p以上）：

推荐路径：反射光波导 + LCoS光机；

在光效与可制造性之间达到更优平衡；

是当前更具落地可行性的组合方案。

4. 其他光学业务积累

在手机端已有不少积累，例如苹果长焦镜头里的棱镜就是水晶光电制造。