The future of Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) can be discovered in Shenzhen, starting September 4: SCHOTT, the international technology group, announced the latest update to the SCHOTT RealView™ portfolio of high-refractive index glass wafers for Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) devices.
Partnering with the NILPhotonics® Competence Center at EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, both companies announced the achievement of a patterned 300mm (~12-inch) SCHOTT RealView™ glass wafer with nanoimprints.
The increased wafer size combined with the capabilities of EVG’s SmartNIL® technology are crucial to achieving higher production volumes – while also lowering the cost per piece.
SCHOTT RealView™ glass wafers are key components of next-gen AR/MR headsets. The glass wafers are the basis for customers’ multi-layered RGB waveguides, and therefore are a key part of the AR/MR display unit that enables an immersive user experience (discover the technology here).
The 300mm wafer size relies on larger AR/MR-grade optical glass bars that have never been manufactured before. This required all-new manufacturing and melting processes. SCHOTT is now capable of producing larger optical glass bars, while maintaining the outstanding wafer quality in the SCHOTT RealView™ end products.
The next milestone on the road to Consumer AR devices
SCHOTT is already providing samples of the 300mm SCHOTT RealView™ wafers to customers and is prepared to ramp up production for the larger wafer diameter processing in its facilities. Simultaneously, SCHOTT scientists and glass experts are constantly improving the quality of AR/MR-grade optical glass in its German optical glass competence centers.
The successful cooperation between SCHOTT and EVG demonstrates the supply chain readiness for 300mm high-refractive index glass wafers while maintaining the stringent specifications and highest quality products, reaching the next milestone in AR/MR technology development.
A glass innovation that inspires a whole industry
SCHOTT introduced its first generation of SCHOTT RealView™ during SID Display Week 2018. Just one year later, the key component for the full immersion experience received the 2019 Display Industry Award for Display Component of the Year from the Society of Information Display, SID. The winners included products from Apple, Samsung, Sony, Dexerials, Japan Display, and Lenovo along with SCHOTT’s AR innovation. The SCHOTT RealView™ portfolio offers high-refractive indices up to 1.9, which enables a Field of View (FOV) of up to 53° horizontally and up to 65° diagonally. This is far superior to any AR device currently on sale (as of August 2019).
SCHOTT is proud to present its latest innovation during CIOE, one of Asia’s most important exhibitions related to Optics for Augmented Reality.
