The Israel based optics and display engine developer Lumus has announced a partnership with Quanta Computers and Jorjin Technologies. The partnership includes the newly presented AR developer kit, the DK-50. The developer kit is based on the light engine from Lumus and also incorporates the SLAM [simultaneous localization and mapping] developed by InfinityAR. Adding both technologies together makes the development kit a fully functional AR headset.
Lumus DK50 AR headset
Lumus develops the micro display pod (projector) and the light guide optical element (LOE). There is very little background given about the underlying technology other than they are using a patented reflective waveguide solution. They also mention that all colors are reflected at the same time creating a brilliant image. They somewhat hint at the fact that there is transparent mirror embedded in the lens, however they are not mentioning pixels in their description. They also claim that they can create a larger field of view and a thinner waveguide compared to other solutions. This is all achieved while creating almost no distortions in the see through.
Quanta Computers and Jorjin Technologies are both ODMs and will use the DK-50 as the basis of their own AR headset designs.
Analyst Comment
Since it is not clear what type of waveguide technology Lumus is using, it would be unfair to assume that it is based on earlier designs. The incorporation of the InifinityAR engine gives this developer kit a higher level, as it includes almost all components needed for manufacturing a AR headset. As it is clearly stated, this is a developer kit and the basis for new developer kits designed by Quanta and Jorjin.
This news went in the USA through all channels including mainstream business and news. The key for understanding the wide spread interest in this partnership agreement is the fact that Quanta is the maker of the Apple Watch and has just announced to increase their capacity in this wearable field. The media took this development as a chance to suggest a closer than originally thought option for Apple to enter the AR market with a hardware solution.
I do not believe that this connection is being considered by Apple at this moment. The Lumus solution is still a rather obtrusive piece of hardware and Jorjin has already stated that they are addressing the Asian industrial and commercial market with this solution. In addition I would assume that Apple evaluated the Lumus light engine in detail and if they even remotely believed that this is a good basis for their own hardware development, they would have outright bought Lumus without any hesitation. (NH)
We have reported on Lumus quite a number of times and included an interesting logistics application that used the DK-50 at the AWE Expo in 2016 (AWE Round Up). Atheer, among others works with Lumus. We also reported on them from CES in 2016 (AR / VR Device Round – Up) (BR)
This application for packaging delivery that uses QR codes to help a driver quickly identify the package to deliver, based on the GPS location. Image:Meko
