TDK showcased at CEATEC an ultrathin meta-optics reflector designed for retinal projection smart glasses. The prototype is monochrome green with 750p resolution and a 45-degree diagonal field of view. The reflector is only 150 nanometers thick and achieves 80% visible-light transmittance. TDK plans to launch the green version by the end of 2026, a full-color version in May 2027, and mass production within a few years.
Why we recommend it: The source article gives thickness, transmittance, field of view and mass-production timeline, enabling comparison with waveguide approaches to understand retinal projection
Oct 12Mon
Monday
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6565
Kunyou Optoelectronics announced the completion of a C+ round exceeding 1 billion yuan, with investors undisclosed. The company's 12-inch wafer-level optics production line in Lingang, Shanghai, built with an investment of 2 billion yuan, is expected to be completed and come online in 2027, targeting AR, fiber optics, optical communications, automotive optics and optical computing markets. This follows its C round in January 2026 and a C+ round of nearly 400 million yuan in April.
Why we recommend it: The article lists three funding rounds this year and progress on the 12-inch wafer-level optics line, helping understand capital and capacity deployment in wafer-level optics
Oct 8Thu
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OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIAI score5555
Wuhan Yuanxi Photonics has completed an angel funding round worth tens of millions of yuan, with investors including CASSTAR and Hongshan Capital. Founded in late 2025, the company will focus on metasurface optical chip R&D and product introduction, targeting the two major markets of intelligent 3D sensing and data center optical interconnects.
Citing Yole's 2025 diffractive optics report, the article notes that metasurfaces are a nanoscale subclass of DOE diffractive optical elements, not a replacement. The two have diverged in physical mechanisms, manufacturing routes and industrialization stages: traditional DOEs support today's volume production of AR optical waveguides, while metasurfaces carry future upgrades.
An article by VR Tuoluo notes that metalenses had a noticeably stronger presence at CIOE 2026, with NIL Technology showcasing metaEye for AR/VR eye tracking. The article maps out the application paths for metalenses in eye tracking, ToF and AI glasses.
Why we recommend it: The source text lists specific applications of metalenses in XR, helping to gauge the progress of metasurfaces from the lab to products
Jul 7Fri
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Guangdian Hui · TrendsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
Suda Weige announced the successful delivery of an independently developed large direct-write lithography system for lithographic manufacturing of materials used in photonic chips, optical communications and optical chips. The system supports real-time 3D navigation autofocus on large-area substrates, proximity effect compensation during exposure and other functions. Several more large lithography system contracts are awaiting delivery. The company also plans to transfer 100% of Huarisheng for 550 million yuan, concentrating resources on micro- and nano-optics equipment and materials.
Why we recommend it: The equipment delivery and the planned exit from the reflective materials business together show a path of concentrating resources in micro- and nano-manufacturing, useful for understanding Suda Weige's technology portfolio and commercialization direction.