Limbak - Revision history

Xinreality at 08:15, 6 May 2025

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	\|image=[[File:limbak logo1.png\|350px]]		\|image=[[File:limbak logo1.png\|350px]]
	\|Type=Private		\|Type=Private
	\|Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology		\|Industry=[[Virtual Reality]], [[Augmented Reality]], [[Optical Technology]]
	\|Founded=2013, Madrid, Spain		\|Founded=2013, Madrid, Spain
	\|Founder=Pablo Benítez, Juan Carlos Miñano		\|Founder=Pablo Benítez, Juan Carlos Miñano
	\|Headquarters=Madrid, Spain		\|Headquarters=Madrid, Spain
	\|Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic		\|Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic
	\|Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics		\|Products=[[ThinEyes™ Optical Technology]], [[Foveated Optics]], [[Pancake Optics]]
	\|Parent=[[Apple Inc.]] (since 2022)		\|Parent=[[Apple Inc.]] (since 2022)
	\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)		\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)
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	[[Category:Companies]]		[[Category:Companies]]
	[[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]]		[[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]]
	[[Category:Optical ~~technology companies~~]]		[[Category:Optical Technology Companies]]
	[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]		[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]
	[[Category:Companies based in Madrid]]		[[Category:Companies based in Madrid]]

Xinreality: /* Commercial Applications */

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Commercial Applications

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	While Limbak primarily operated as an IP company focusing on optical design rather than manufacturing complete products, its technology was incorporated into several notable VR and AR headsets:		While Limbak primarily operated as an IP company focusing on optical design rather than manufacturing complete products, its technology was incorporated into several notable VR and AR headsets:

	* '''Lynx R-1''': This mixed reality headset featured Limbak's ThinEyes® Clover optics, which Lynx described as a "4x catadioptric free-form prism." The design stitched images together from four lens elements to provide a particularly sharp image in the center of the field of view.<ref name="mixed"></ref>		* '''[[Lynx R-1]]''': This mixed reality headset featured Limbak's ThinEyes® Clover optics, which Lynx described as a "4x catadioptric free-form prism." The design stitched images together from four lens elements to provide a particularly sharp image in the center of the field of view.<ref name="mixed"></ref>

	* '''Simula One''': This Linux-based VR headset also incorporated Limbak's optical technology.<ref name="mixed"/>		* '''[[Simula One]]''': This Linux-based VR headset also incorporated Limbak's optical technology.<ref name="mixed"/>

	* '''LOMID Project''': Limbak collaborated with Fraunhofer on a VR headset with 25 pixels per degree and a 37mm track-to-lens distance as part of the EU-funded LOMID (Large cost-effective OLED microdisplays and their applications) project.<ref name="limbak"></ref>		* '''[[LOMID Project]]''': Limbak collaborated with Fraunhofer on a VR headset with 25 pixels per degree and a 37mm track-to-lens distance as part of the EU-funded LOMID (Large cost-effective OLED microdisplays and their applications) project.<ref name="limbak"></ref>

	== Research and Development ==		== Research and Development ==

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	</references>		</references>

	[[Category:Virtual ~~reality companies~~]]		[[Category:Companies]]
			[[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]]
	[[Category:Optical technology companies]]		[[Category:Optical technology companies]]
	[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]		[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]

Xinreality at 08:11, 6 May 2025

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	{{Company Infobox		{{Company Infobox
	\|image=		\|image=[[File:limbak logo1.png\|350px]]
	\|Type=Private		\|Type=Private
	\|Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology		\|Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology

Xinreality at 08:10, 6 May 2025

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	\|Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic		\|Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic
	\|Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics		\|Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics
	\|Parent=Apple Inc. (since 2022)		\|Parent=[[Apple Inc.]] (since 2022)
	\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)		\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)
	}}		}}

Xinreality at 08:09, 6 May 2025

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	\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)		\|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)
	}}		}}
			{{see also\|Companies}}
	~~'''~~Limbak~~'''~~ was a Spanish optical technology company that specialized in developing advanced optics for [[virtual reality]] and [[augmented reality]] devices. The company was known for its innovative [[ThinEyes™]] technology, which significantly improved the resolution, weight, and form factor of [[head-mounted display\|head-mounted displays]] (HMDs). Founded in 2013, Limbak was acquired by [[Apple Inc.]] in late 2022.		[[Limbak]] was a Spanish [[optical]] technology [[company]] that specialized in developing advanced optics for [[virtual reality]] and [[augmented reality]] devices. The company was known for its innovative [[ThinEyes™]] technology, which significantly improved the resolution, weight, and form factor of [[head-mounted display\|head-mounted displays]] (HMDs). Founded in 2013, Limbak was acquired by [[Apple Inc.]] in late 2022.

	== History ==		== History ==

Xinreality at 08:08, 6 May 2025

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Xinreality at 08:07, 6 May 2025

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	== History ==		== History ==

	Limbak was founded in 2013 in Madrid, Spain by Pablo Benítez and Juan Carlos Miñano, both renowned optical engineers with extensive experience in developing advanced optical systems.<ref name="about">~~Limbak Technologies, "About - Limbak Technologies", Limbak Official Website (archived)~~</ref> Prior to founding Limbak, the two co-founders had already established another company called LPI in 1999, demonstrating their long-standing partnership in optical innovation.<ref name="f6s">~~F6S, "Pablo Benitez \| CTO at Limbak", F6S Member Profile~~</ref>		Limbak was founded in 2013 in Madrid, Spain by Pablo Benítez and Juan Carlos Miñano, both renowned optical engineers with extensive experience in developing advanced optical systems.<ref name="about"></ref> Prior to founding Limbak, the two co-founders had already established another company called LPI in 1999, demonstrating their long-standing partnership in optical innovation.<ref name="f6s"></ref>

	The company quickly became known for its unique approach to solving optical challenges in VR headsets. In 2018, Limbak received funding from the Consejería de Educación e Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid for the THINEYES project, which aimed to bring their technology from the prototype stage to commercial readiness.<ref name="thineyes">~~Limbak Technologies, "THINEYES: Extreme-performance optics for Virtual Reality headsets", Limbak Projects~~</ref>		The company quickly became known for its unique approach to solving optical challenges in VR headsets. In 2018, Limbak received funding from the Consejería de Educación e Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid for the THINEYES project, which aimed to bring their technology from the prototype stage to commercial readiness.<ref name="thineyes"></ref>

	By 2020, the company had gained significant recognition in the industry, with co-founder Pablo Benítez receiving the prestigious SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering for his exceptional contributions to the field.<ref name="SPIE">~~SPIE, "Pablo Benítez: The 2020 SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering", SPIE.org~~</ref>		By 2020, the company had gained significant recognition in the industry, with co-founder Pablo Benítez receiving the prestigious SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering for his exceptional contributions to the field.<ref name="SPIE"></ref>

	In December 2022, reports emerged that Limbak had been acquired by a "large US company," with its website going offline around July 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch confirmed that Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="acquisition">~~Karl Guttag, "Limbak Bought by 'Large US Company'", KGOnTech, December 29, 2022~~</ref><ref name="AppleBought">~~Karl Guttag, "Apple Bought Limbak (SadlyItsBradley)", KGOnTech, December 31, 2022~~</ref>		In December 2022, reports emerged that Limbak had been acquired by a "large US company," with its website going offline around July 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch confirmed that Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="acquisition"></ref><ref name="AppleBought"></ref>

	== Technology ==		== Technology ==
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	* Half the weight of traditional VR optics		* Half the weight of traditional VR optics
	* Quarter of the size of standard solutions		* Quarter of the size of standard solutions
	* Greater than 100° field of view (FOV)<ref name="euroquity">~~EuroQuity, "Limbak", EuroQuity Company Profile~~</ref>		* Greater than 100° field of view (FOV)<ref name="euroquity"></ref>

	The company's optical designs were protected by multiple international patents, including WO2015077718A1, WO2016118640A1, WO2016118643A1, WO2016118647A1, WO2016118648A1, and WO2016160099A2.<ref name="ResearchGate">~~Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-Compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", ResearchGate, May 21, 2018~~</ref>		The company's optical designs were protected by multiple international patents, including WO2015077718A1, WO2016118640A1, WO2016118643A1, WO2016118647A1, WO2016118648A1, and WO2016160099A2.<ref name="ResearchGate"></ref>

	=== Optical Innovations ===		=== Optical Innovations ===
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	==== Foveated Optics ====		==== Foveated Optics ====

	One of Limbak's most significant innovations was in the field of foveated optics, which mimics the natural properties of human vision by providing higher resolution in the center of the visual field (where the eye's fovea is focused) and lower resolution in the periphery. This approach allowed VR headsets to deliver high perceived resolution while maintaining reasonable computational requirements and display specifications.<ref name="pancake">~~Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes® super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", Semantic Scholar~~</ref>		One of Limbak's most significant innovations was in the field of foveated optics, which mimics the natural properties of human vision by providing higher resolution in the center of the visual field (where the eye's fovea is focused) and lower resolution in the periphery. This approach allowed VR headsets to deliver high perceived resolution while maintaining reasonable computational requirements and display specifications.<ref name="pancake"></ref>

	The company's pancake optics design implemented optical foveation in two ways:		The company's pancake optics design implemented optical foveation in two ways:

Xinreality: Created page with "{{Company Infobox |image= |Type=Private |Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology |Founded=2013, Madrid, Spain |Founder=Pablo Benítez, Juan Carlos Miñano |Headquarters=Madrid, Spain |Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic |Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics |Parent=Apple Inc. (since 2022) |Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active) }} '''Limbak''' was a Spanish optical tec..."

2025-05-06T08:05:24Z

Created page with "{{Company Infobox |image= |Type=Private |Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology |Founded=2013, Madrid, Spain |Founder=Pablo Benítez, Juan Carlos Miñano |Headquarters=Madrid, Spain |Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic |Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics |Parent=Apple Inc. (since 2022) |Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active) }} '''Limbak''' was a Spanish optical tec..."

New page

{{Company Infobox
|image=
|Type=Private
|Industry=Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Optical Technology
|Founded=2013, Madrid, Spain
|Founder=Pablo Benítez, Juan Carlos Miñano
|Headquarters=Madrid, Spain
|Notable Personnel=Pablo Benítez (CTO), Juan Carlos Miñano, Milena Nikolic
|Products=ThinEyes™ Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics
|Parent=Apple Inc. (since 2022)
|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active)
}}

'''Limbak''' was a Spanish optical technology company that specialized in developing advanced optics for [[virtual reality]] and [[augmented reality]] devices. The company was known for its innovative [[ThinEyes™]] technology, which significantly improved the resolution, weight, and form factor of [[head-mounted display|head-mounted displays]] (HMDs). Founded in 2013, Limbak was acquired by [[Apple Inc.]] in late 2022.

== History ==

Limbak was founded in 2013 in Madrid, Spain by Pablo Benítez and Juan Carlos Miñano, both renowned optical engineers with extensive experience in developing advanced optical systems.<ref name="about">Limbak Technologies, "About - Limbak Technologies", Limbak Official Website (archived)</ref> Prior to founding Limbak, the two co-founders had already established another company called LPI in 1999, demonstrating their long-standing partnership in optical innovation.<ref name="f6s">F6S, "Pablo Benitez | CTO at Limbak", F6S Member Profile</ref>

The company quickly became known for its unique approach to solving optical challenges in VR headsets. In 2018, Limbak received funding from the Consejería de Educación e Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid for the THINEYES project, which aimed to bring their technology from the prototype stage to commercial readiness.<ref name="thineyes">Limbak Technologies, "THINEYES: Extreme-performance optics for Virtual Reality headsets", Limbak Projects</ref>

By 2020, the company had gained significant recognition in the industry, with co-founder Pablo Benítez receiving the prestigious SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering for his exceptional contributions to the field.<ref name="SPIE">SPIE, "Pablo Benítez: The 2020 SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering", SPIE.org</ref>

In December 2022, reports emerged that Limbak had been acquired by a "large US company," with its website going offline around July 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch confirmed that Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="acquisition">Karl Guttag, "Limbak Bought by 'Large US Company'", KGOnTech, December 29, 2022</ref><ref name="AppleBought">Karl Guttag, "Apple Bought Limbak (SadlyItsBradley)", KGOnTech, December 31, 2022</ref>

== Technology ==

=== ThinEyes™ Technology ===

Limbak's primary innovation was its ThinEyes™ technology, a family of non-conventional optical systems specifically designed for VR headsets. The key advantages of ThinEyes™ technology included:

* 2.25x higher resolution than conventional optics
* Half the weight of traditional VR optics
* Quarter of the size of standard solutions
* Greater than 100° field of view (FOV)<ref name="euroquity">EuroQuity, "Limbak", EuroQuity Company Profile</ref>

The company's optical designs were protected by multiple international patents, including WO2015077718A1, WO2016118640A1, WO2016118643A1, WO2016118647A1, WO2016118648A1, and WO2016160099A2.<ref name="ResearchGate">Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-Compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", ResearchGate, May 21, 2018</ref>

=== Optical Innovations ===

Limbak developed several variations of its ThinEyes™ technology, each addressing specific challenges in VR and AR optics:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Key Limbak Optical Technologies'''
|-
! Technology !! Description !! Applications
|-
| ThinEyes™ Clover || Compound optics mixing reflective and refractive elements in a single device || Used in the Lynx AR headset
|-
| Super Pancake || Advanced version of pancake optics with improved efficiency || VR headsets requiring thin form factors
|-
| ThinEyes™ Crystal || Combined multiple displays for a wider field of view || High-end VR/AR applications
|-
| Trenza || Multi-lens array with "pixel interlacing" for increased central resolution || Foveated displays that match human visual acuity
|}

==== Foveated Optics ====

One of Limbak's most significant innovations was in the field of foveated optics, which mimics the natural properties of human vision by providing higher resolution in the center of the visual field (where the eye's fovea is focused) and lower resolution in the periphery. This approach allowed VR headsets to deliver high perceived resolution while maintaining reasonable computational requirements and display specifications.<ref name="pancake">Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes® super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", Semantic Scholar</ref>

The company's pancake optics design implemented optical foveation in two ways:
# Variable magnification across the field of view, with maximum pixel density at the center and gradual reduction toward the edges
# Optimized MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) that provided the best image quality for directly gazed fields

==== Ultra-Compact Design ====

Limbak's advanced VR optical designs achieved remarkable compactness, with some solutions weighing only 15g (optics only) and featuring a track length of just 36mm while still providing a 100° field of view. These designs used ThinEyes® technology applied to pancake optics to dramatically increase resolution at the center of the virtual reality space while maintaining excellent imaging quality across the entire field of view.<ref name="ResearchGate"/>

== Commercial Applications ==

While Limbak primarily operated as an IP company focusing on optical design rather than manufacturing complete products, its technology was incorporated into several notable VR and AR headsets:

* '''Lynx R-1''': This mixed reality headset featured Limbak's ThinEyes® Clover optics, which Lynx described as a "4x catadioptric free-form prism." The design stitched images together from four lens elements to provide a particularly sharp image in the center of the field of view.<ref name="mixed">Mixed-News, "Apple buys lens manufacturer Limbak - report", Mixed-News.com, January 3, 2023</ref>

* '''Simula One''': This Linux-based VR headset also incorporated Limbak's optical technology.<ref name="mixed"/>

* '''LOMID Project''': Limbak collaborated with Fraunhofer on a VR headset with 25 pixels per degree and a 37mm track-to-lens distance as part of the EU-funded LOMID (Large cost-effective OLED microdisplays and their applications) project.<ref name="limbak">Limbak Technologies, "Limbak | Extreme-Performance Optics for Virtual Reality", Limbak Official Website</ref>

== Research and Development ==

Limbak was highly active in research and development, participating in several EU-funded projects:

* '''THINEYES UCSF''': Led by Dr. Milena Nikolic, who was awarded a Senior Doctorate Grant to develop this project at Limbak.<ref name="projects">Limbak Technologies, "Projects", Limbak Official Website</ref>

* '''Phabulous''': Limbak was a partner in this 19-entity consortium focused on advancing the manufacture of free-form micro-optical components.<ref name="limbak"/>

* '''SUPERPANC''': Selected by the XR4ALL initiative to develop and demonstrate the benefits of super-pancake optics for XR devices.<ref name="limbak"/>

* '''LOMID''': A research project funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.<ref name="projects"/>

== Acquisition by Apple ==

In late 2022, Limbak was acquired by Apple, as reported by industry observers and later confirmed by multiple sources. The acquisition was part of Apple's broader strategy to develop its own AR and VR technology.<ref name="AppleBought"/>

The acquisition became public knowledge when the Limbak website went offline, with the last archived capture of the site dating to July 3, 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch reported that his sources confirmed Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="virtualrealitytimes">Rob Grant, "Apple Acquires Lens Manufacturer Limbak", Virtual Reality Times, January 2, 2023</ref>

This acquisition came at a time when major technology companies were increasingly purchasing specialized optical firms to secure intellectual property for upcoming XR devices. Meta (formerly Facebook) had similarly acquired lens specialist Luxexcel around the same time.<ref name="mixed"/>

=== Impact on the Industry ===

The acquisition raised concerns about market consolidation, with some industry observers noting that the trend of large companies acquiring specialized technology providers could make it increasingly difficult for smaller hardware manufacturers to compete through innovation.<ref name="mixed"/>

For Limbak's existing clients like Lynx and SimulaVR, the acquisition was reported to have no impact on their current products, though it potentially affected their future product development by limiting access to Limbak's technology for new designs.<ref name="virtualrealitytimes"/>

== Legacy ==

Limbak's innovations in optical design, particularly its approach to foveated optics and compact form factors, have had a lasting impact on the VR and AR industry. The company's technologies addressed some of the most significant challenges facing XR devices, including:

* Reducing the size and weight of headsets to improve comfort
* Increasing resolution to enhance immersion and reduce eye strain
* Expanding the field of view while maintaining optical quality
* Optimizing power efficiency through smarter optical designs

As part of Apple, Limbak's optical technology and expertise are likely contributing to Apple's development of advanced AR and VR products, though the specific applications remain confidential as of early 2025.<ref name="idtechex">IDTechEx, "Limbak: Acquired by Apple?", IDTechEx Portal, November 3, 2023</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="about">Limbak Technologies, "About – Limbak technologies", Limbak Official Website (archived), https://www.limbak.com/about/</ref>
<ref name="f6s">F6S, "Pablo Benitez | CTO at Limbak", F6S Member Profile, https://www.f6s.com/member/pablobenitez</ref>
<ref name="thineyes">Limbak Technologies, "THINEYES: Extreme-performance optics for Virtual Reality headsets", Limbak Projects, https://www.limbak.com/post/thineyes-extreme-performance-optics-for-virtual-reality-headsets</ref>
<ref name="SPIE">SPIE, "Pablo Benítez: The 2020 SPIE A.E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering", SPIE.org, https://spie.org/news/pablo-benítez-2020-spie-ae-conrady-award-in-optical-engineering?SSO=1</ref>
<ref name="acquisition">Karl Guttag, "Limbak Bought by 'Large US Company'", KGOnTech, December 29, 2022, https://kguttag.com/2022/12/29/limbak-bought-by-large-us-company/</ref>
<ref name="AppleBought">Karl Guttag, "Apple Bought Limbak (SadlyItsBradley)", KGOnTech, December 31, 2022, https://kguttag.com/2022/12/31/apple-bought-limbak-sadlyitsbradley/</ref>
<ref name="euroquity">EuroQuity, "Limbak", EuroQuity Company Profile, https://www.euroquity.com/en/entity/Limbak-7fd4e4be-f733-4bfb-96e9-972a0c202477/</ref>
<ref name="ResearchGate">Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-Compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", ResearchGate, May 21, 2018, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325277319_Ultra-Compact_pancake_optics_based_on_ThinEyes_super-resolution_technology_for_virtual_reality_headsets</ref>
<ref name="pancake">Bharathwaj Appan Narasimhan, "Ultra-compact pancake optics based on ThinEyes® super-resolution technology for virtual reality headsets", Semantic Scholar, https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ultra-compact-pancake-optics-based-on-ThinEyes%C2%AE-for-Narasimhan/596979acf8a465113df6f02f19ef1af2a8165484</ref>
<ref name="mixed">Mixed-News, "Apple buys lens manufacturer Limbak - report", Mixed-News.com, January 3, 2023, https://mixed-news.com/en/apple-buys-lens-manufacturer-limbak-report/</ref>
<ref name="limbak">Limbak Technologies, "Limbak | Extreme-Performance Optics for Virtual Reality", Limbak Official Website, https://www.limbak.com/</ref>
<ref name="projects">Limbak Technologies, "Projects", Limbak Official Website, https://www.limbak.com/projects/</ref>
<ref name="virtualrealitytimes">Rob Grant, "Apple Acquires Lens Manufacturer Limbak", Virtual Reality Times, January 2, 2023, https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2023/01/02/apple-acquires-lens-manufacturer-limbak/</ref>
<ref name="idtechex">IDTechEx, "Limbak: Acquired by Apple?", IDTechEx Portal, November 3, 2023, https://www.idtechex.com/portal.v2/pages/company-profile.asp?articleid=28454&portaltopicid=all</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Virtual reality companies]]
[[Category:Optical technology companies]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]
[[Category:Companies based in Madrid]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Spain]]
[[Category:2022 disestablishments in Spain]]
[[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:08, 6 May 2025
Line 71:		Line 71:
	While Limbak primarily operated as an IP company focusing on optical design rather than manufacturing complete products, its technology was incorporated into several notable VR and AR headsets:		While Limbak primarily operated as an IP company focusing on optical design rather than manufacturing complete products, its technology was incorporated into several notable VR and AR headsets:

	* '''Lynx R-1''': This mixed reality headset featured Limbak's ThinEyes® Clover optics, which Lynx described as a "4x catadioptric free-form prism." The design stitched images together from four lens elements to provide a particularly sharp image in the center of the field of view.<ref name="mixed">~~Mixed-News, "Apple buys lens manufacturer Limbak - report", Mixed-News.com, January 3, 2023~~</ref>		* '''Lynx R-1''': This mixed reality headset featured Limbak's ThinEyes® Clover optics, which Lynx described as a "4x catadioptric free-form prism." The design stitched images together from four lens elements to provide a particularly sharp image in the center of the field of view.<ref name="mixed"></ref>

	* '''Simula One''': This Linux-based VR headset also incorporated Limbak's optical technology.<ref name="mixed"/>		* '''Simula One''': This Linux-based VR headset also incorporated Limbak's optical technology.<ref name="mixed"/>

	* '''LOMID Project''': Limbak collaborated with Fraunhofer on a VR headset with 25 pixels per degree and a 37mm track-to-lens distance as part of the EU-funded LOMID (Large cost-effective OLED microdisplays and their applications) project.<ref name="limbak">~~Limbak Technologies, "Limbak \| Extreme-Performance Optics for Virtual Reality", Limbak Official Website~~</ref>		* '''LOMID Project''': Limbak collaborated with Fraunhofer on a VR headset with 25 pixels per degree and a 37mm track-to-lens distance as part of the EU-funded LOMID (Large cost-effective OLED microdisplays and their applications) project.<ref name="limbak"></ref>

	== Research and Development ==		== Research and Development ==
Line 81:		Line 81:
	Limbak was highly active in research and development, participating in several EU-funded projects:		Limbak was highly active in research and development, participating in several EU-funded projects:

	* '''THINEYES UCSF''': Led by Dr. Milena Nikolic, who was awarded a Senior Doctorate Grant to develop this project at Limbak.<ref name="projects">~~Limbak Technologies, "Projects", Limbak Official Website~~</ref>		* '''THINEYES UCSF''': Led by Dr. Milena Nikolic, who was awarded a Senior Doctorate Grant to develop this project at Limbak.<ref name="projects"></ref>

	* '''Phabulous''': Limbak was a partner in this 19-entity consortium focused on advancing the manufacture of free-form micro-optical components.<ref name="limbak"/>		* '''Phabulous''': Limbak was a partner in this 19-entity consortium focused on advancing the manufacture of free-form micro-optical components.<ref name="limbak"/>
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	In late 2022, Limbak was acquired by Apple, as reported by industry observers and later confirmed by multiple sources. The acquisition was part of Apple's broader strategy to develop its own AR and VR technology.<ref name="AppleBought"/>		In late 2022, Limbak was acquired by Apple, as reported by industry observers and later confirmed by multiple sources. The acquisition was part of Apple's broader strategy to develop its own AR and VR technology.<ref name="AppleBought"/>

	The acquisition became public knowledge when the Limbak website went offline, with the last archived capture of the site dating to July 3, 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch reported that his sources confirmed Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="virtualrealitytimes">~~Rob Grant, "Apple Acquires Lens Manufacturer Limbak", Virtual Reality Times, January 2, 2023~~</ref>		The acquisition became public knowledge when the Limbak website went offline, with the last archived capture of the site dating to July 3, 2022. By December 31, 2022, industry analyst Brad Lynch reported that his sources confirmed Apple was the company that had acquired Limbak.<ref name="virtualrealitytimes"></ref>

	This acquisition came at a time when major technology companies were increasingly purchasing specialized optical firms to secure intellectual property for upcoming XR devices. Meta (formerly Facebook) had similarly acquired lens specialist Luxexcel around the same time.<ref name="mixed"/>		This acquisition came at a time when major technology companies were increasingly purchasing specialized optical firms to secure intellectual property for upcoming XR devices. Meta (formerly Facebook) had similarly acquired lens specialist Luxexcel around the same time.<ref name="mixed"/>
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	* Optimizing power efficiency through smarter optical designs		* Optimizing power efficiency through smarter optical designs

	As part of Apple, Limbak's optical technology and expertise are likely contributing to Apple's development of advanced AR and VR products, though the specific applications remain confidential as of early 2025.<ref name="idtechex">~~IDTechEx, "Limbak: Acquired by Apple?", IDTechEx Portal, November 3, 2023~~</ref>		As part of Apple, Limbak's optical technology and expertise are likely contributing to Apple's development of advanced AR and VR products, though the specific applications remain confidential as of early 2025.<ref name="idtechex"></ref>

	== References ==		== References ==