Limbak: Difference between revisions
Xinreality (talk | contribs) 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Optical Technology, Foveated Optics, Pancake Optics |Parent=Apple Inc. (since 2022) |Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active) }} '''Limbak''' was a Spanish optical tec..." |
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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]] | ||
|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|Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active) | |Website=www.limbak.com (no longer active) | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{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. | |||
== 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 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"> | 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"> | 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"> | 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"> | * 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"> | 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"> | 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: | ||
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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"> | * '''[[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"> | * '''[[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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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"> | * '''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"> | 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"> | 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 == | ||
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</references> | </references> | ||
[[Category:Virtual | [[Category:Companies]] | ||
[[Category:Optical | [[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]] | ||
[[Category:Optical Technology Companies]] | |||
[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]] | [[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]] | ||
[[Category:Companies based in Madrid]] | [[Category:Companies based in Madrid]] | ||